INEC announces new dates for 2015 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by Attahiru Jega, has announced a shift in the dates of the 2015 general elections earlier scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28 respectively. Following a series of marathon meetings today, Jega announced the postponement of the February 2015 presidential, national assembly, state assembly and gubernatorial elections. 

According to him, ‘There are critical things that fall outside the control of an electoral management body.There are a number of issues that are critical to elections like security which is not under the control of INEC.I was invited to brief the Council of State on INEC’s preparedness for 2015 elections.The summary of my presentation to the COS is that INEC is substantially ready to conduct elections.In addition, in the delivery of election materials, INEC has made delivery to the states.INEC is capable of delivering free and fair elections.

However, as I mentioned earlier, there are other factors to conduct while planning elections like security.I’ll like to reiterate here that INEC is an Electoral Mgt Body and not a security agency.In consideration of the advice by the security agencies, it will be unconscionable to have elections without adequate security.’ Speaking further, he said: ‘In consideration of the advice by the security agencies, it will be unconscionable to have elections without adequate security to play its traditional role in providing security during the elections.

The questions from stakeholders has been:1) should INEC proceed with the elections despite consultations with the security agencies ..2) take into consideration the concerns and reschedule the date of elections. INEC not being a security agency and concern for the staff and observers during elections, INEC cannot guarantee protection. Under this circumstances, few EMBs will proceed with elections after the security consultations. 

Consequently the Comm has rescheduled the elections, Pres, Sen and HOA has been moved to Mar 28. Gov and SOA has been rescheduled to April 11th.We in INEC promise to deliver free, fair and credible elections.We implore the security agency to stick to their promise and commitment made to INEC.We wish to call on all Nigerians to accept this in good faith to deepen democracy in our country Nigeria.’... 

Buhari dusts Jonathan in new presidential poll

Lagos - The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, has defeated the President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in an online poll conducted by the African Independent Television (AIT),

Buhari’s lead in the poll was despite a sponsored documentary against him that is being repeatedly shown on AIT stations across Nigeria.

To avoid the backlash from the Presidency, the station had to abruptly end the poll on Tuesday.

Before the poll was taken down, Buhari garnered a total of seven thousand, eight hundred and twenty five votes, representing over seventy six per cent (79%) of the total online poll.


On the other hand, the President Jonathan got two thousand and forty five votes , representing twenty per cent (20.09%) of the total online poll.

AKA postpones trip to Nigeria over visa issues..

(AKA’s trip to Nigeria has been postponed due to visa hitches. Photo: Instagram) Award winning South African rapper, AKA was earlier announced to headline today’s Industry Nite session in Lagos, Nigeria as well as celebrate his 27th birthday in Nigeria today, January 28, 2015 but he won’t be making the trip down anymore. 

NET gathered that the rapper, who was supposed to have arrived in Lagos since yesterday, Tuesday, January 27, 2015 ahead of the event, was denied a Visa at the last minute. A disappointed AKA confirmed via his verified Twitter account to fans that he wouldn’t be in Nigeria as earlier scheduled anymore, saying: ‘We’ve had to postpone my trip to Nigeria and Ghana due to delays with my visa. 

Super disappointed but new dates will be announced soon.’ The rapper, who was born in Cape Town, began his career in 2002. He turns 27 today and has been receiving tons of goodwill messages across social media.... 

Amosun promises to concentrate on rural development if elected

Abeokuta - Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Wednesday promised to continue to commit the resources of the state for the development of the rural areas across the state, if re-elected.

Amosun gave the promise in Coker, a town in Ifo local Government of the state in Ogun during his re-election campaign tour.

He said his administration would focus on the construction of rural roads, electricity supply, and create employment opportunities in rural communities.

“I want to thank you for your support and perseverance in the last three and half years.”

“It is not that we neglect you; our concentration during the first term was on urban renewal which we intend to attract investors into the state.”

“You can see that many companies have sprung up in the state and many investors are still interested in doing their businesses in Ogun.”

“What we have been doing is to make the environment more conducive for investors.”

“This we believe will allow us to develop the rural areas for the establishment of more industries and for investors to come in.”

Jonathan Breaches Oath Of Office, Supports Ethnic Warlords – APC Campaign Alleges

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has slammed President Goodluck Jonathan for allegedly maintaining complicity and alliance with ethnic warlords who have been threatening to tear the country apart in case he (Jonathan) fails at the February 14 presidential polls.

