RIVERS STATE BLAST UPDATE: Police officer killed, Channels reporter injured in Okrika blast

Gunfire at an opposition election rally in southern Nigeria’s Rivers state on Tuesday killed one police officer and injured four others, while a reporter covering the event was stabbed, a candidate for governor said.

“Five police officers were shot. One of them is dead and four are lying in critical condition at this hospital,” said Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had planned to address the rally in the town of Okrika.

Peterside and a source at the private Channels television network said its reporter at the scene, Charles Erukaa, was stabbed and was being taken to a hospital.

Source:@pmnewsnigeria

Bomb Shell : Oyedepo, Adeboye and Oritsejafor are a disgrace to the Church of Godé

Founder and Spiritual leader of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has stated that popular Christian leaders, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Pastor E.A.Adeboye are a disgrace to the church.

The prophet who revealed that the recent hobnobbing with politicians by the men of God is a disappointment to the masses.

Speaking with Yes Magazine, Primate Ayodele said, “Oyedepo, Oritsejafor and Adeboye have disappointed God. They see the truth but they are not saying it. I will be frank. These frontline pastors; Adeboye, Oyedepo, name them, PFN, CAN have they not disappointed the Nigerian masses now? Jonathan goes to Adeboye, what’s the other man’s name? Politicians have corrupted all church leaders. They are not saying the truth. Adeboye, Oyedepo and other big pastors are not saying the truth. We know that the economy is bad, things are not going right but they should have the courage to face them. For the first time let us be bold enough to tell them “What you are doing is bad”. Tell them, “change from bad to good”.

“They say Lagos is moving. What is moving in Lagos? Lagos is just there. Nothing is moving in Lagos. Both APC and PDP have destroyed this country. Pastors who are to talk are part of the corrupt system. Bishops, Primates, Prophets. Everybody is going to answer before God. I am not here to judge any Pastor but I am standing on the altar of truth.”

Source: @NigeriaNewsDesk

APC Youths Vandalise, Burn PDP Campaign Office As Buhari Visits Maiduguri

​Supporters of the ​All Progressives Congress​, APC,​ ​in Borno ​S​tate, ​vandalised and torched several campaign offices and posters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party​, PDP, Monday, during the party’s presidential campaign rally in Borno.

The APC supporters, who took to the streets of Maiduguri in their thousands, chanted pro- Muhammadu Buhari campaign slogans while carrying an effigy of the PDP.

While soldiers were battling to control the mammoth crowd at the venue of the campaign rally, some of the irate youth were seen bringing down PDP billboards that were mounted close to the venue of the rally.

Hours later, thick smoke was seen some 500 meters way from the venue of the rally as the APC youth stormed a major campaign office of the PDP, popularly known as UTC.

Witnesses at the scene said hundreds of the APC supporters, chanting anti-PDP and anti-President Goodluck Jonathan slogans, stormed the PDP office armed with petrol jars, forced themselves into the premises and set the place ablaze.

All efforts by police officers stationed at the UTC to prevent the youth failed as they were overwhelmed by the mob.

A police officer who spoke to journalists in front of the burnt office said, “We tried everything in our powers as permitted of us during riots to stop them, but the young men came in their hundreds and our men had to retreat because we do not intend to use excess force to stop them. It was really very sad.”

Reacting to the attack in a written statement, Inuwa Bwala, the spokesperson, campaign committee of the Borno ​S​tate PDP governorship ‎ candidate, Muhammad Imam, said the act was highly condemnable and unprovoked.

“The Muhammed Imam governorship Campaign Organisation condemns the unprovoked attack on PDP supporters and property in Maiduguri by APC hoodlums,” Mr. Bwala said. “We equally condemn the attack on ​m​ilitary personnel by hired thugs, ostensibly acting out the script of the Borno ​S​tate government. We commiserate with the victims of the attack and caution the Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, who seems to take delight in causing mischief anytime the PDP plans its programmes within the state.

“While we call on all supporters of Muhammad Imam to remain calm and lawful in the face of such unprovoked attacks, we wish to assure our citizens that no act of desperation nor violence can alter the will of God. ‎We remain focused on the mission of rescuing Borno from the clutches of an inept and corrupt leadership.

“We leave it to the security agencies to investigate the Maiduguri mayhem perpetrated in the name of hosting a presidential candidate. One wonders how the same Buhari visited Baylesa in peace but Shettima has turned Borno into a vortex of violence and political nihilism.”

