Actress Funke Adesiyan wins Oyo state APC primary

Another entertainer scales through. Actress Funke Adesiyan has won the Oyo State House of Assembly primary of the APC to represent the Ibadan South-East constituency at the state Assembly. Results of the primaries was released yesterday December 9th. Congrats to her.

APC Presidential primaries holds today in Lagos

The Presidential primaries of the APC will hold today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos. Five aspirants including former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari rtd, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors of Kano and Imo States, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Chief Rochas Okorocha, and the publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah will contest for the parties presidential ticket. Over 8000 delegates are expected to cast their votes.

Former Minister Nyeson Wike “Wins” Rivers PDP Governorship Primary

The former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Monday emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, in a peaceful primary conducted at Community Secondary School, Nkpolu in Port Harcourt Local Government Area. Wike, who immediately gave his acceptance speech after the result of the primary, polled 1,083 votes, while Dumbari Dimkpa came a distant second with 21 votes. West Ibinabo got three votes while Emmanuel Georgewill and Lee Maeba got one vote each. However, 17 out of the 24 governorship aspirants boycotted the exercise. The PDP governorship primary in the state was conducted amidst heavy security presence as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security and Special Anti-Robbery Squad were on the ground to ensure the security of lives and property.

Lagos PDP Guber: Agbaje beats Obanikoro + GEJ connection

The decision by President Goodluck Jonathan not to impose anyone as governorship candidate seems to be paying off greatly. If you want to win, go to the people and convince them to vote for you. Simple! The big example worked well in Lagos as a man who was close to President Jonathan and was seen as a strong contender lost PDP governorship primary to a new comer in the party through the ballot. About four months after joining the PDP, Jimi Agbaje on Monday emerged as PDP governorship candidate for Lagos State. He defeated a former Minister of State for Defence and Nigeria’s ex-High Commissioner to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro,who was touted as the leading contestant in the primary. When the votes were counted, Agbaje defeated Obanikoro by 86 votes. Agbaje scored 432 votes as against the 346 by Obanikoro. Other aspirants, Babatunde Gbadamosi got 21 votes; Tokunbo Kamson, 46 votes and Adedeji Doherty, 21 votes. The exercise was nearly marred by violence following a controversy which surrounded the number of votes cast by the delegates. When the voting started, the Chairman of the electoral committee, Senator Shehu Kumo, announced that there were 806 delegates. But when votes were being sorted, it was discovered that the number of votes cast were 863. All efforts to get the number of votes and the number of delegates to tally proved abortive but Kumo insisted that the exercise should continue. Amid the resistance by supporters of some of the aspirants, about 60 armed policemen formed a barricade around the ballot boxes and ensured that the counting continued. When tables and chairs were overturned at the centre, Obanikoro immediately stormed out. But soon after the announcement, Agbaje commended the committee and promised to work with other aspirants. As the tension heightened, about 200 policemen and operatives of the Department of State Service stormed the venue. Agbaje was whisked away before policemen began firing gunshots into the air.

Ex-Minister Labaran Maku defeated in Nasarawa PDP Primary

Politics in Nigeria is not too much talk, it is about building structure and winning the hearts of the electorate who have the final say. This example was evident in the election between then Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha, while the former was just talking, the latter was reaching out. From what omiswit observed, this is what affected former minister of information, Labaran Maku, and the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan not to interfere should also be commended. Maku and seven others were defeated squarely at the Peoples Democratic Party primary election. Mr. Maku was beaten to a second place by a little known politician, Yusuf Agabi, at the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa venue of the primary election. The man is not really known, but he consulted wifely. The governorship primary election which was supervised by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara saw Mr Agabi garnering 214 votes to defeat Labaran Maku who scored 160.

