A conservative think-tank based in the United Kingdom, called Bow Group has faulted the relationship between the All Progressives Congress, APC with insurgency in the North East with a published damning report on the role played by the United State, US, in the rise of the Boko Haram and the link between the APC members and the Boko Haram.

The report, titled “Exposing and Defeating Boko Haram, Why the West must unite to help Nigeria defeat terrorism” published on its website. The brain-trust asserts, “An early investigation into the backers of Boko Haram and their links to the APC, followed by potential sanctions designed to prevent Nigeria from becoming a future safe-haven for terrorists, and threat to UK citizens at home and abroad, therefore seems an appropriate and important strategy to prevent future terrorist threats before they take hold.”

According to the report, authored by Jacob Zen, a Global Law Scholar and a research analyst who has written extensively about Boko Haram and Northern Nigeria, faults the involvement of the US in Nigerian politics. The reports says, “The US is playing a dangerous game,”

“There are concerns in the international community and Nigeria that the U.S. Democratic Party or its advisers may be associating themselves with northern Nigerian politicians, despite reported links to Boko Haram.

“Any political pact between US officials and the APC carries risks – the US must adopt a neutral approach to the Nigerian elections and political landscape,”

The report challenged the US to clarify why it was reluctant to label Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, FTO, and outline the criteria and standards upon which it will be used in the future.

Read More: http://www.post-nigeria.com/us-links-with-apc-members-supporting-boko-haram-is-dangerous-bow-group/

Speculations are rife that General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC has seemingly gone into hibernation/hiding if the barrage of tweets in the twitter community are anything to go by.

More worrisome is the fact that no one has set their sights on the General, abroad or at home, since the infamous Chatham House appearance on the 26th of February 2015, the APC is going about their ‘business’, parading Osibanjo around as though his absence is the most normal thing.

Concerned Nigerians have taken to asking, more like demanding his whereabouts given that the country is barely 23 days away from the elections, again, resonating questions about his state of health and the supposed “working visit”.

The twitter storm demanding his whereabouts began about 6 days post- Chatham House speech-.......... http://www.post-nigeria.com/buhari-inexplicably-missing-nigerians-demand-answers/

Ex-Niger-Delta warlords have warned former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to desist from making statements that may instigate Nigerians against President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The Ex-militants noted that continuous derision of the current administration could lead to disunity along ethnic and religious divides.

The leader of the ex-freedom fighters, under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives, LPCDI, Reuben Wilson, popularly known as General Pastor Reuben, said the hate campaigns of various political parties and unrelenting media attack on President Jonathan’s government could threaten the peace and security of the country.

Wilson specifically cautioned former President Obasanjo to be careful in his statements against the president, who hails from the Niger-Delta.

“We are advising Obasanjo to think very well before he takes any further action. It should be known that Nigerians are watching him closely and monitoring his utterances and actions against President Goodluck Jonathan,” LPCDI said.

“Nigerians are aware that because President Goodluck Jonathan refused to dance to his tunes as a perceived stooge, Obasanjo’s attacks [have] become a dangerous and threatening comic relief to the unity of the country........ http://www.post-nigeria.com/ex-militants-caution-buhari-and-obasanjo-over-criticisms-of-president/

The Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate and incumbent President of the country, Goodluck Jonathan, has outrightly declared that in the event he loses the March 28, 2015 presidential election to General Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC, he would graciously handover office to him.

He also emphasized that Nigeria is neither his nor anyone’s father’s estate.

Jonathan, who made the declaration in his interview with Aljazeera, on Monday in Lagos, however expressed confidence that he would win the forthcoming elections.

“I will not lose the elections,” President Jonathan said.

He promised that he would return to Otuoke, his country home in Bayelsa State, in the unlikely scenario that he loses the elections.

“If by default somebody (else) wins the election, of course I will go back to my village. The country is not my father’s estate. I’ll not lose the election,” Jonathan said.