The APCPCO said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday that this unholy alliance by the President with elements that served notice of their diabolical intention to foment trouble is in negation to the oath of allegiance sworn to over five years ago by the President, to maintain the territorial integrity and indivisible Nigeria.

The statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APCPCO, Mallam Garba Shehu, condemned the President's attitude of “condoling treasonable statements and gross indiscipline by some elements of his kinsmen – as a breach of presidential oath to protect all Nigerians and a sheer display of double standard and selective justice.”

According to the statement, “How can the President feign ignorance of the war plots and call to arms in Bayelsa State Government House in Yenagoa, supervised by a PDP Governor, Seriake Dickson, and the Presidential Special Adviser on Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, with majority of Niger Delta ex-militant kinsmen.

“Whereas this President was quick to condemn MEND for allegedly supporting the opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, and lambast claims by the hoax Federal Government-hired Australian negotiator with the Boko Haram, Dr Stephen Davis; publicly bad-mouthed his critics particularly former Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo; yet he has refused to call to order tribal war-mongers like Kingsley Kuku and his cohorts – Asari Dokubo, Tompolo, Boy Loaf and others. This is a total and unequivocal support of Mr. President for aiding and abetting treason in the land, an impeachable offence by all standards.”

Also recalling similar situations of Jonathan's alleged lukewarm attitude towards probing or punishing alleged criminal plots, the APC Campaign said the “former President Obasanjo wrote in his famous Open Letter to Jonathan, of a 'hidden agenda by snipers trained abroad to eliminate 1,000 opposition politicians' in case Jonathan fails to return to Aso Rock Villa in 2015,” adding “ Up till now, no inquiry has been instituted to probe the serious allegation.”

The statement also attributed the clandestine procurement and distribution of arms and ammunition across the nation, all in the name of fighting insurgency, to a grand design by the incumbent President and his party to scuttle democracy or eventually break up the country for parochial gains.

“It is now common knowledge that strange planes and helicopters laden with arms have been landing at unauthorised spots in some parts of the country. The incident in Kano where a cargo plane supposedly going to neighbouring country of Niger landed unexpectedly, and the use of drones one of which allegedly crashed recently; coupled with the shady movement of millions of raw dollars to do undercover black market buying of weapons in South Africa. All these incidents ride against the tide of transparency and public accountability and a clear breach of the President's oath of allegiance to the country's Constitution,” the APC Campaign said.

Youths attack Jonathan’s convoy in Katsina

Katsina - Some youths suspected to be political thugs  attacked the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina State, reports Opinionvoices

Jonathan was in the state in continuation of his re-election campaign.

The broom-wielding youths first tried to attack Jonathan and some leading members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as they made their way to pay a courtesy visit on the late President Umar Yar’Adua’s mother, Hajiya Dada

They were, however, dispersed by the security details attached to the President.


The youths regrouped and laid siege on the road leading to the Yar’adua residence, blocking off the president’s exit route.

Security agents, fires tear gas canisters again to disperse the youths to allow the presidential convoy to speed off. 

The presidential  candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari is from the state.

Katsina College releases Buhari’s ​WASC results

Government College, formerly Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, which Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, graduated from in 1961, has released Mr. Buhari’s secondary school certificate examination results.

The results, obtained exclusively by  Wednesday, confirm Mr. Buhari’s claim that he undertook the University of Cambridge West African School Certificate Examinations and obtained five credits in English Language, Geography, Hausa Language, History, and Health Science.

Opinionvoices obtained the computer printout from Cambridge University as well as a statement of result, signed by the current principal of Katsina College, dated January 21, 2015.

The results show that Mr. Buhari, a former military head of state, failed in Mathematics and Woodwork, and had a pass in Literature in English.

The examination centre number was 8280, while Mr. Buhari’s candidate number was 002.

The statement of results is printed on the letter head paper of the Katsina State Ministry of Education, and it shows that the examination took place in 1961.

The Cambridge print out also shows the result of 17 other candidates at the centre, including Shehu Yar’Adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Controversy over Mr. Buhari’s result escalated Tuesday after the Nigerian Army, which had earlier admitted to having copies of his certificate, reversed itself, saying it could not even attest to the details listed in his records.