FULL DETAILS: Winners and Losers at PDP Guber Primaries +Obanikoro Reacts

As predicted by political analysts, the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in states across the country were characterised by gunfire, parallel elections, protests and walkouts staged by some of the dissatisfied candidates. But in many states, it was generally peaceful. In several state, the governorship primaries started late in the day, with many of them lasting well into the night. Serving governors, Ramallan Yero of Kaduna and his Gombe State counterpart Ibrahim Dankwabbo got the PDP ticket to contest for a second term in office. In many states, anointed candidate of the incumbent governor emerged the flag bearer of the party to the, as would be expected, disapproval of other opponents. In Lagos, the leading PDP governorship contestant and ex-Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has described as a sham the governorship primary election held in the state by his party. While in Rivers, ex-minister of state for Education, Nyesom Wike, perceived as the anointed aspirant of the Presidency, picked the ticket of the party, in Akwa Ibom, the governor’s candidate, Emmanuel Udom, emerged the candidate of the party. It was a similar case in Niger State where the governor’s chief of staff, Umar Nasko, was elected to contest the governorship election. Similarly, the chief of staff to Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, scaled through the primary. Funny enough, in Enugu, four candidates in four factional primaries were elected the party’s gubernatorial flag bearers in 2015. In Katsina State, eight out of the nine aspirants staged a walkout from the election venue, while Akwa Ibom and Rivers states witnessed a boycott of the exercise by other candidates who described the exercise as “charade”. Rivers State: Nyesom Wike Wike emerged the PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State, polling 1,083 votes to beat his closest rival, Hon. Dumbari Ben-Dimkpa, who got 21 votes. The PDP governorship primary, supervised by the chairman of the party gubernatorial election panel for Rivers State, Hon. Etifa Bekeakpo, was held amidst tight security. Wike, and Ben-Dimkpa as well as three other governorship aspirants, including Hon. Ibinabo Michael-West, who scored three votes, and Senator Lee Maeba and Mr. Emmanuel Georgewill, who scored one vote each, participated in the primary, but 16 other aspirants stayed away from the exercise. Niger State: Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko Former Chief of Staff Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko clinched the governorship ticket, polling 908 votes to beat eight other challengers among them the Niger State deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto who scored 34 votes. Former Minister of Commerce, Mustapha Bello, scored 11 votes like Alhaji Sahabi Danrangi, while Engineer Hannafi Sudan returned 57 votes. Alhaji Dukku and former Kano State governor Aminu Isa Kontagora did not get any vote. However, the aspirants, in a joint press conference addressed by Mustapha Bello, rejected the election, saying it was full of aberrations. Kaduna State: Gov Mukhtar Ramalan Yero Abia State: Dr Okezie Ikpeazu Dr Okezie Ikpeazu was declared winner of the Abia State PDP governorship primary. He scored 487 votes to defeat seven other contestants including the former Minister of Labour and Productivity Chief Emeka Wogu who scored 33 votes to come third. Oil magnet and owner of Masters Energy Ltd, Dr Uche Ogah, came second with 103 votes. Oyo State: Senator Teslim Folarin Former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin defeated other aspirants to win the Oyo State gubernatorial ticket. Six governorship aspirants, including former state governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Engineer Seyi Makinde, Femi Babalola Kehinde Olaosebikan, former deputy governor Taofeek Arapaja and Dr Babalola Owolabi shunned the primaries. The presiding officer, Abba Aji disclosed that Folarin polled 167 votes to beat other nine contestants. According to him, there were 211 votes, 14 invalid votes and 198 valid votes. Enugu State: 4 Candidates Emerge No fewer than four PDP gubernatorial candidates emerged in Enugu State as parallel primaries took place in different parts of Enugu, the state capital yesterday. Senator Ayogu Eze was elected in one of the primaries conducted in Filbon Hotel premises, New Haven, Enugu. While a total of 672 delegates were accredited for the primaries, the Returning Officer, Prince Obi Nkwonta, announced that Eze polled 526 votes to beat his closest rival Mr. Chinedu Onu, who scored 31 votes. Eleven votes were declared invalid. Meanwhile, PDP Election Committee, led by King Asara Asara, held another gubernatorial primary at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, where by press time Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was coasting to victory. LEADERSHIP gathered that Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, and Professor Onyeke Onyeke held their own primaries at different locations in the state capital. Adamawa State: Nuhu Ribadu Former EFCC chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu emerged the PDP governorship candidate for Adamawa State, polling 688 