Read More: http://www.post-nigeria.com/opposition-is-ignorant-jonathan/

President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted the outlandish claims from some quarters that Nigeria’s corruption has grown under his leadership describing them as wild and misguided barbs with political undertones.

Jonathan speaking in an exclusive interview with Aljazeera, on Monday night, said that despite the country’s position in the global corruption perception index, the perception that corruption has worsened under his administration is inaccurate.

In 2014, Transparency International ranked Nigeria was ranked 136th out of 175 countries and territories, with a score of 27.

According to Transparency International’s rating system, a country or territory’s score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Read More: http://www.post-nigeria.com/comments-on-corruption-political-overblown-jonathan/

A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo, has delivered a ruthless evaluation of the Nigerian economy under President Goodluck Jonathan, ranking the administration “F” on economic management, and suggesting the Jonathan government is Nigeria’s worst as far as the management of the economy is concerned.

Mr. Soludo said while Mr. Jonathan lacks achievements to point to, or clear future plans as he seeks re-election, his main challenger, the All Progressives Congress, APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, also lacks specific plans on how to salvage Nigeria’s economy should he win elections next month.

“My advice to President Jonathan and his handlers is to stop wasting their time trying to campaign on his job record. Those who have decided to vote for him will not do so because he has taken Nigeria to the moon. His record on the economy is a clear ‘F’ grade,” Mr. Soludo said.

“Everywhere else in the world, government performance on the economy is measured by some outcome variables such as: income (GDP growth rate), stability of prices (inflation and exchange rate), unemployment rate, poverty rate, etc.

On all these scores, this government has performed worse than its immediate predecessor--- Obasanjo regime. If we appropriately adjust for oil income and debt, then this government is the worst in our history on the economy.”

Mr. Soludo’s assessment, in a lengthy <a href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=166625">article</a> published Sunday, took aim at the government’s economic policies that have resulted in unprecedented levels of poverty and unemployment.

He said the economy appears to be on “auto pilot” and lambasted the president’s economic team led by Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as a team “dominated by self-interested and self-conflicted group of traders and businessmen”.

He said Nigeria has been handed over to economic racketeers.

“The very people government exists to regulate have seized the levers of government as policymakers and most government institutions have largely been ‘privatized’ to them. Mention any major government department or agency and someone will tell you whom it has been ‘allocated’ to, and the person subsequently nominates his minion to occupy the seat,” he said.

Mr. Soludo said while Nigeria has for years enjoyed oil boom and increasing budget, poverty and unemployment reached unprecedented levels under President Jonathan.

READ MORE: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/175663-soludo-grades-jonathan-f-economy-says-administration-worst-ever.html

Some angry youth on Saturday attacked and set fire on a campaign bus branded with President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign posters at Zololo junction, Bauchi road in Jos, Jos north Local Government area of Plateau state.

The bus was on fire at the time of filling this report. However, witnesses said the driver of the bus escaped unhurt.

It is not clear what led to the attack. Police could not be immediately reached for comments.

A witness whose car was also torched by the rampaging mob, said another Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-branded car was also set alight.

The source, who only identified herself as Mrs. Rose, told PREMIUM TIMES that her Honda car was also smashed by the protesting youth.

