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Tag: BUHARI

  • ‘Buhari`s certificate: PDP takes on INEC’

    ‘Buhari`s certificate: PDP takes on INEC’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the issues surrounding the certificate of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, or face a vote of no-confidence from the party.

    Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, director, Directorate of Media and Publicity of the organisation, said this at a news briefing yesterday in Abuja.

    The briefing, he said, was to raise issues that played up on the certificate of Buhari, adding that Buhari had made a shocking and belated disclosure on January 27, that the INEC had his documents without being specific about the documents he was referring to.

    This, he said, was yet another “squalid attempt to give Nigerians the impression that INEC has his certificate.

    “If this is true, it represents a somersault from his original position which was that INEC has his affidavit and it once again reveals Gen. Buhari for what he is.

    “With this latest antic, Gen. Buhari is obviously trying to smuggle a newly acquired certificate into INEC through the backdoor.

    “If this is true and if INEC allows such a thing to happen, it would put a serious question mark on its impartiality and credibility.

    “It would mean that it has collected his newly-acquired certificate, 40 days outside the stipulation of the law.’’

    Fani-Kayode said that Gen. Buhari had also referred Nigerians to INEC’s Legal Adviser on the issue, adding that the same legal adviser had earlier in response to numerous inquiries in December 2014, told the newsmen that INEC had published all that the presidential candidates submitted.

    He had said that in the case of Buhari, FORM CF001 (no certificate attached) and affidavit which was a court papers and not personal document was submitted.

    Fani-Kayode, therefore, wondered at what point the affidavit transmitted into additional documents or when additional documents were provided to INEC in line with the law.

    “The electoral body must come clean on this matter; otherwise we will be compelled to pass a no-confidence vote on it.

    “If INEC is complicit in the desperate and despicable attempt to extricate Gen. Buhari, without compliance with the provisions of the law, from this lingering embarrassment, we will have no other choice than to harbour the suspicion and fear that the electoral body is already compromised and can lend itself to the ungodly agenda of truncating our victory when our candidate wins.’’

    He, however, urged the election observers to keep watch of the unfolding events regarding Buhari’s qualification or otherwise, stressing that in other countries, it was about obeying the rule of law and not about protecting the political interest of an individual.

    This, he said, was especially so since a free, fair and credible election was not about the day of voting alone, but also the processes leading up to the elections.

  • 2015: Jonathan, Buhari, the rich and the poor (5)

    The Presidential election is only 16 days away… on St. Valentine’s Day. It takes nothing away from the aroma of this lovers’ day. Because an election in Nigeria is still as delicate as a chinaware shop in which bulls are running amoks, the right to free movement of persons is curtailed from 10am to 6pm on poll days. After the votes would have been counted, results declared and ballot boxes are taken away by the appropriate authorities, lovers and the love industry will have the rest of the day to themselves. The presidential election campaigns are heating up but are still below the standard expected in an election such as thus in which, arguably, the opposition is presenting the strongest showing ever. Incumbent President Ebele Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appear unwilling to let the hard nuts be cracked. These are economic questions and corruption which Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) would like to make and election issues. Accordingly, the PDP has been focussing on the person of Gen. Buhari to pool wool over these questions and distract the electorate. Incidentally, the APC would appear to still be unable to wrest control of the direction of the campaign from the PDP. But this may count in its favour as every PDP manoeuvre fails to unleash a knock-out. In fact, the goal of the PDP to destroy the person of Buhari, at all cost without informing the electorate wither it would lead Nigeria, may expose it as an empty and desperate party ridden with fear. But only time will tell if the APC can rivet through this emptiness, desperation and fear to knock out the president.

    A Presidential election such as this in which the forces are reasonably well matched paints the picture of a boxing ring and two boxers set out for a championship duet. The PDP probably believes that, by focussing attention on Buhari’s person and demolishing it, attention will be shifted from what Buhari represents and which the electorate may be yearning for. … an anti-corruption crusade which will resolve problems such as massive unemployment municipal electricity failure, and inflation, to mention a few. Poor Buhari. The PDP says he has no “O” level certificate. If he hasn’t, that will pitch him as a semi – illiterate against President Jonathan, who holds a Ph.D. But the attackers of Buhari’s person forgot that Professor Kofi Busia, an economist, couldn’t fix Ghana’s economic troubles, which hurled thousands of Ghana’s women on Nigeria’s prostitution market, and that it was flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings who did, by tackling corruption, and made his country’s economy buoyant again. Now, one after the other, Nigerian blue – chip transnational companies have relocated to Ghana. Now, Nigerian youths are invading Ghana for higher education. Now, many Nigerians who cannot find jobs in their own country, and who cannot afford the rigour of dying in the Morrocan desert on their way to Europe, are finding succour in Ghana.