votes to beat Marcus Gundiri, 33 votes, and Auwal Tukur (son of former PDP chairman Bamanga Tukur), 24 votes. Akwa Ibom State: Udom Emmanuel Apart from Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, Governor Akpabio preferred candidate, all other aspirants for the 2015 governorship race in Akwa Ibom State boycotted the delegates’ poll to choose the party’s candidate for the election next year. All 23 aspirants staged a walkout, citing irregularities and lack of transparency in the exercise. Katsina State: Engr Musa Nashuni Engr Musa Nashuni, the anointed candidate of Governor Ibrahim Shema, has clinched the ticket, polling 1,309 votes to defeat eight other candidates at the party’s primary election, which held at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Katsina yesterday. Ebonyi State: Chief Dave Umahi The Ebonyi State deputy governor and former PDP chairman in the state, Chief Dave Umahi emerged the governorship candidate of the party, polling 541 votes to defeat his closest rival Senator Igwe Nwagu (PDP, Ebonyi Central) who polled 15 votes. Jigawa State: Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim The chief of staff to Jigawa State governor Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim emerged the PDO governorship flag bearer. He was unopposed after two other contestant cleared by the party withdrew from the race few minutes to its commencement. Cross River State: Senator Ben Ayade Vice chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Ben Ayade, emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in Cross River after scoring 752 votes to defeat his Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba and Mr. Francis Eworo with five votes each. Delta: Senator Ifeanyi Okowa Serving Senator Ifeanyi Okowa representing Delta North senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly polled 406 votes to defeat David Edevbie who scored 299 votes Announcing the results, the returning officer, Mr. Sunday Karimu, declared that Senator Okowa scored 406 votes, David Edevbie, 299 votes; Victor Ochei, 185 votes; Charles Elumelu, 50 votes; Elder Godday Orubebe; 49 votes , and Dr Ngozi Olejeme, 2 votes. Please where is Obuh, the man that has the backing of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan? Ogun State: PDP ignores, NWC holds guber primary …Obasanjo, Daniel absent The PDP, through its national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, postponed the gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, but the state chairman of the party, Engr Bayo Dayo, said he was unaware of any directive, and insisted that the exercise should go ahead. However, only three aspirants were present at the exercise held at the PDP Oke Mosan secretariat, Kayode Amusan, Segun Adewale and Gboyega Isiaka. At the end of the exercise, Gboyega Nasir was declared the winner having polled 705 to beat, leaving Kayode Amusan, 150 votes, and one vote for Segun Adewale. Pandemonium at Plateau PDP Guber Primary There was pandemonium at Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos, venue of the PDP governorship primaries just before the commencement of voting by delegates. The agents of some aspirants protested that labels bearing each LG names be removed from the ballot boxes. They explained that some local delegates are under threat from the state government that if they did not vote for the anointed aspirant alongside their LG chairmen. At the time of filing the report, voting was yet to commence as there was confusion everywhere. Lagos State: Jimi Agbaje A pharmacist, Mr Jimi Agbaje, has defeated former Minister of State for Defence, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro, to clinch the Lagos State PDP governorship ticket for 2015. Agbaje scored 432 votes while Obanikoro received 343 votes. Hoodlums cause violence …aspirant wears bullet proof vest to venue The PDP governorship primaries in Lagos witnessed violence as hoodlums in their hundreds stormed the Oregun, Ikeja, venue of the exercise, with security personnel, including policemen having a hectic time warding them off. The police had to fire several canisters of tear gas, resulting in a stampede. An aspirant, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, caused a stir when he appeared at the party’s governorship primary in a bulletproof vest, which according to him, was to protect him from stray bullets following the violence that erupted earlier in the day. Imo State: Emeka Ihedioha Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has won the PDP governorship primary conducted in Imo State yesterday. Ihedioha got 346 votes to beat his closest rival, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who polled 336 votes. Former state governor Ihedi Ohakim came third with 213 votes. A total of 1,064 delegates were accredited for the election and 1,017 delegates voted. Nasarawa State: Yusuf Agabi A retired federal civil servant, Dr. Yusuf Agabi, has emerged winner of the PDP governorship primary in Nasarawa State as he defeated the former minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, Senator Solomon Ewuga and six other contestants. Agabi polled 214 votes, his closest opponent Maku got 160 votes, former governor Aliyu Akwe Doma had 129 votes while initial favourite Sen. Ewuga got 31.