The spokesperson of the Army, Olajide Laleye, said “Neither the original copy, certified true copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major-.Gen. Mohammadu Buhari‘s WASC result is in his personal file.”

He said while it is the practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the service, the selection board verifies the original copies of credentials as presented, “There is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s.”

The military’s comments came after the retired general had said that his lost copies of results were with the Army, an explanation he gave ahead of elections February 14.

Mr. Buhari expressed shock at the claim and told the media in Kano, Wednesday, that he had given the controversy no serious thought until the intervention by the military.

He emphasised at a briefing that started behind schedule that he indeed sat for the Cambridge West African Examination, alongside Mr. Yar’adua, and Umar Abdullahi, a former President of the Court of Appeal.

“My examination number was 8200002, and I undertook the examination together with some prominent Nigerians including, late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and former President of Court of Appeal, Umar Abdullahi,” the former military leader said.

He said since his disclosure that he had lost the original copies of his academic documents, he had all along assumed his records with the Military Secretary, a position he once occupied for years, remained intact.

“But to my utmost surprise I was told that although the records of my certificate are available but there are no copies of my certificates in my file,” Mr. Buhari said.

“I consented to this press conference because of the concern of my supporters and well-meaning Nigerians on the issue at stake, otherwise I will treat it for what it is: pure mischief. I wouldn’t have considered it an issue worth the nation’s while.”

Mr. Buhari challenged the Nigerian media to undertake a special investigative Journalism on the issue so that they will uncover the truth behind the allegations.

He repeatedly accused the ruling PDP of stirring the controversy to divert public attention from the critical issues of insecurity, corruption and economic woes, facing the nation.

“And although the ruling party may want to wish this away, the issue in this campaign cannot be my certificate which I obtained 53 years ago,” he said. “The issues are the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of our young people, the state of insecurity, the pervasive official corruption which has impoverished our people and the lack of concern of the government for anything other than the retention of power at all costs.”

A CHANGE NIGERIA PLEDGE

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Vote and Love On FeBuhari 14

e 2015 elections is a time of monumental decision for Nigerians. Unlike time past, we now have two strong parties that could never have presented more radically different candidates. We also have a better organized and at least a fairer umpire: the INEC of Jega is not the same as that of one Maurice Iwu. 

For the upcoming electoral contest on one side is the incumbent, President Jonathan and his deputy, Sambo- an Architect turned Governor and naturally the election should really be a referendum on their tenure, having now served six years. 

There is no doubt that the President’s camp is trying so hard so that this election will not be a referendum about 2009 to 2015 but will be one about a different era. Unfortunately, they have no choice in this matter. The electorate seems to be determined to hold their feet to the fire and we hope we can see it through this time. 

Reviewing the President’s own report card shows a man desperately in need of a record to run on after breaking his 91 promises of 2011. Surrounded by sharks, his administration has been railroaded (no pun intended given is camp love for rails) into “chopping” such that even IBB can claim to be better on corruption! That is how low we have sunk- when the enfant terrible himself can say: “I told you so!”

On the other side is the main opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) is presenting a former General & Head of State Buhari and his running mate, Professor Osinbajo- an erudite scholar, activist, preacher and public servant. One thing the ticket has going for it is personal integrity – no one, not even the President’s henchmen have had the gut to call into question the integrity of Buhari/Osinbajo. Everyone seem to agree that in a land where stealing by public servants is the norm, these two men are clean! This is a record and one the current occupants of the same office cannot claim.

To this end, the choice for Nigeria’s voters is not so much about the challenger but the man in power. Having rejected him, we must then score our degree of confidence in the opposition based on various factors including performance at other levels, record of their candidate and the team around the candidates. Indeed, beyond personal integrity it is important for Nigerians to know what is in it for them after four years of Buhari/Osinbajo. This inquest took me to the APC manifesto page and here are few things I found coupled with political statements at town hall meetings by the candidates:

• Anti-Corruption – the APC manifesto clearly promises to plug the corruption loophole on the federal level, first by prosecuting offenders. I have no doubt this will be implemented, score my confidence Extremely High on this count.
• Job Creation & Private Sector Participation – At the heart of the APC promise is the creation of 6 Regional Development Authorities, endowed each with 50 billion naira, and charged with creating 2 million jobs annually. Initially the party has also promised to create 720,000 jobs in partnership with the 36 state governments as a stopgap measure. The party has been clear about diversifying away from oil, and focusing on IT, Manufacturing, Entertainment and Agriculture. Score my confidence level High that this program will be implemented successfully.
• Energy  - while it did not commit to the break up of NNPC (it mentioned the new government will consider this); but it committed to full commercialization (possible public listing) and removal of its regulatory powers. I personally think a break up is absolutely required and a forensic audit of all existing oil blocs, contracts and agreements – and clawing back as well as prosecution where cases of impropriety are found on part of any player: local or international. I have an Average confidence this will succeed. 
• Education & Health – the Buhari/APC manifesto is committed to free and compulsory basic education & health, as well as increase in budget allocation to these two key sectors while linking the National-State framework. While I’m hopeful, the work in this sector will take more than four years to fix. My confidence of any appreciable progress is Below Average.
• Social Welfare – the Buhari/APC manifesto is committed to cash transfers and setting up a social security framework for the elderly, disabled and the unemployed under thirty in that order. While I will prefer a comprehensive cash transfer of oil revenues linked to current subsidy expenditure (being cancelled), and covering all the population on equal basis, this is a good start. My confidence level is High. 
• Infrastructure – the Buhari/APC manifesto is committed to a massive overhaul based on Public Private Partnerships. Based on the evidence of what we’ve seen in APC governed states, I have no doubt this will be the high point of a continuous APC administration at the center for at least 2 terms. My confidence level is Average to Extremely High. 
• Power – the Buhari/APC manifesto calls for a more conclusive privatization of electrical power supply chain, while deregulating gas supply to encourage investment in the sector. The manifesto has also called for decentralized power generation to encourage captive, embedded and modular power supplies at state and local levels. I have a High Degree of confidence this will get done and we will experience significant improvement in this sector based on what APC have done in Lagos state around IPP Projects.
• Security – taking the fight to Boko Haram and Niger Delta militants is the cardinal security objective of the APC Manifesto. This program rests on three legs: Overhaul of the 5 Security Services, Constitutional Amendment for State Police and in the short term a state oversight of local policing, and Amnesty and use of incentives to reduce the recruiting pool for insurgents. While the emphasis on local policing is great, I hope the elimination of police barracks and a policy to allow police to live among the people is implemented. That said, my confidence level that this promise will succeed is High, and the for the sake of our country it has to succeed and it’s by far the second most important task after curtailing the massive corruption that has eaten deep into our national fabric after sixteen years of the PDP celebration of perfidy! 

The biggest gap in the APC manifesto is that is seeks to achieve so much is such little period, especially in an environment of lower oil prices and revenue; but given its record on the state level, and its proven ability to stop leakages and increase tax revenue, there is no doubt that a government in a hurry is doable under a Buhari/Osinbajo dispensation. Also, those that have constantly sought federalism as a pure idealistic pursuit may be tad bit disappointed at APC’s seeming wishy-washy federalism. One would have hoped for a more radical push for federalism: devolution of powers, increase of state share of allocation and firm horizon for state police creation. But half bread indeed is better than none! 

There you have it. When some “neutral” people ask you what Buhari/APC’s manifesto is all about, you can do well to send them to these pages because the upcoming election is too important, and far too compelling to sit on the sideline. 

Regardless of whom you support, it is imperative you go out and obtain your Permanent Voters Card today and vote on February 14 and 28; protect your vote as well.  Do not leave the polling station until your votes are counted and recorded; to prevent malpractice record the results on video and post on social network. Do this for your children and grand children. Because I have a feeling that this time it will be different. 

I close by remembering the words of Pa Awo, who said and I quote:

"A day will come when Nigerian Masses from the North and South, Christians, Muslims and Animists will marge as a force for progress and unity, and kick against Rigging, Corruption and Tyranny."

That day is nigh. February 14 – mark it on your calendar. Make Love, not war. 

Super Eagles won’t share in CAF’s $10-million largesse

THE Super Eagles of Nigeria and Pharaohs of Egypt are some of the big teams missing out in the sharing of the $10-million rolled out by the Confederation of African Football as prize money for the on-going 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Cup.

  In a statement Tuesday, CAF said its total prize-money for the Equatorial Guinea showpiece remains unchanged from the tournament previously held in South Africa in 2013, with winners set to pocket R17.4 million.