    I do not know why Nigeria’s electoral law prescribe minimum certification for public office holders. But I  suspect the matter of the likes of Barkin Zuwo may have had a hand in it. He was a governor in one of the states in the north. There were so many jokes made of his cognitive deficiencies. One was that when a huge sum of public funds he was suspected to have converted to personal use was found in the Governor’s official residence and he was questioned about it, he expressed surprise that the storage of “government money in government House” was an offence. Another was that when he pressed for the creation of a new state from his state and he was asked which mineral resources” were available in the proposed state to sustain it economically, Barkin Zuwo replied the minerals present there included “coca-cola, fanta and 7-up”.

    On a more serious note, the electoral law prescribes certification. But there is confusion about this. Some people interpret it as “O” Level Certificate, which would imply at least five credit passes.

  • Buhari Has What It Takes To Win – Remi Idowu

    Buhari Has What It Takes To Win – Remi Idowu

    You are a Nigerian in the Diaspora, what is the mood like over the 2015 elections, especially on the presidential election?

    IDOWU: The mood outside Nigeria, that means covering United Kingdom, USA, Canada and all over the world about this presidential election; the mood is electric, people are very happy that Nigeria has another opportunity to take this democracy forward by electing a president of their choice and critically, the moment we are, we have two strong political parties, the present government, which the PDP represents and a very strong opposition unlike past elections, where opposition parties weren’t strong or weren’t together. But in this case, we have a very strong opposition. So, that gives people in the Diaspora the very feelings that this election will be a very determinant factor whether Nigeria will go forward or we are not serious at all about democracy. So, the mood generally is very high, people are just expecting this to happen come February 14, 2015.

    addition to that, the fears towards the election is actually based on what some people are saying or what they are threatening about the forthcoming election if it doesn’t favour them, especially people from the ruling party and especially my brothers from the Niger-Delta. I don’t want to really mention anybody’s name but I’m someone who is constantly on Facebook and other social media platforms and I have read so many terrible comments by a section of the country especially from the Niger-Delta people, threatening fire and brimstones if Jonathan loses the election, they will declare war. Recently a gubernatorial candidate also made a threat, saying if Jonathan doesn’t win the election, the Niger-Delta will collapse the economy. I don’t think that’s what people need at this moment. We are all Nigerians and we pray for a free and fair election and in so doing, whoever comes victorious in a free and fair poll should be supported, whether PDP or the APC. So, there is no need at this moment for people to be threatening because if we are talking of democracy someone must win and the other part will have to lose and accept as long as the election is free and fair.

    People should stop threatening other people that unless they win. Democracy doesn’t work that way. If you lose, you must accept and if you win, you must be magnanimous about it and we move forward and do what we have to do as a nation. Nigerians in the Diaspora are happy as I said earlier but I think they are disappointed because the President, Goodluck Jonathan, promised when he was campaigning in 2011that those in the Diaspora will have a say in electing their representatives; that they will have power to vote, but the president up till now has not kept this promise. So, I think there is disappointment that they won’t be able to vote except for people like us who are back home to exercise our civic duties. So, there is that disappointment also apart from being happy that we are going to have election and we will elect our true leaders this time around.

    Briefly, can you sum up what you consider to be the political temperature of the country since you came back?

    IDOWU: I have been around almost a week now. I am a politician by my involvement and passion, so I have been around and talking about politics with anybody and everybody I come across. People are very happy that this time around, we will elect our true leaders and I could see that most people have made up their minds who they want to vote for. So, you will have political faithful, those belonging to the PDP, those within the APC and some other parties. People are really excited and they are energized and you could see campaigns going on all over the country, and you could see mammoth crowd coming out to welcome their candidate. The mood is really high in Nigeria and like I said, most people I have talked to, almost 90% have made up their minds who they want to vote for. It is not a matter of whether they are thinking about it or not. Yes, we still have people who have not made up their minds, the undecided but I am sure before the weeks run out, few weeks to election people will definitely decide where they want to be. I have been reading and I have been hearing people saying ‘yes, this is the candidate I am going to vote for’ with reasons given peculiar to themselves, which is fine and I still believe we still have few neutral people that they are neither here nor there, people that I can term as fence sitters. They are still sitting on the fence. I hope they are not going to sit so long before February 14. Everybody will have to make his or her own mind before the election but generally the country is energized. I could see that on political rallies, on comments and debates here and there both on televisions, newspapers because we are all ready for this election because it’s going to make Nigeria and I pray is not going to break Nigeria.

    There are fears that because of the seeming popularity of both Jonathan and Buhari, the outcome of the February 14 poll may bring Nigeria to chaos. What are your fears?