President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Nigerians to endure the effects of the current drop in global oil prices, saying the nation will survive it.
Mr. Jonathan, while speaking at the Christ Apostolic Church in Abuja on Sunday, said the oil price drop is nothing compared to 2008 to 2009 when oil was sold for $40 per barrel.
“Of course, if t‎here is a drop in oil price, it will affect us in one way or the other. We tell our people to bear with us. It has happened before in 2008, 2009 that was almost about $40, we survived as a nation.
“This time, by all predictions, it will not even go as low as that, we will surely survive it. The economic team is working very hard to stabilise it and we believe that although there may be temporary inconveniences, it will definitely not bring the economy down” he said.
The President told the congregation that he decided to go round churches in Abuja to thank them for their prayers. He said even as the challenges facing the country increased during his tenure, Nigeria’s current woes would have been worse but for prayers.
“With the prayers you continue to offer to God, God will see us through” he said, adding that it was worse in the bible days.
The President said 2015 “is a tempting year for us” since election year in third world countries is always turbulent.
“All that I will request of you is to continue to pray for us politicians, myself and other politicians from all political parties, for God to guide us in our utterances and what we do so that we will not sacrifice the lives of Nigerians because of our ambitions.
“Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. Pray to God to give us that wisdom and mind to make sure we conduct ourselves in a way that will not set the country ablaze because of our own personal ambition.

Read more: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/173903-%e2%80%8ejonathan-nigerians-endure-hardship-comes-will-fallen-oil-price.html

A prominent Islamic cleric, Abubakar Gumi, has denied accusing a presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, of corruption.

Mr. Gumi stated this in a facebook post on his wall on Christmas Day. The cleric was reacting to allegations that he accused Mr. Buhari of corruption during a visit to him by an Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo.

“It is not my duty to determine whether anybody is corrupt or not or to even pass a damning verdict on him,” he said.

Mr. Gumi, who had opposed the candidacy of both Mr. Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan, stated that all he was interested in was a free, fair and peaceful election.

He criticised supporters of Mr. Buhari for their reactions to any criticism of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate.

“Criticizing Buhari will inevitably be seen as an act of blasphemy in the eyes of his supporters,” he said. “They see anyone that speaks against what they believe in as a Jonathan man. This pathetic situation has to be reversed because the moment someone presents himself for leadership he is liable to criticism and answerable to people before God.”

Read Gumi's Full Post Here: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/173795-not-accuse-buhari-corruption-supporters-must-reasonable-sheik-gumi.html

Having lost the ticket of his party, the immediate past Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, is scheming to manoeuvre his way to become the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Nasarawa, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Mr. Maku’s bid to become Nasarawa governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was dashed when he lost the party’s primaries to Yusuf Agabi, who polled 214 votes to the ex-minister’s 160. Mr. Maku has since rejected the result of the primary alleging irregularities.

However, rather than remain within his party to either support the winner or challenge the primary in court, Mr. Maku is working with some leaders of the Labour Party to become the party’s candidate. A major hindrance to the ex-minister’s plans, however, is the firm stance of Innocent Lagi to retain his candidacy of the Labour Party.

Mr. Lagi was elected unopposed at the Labour Party primary held in Akwanga on December 10.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that since Mr. Maku realised the PDP would not revert the result of the primaries, he has been holding series of meeting with Labour Party leaders including Mr. Lagi to replace the latter.

The Labour Party candidate confirmed that he had held two meetings with Mr. Maku.

"I had two meetings with Maku wanting to know what was happening,” Mr. Lagi told PREMIUM TIMES. “I made it clear to him and showed him certified true copies of my certificate as the candidate of the party because the party didn't tell him that primaries were already conducted".

Read more: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/173617-humbled-pdp-labaran-maku-plots-snatch-labour-party-ticket.html

The All progressives Congress, APC, has appointed the Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, the Director General of its party’s presidential campaign.

APC has former head of State, Muhammadu Buhari as its flag bearer after he beat four other candidates at the party’s national convention in Lagos last week.

Mr. Buhari had yesterday also named law professor, Yemi Osinbajo, his running mate.

The appointment of Mr. Amaechi was contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the APC, Lai Mohammed, on Thursday in Abuja.

What do you think of this move?

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/173506-apc-appoints-rivers-governor-amaechi-presidential-campaign-director.html

[size=16pt]New entrance exam underway[/size]

It was the great Nelson Mandela who said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The late Mandela, or Madiba as he was fondly called, spoke from experience. It was his famous determination of educating himself in the best possible way, despite the restrictions of apartheid and being locked up for 27 years, that eventually helped him to not only become the first black President of an apartheid-free South Africa, but in leaving a legacy of forthright leadership, forgiveness, and inclusiveness for the whole world.