  According to the statement, 16 countries taking part in the 30th edition of the tournament will share a whopping $10-million (R116-million) when the tournament comes to an end on February 8 in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

  However, CAF said the losing finalists will walk away with $1-million (R11.6m), with the two semi-finalists banking $750 000 (R8.7m) each, while teams that reach the last eight will be handed $600 000 (R7m).

  Countries that finish third in each of the four groups will receive $500 000 (R5.8m) with the least prize-money to be paid out set at $400 000 (R4.65m) for the four teams finishing bottom in each of the groups.

  The prize-money paid out by the football governing body remains unchanged despite the fact that revenues for the continental mother body have improved in recent years.

  In comparison, Euro 2012 champions Spain were paid $27-million (R314m) out of the $245-million (R2.85-billion) tournament package while the CONMEBOL paid $7-million (R81.4m) to 2011 Copa America champions Uruguay. The Asian Football Confederation will pay $10-million (R116m) to be shared amongst the top three teams this year. 

Jonathan's Oil Revenue As Much As Yaradua, Obj, Abdusalami & Abacha Combined

Nigeria's total crude oil sales was $470B in all 5 years of Pre. Jonathan's administration and $489B for Yaradua+Obasanjo+Abdusalami+Abacha administrations combined, in unadjusted numbers. Adjusted for inflation, the numbers are $488.8B vs. $594B for Jonathan vs. Yaradua+Obj+Abdusalami+Abacha combined.

As Nigerians going into the 2015 elections, are we asking the right QUESTIONS? Are we demanding appropriate accountability from past and current leaders commensurate with the quantum of resources at their disposal? I dug out some numbers recently to do a more representative (apple-to-apple) analysis of the performance of past and present Nigerian administrations. My data sources are (1) The Nigerian Central Bank, (2) the US EAI, (3) OPEC and (4) Other online data sources. Take a close at the charts I generated from the data and let's start demanding real answers!

To arrive at these numbers, I took average monthly production - very fine data resolution, and calculated how much dollars volumes we sold each year. For adjustment for inflation, I used 2.5% annual $ inflation rate. To put inflation adjustment in perspective, $1.00 in 1999 is equivalent to $1.44 in 2014. In just 5 years, Jonathan's administration has generated as much crude oil sales as all 16 years of Yaradua, Obasanjo, Abdusalami and Abacha's administrations combined in unadjusted numbers. This comes to $470B vs $489B in unadjusted numbers. When adjusted for inflation, the numbers are $488.8B vs. $594B for Jonathan vs. Yaradua+Obj+Abdusalami+Abacha combined. The numbers are what they are because oil price has risen almost 7-8 folds during this period, nearly an order of magnitude increase. In addition to price increase, Nigeria's crude oil output has also increased. I am hoping we can start asking tough questions, we'd continue to be hoodwinked. My question again is simple: even with 2.5% annual inflation adjustment, the numbers are $488.8b vs $594b. Does the investment in Nigeria in the past 5 years add up to ~$500B.

Crude Sales by Year

Crude Sales by Administration

Crude Sales by Administration

Crude Sales by Administration

Crude Sales by Administration

Death Wish On Buhari: Age Does Not Determine How Long One Lives, President Jonathan Tells Fayose

“It is important that we recognize the fact that age is not an indication of how long somebody will live,” 
   
                                                          said Mr. Jonathan’s spokesman. According to him, “We believe strongly that we must continue to show immense respect to the person of Buhari.”

 Even so, he added that it was “important to always raise question about facts. You know what these questions are and we will continue this raise them.
                                    “We do not wish him ill, we do not wish him dead, we wish him long life and we believe strongly that such sentiments can be aired by individuals, [but] certainly not in our name."

under pressure to distance himself from some of his campaigners’ questionable moves and comments, 

President Goodluck Jonathan today told Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State that age was not a determinant of how long someone would live.

I Will Address Certificate Scandal —Buhari

Buhari, through Garba Shehu, Director of the APC's Media and Publicity, says he will address the issue at a press conference at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 21.

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flag-bearer, says he will speak on the controversy surrounding of his certificate on Wednesday in Kano.
Buhari, through Garba Shehu, Director of the APC's Media and Publicity, says he will address the issue at a press conference at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 21.