    IDOWU: Let me be honest with you, whichever way it goes, Buhari or Jonathan, my prayer is and my support is for Buhari. I will continue to campaign for him and if it is Jonathan, the fear is there, we may come up with some little or minor chaos here and there. Like I said earlier on, people in Jonathan’s camp, especially his Ijaw people, have been threatening and threat is not part of the democracy. Democracy is for people to stand up, campaign and support a particular candidate of your choice and if that person wins, that is good and if that person loses the election, there is nothing you can do about it. You just have to accept the result as long as the election is fair and free and I want to believe Professor Attahiru Jega is working so hard to give us a free and fair election and with the introduction of the PVC, it means it will be difficult for any political party to rig the election. But I’m not saying that it is still not possible. At least, if we can minimize election rigging trouble, then we have the chance of having a free and fair election that will be acceptable to both candidates. So, once we are able to have an election that is fairly free and fair, it cannot be absolutely free and I don’t think there is any absolutely free and fair election anywhere in the world. But at least, if we can increase the percentage or if we can step up from where we left in 2011 then, it will be clear to the losers that they have to accept and the winners will have to be humble in victory.

    So, the fears are there, the Niger-Delta will want to cause trouble and people are also saying that if Buhari doesn’t win the election, there might be protests across the North. I have not heard from the candidates. I have not heard any of them talking about violence if they don’t win the election. What the APC people are saying is that give us free and fair election. If it’s free and fair, it will be accepted, but if it is not free and fair, if the PDP tries to rig the election, that could be a problem and that would be a genuine reason to have problem in Nigeria but nobody is praying for that. But as long as we can get the election through and try without any problem, then whoever wins will accept and the loser will also have to accept the result.

    Look at what happened in Osun last year with the re-election of Aregbesola. They made several attempts before, during and immediately after the election before the results were announced and Aregbesola was declared. You could see the happiness on the faces of the people and the mass acceptance because the people of Osun knew it was their choice that was declared eventually.

    Having been in the politics of the party in UK for years, do you think APC really has what it takes to deliver good governance?

    IDOWU: APC is a new political party, the merger of parties, the CPC, ACN, APGA, PDP. So, APC is a combination of Nigerian political parties. I did some research on that and I have come out with the fact that APC is the first political party merger in the history of Nigeria. We have been having alliances with parties but this is the first political party merger and we are now talking of the strong viable opposition. If you look at the formation of APC, you are talking of people in the North, CPC, the ACN in the South-West, ANPP in the North East. It is a party that cuts across the length and breadth of this country. So, it comes out to be a very strong opposition.

    From the statement released by PDP people, you could see that desperation and fear. That for the first time, they are having a strong contest with the strong opposition. So, APC has a very high chance in winning this election, not only the presidential but in most cases because for the first time we are having an opposition party that cuts across all the 36 states of Nigeria. I’m not sure it has ever happened in the history of Nigeria. We will give PDP a good run for their money and that means taking the Presidency away from them, winning most of the states and National Assembly and that is my prediction. It is not only my prediction, it is the political reality in Nigeria. All you have to do is to go to town and speak to people. When you speak to people, take sample, speak to ten people, out of ten people, I can assure you that seven to eight are speaking in favour of APC, even though some of them are not members but they have made up their minds that for the first time, they have the candidate that everybody can rally round. We have a candidate that can confidently say that I have never stolen a penny of public fund and I don’t think we have had any past president that could come out and say such a statement. So, the people see in Buhari and by extension, APC, a transparent, credible and strong party that they can rely on. The people have been looking for this kind of opposition for many years but for the first time. So, our chances are really high.

    You have just completed a book on Buhari and planning a presentation, what motivated you to write the book and can we have an insight into the book please?