At Adesoye College, the importance and potency of a good education is well understood and encapsulated in the school’s mission: To raise total leaders through commitment, freedom and responsibility. Founded in 1987 by the illustrious entrepreneur Chief Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye, Adesoye College has earned a reputation as one of the most prestigious schools in Nigeria. This is illustrated by influential and well-to-do Nigerians, who often prefer to send their children to boarding schools especially in England, choosing instead to have them educated at Adesoye College. The list includes former presidents, serving governors, ministers and others in similar positions of authority.

The reason for such confidence in Adesoye College is the school’s pedigree. Sitting on 300 acres of scenic high ground in an exclusive area of the serene Offa Town, the setting of the school is conducive to education and learning. While the centre of Offa Town is 1.5km away from the school, Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, is 45km and Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, is 65km away.

In such a tranquil location, Adesoye College provides a safe environment where students are inspired, the culture of hard work encouraged and academic excellence realised. With the motto “God the Almighty,” the school instils a spirit of service, self-motivation, and self-discipline as the basis for leadership while inculcating the pursuit of excellence in all spheres of school life.

As a result, students of Adesoye College routinely place among the highest scorers in all national examinations, including WAEC, SSCE, NECO and JAMB. It is also worthy of note that, at Adesoye College, parents can monitor their wards’ performances online. All they need are their wards’ admission numbers and unique passwords which are sent to the parents via email.

The current Principal of the school, Mr. Kenneth Webley, served in leadership positions for over a decade at Sarasota High School, Florida, USA. There he gained recognition for “developing and implementing a new vision to meet the needs of all students.” He also succeeded in directing the school through a comprehensive visioning program which received recognition from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), one of the six regional accreditation organisations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Before assuming duty as the Principal of Adesoye College, Webley also reengineered ‘Exceptional Education’ program at Sarasota High School which became a national model in the United States. Among other achievements, he is credited with collaborating with a mathematics teacher on a specialised program to improve Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) passing rates, resulting in more than 89% of students passing the FCAT, an annual test given to students to measure their skills in the areas of reading, math, science and writing according to Florida’s Sunshine State Standards.

In bringing his expertise to Adesoye College, Webley has publicly declared that: “Organisational effectiveness ultimately hinges on the development of a collective mission/vision. I have led schools through the process of identifying these two critical pieces of a strategic plan in two continents. Additionally, I am dedicated to creating a Learning Environment that is data-driven, student-focused and professionally collaborative. I offer over 20 years of international educational experience in both established and emerging economies.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded full investigation into the incident at the National Assembly, which led to the shutdown of the legislative complex on Thursday.
The party asked the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to institute an inquiry to unravel the circumstances and facts surrounding the development within the next 72 hours.
It is the second time the ruling party would react to the chaos that trailed the reconvening of the House of Representatives to consider President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend the emergency rule in three North East states – Yobe, Adamawa and Borno — ravaged by insurgent activities.
The party had on Thursday lampooned the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and other lawmakers who forced their way into the chamber wondering what would have happened in the absence of security operatives. The party said the police merely carried its constitutional duties of keeping law and order.
Mr. Tambuwal was a PDP member until October 28 when he defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In the latest statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, the ruling party said the sanctity of the National Assembly as an arm of government and citadel of democracy must be upheld at all times and that the matter should not be shrouded in controversy and accusations.