Why Fayose Wants OBJ Suspended

Less than 24 hours after five governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, visited former president Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has called on the leadership of the PDP to suspend the one time Head of State.

Fayose, who spoke with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Friday through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, stated that Obasanjo should be suspended from the ruling party for alleged anti-party activities. The governor also described the Thursday visit of five PDP governors to Obasanjo as unwarranted, unnecessary and uncalled for, saying “nobody should be treated as being bigger than the party.” fayose According to the Punch newspaper report online, Fayose urged the party to set up a panel to probe Obasanjo’s anti-party activities for castigating President Goodluck Jonathan and to discourage other members from emulating him. According to him, Obasanjo does not appreciate and deserves no respect, adding that, “no amount of mudslinging from him will stop President Jonathan’s re-election.” The governor said visiting the former president to plead with him to rescind his decision not to participate in the party’s activities was capable of encouraging other members of the party to openly disrespect the office of the President. In Fayose’s words: “A man who has refused to respect the office of the President of Nigeria that he once occupied does not also deserve respect from anyone.” Ex-president Obasanjo and Incumbent President Jonathan. Ex-president Obasanjo and Incumbent President Jonathan. Fayose, who described Obasanjo as one of the major problems of Nigeria, added that his open castigation of Jonathan was unbecoming of someone who led the country for 11 years and “wasted billions of Naira in his attempt to perpetuate himself in office beyond the constitutionally recognised two-term. READ ALSO: Governor Oshiomhole Blasts Fayose He said: “Have you ever heard a former president of the United States of America openly abusing a sitting president of the country? “Does it mean that former USA president, Bill Clinton agrees with all the policies of George W. Bush and the incumbent president, Barack Obama? Fayose alleged that Obasanjo was already a member of the opposition All Progressives Congress and that he was pushing for one of his loyalists to be the party’s vice presidential candidate. The five PDP Governors at Obasanjo's house in Abeokuta. The five PDP Governors at Obasanjo’s house in Abeokuta. He said, “Obasanjo is a man who can never be pleased. His principle of life is; if it is not his way, it must not be another person’s way. “Even if President Jonathan gives Obasanjo his blood today, he (Obasanjo) cannot change because he is already neckdeep in the APC agenda, with his eyes on the vice presidential ticket of the party. “Therefore, no amount of visits by PDP governors can make him change his mind about President Jonathan, whom he hates not because he has not performed, but because he (Jonathan) did not hand over his presidency to him.” Fayose had last week launched a scathing attack on Obasanjo for his criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking at the Yoruba Progress Summit, held at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, the governor alleged that the former president shared a huge amount of money to people during his attempt to amend the constitution for him to go for a third term as the president of Nigeria. READ MORE: Ekiti Crisis : Fayose Has Sealed My Office- Speaker It would be recalled that the five governors that visited Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State for a closed-door meeting included Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State. It was learnt that the meeting discussed the former president’s relationship with Jonathan and the economy of the nation. The National Working Committee of the PDP had on Thursday suspended the former National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, for one month for challenging the removal of the present National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu.