    IDOWU: As much as I don’t want to talk too much about the book, I have written a book on Buhari, and I want to keep it safe until the public presentation which is going to be few days or some weeks’ time. Actually, it is going to come out before the election because that is the essence of the book. I’m motivated because like I said, as politician and a politician, who is not contesting this time around, I believe I have obligation to contribute to the debate and the way I believe I could contribute to the debate is to present it in a formal way by writing a book about Buhari and Nigeria generally for which a Foreword was written by the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. So, the book covers not only Buhari but the economy of Nigeria, the promises given by President Goodluck Jonathan. It is a political book and it is into three parts. The first part covers the economy, the security threats in Nigeria and many other things that people need to know about the current government of Jonathan, even though PDP has been in power for sixteen years but they keep telling us about only six years of Jonathan and Jonathan happens to be a candidate and representative of PDP government and they have been in power for sixteen years. So, I was able to let people realize that Jonathan is not just coming from the sky. He has been part and parcel of this political system for sixteen years including his party. So, the second part of it relates to the formation of political parties, our past experiences, past political parties, the current and first ever political merger that came out as APC. So, I was able to talk much about that and also showcase what that phenomenon stands for in Muhammadu Buhari. There are misconceptions and misinformation about this man especially from our youth, those who are 30 years or less in age. They don’t have facts and figures about this man. So, most of their comments are based on fictions because they were young when Buhari was in power and they are being fed by mischievous people about what this man stands for. So, I was able to showcase what Buhari stands for in his own words, what he’s been doing since he was born. I was able to relate this and put it in black and white. For people to read and understand themselves because this is the man that stands for integrity, honesty, transparency and he is foremost anti-corruption person Nigeria ever had. So, people will see, read through and understand this man. That was primarily my objective that we must correct this notion that ‘Buhari is this; Buhari is that’ based on misinformation. So the book actually dealt with that to make people realize that Buhari is not what he has been painted as. For example, you can imagine people saying this man is an illiterate. A General! Not only in Nigeria is he respected but all over the world. He is actually number six on the list of honour. So, when people now say he is uneducated, we should tell them to look for other intelligent things to say. So, it’s annoying. So, we were able to let people understand how he started his life from primary school up to where he is at the moment. That is essentially what the book stands for and we hope to present it to the public any moment from now. So, the third part of the book covers what my party stands for because there are lots of things some people don’t still really understand or they don’t take time to or venture to find out. With this new age of technology, all you have to do is to do a little bit of research. To let people have an idea of what we stand for, our manifesto. So, we have our manifesto in the book, so it is not a matter of ‘I don’t know what APC stands for’. All you have to do if you don’t know is to pick the book or go to our website and read. This information is there for the public to see. The part also covers the aspect where I so much believe; where my occupation lays and where I believe Nigeria can benefit immensely and that is provision of public sector housing.

    It serves as my recommendation and the concluding part of the book, because housing alone can revamp Nigeria’s economy if we take it seriously. I was able to put that in black and white for people to see the benefits because housing incorporate everything. It is where we can create millions of job opportunities for our youths, for professionals, for artisans. It’s a huge potential and I was able to relate this, explain it and bring it to the fore front as part of our policy arrangments.

    What role do you expect this book to play in Nigerians deciding who they vote for between Jonathan and Buhari?

    IDOWU: The rationale behind the book is to educate Nigerians, to keep history, to keep record and to present the facts as they are, in other words, if we are well-educated about both politically strong parties of PDP and APC, it will now give you the opportunity to make up your mind. You will know very well about what PDP represents, especially in the last six years of President Jonathan and you will also have the opportunity to see Buhari in his true colour, in his true picture, in his own words. So when you now look at both sides of the coin, Jonathan and Buhari, you then decide who you want to vote for and why you want to vote for this particular choice of yours. We want those who read it to say ‘I have a document that could help me make up my mind.’ I believe it is part of the debate so that once you have facts and figures about both political parties, it will not be difficult to say ‘I can go for A or I can go for B’. That is number one essence of the book.

    Number two is to let history be recorded because I’m not sure we have a political book about Nigeria especially our democracy in the last 50 years. There are few books but we need to do more. I am happy that I’m contributing my part to the Nigerian political literature by writing the book, by stating the economic history of Nigeria, political history of Nigeria and talking about political parties, talking about candidates. This will even help unborn generations to go back and say ‘I have a book that I can read on Jonathan, I have a book that I can read on Buhari without anybody telling me.’ It’s going to be there hundred, fifty years. So, it is going to be a book that will be globally sold because it’s going to be on Amazon online and three onlines worldwide where people can go and buy the book. So, it is going to showcase Nigeria’s democracy to the whole world. It is going to inform Nigerians both in the Diaspora and inside Nigeria about the last six years of PDP government and about this phenomenon called Buhari and you have facts and figures about both candidates.

     

  • PDM endorse Buhari

    PDM endorse Buhari

    National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, Dr Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim(left) presenting the resolution of the party to All progressive Congress Presidential Candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (right) to endorse his candidature in Abuja Tuesday, Jan 27. With them is PDM Deputy National Chairman, Chief Mrs Titilayo Ajanaku. Photo Abayomi Fayese
    National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, Dr Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim(left) presenting the resolution of the party to All progressive Congress Presidential Candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (right) to endorse his candidature in Abuja Tuesday, Jan 27. With them is PDM Deputy National Chairman, Chief Mrs Titilayo Ajanaku. Photo Abayomi Fayese
  • APC alleges plot to attack Buhari in Taraba

    APC alleges plot to attack Buhari in Taraba

    Security chiefs yesterday got a distress call from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    There are plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to cause trouble, the APC said.

    The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation spoke of  plans by hired thugs to attack its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, during his visit to Taraba State today.

    Director (Media and publicity) of the organisation Mallam Garba Shehu said in a statement that it had intelligence report of plans to use thugs to throw stones and sachets of water at the Buhari team.