Source : @nairaland

BREAKING NEWS: Obasanjo Finally Dumps PDP

Just days after accusing President Goodluck Jonathan of trying to win next month’s presidential “by hook or by crook”, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has given the clearest indication yet that he has dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Addressing members of ward 2 of the PDP in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, the former President gave his PDP membership card to one of those gathered and asked him to tear it for him, which the person. Obasanjo said he took the action because he wants to remain as an Elder statesman and not card carrying member of a political party.

Obasanjo became President on the platform of the ruling PDP and served as President for two terms before leaving office. He briefly held the position of the party’s Board of Trustees but later resigned saying he preferred to be just an ordinary member.

He is widely regarded as the political godfather of President Jonathan having almost singlehandedly made Jonathan running mate of the late President Yar’adua during the 2007 presidential election. But both political godfather and godson have since fallen apart.

It remains to be seen how the ruling party the latest action of the former President.

Source : www.tv360nigeria.com

BREAKING NEWS: The Great Oba Of Benin Is Dead

: The Great Oba of Benin Reportedly joins his ancestors. His Royal Majesty Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, the monarch of Benin Kingdom has joined his ancestors. He was 92 years old.According to authoritative sources within and outside Edo State, the well-regarded king transited to the great beyond about two weeks ago.

His death is still being kept secret because by Benin tradition, the death of an Oba could only be officially announced 30 days after his transition.The Oba was said to have died in his palace. Immediately he was confirmed dead by his personal physician, a delegation of senior Benin chiefs went to the house of the heir apparent the throne, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa to inform him of the development.

Investigations by ionigeria news revealed that the Oba died about two days before the campaign rally of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Major General Mohammadu Buhari in Benin City. Buhari had his rally in Benin City on Thursday, January 29, 2015. That is why the Monarch could not receive Major General Buhari.

Similarly, when President Goodluck Jonathan visited Benin City for his campaign rally, he was only received at the palace by a team of Benin chiefs led by the Iyase, Chief Sam Igbe. Oba Erediauwa was born in 1923, son of Oba Akenzua II.

Before being crowned he was known as Prince Solomon, Aiseokhuoba, Igbinoghodua Akenzua. He attended Edo College, Benin City, Government College, Ibadan then Yaba College, before going to King’s College, Cambridge to study Law and Administration. He joined the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service in 1957 as a District Officer, later moving to the Federal Civil Service where he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in 1973.

For a short period he was the regional representative of Gulf Oil. In 1975 he was appointed Commissioner for Finance in Bendel State during the Military Administration of Major-General George Agbazika Innih.Ascending to the throne as the 38th Oba of Benin on 23 March 1979.

During this period, he several times acted as a peacemaker between politicians. For example, he intervened in a dispute between Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu and Tony Anenih, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Board of Trustees, and resolved another face-off involving Anenih and former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

More recently, he tried to broker peace between the feuding members of Edo State House of Assembly.It would be recalled that his wife, Queen Esther died about a year ago. we made some calls to one or two family members, but they neither refuted nor confirm the story to be true or false.

We therefore believe this has a lot to do with the tradition of keeping quiet for 30 days. so we advise you handle this as speculation until the palace releases its official statement, so we do not offend the traditions of the great Bini kingdom.May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Source : @nairaland

Breaking News: INEC New Chairman, Prof Nazim Mimiko

The successor to the out-going Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega has being nominated.

The In-coming INEC chairman is Prof Nazim Olufemi Mimiko, a professor of Political Science and International Relation and a former VC of Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State.

The embattled Prof Jega who has long compromised his position as INEC Boss, will be officially proceeding on his three months terminal leave with effect from March 1, 2015 in compliance with the civil service procedure.           
                                                                                                                                                                                           Source: 24/7 Nigeria News Update

Robert Mugabe 'suspends 27 bodyguards' for failing to stop his humiliating podium fall

Zimbabwe's president tripped as he walked down steps at Harare airport
Security team allegedly forced photographers to delete pictures of tumble
'Nearly 30 personnel have since been suspended pending an investigation' 
Source: 'The issue here is simple. The security team was caught napping'

By SIMON TOMLINSON and FLORA DRURY

Robert Mugabe has suspended no fewer than 27 bodyguards for failing to stop his embarrassing fall down podium steps, sources have claimed.

The 90-year-old Zimbabwe President was caught on camera taking a tumble after addressing supporters at Harare Airport last week.

His security team scrambled to help him to his feet and desperately tried to brush over it by purportedly forcing photographers to delete their pictures of the incident.