Read more: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/171632-pdp-backtracks-demands-probe-national-assembly-blockade.html

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has slammed the presidency for its response to the warning by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State that if the 2015 elections are rigged, the party will not recognize the outcome and will go ahead and form a parallel government.
The APC said in a statement Friday that Mr. Amaechi’s comment represents the stand of the party.
The statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said that what Mr. Amaechi said at the APC’s Salvation Rally, which has now rankled the presidency, was simply to reiterate the stand taken by the party before the last Osun State Governorship election.
“Those who are fretting about this statement are those who are planning to rig the elections and they should be warned that Nigerians will no longer accept the outcome of any fraudulent polls. Those who incite the people are those who steal their mandate.
“What we made is a conditional statement. If A happens, then B will follow. That means if elections are not rigged, there will be no problem. It is therefore laughable that anyone will call that statement treasonable,” it said, adding that there is no higher treason than the subversion of the people’s will.
APC said it is common knowledge that anywhere in the world where elections have been rigged, the consequences have been dire, and Nigeria will not be an exception.
“Let us remind the presidency, in case it has forgotten, that election fraud triggered a civil war in Algeria in the early 1990s, led to the killing of over 1,000 people in post-election riots in Kenya in 2007/2008 and fired a near revolution in Iran in 2009/2010. Electoral frauds also corrupt democracy and breed dictatorship, and risks making the people to lose confidence in democracy. Why then would any government react violently if warned against election rigging?” the party queried.
It said that instead of issuing threats and engaging in name calling, the presidency should simply brace up to ensure that the forthcoming elections are not only free, fair and credible, but are seen to be so by Nigerians and the international community.
APC said it is necessary to constantly warn the PDP and the Federal Government not to tamper with the 2015 polls because of their penchant for electoral desperation, which manifests in the intimidation of the opposition and the militarization of election, disposition to anarchy and propensity for impunity.
The party said already, the process leading to the 2015 polls are flawed, with moves to disenfranchise millions of Nigerians by making it impossible for them to either register or get their Permanent Voters Cards and the plot to depopulate the strongholds of the opposition.
“PDP and the governments it sired, especially at the centre, are lawless and anarchic. That’s why they can unleash the police against federal legislators in an attempt to force a removal of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. That’s why a state under the control of the PDP will use seven lawmakers to remove the Speaker in a 26-member House of Assembly.
“Because it is said that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, we will constantly warn the PDP and the Federal Government not to tamper with the 2015 elections. We will constantly chide them for trying to institutionalize impunity. We cannot and will not be intimidated by an uptight presidency,” it said.
“The PDP and the Jonathan Administration are the masters of impunity, and they will not hesitate to exploit any sign of docility in the face of their evil intentions on the part of the opposition. The lessons are there: Had the members of the House of Representatives been docileon Thursday when remote-controlled security agents invaded their premises and barred them from entering, Tambuwal would have ceased to be the Speaker by now.
“For us, the gloves are off. We will no longer engage in any nicety as long as some people are bent on thwarting the will of the people through electoral fraud. All we are demanding is a free, fair and credible election. All we are saying is that no one should incite the people by stealing their mandate. How these demands can be construed to mean treason is as baffling as the do-or-die disposition of the ruling PDP to elections,” the party said.

Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, Nov. 21st 2014

Read More: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/171627-apc-vows-form-parallel-government-2015-elections-rigged.html

A Federal High Court in Lagos has partially cleared a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, of money laundering charges brought against him by the government.
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of Lagos Federal High Court, on Monday, discharged and acquitted Mr. Fani-Kayode of 38 out of 40 counts of N100m money laundering charges.
The court said Mr. Fani-Kayode now faces the remaining two counts and could enter defence for them. The court adjourned till December 8.
Mr. Fani-Kayode is prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
At the resumed hearing last Monday, the defence counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court of an application for a no-case submission filed on behalf of the former minister.
Mr. Adedipe said he had also filed a reply on points of law in response to the issues raised by the prosecution in their processes.
In response, the prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, urged the court to uphold his written submissions in opposition to the no case submission, and called on the accused to enter his defence.
After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, adjourned the case till Nov. 17, for ruling.
The EFCC had opened its case on March 10.