    Shehu said the APC Campaign viewed seriously any plot to cause a breach of the peace, and then blame it on opposition leaders, stressing that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not committed to the agreement signed by parties and their candidates to conduct violence-free campaigns.

    According to him, any attempt to use thugs to embarrass Gen. Buhari in Taraba State is against the intent of the Kofi Annan initiative, which requires assurances from political parties to shun violence.

    He urged the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Directorate of State Service (DSS) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to halt anarchy from creeping into the campaigns.

    The APC in Rivers State also yesterday said it had received credible information that PDP members were planning to stone President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to the state today and blame it all on APC members, as they did in Bauchi State.

    Publicity Secretary of Rivers APC, Chris Finebone, said in Port Harcourt that the PDP members hatched the plan to blackmail the ruling party during the President’s campaign.

    Finebone said: “According to the plan, which is now in the possession of the APC, huge sums of money and many APC T-shirts will be provided for groups of PDP thugs, who will stone the convoy of Mr. President during the presidential campaign rally  of Port Harcourt.

    “According to the information, the money and T-shirts will be distributed to the thugs by Tuesday January 27 (yesterday). The idea behind this satanic plot is to paint the APC in bad light before the media, observers and the Nigerian public, as well as to divert attention from the various acts of violence that PDP thugs have unleashed on APC members and property across Rivers State in recent times.

    “It is also meant to undermine the reputation of Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

    “The APC in Rivers State will like to state that its members will continue to undertake peaceful campaigns and always act within the ambit of the law and the peace accord signed by its leaders, both at the national and state levels. We will continue to abhor electoral violence in whatever form and we will like to call on the PDP and other parties to do the same at all times.”

    Finebone called on security agencies to be aware of the “dangerous antics” of the PDP members to maim, destroy, kill, bomb and now blackmail the APC members.

    Two APC offices in Rivers State have been bombed. The party’s campaign programme was disrupted in Okirika by gunmen who shot at those arranging the podium.

    Dr. Jonathan’s convoy was stoned in Katsina and Bauchi. Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda has alleged that PDP members were behind the stoning in his state.

    Preparations were in top gear yesterday in Jalingo yesterday to receive Gen. Buhari.

    “We are ready, “ said APC State Chairman Hassan Ardo.

    Ardo said “everything”, in terms of security and logistics, have been done in readiness for the main opposition’s presidential rally in the “Nature’s Gift” state.

    The Trade Fair Complex on Hammaruwa Way, near the State Secretariat, was being decorated, under the watch of the senator representing Northern Taraba, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, who is the governorship candidate.

    It was gathered that the State APC requested to use the stadium for Gen. Buhari’s rally, but the PDP government refused, on grounds that President Jonathan will be holding his rally at the sports complex tomorrow.

    The APC Chairman, however, seems to be more comfortable to hold the “broom rally” at the Trade Fair Complex.

    “We are not complaining. This place is very ok,” he said.

    A trade fair had been going on in the complex, but traders “voluntarily” packed their goods to release the arena for Buhari. A huge crowd was already gathering in the arena even as the venue was only being decorated.

    Many giant billboards carrying Gen. Buhari’s portrait have been mounted outside and inside the venue. Many residents were staring at the billboards.

    In 20011, Gen. Buhari held his presidential rally in the same venue. The rally shut down Jalingo town for two days.

    Today’s is expected to draw more supporters.

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation said that the claim by President Goodluck Jonathan that four years are not enough to transform the country is double-mouthing by a president who has failed to deliver on his own timeline.

    “It is very imprudent of Mr. President to shift the goal post mounted by him in the middle of the game. It was this same President Jonathan who said in 2010 that if he could not improve on the country’s power generation capacity within four years, then it means he could not do anything.

    “What was the president thinking about when he said: ‘Four years are enough for anyone to make significant improvement, and if I can’t improve on power within this period, then it means I cannot do anything.’

    “Nigerians expect that a president must own up to his own words and be responsible for his own beliefs. There can only be one reason why President Jonathan is changing his own beliefs about what it takes to transform the country and that is because he is incompetent for the job.

    “Today, Nigerians are clamouring for change because, for six years the country has been led by a president who cannot give the people direction on how to stop corruption, how to provide security, create employment and provide infrastructure that will impact positively on the economy.

    “We have said it in the past and we will be repeating it that the 2015 election, more than anything is a referendum on the performance of President Jonathan. The President has not measured up to the least expectations of Nigerians and that is why they are earnestly waiting for February 14 to pass their verdict.

    “Whereas the Goodluck Jonathan administration has not been able to deliver on any of the promises the president made to Nigerians in 2010, the government under the President’s watch has surpassed every known boundaries on issues of corruption and impunity.