But it failed to stop social media users having their fun at the dictator's expense with a series of hilarious memes.

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo later tried to claim that there was also no evidence that Mugabe had actually tripped over, but instead had 'managed to break the fall'.

It has now been reported that 27 members of his security team were suspended on Friday pending an official investigation.

Opinion: Reasons Why Jega’s Tenure Legally Ends March 24 Instead Of The Presumptive June 24 By Opinions | The Trent on February 10, 2015

INEC Chairman Professor Jega

by Aloy Ejimakor and Adewole Kehinde

Prof. Attahiru Jega was nominated as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC by President Jonathan on June 8, 2010, at the end of the National Council of State meeting in Aso Rock, Abuja, capital of Nigeria and confirmed by the Senate on June 24, 2010. Under the law, his tenure runs for five years. Therefore his tenure ‘exactly’ ends on June 24, 2015, counting from the date of Senate confirmation.

But accordingly to extant rules and our time-honored conventions, his tenure ‘actually’ comes to an end on March 24 because he is required, without more, to compulsorily proceed on terminal leave three months to the mathematical end of his tenure. And this is being very generous because, if you go by the ‘doctrine of relation back’, a strong case can be made that his terminal leave shall commence on March 8 (the date he was appointed), instead of March 24 (the date he was confirmed).

For those who might argue otherwise, there are legions of precedents, including, most notably, that of Jega’s predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu. Iwu’s tenure was due to expire on June 13, 2010. However, on April 28, 2010, then acting President Jonathan, ordered Iwu to proceed on terminal leave. That Iwu’s own terminal leave was less than three months to his mathematical five years was probably a matter of expediency of that turbulent era and presidential grace, to boot.

In recent times, we have seen other equally constitutionally-tenured public servants proceed on terminal leave before the exact date of expiration of their tenure. Here are few examples. Former IGP Abubakar’s tenure was due to end on July 30, 2014 but he proceeded or was sent on terminal leave on May 12, 2014. Former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapher voluntarily proceeded on terminal leave three months before the constitutional or mathematical end of his tenure. Ditto for former PCA, Justice Salami, even though his own was somewhat exceptional because he was on suspension when his terminal leave clock began to tick. I might add that Salami fought his for its exceptional equities but still lost. Jega has no such equities.

To underscore that there are no exceptions, the Federal Government, in a well-received circular issued by the former Head of Service, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, had “called on those affected to comply with immediate effect by observing the three months terminal leave as provided for in the extant Rules”. Unarguably, those affected included, without exceptions, all public servants that have constitutional or legal tenure, either based on fixed tenure-track, as in the case of Iwu, Jega, etc; or straight retirement based on 35 years service (the IGP) or age (Justice Musdapher).

According to the circular, which is captioned ‘Three Months Pre-Retirement/Terminal Leave’, the government stated that “It has been observed that the mandatory notice of retirement for officers who are due to retire is not being observed as provided for in the extant rules. Accordingly, it has become necessary to reiterate the provisions of Public Service Rules (PSR) 100238 which states that officers are required to give three months notice of their retirement from service terminating on the effective date of their retirement”. For avoidance of doubt, the term retirement, in context, applies, mutatis mutandis, to those on fixed tenure like Jega.

The circular was addressed and sent to the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Justice of the Federation, all Ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Chairman Federal Civil Service Commission, the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Others are Heads of extra-ministerial departments, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General of the Federation, Surveyor-General of the Federation, Directors-General/chief executives of parastatals and agencies.

So, as we can see from above, it is left for Jega to decide between these two options: It is either he voluntarily proceeds on his terminal leave by March 24, 2015, or he may be forced to do so by executive fiat. If, however, he is emboldened to sit tight, he has to know that any extra day he spends in office beyond March 24 is not by any force of law but by the sheer good graces of President Jonathan.

By virtue of the Civil Service Regulations, the helmsman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. A. Jega, is suppose to proceed on his compulsory Three (3) months terminal leave by 13th March, 2015 since his tenure expires on the 13th of June, 2015.

In response to a text message by Swift Reporters to the INEC Chairman’s Spokesperson, Mr. Kayode Idowu, to confirm the retirement of Prof. Jega, he responded by saying “I am not aware of plans for such a leave”.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the incumbent helmsman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. A. Jega’s tenure has not only been eventful but also commendable.

Aloy Ejimakor is a Nigerian jurist based in America. He is the President of Organisation of Nigerian Lawyers in Diaspora. Adewole Kehinde is the Media Officer at Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author