HTC One M8 and M7 GPe are getting Android Lollipop today

After a two week delay on the initial release date, today is the day that HTC's Google Play edition One M8 and M7 handsets finally receive the long anticipated Android Lollipop update. Users are already reporting, that they are receiving that over-the-air. The new version is rather surprisingly a LRX22C build, based on Android 5.0.1, so it appears that HTC will be skipping Android 5.0 altogether. The long update saga surrounding the two devices started in mid-November. Since then, numerous testing issues and bugs have postponed the roll-out, which was set for November 21. Early morning today HTC's Product VP Mo Versi announced the good news and just as promised, updates started to appear around noon

The police authorities are set to reinstate the security details of the Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal

What you can't get through the front door, you can access through the back door in Nigeria. That is it! The police authorities are set to reinstate the security details of the Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal, weeks after it was withdrawn in the wake of his defection from PDP to APC. A source at the Nigeria police headquarters in Abuja indicate that the police will hinge its decision to do so on the emergence of Tambuwal as the APC governorship candidate for the forthcoming elections. "We still believe the Speaker is not entitled to security based on his decision to defect. The constitution is very clear on that, and we are defending our position well in court. "However, since Tambuwal is now a candidate of a major political party in Sokoto, convention requires that the Police protects him. The Federal Government takes the security of leading candidates very seriously as such we will restore security to Tambuwal and at the same time provide same for all the leading candidates in all states of the Federation. "If the Police feels at any given time that the security of candidates is under threat, we are bound by law to come in and provide security. If you recall really well, the governorship candidate of the then ruling ANPP was murdered in Borno very close to the election, since then we reviewed our internal security arrangements and decided to notch security around candidates a bit high," the source told SR. When asked if the same number of men earlier withdrawn from Tambuwal will be restored, the source declined to answer, saying the only the police high command will determine such a decision. You may wish to know that Tambuwal defeated four others to emerge APC governorship flagbearer in his home state, Sokoto on Thursday. He will square up with candidates of other parties in February.

Former FCT Minister, Nasir El-Rufai Wins Kaduna APC Primary For Governor

Former Minister of Nigeria’s federal capital of Abuja, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has won the Kaduna state gubernatorial primaries after a keen contest. The party primaries in the state started since Friday afternoon. El-Rufai polled over 50 percent of vote cast and was declared winner early this morning.

See full text of Mr. El-Rufai acceptance speech: After months of hectic campaigning, our party, the APC, has made its choice regarding its candidate for the governorship of Kaduna State in the 2015 elections. It is a choice I accept with gratitude and humility. I salute all the elected executives at ward, local government and state levels, as well as statutory delegates who voted in our party primaries. I pay heartfelt tribute to the distinguished party men who also aspired for and campaigned to be chosen as the APC governorship candidate. Your energetic campaigns have helped to build and strengthen our party; and the party, its members and supporters would continue to expect your leadership and worthy contributions. It is now time to pull all our energies and talents together to elect an APC government in Kaduna State. This is a mission to fulfill the aspirations of the people, and a mighty task that duty demands we successfully achieve. I hereby invite the distinguished persons with whom we competed for the nomination to continue to discharge our responsibilities together, under the leadership of the party at the state level, to design and launch a statewide campaign as soon as possible. With your support, I pledge to run a campaign that engages and mobilises all the people of Kaduna State for the necessary work of change, to throw out a spendthrift, ineffectual PDP gang and elect a government committed to participatory governance and sustainable empowerment of the people. The APC Kaduna Team is ready to provide a government guided by fairness, passion and commitment. I am proud to be a member of this team, and I will discharge my leadership role within it with the vision, integrity and results-orientation that have been the hallmark of my public service. We really do not have the time to exult in celebrating our choice as the APC Kaduna State governorship candidate. What has actually been decided is the team vested by the APC membership with the responsibility of realizing the hopes of our people for positive change; their desire for a Kaduna State whose governance is configured to converge with their expectations for a better life. This APC team must become Team Kaduna as we work hard across this state, to enthuse the people and to unite them in a common quest to enthrone good governance, human security and fairness. We take seriously our duty to work for a harmonious society where our people and their talents will thrive in peace, confident in the equality of their treatment as citizens by a government committed to social justice. We are ready to make Kaduna State great again. We have pondered how our dear state came to this dire condition. We have sweated on rescue options, discussed symptoms, diagnosis and solutions with various constituencies across the state. Based on these engagements, the APC Kaduna Team has already presented a draft manifesto. That document is by no means the end of the conversation; rather it helps to further structure the conversation around the most optimal policies and programmes. It is also a clear indication of the values that will guide an APC government in our state. Our programme is extensive, the challenge is huge but we are making the mental and political effort to be ready to effect coherent governance from the very first day in office. Following consultations within the party, the APC Kaduna Team will shortly announce the formal launch of our general election campaign. We have started a determined journey. Together with all the peoples of Kaduna, we will work to make Kaduna State a better place. Let’s make Kaduna great again!