    “Let us remind the president that if truly Rome was not built in a day, Rome is also not built forever. The President has failed to deliver by his own timelines and he should patiently wait for Nigerians to pass their verdict over the incompetence of his administration,” Shehu said.

  • Revealed: How PDP chiefs forged Buhari document

    Revealed: How PDP chiefs forged Buhari document

    Blogger accuses Fani-Kayode of doctoring mail

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders seem to be hanging on tenaciously to their puerile stand that All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has not come clean on its academic qualifications.

    It emerged yesterday that the PDP Presidential Campaign Council manipulated a Cambridge University e-mail to justify its claim that Gen. Buhari’s West African School Certificate’s statement of result was forged.

    PDP Campaign Council spokesman Femi Fani-Kayode has been accused of doctoring an e-mail from Cambridge.

    An accountant and blogger, Mr. Suraj Oyewale, claimed in a message published by Premium Times that the e-mail received from Cambridge by his friend, Sodiq Alabi, was doctored by Fani-Kayode to achieve another purpose. Fani-Kayode has not disputed this claim.

    Oyewole said: “The controversy over the secondary school results of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, continues as the  University of Cambridge has said that Hausa Language, which is one of the subjects listed by Buhari, was not offered in its examinations in 1961.

    “The disclosure was contained in a statement from the office of the Director of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation claiming it came through an e-mail dated Thursday, January 22, 2015 from the institution’s Archives Delivery Service Officer, Jacky Emerson, to one SODIQ ALABI who requested for confirmation if the examination body offered Hausa Language in the 1961 West African Certificate Examination it organised.

    “Emerson, in his one-sentence reply, said: “According to the Regulations for 1961, African Language papers, including those for Hausa, WERE NOT included for West African School Certificate.

    “This development may have further cast doubts on the certificate which is purported to be General Buhari’s.  He is yet to react to the assertion by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation that the document (the published certificate) was forged and illegally procured.” (Capitalizations mine)

    Sodiq was shocked such falsehood was attributed to him by Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode and wanted misrepresentation.

    “Sodiq Alabi (sodiqalabi@ hotmail.com) had written an email to Cambridge Assessment, the brand name of University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicates, on January 22, 2015, 13.31 hours, to confirm whether Hausa was truly offered by it in 1961 examinations. By 4.10pm same day, Jacky Emerson (archives@ cambridgeassessment.org.uk), Archive Services Delivery officer of Cambridge Assessment, replied thus: “Dear Sodiq Alabi, According to the Regulations of 1961, African Language papers, WERE SET for West Africa School Certificate.”

    “A screenshot of this email exchange was shared with us on Facebook by Sodiq and it went viral on the internet.

    “The email triggered other Nigerians to send emails to Cambridge Assessment for independent confirmation and the school came out with a statement on its website the next day. In the release titled, ‘Statement in response to Nigerian Presidential election enquiries”, the school stated, ‘The organisation also confirmed that according to the Regulations for 1961, African Language papers, including those for Hausa, WERE SET for the West African School Certificate.” Here is the link to the Cambridge Assessment website where this confirmation was published: http://cambridgeassessment.org.uk/news/statement-in-response-to-nigerian-presidential-election-enquiries/.

    “It is however surprising that Femi Fani-Kayode went ahead to alter the content of Sodiq’s email in his press statement to, ‘According to the Regulations for 1961, African Language papers, including those for Hausa, WERE NOT included for West African School Certificate.’, and still quoted the email as the source.

    “It is very unfortunate that this is the man speaking for the President’s re-election campaign. How do we believe every other ‘fact’ he has quoted has not been altered as well? It is a shame.

    He added: “This is not the first time President Jonathan’s men are forging or altering documents to demonise anyone perceived as the President’s ‘enemy’. His New Media Assistant, Reno Omokri, was also busted in February, last year, when he hid under a pseudonym, Wendel Simlin, to send false but damaging reports to newspapers to demonise the then just suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. A dig into the source of the computer used in typing the document showed it was a certain Reno Omokri that authored it!”

  • ‘EU Mission won’t monitor polls in Northeast’

    ‘EU Mission won’t monitor polls in Northeast’

    •Delegation meets Buhari

     

    Head of European Election Observation Mission to Nigeria Santiago Ayxela said yesterday his team would not monitor next month’s general elections in the Northeast due to security reasons.

    He told reporters in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, that the mission would, however, deploy people close to the area and rely on their contacts in the area for better information.

    Ayxela said the team was put in place in November 2014 and would function till mid-April.

    The mission head added that the responsibility of the team would not be restricted to election day, but the entire electoral process beginning with the conduct of the primaries by political parties and compliance with the provisions of the law among other things.

    He said: “First, I want to thank General Buhari for the opportunity to have this interview here. The European Election Mission is a big mission. It is a mission that started in November and will be in place till mid-April.