Is this a blessing in disguise for Fani-Kayode when he joined PDP?

More Details Here: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/171297-court-clears-fani-kayode-money-laundering-charges.html

The Nigerian government will send a proposal to the National Assembly to review the crude oil benchmark in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, submitted recently for the 2015 budget, an official has said.

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said at a special media briefing in Abuja on Sunday that a proposal of $73 per barrel would be sent to for consideration and approval as against the $78 per barrel earlier proposed in the 2015 budget proposal.

More Details http://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/171267-breaking-global-oil-prices-slip-nigeria-review-benchmark.html

Three people died in the helicopter crash which happened on Thursday night around the Federal University of Technology in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, the Nigerian military has said.

The military said in a terse statement posted on Defence Headquarters blog the victims were crew members aboard the helicopter.
“At about 2200hours yesterday 13 November 2014, a ground attack helicopter on an armed patrol crashed around the Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State,” the military said in the statement.

“The crew of 3 was lost in the ill-fated accident. Rescue party worked throughout the night to preserve the wreckage of the aircraft and scene of the accident for proper investigation to be carried out. Further details would be made known later.”

The helicopter crashed less than three days after another one on surveillance mission went down in Damare, a suburb of Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa state. No life was lost in that incident.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Dele Alonge, an Air Commodore, had confirmed the Thursday night’s incident to PREMIUM TIMES.
He however stressed, “But one thing is clear, the helicopter did not come under enemy fire. It has nothing to do with the enemy.”

Read more: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/171141-nigerian-military-confirms-three-dead-in-helicopter-crash.html

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has picked the notice of intent and nomination forms to run for the office of president of Nigeria on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, ‎APC.

Mr. Tambuwal recently defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In response, the federal government withdrew his security detail.
Mr. Tambuwal was earlier tipped to run as governor in his home state, Sokoto.

But the speaker received the presidential nomination forms Thursday, his spokesperson, Imam Imam, told PREMIUM TIMES.

“Earlier today, some friends and political associates of the Speaker notified him that they have bought the forms for him,” Mr. Imam said.
PREMIUM TIMES understands that several APC members in the House of Representatives trooped to the party’s Abuja office to purchase the forms on Mr. Tambuwal’s behalf.

Sources in the APC say Mr. Tambuwal is in the presidential race at the prompting of one of the leaders of the party, Bola Tinubu, who is a former governor of Lagos State.

Read more: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/171110-breaking-tambuwal-picks-apc-presidential-nomination-form.html

The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, has promised to recapture all territories lost to the terrorist group, Boko Haram, if the party wins the 2015 election.

The national chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, who addressed a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and President Goodluck Jonathan have failed the nation by allowing the terrorist group to take over control of some towns and Local Government in the north east.

Borno state government recently announced that Boko Haram was in control of eight of the twenty seven local governments in the state.

Governor Bala Ngilari of Adamawa state also said the insurgents control about five local governments in the state. Boko Haram are reportedly also in control of about three local governments in Yobe state.

Mr. Oyegun pledged that the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the protection of the lives and property of all who live within its borders would be a non-negotiable priority of an APC Federal Government.

“We will reclaim every inch of Nigerian territory, and liberate fellow citizens who, under the current dispensation, are resigned to life as captured and conquered citizens,” he said.

The APC Chairman also said the Nigerian armed forces would be massively motivated and given the necessary manpower and materials to enable them perform their sacred duty of protecting the country.

“Our people will be mobilized to support and honour our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line to ensure that we are all protected,” he said.

Mr. Oyegun berated both President Jonathan and his Party, the PDP, accusing them of giving excuses for their failure during Mr. Jonathan’s declaration for re-election on Tuesday.

“Two days ago, you heard President Goodluck Jonathan announce himself as the candidate of the PDP and asked Nigerians for another four years as President,” Mr. Oyegun said. “You heard a lot of claims, misrepresentations and voodoo statistics, none of which can stand the barest scrutiny. Disregard them!