N1.5M Job Scam: Fake Soldier Bags 7 Years Imprisonment

Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State toady convicted and sentenced one Emmanuel Sunday (alias Umoh Sunday Iyang, Iyang Samuel Chukwudi) to seven and half years imprisonment without an option of fine for obtaining money under false pretence. Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State toady convicted and sentenced one Emmanuel Sunday (alias Umoh Sunday Iyang, Iyang Samuel Chukwudi) to seven and half years imprisonment without an option of fine for obtaining money under false pretence. The convict was arraigned by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 19, 2014 on an 8-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. He pleaded not guilty to the count charge. After diligent prosecution, Justice Ajoku found him guilty on the 5-count amended charge and sentenced him to thirty months imprisonment each of the counts. The court also ordered that the convict forfeit his two (2) phones to the Federal Government. The journey to prison for Emmanuel started when he was arrested in Benin on August 13, 2013 by the Nigerian Army, 4 Brigade/sector 1, Operation Pulo Shield, for posing as an Army Captain to defraud one Igue Endurance of the sum of N1, 545,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred And Forty- Five Thousand Naira) in the pretext that the said amount be used to facilitate her recruitment into the Nigerian Army. One of the charges read, “That you Emmanuel Sunday ( also known as Umoh Sunday, Inyang Samuel Chukwudi) on or about May, 2013, at Benin within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud did represent yourself to be a captain with the Nigerian Army and obtained the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira only(300,000.00) from one Igue Endurance, which said money you used part of it and paid the sum of Eighty Thousand Naira into your Diamond bank plc, account 0001857059, under the pretence that the said sum would be used to get Igue Endurance recruited into Nigerian Army, a pretext which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”. Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media & Publicity 5th December, 2014

Shocker! Kolade blasts Jonathan: Your Leadership Is A Failure

It looks like it's only those eating from President Goodluck Jonathan that are praising him. A former head of SURE-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade, on Thursday condemned Jonathan for not showing the right leadership in the manner he had been handling his responsibilities as the nation’s president. He made reference to Jonathan’s decision to honour a political rally in Kano shortly after a bombing that killed several Nigerians, saying the best he could have done was “to postpone the political event.” For choosing to continue with the programme, he said, the President did not demonstrate that he was sensitive to the pains of the people he is leading. He said those who said the country “had never been this good” were lying, and that at over 80 years he could tell that the country had a robust history. The respected statesman condemn all those singing Jonathan's praises, including TAN, and insisted that, “Nigeria was, at every other time, better than now.” He spoke at the sixth Christopher Kolade Symposium organised by the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, an organisation he was a pioneer patron. He lamented the drift in leadership quality. “If we get to a point when we do not care how the country is led, we have lost hope. The country is where it is today because some people sacrificed. Unfortunately, beyond stealing, our leaders are not ready to sacrifice anything,” he said olade said he took up a responsibility to lead the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme to demonstrate his love for the country. Rejecting the appointment, he said, would have amounted to wishing the initiative failure. He said he rejected allowance offer because he was financially stable. The second reason, according to him, was to enable him to quit when he noticed it was not going to succeed without the hassle of “waiting till end of the month to collect allowance.” He said most Nigerians are unhappy with the leadership style of the Jonathan governmen