    “What happened on the election day is not only the problem. It is what happened during and within a space of time, how their primaries were done, how the law has been complied with, the propaganda, activities of the media and any possible claims after the elections.

    “That is our role and not just to follow up the days of election. This is a very big country with so many inhabitants. And so, it is not possible to cover everything. I can’t tell you that we will cover all the wards, either for this election or for any other election.

    “We can’t be in the Northeast for security reasons. But we will deploy people very close to the Northeast. We have contacts there to get better information as much as we can have. But the present situation does not allow us to go to the Northeast.”

    He said the mission might hold a similar meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan soon.

    But, he stressed, however, that the meeting with the president would depend on his schedule since he would be the one to fix the date for such meeting.

    The APC presidential candidate described the EU election mission as experienced people in election monitoring, stressing that they had monitored elections in other countries before now.

    Buhari said: “They are vast in this field and they have been covering elections in other countries, even though they are not similar to our own. They are very experienced people; they are qualified to come for this supervision.

    “As you observed, they cannot cover the over 120,000 polling units. But they have placed people on strategic places to advise them.”

  • Fayose: It Is Silly To Mock The Dead, Have Death Wish For Buhari

    Controversial governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, is currently in the news for what people described as offensive and inciting advert in national newspapers, where he paraded past northerners, who were former heads of state that died in office, with the picture of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammodu Buhari.

    Fayose, who was not ready to apologize for the advert, maintained that Buhari is too old and might also die in office like General Murtala Mohammed, Sanni Abacha and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    The advert generated knocks and criticisms from politicians, professionals in media profession and civil societies, who decried the level at which Fayose was going about politics and campaigns for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

    The Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organization in the State of Osun has cautioned Fayose against what it described as ‘campaign of calumny, irresponsibility and uncultured language contained in his advertorial published in some of the national newspapers.

    According to the campaign organization, the content of the advertorial was capable of undermining the unity of Nigeria and truncating the peace of the country.

    The group condemned in totality the advert in which Fayose paraded former northern heads of state that died in office with a question mark on Buhari’s picture, apparently doubting the longevity of Buhari, if he emerges as the President of the country.

    Chairman of the campaign group in the state, Senator Mudasiru Husein, said that the advert portrayed Fayose as not only a silly politician, but also a governor lacking in morality and common sense.

    Husein in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Monday stated that it was irresponsible, barbaric and ungodly for Fayose to be mocking the dead, who were military presidents from the northern part of the country, in the name of politics.

    He added that it was sinful and foolhardy for Fayose to wish Buhari an untimely death because of politics, just as he condemned President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for supporting such provocative advert messages.

    “The advert is a big slap on the northerners, the Muslims and Nigerians in general. I believe that a sane person would not be mocking the dead and wishing his fellow human being untimely death because of politics. Fayose needs to apologize to Nigerians and specifically, the families of the former heads of state he paraded in the offensive adverts.

    “Fayose and the PDP are poking the northerners in the eye deliberately with the advert. Has he forgotten that Aguyi Ironsi, a southerner and a Christian, died as the Head of State. I must say that the advert is capable of generating both religious and ethnical crisis across the country. It is only a fool that will play politics with the sensitivity of religions and ethnicity at the present time in Nigeria.

    “It is necessary to conduct a psychiatric examination for Fayose because of his misbehaviour and unguided statements. PDP is a sinking ship and its passengers should not sink Nigeria with it.”

     

  • U.S. to Jonathan, Buhari: Feb. elections must go on

    U.S. to Jonathan, Buhari: Feb. elections must go on

    Kerry talks tough against violence

    May 29 handover sancrosant, says President 

    Next month’s elections must go on as scheduled, theUnited States (U.S.) said yesterday.

    There have been unpopular suggestions of a shift in some circles,  with the tacit support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The position of the U.S was conveyed in Lagos yesterday by Secretary of State John Kerry after separate meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the top contenders in the February 14 presidential election.

    National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) gave the clearest hint yet of the interest of the Federal Government in shifting the elections when he declared at a lecture in Chatham House in London last Thursday that there was nothing wrong in postponing the polls to enable eligible Nigerians collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The statement has attracted outrage from many Nigerians, who likened it to a coup against the Constitution.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the “advice”, saying it is a ploy to enable the ruling party regain its breath. But the PDP has not said anything on it.

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has, however, said a change in date is not contemplated by the agency.

    Yesterday, Kerry declared: “It is imperative these elections happen on time and as scheduled and must be improvements over past elections.”

    He added: “They must set a new standard for this democracy. That means, Nigerians must not only reject violence,  they have to actually promote peace.”

    Kerry met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Marina, Lagos before meeting with General Buhari at the U.S. Consulate House in Ikoyi.