“You heard excuses for failure to fix basic infrastructure, arrest unprecedented levels of corruption and halt the march of terrorists daily inching nearer all of us. You heard promises that sound familiar because you have heard them all before since his six (6) years as President.

“Do not give the party that has savaged Nigeria in the last 16 years an opportunity to finally finish off our dear nation. The PDP cannot deliver on any of the same promises it has failed to honour in over a decade and a half in power.”

He said the 2015 election would be decided on the character and leadership qualities of the Nigerian President.

Mr. Oyegun said the Commander-in-Chief should also be “Consoler-in-Chief” bringing comfort and succor to the people in time of grief and distress.

“You heard two days ago President Jonathan saying that good leaders do not walk away from the people, sadly though the statement is true, our President who wants another four years does not show evidence of sympathy for hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens who are now Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) as a result of the occupation of their land by Boko Haram,” he said.

“‘He brings no relief or comfort to those living under the reign of terror. About 50 young Nigerian School Children were killed and several others injured in Potiskum just a few days before the extravaganza show of his declaration. Yet we do not hear of a Presidential visit to the families of the victims, a pattern that has become usual.

“Our President lives in his comfort zone, content to utter words, and ‘minutes of silence’ that have no meaning to the victims.”
The APC Chairman said Mr. Jonathan has abandoned the Nigerian people.

“We should end the journey with President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and elect a leader who will be part of our lives and lead with courage and empathy,” he said

Read more: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/171109-we-will-defeat-jonathan-boko-haram-apc.html

Local militia in Adamawa State have driven Boko Haram militants out of Mubi, a key town in the northeast state, nearly two weeks after the town fell to the insurgents, the state governor and residents said Thursday.

A spokesperson to Governor Bala Ngilari told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday that Mubi is now “quite different from what it used to be”.

He said local vigilante, popularly called Civilian JTF, launched a daring night time attack on Boko Haram insurgents in Mubi and drove them out of town between Wednesday and Thursday.

The government said the operation received some support from the military.

The Defence Headquarters could not confirm the operation. Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, could not be reached.

A military official, however, told PREMIUM TIMES the operation was not as “conclusive as claimed”.

But the Adamawa State government said the operation was successful and that Mubi is now free of Boko Haram.

Read More: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/171106-local-vigilante-recapture-mubi-drive-boko-haram-out.html

Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday condemned the killing of 47 students in a government secondary school in Yobe on Monday.
In a speech, Mr. Mark said Boko Haram has declared war on Nigeria and appealed to the insurgents to refrain from attacking innocent citizens.
“Clearly, Boko Haram has declared war on this country and we must fight with all our efforts. We cannot allow this to continue any longer,” Mr. Mark said.
Mr. Mark sympathized with the people and government of Yobe state and all the school children in Nigeria.
After his speech, the senate observed a moment of silence for the slain students.
Meanwhile, the senate passed a bill titled: An act to establish the National Commission for Conciliation and Arbitration, National Labour Council, the office of the Registrar of Trade Unions etc to administer the provisions of labour laws in Nigeria and other matters connected therewith, 2014, through a second hearing.

Read more: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/171057-boko-haram-has-declared-war-on-nigeria-mark.html

A deadly explosion has occurred at the Federal College of Education, Kontagora, Niger State, the state police said.
The Niger State police spokesperson, Ibrahim Gambari, said an unidentified female suicide bomber struck at the school on Wednesday, killing herself and injuring three others.
Police bomb units have deployed to the scene, he said.
A witness said however that at least one person was killed. That could not be confirmed.
“She detonated her bomb vest between the auditorium and the college library. She might have been on her way to the library,” Aisha Kontagor‎a, who lives in Kontangora, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Read More: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/171056-breaking-suicide-bomber-strikes-federal-college-in-kontagora-niger-state.html

----------------
“Council was satisfied that the Defence ministry and all the agencies have taken the right steps and the President is on course and we are very hopeful that sooner or later Nigerians will hear good news."