APC Primaries: Tambuwal wins Sokoto, Ambode wins Lagos

The first term governors on the platform of the APC all got their second term ticket, but Rochas Okorocha is still playing politics of indecision; he wants to be President or governor. Eight APC governors would be completing their first terms in 2015. They are: Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Umar Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo). Sokoto Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has been declared winner of the primary election held at the state township stadium after a landslide victory against his co-contestants.. Speaker Waziri Tambuwal got 3,466 of the 3503 valid votes cast. His opponents Senator Umaru Dahiru Tambuwal got 23, Yusha’u Kebbe got 13, while Professor Lawal Bashar, Barrister Aliyu Sayinna and Senator Jibril Gada had no vote. Lagos Akinwunmi Ambode has emerged winner of the APC gubernatorial primary in Lagos State. He is the top man among the aspirants and the only man who visited all the local governments in Lagos. Tinubu is backing Akin Ambode, former accountant general in the state, Fashola preferred Supo Shasore, a former Attorney General and commissioner for Justice in the state. With this result, Tinubu is still the strong man

PDP Primaries: Fayose’s Madness is Ripping Ekiti PDP Apart

From what PDP sources in Ekiti State have told omiswit.blogspot.com so far, Governor Ayo Fayose really need to change his ways. Many top politicians are complaining of brazen imposition by him. PDP delegates who are gearing up for the National Assembly primaries this weekend have raised the alarm over alleged attempts by Governor Fayose to doctor the list of delegates for the primaries. A woman who spoke on condition of anonymity to LEADERSHIP, said rather than let other primaries in the state hold last weekend, Fayose picked 25 of his cronies in place of delegates who were to vote. She said, "In another situation, he doctored the list of delegates; instead of 54, he called up 64 delegates and insisted that he won by 2 votes. Now, he wants to pick the senators who will represent the zones in the state. Having rigged the elections in the other parts of the state, he wants to cancel the only place where the primaries were held – Ekiti South." Another delegate who would have none of the governor’s selfish antics called on the national leadership of the party to rein him in before “his madness and recklessness rips the party in the state apart and puts it at a disadvantage for the next four years.” “Last night (Wednesday), he even boasted to the hearing of everyone that he could doctor the list of delegates which had been sent to the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

2015: The Opposition Is Too Desperate, They can Kill Jonathan ––EK Clark

Ijaw leader, Chiefh E.K. Clark has alleged that some members of the leading opposition party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are desperate to take over power in 2015 and as such they can kill or poison President Goodluck Jonathan in their bid to achieve their aim. Speaking in Abuja at a conference held at the instance of the PDP Ward2Ward Initiative, Clark said from the utterances of some APC members in the face of the biting insecurity, he is seeing danger signals. "This morning, I read one of the newspapers. The national chairman of one of our parties said that Nigeria was moving towards anarchy. I was shocked. Coming here, I want to make a statement about it. Today, you are here on your own because you believe in Nigeria. The future is here. “Do not be deceived. Nigeria is a great country. Those abroad want to come home. Everywhere in this world, there are problems. Do not deride your country. The fact that you are in the opposition does not mean you should deride the country. I pray that the opposition joins hands with the government to tackle the problems in the north. “But when we have an apposition whose intention is to take over power, there is a problem. I appeal to the national chairman of APC to tread carefully. If they even have their way, they can kill or poison Jonathan just to take over power. If Nigeria falls, there will no country for the opposition to take over.”