    Gen. Buhari was accompanied by APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Campaign Director and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

    The delegation arrived at the venue at about 2.41pm and immediately went into the closed door session, which lasted about two hours.

    Kerry also cautioned against violence.

    He said any politician who organised a widespread “systematic violence” against civilian population will be held accountable, including placing them on diplomatic sanction.

    A source said Buhari told Kerry that the APC was against violence, adding that unruly behaviours occurred in PDP states.

    He said: “I came here today to deliver a very simple message and I have met with both major candidates to underscore that international community has paid a very close attention into this election and we are deeply committed to working with Nigerians with the hope that they will have an election that is free of violence and capable of instilling confidence in the future.”

    The U.S. envoy said there was need for a long-term and comprehensive global effort to combat violent extremism and to address its underlying causes. Nigeria, he said, knows how such global effort is desperately needed.

    He said the U.S was concerned about the effrontery of Boko Haram, which, he said, daily visits its bloody campaign on innocent civilians, and attacks villages and military installations in places like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. He said the U.S. government deeply regretted the toll, which insurgency was taking on the people.

    Kerry dismissed the notion that there was an alliance between Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and Boko Haram, saying intelligence before the U.S. government showed the latter sprang up independently.

    He said President Barack Obama pledged his support for the Nigerian troops in fighting Boko Haram insurgency. He said there was need for a multi-national strategy that would not only crush Boko Haram and Al-qaeda, but which would also address the environment from where violent extremism grows.

    He said: “This is why President Obama announced an international summit next month in Washington on combating violent extremism around the world. It will be held at the White House and it will be at the ministerial level and we hope to bring people together; they will be engaged on the fight against Boko Haram and other entities. So, we can share best practices and we can hear from people about what they need and what they think is necessary to summon stronger global response.”

    The envoy said the best way to combat Boko Haram is by organising peaceful, credible and transparent election, which he said is essential for any thriving democracy. Nigeria, which he described as the largest thriving democracy in Africa, cannot afford to miss the opportunity.

    “I met with President Jonathan earlier today (yesterday) and separately with Gen. (Muhammadu) Buhari. I was encouraged to hear once again from both men that, this is exactly what they intend to do; to try to press for election that would be held with credibility, which people of Nigeria want and deserve.

    “As President Jonathan said in his New Year’s message, ‘none of our political ambitions is worth the blood of any of our countrymen, women and children’. And as Gen. Buhari recently twitted, ‘electoral violence is unacceptable and every Nigerian life is sacred’. Both candidates have also signed on to the so-called Abuja Accord, which commits them to running exclusively issue-based campaigns, refraining from violence before during and after election day;  And speaking out against violence.

    “This is a commitment we need to see from everyone. And they are commitments that need to be kept. Many people are stepping out. For example, Comrade (Attahiru) Jega, chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the commission’s employees are taking concrete steps to guarantee these elections are successful. We also urge all Nigerian governors to call for peaceful democratic engagements. We ask all parties, candidates to do the same.”

    If any candidate had reason to doubt the outcome of the election, Kerry said such a person should explore the legal channel, which he said is the most viable option and fundamental to the democratic process.

    He said Nigeria remained a strategic partner of the United States and has critical roles to play in development of Africa. The envoy said U.S. government was committed to ensuring the general elections are successful, noting that President Obama, last week, sent an Electoral Security Adviser to advise INEC on security and risk for any violence that might emerge.

    Kerry said: “Let me be clear. Anyone who participates in widespread systematic violence against the civilian population must be held accountable, including ineligibility for American visa. Violence has no place in democratic elections and I guarantee you that the perpetrators of such violence will not be welcomed in the United States of America.”

    The U.S. Secretary also spoke on telephone with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, wishing him well “on the onerous task of conducting an election that will be acceptable to all Nigerians and deemed credible by international community.”

  • Police: Buhari’s head teacher not dead

    Police: Buhari’s head teacher not dead

    The Katsina Police Command has dispelled rumours of the alleged murder of Malam Ballo Isyaku, head teacher of Government College, Katsina, who released Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Aminu Sadiq, made the denial to reporters in Katsina.

    He said the command had contacted top officials of the ministry of Education and they confirmed that the principal was hale and hearty.

    Sadiq said the command also contacted the commissioner for Education and the zonal director of Education, who assured the police that the rumour was false.

    “We are surprised to read the story online that the principal had been killed by unknown gunmen.

    “The command wishes to state that the principal in question is currently organising a naming ceremony for a baby that came into his family,” he said.

    The PPRO called on the members of the public to disregard the publication as the handiwork of mischief-makers, adding that some disgruntled elements were out to cause disaffection among the residents of Katsina.

    The social media had been spreading the rumour that Isyaku had been assassinated by unknown gunmen for releasing the certificate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.