More details here: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/170627-despite-increasing-deadly-attacks-ex-heads-of-state-governors-commend-govts-war-on-boko-haram.html

How would you rate government's effort in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency?

A-Excellent
B-Very Good
C-Good
D-Poor
E-Very Poor
F-Fail

Lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had gone to court seeking an injunction after they suspected that PDP lawmakers were planning to reconvene the House in defiance of its leadership.

The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, had after defecting to the APC on October 28 adjourned the House to December 3.

Details of the court proceedings are still sketchy but the APC had three days ago alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan was plotting, alongside PDP lawmakers, to reconvene the House in violation of laid down procedures.

"We reject this meddling in the affairs of the Legislature especially given the resolution of President Jonathan and his close advisers yesterday at their meeting to ask the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha to unlawfully reconvene the House before the adjourned date,” the party said in a statement by its spokesperson, Lai Mohammed.

"May we remind President Goodluck Jonathan that under the House Rules, only a resolution by all principal officers of the House and not even the Speaker of the House can reconvene the House before the adjourned date not to talk of the Deputy Speaker.”

The spokesperson of the House, Zakari Mohammed, had on Sunday said the lawmaking body cannot cut short its recess without the express approval of its speaker, Mr. Tambuwal.

PREMIUM TIMES and other media had reported moves by loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to reconvene the House before its scheduled resumption date of December 3.

An early resumption is reportedly being proposed to execute the removal of Mr. Tambuwal as Speaker of the PDP-majority House.

After Mr. Tambuwal defected to the opposition, his security details were controversially withdrawn.

In his statement, Mr. Mohammed, clarified the legal procedure to reconvene the House before December 3.

Read his full statement Here: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/170514-breaking-tambuwals-defection-court-stops-pdp-lawmakers-from-reconvening-house-of-reps.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to leave office after Mr. Tambuwal officially announced his defection from the
party to All Progressives Congress, APC, Tuesday.

Mr. Tambuwal decamped after months of speculation. He had previously denied he was moving to the APC despite openly associating with the party.

The clearest indication he was joining the opposition party came more than a week ago when he attended a meeting of the APC in Sokoto State.

Do you think he should resign his position as Speaker?

Read more: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/170264-resign-now-pdp-tells-tambuwal.html

A former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday said he would contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He said he decided to run because the Peoples Democratic Party-led federal administrations from 1999 till date were purposeless and that there appears not to be a government in place in Nigeria at present.
Mr. Buhari, who disclosed this in Abuja while addressing about 60 different groups urging him to run for the presidency said he would make his declaration formal on October 8.
The APC leader criticised the PDP-led administration since 1999, saying they lacked purpose. He said in the circumstance, it is important for him to step in to seek an opportunity to salvage the situation.
According to him, “Today, we are in the 15th year of purposeless leadership by the PDP and all we have seen is unprecedented deterioration in the security and law and order situation, astronomical rise in the incidence and intensity of corruption, and in the failure of governance.
“And as we reach this last lap of the journey, I would like to request that we concentrate all our effort and energy toward realising and achieving change in how this country is run.
“The only way to meaningful change in this country is to vote the PDP out of power to which it was never legitimately elected, anyway. The task before us today is wide ranging and very great. The first and most important is to take away power from those who have been misusing it.
“Indeed, except for the call of patriotism, public-spiritedness and an abiding love for the people off this country, nothing will today make honest, honourable and sane politician want to be saddled with Nigeria and an economy in trouble and a society in even deeper trouble – with its perilous security situation, with its extensive and almost unmanageable corruption and with its pervasive lawlessness. And a government – is there really a government? – that is not working.”

More Here: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/168851-why-im-running-for-president-again-buhari.html