Syria Now In Control Of 60% Of East Aleppo- Group

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Syrian forces have retaken another district in the east of the city of Aleppo, now exerting control over 60 percent of the city’s militant-held eastern part, according to a monitoring group.

Joined by allied fighters, the Syrian military seized Aleppo’s Tariq al-Bab neighborhood from the militants, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.

The advance also restored control on a road leading from Aleppo’s government-held western neighborhoods to the city’s airport, which is also under government control.

Foreign-backed militants amassed in the city’s eastern side in 2012. The government has been controlling its west and fighting to retake the east.

The official Syrian Arab News Agency said the military had also wrested back control over the Karam Al-Qaterji, Jazmati, and Halwaniyah neighborhoods in eastern Aleppo. An unspecified number of the militants were killed in the operations.

The government’s advances have taken by surprise many of the foreign states that have been channeling financial and military support to the militants since the onset of the foreign-backed militancy in Syria in 2011.

Amid the victories, some countries, including France, have called for the implementation of a ceasefire in Aleppo, citing a need for secure corridors for the transfer of humanitarian assistance to the city.

On Wednesday, Russia warned that the issue of aid delivery in Syria was becoming highly politicized as most UN humanitarian aid was going to the areas occupied by foreign-backed militants. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said only one percent of the UN aid supplies was being directed to the western city of Dayr al-Zawr, where at least 200,000 people trapped by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group remain in desperate need of help.

Russia has, meanwhile, voiced outrage at the recent formation in Aleppo’s east of a militant umbrella group calling itself the Army of Aleppo, describing it a diversion tactic to shield a notorious terrorist group there.

The move, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday, was just an attempt to disguise and shield al-Nusra Front, an affiliate of al-Qaeda that has recently renamed itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and has claimed to have broken up with al-Qaeda.

Lavrov said nearly all the militant groups fighting in eastern Aleppo were controlled by the Takfiri terrorist group.

“I do not rule out that this is just another attempt to rebrand al-Nusra Front and shield it from righteous retaliation,” Lavrov said, referring to the formation of the so-called Army of Aleppo.

Also on Saturday, a unit grouping army forces and its allies destroyed the positions of al-Nusra, in the suburbs of the city of al-Rastan in the southwestern Syria Dara’a Province.

Credit: presstv

Niger Delta Group Storms Villa, Gives Fresh Conditions For Peace

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

delegation of the Niger Delta Peoples Congress (NDPC) was at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday and gave fresh conditions for peace during a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

It would be recalled that elders from the region, under the auspices of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, had on November 1 met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa where they presented a 16-point demand to him.

The secretary of the Niger Delta Peoples Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, told Osinbajo yesterday that their visit was to re-affirm the plausible submissions earlier made, prioritise their concerns and place them in clearer perspectives.

Okaba listed his group’s demands as including political reconstruction and fiscal federalism, saying the derivation principle should allow the different units annex and control their resources and pay appropriate and agreed tax to the centre.

The group also demanded stoppage of further invasion of the region under any guise; unconditional release of all freedom fighters from detention, relocation of multinational corporations’ operational bases to the region and creation of at least 6,000 jobs for the teeming population of unemployed and restive youths of the region.

It also demanded resumption of academic activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State and establishment of similar institutions in other parts of the region; release of over N800bn outstanding allocations to the NDDC; building of more modular refineries; reduction of the current state of environmental degradation and threat to life occasioned by the activities of the mult-national corporations in the region as well as comprehensive remediation of areas affected by oil spill.

Other demands were provision of medical facilities and attention to people suffering from ailments associated with oil and gas activities; prompting the legislative process for the review of the nation’s laws on environmental impact; immediate implementation of all laws stopping gas flaring in the region and establishment of internally displaced persons camps for the re-settlement of displaced persons at Bakassi, Gbaramatu, and so on.

In his response, Osinbajo charged the delegation to first address the issue of continued vanadalism in the region which, according to him, he said is the most important thing.

He noted that the problems in the region had always been there, saying if the elite in all regions of the country decide to end the problems in their regions, the crises would be resolved.

The vice president also told the delegation that independent producers who are Nigerians are the ones suffering from vandalism, not the international oil companies.

Credit: dailytrust

Global Index Rating On Rule Of Law, Group Commends Buhari

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Staff Reporter

As Nigeria makes a leap from107 to 96 points in the global index rating in rule of law, world Justice Project; the Buhari Media Support Group has commended President Mohammadu Buhari led Government for this attainment.

The World Justice Project, an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance rule of law around the world says Nigeria makes an 11 points leap from a global index of 107 to 96 in adherence rankings.

The Group describes this as a reflection of success of the Buhari administration’s efforts in entrenching and boosting rule of law compliance in government and the country.

The BMSG noted that the ratings prove that the administration’s reforms seen in its dogged fight against corruption, active transparency in government dealings and restoration of order and security in most parts of the country especially in the North East and improved access to justice are bearing fruit.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Malam Muhammad Labbo and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, Chairman in Abuja on Sunday calls on government agencies and departments to key into the government’s objectives of ensuring more transparency in government’s dealing. The group also notes that the keying in of government officials into these goals would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic resolve in open governance.

The group further pointed that the rule of law is fundamental to the development and growth of any society; as it is the bedrock for citizen’s trust, confidence and participation in the democratic process of governance.

“President Buhari has shown a clear resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic processes and institutions. He has not just stopped at that but has put his foot to work, to bring to fruition this resolve. And that is why today, respect for fundamental human rights, access to justice, security and transparency in government has improved,” the statement said.

The group commends the Buhari’s administration’s exceptional use of digital media platform in proactively disseminating government’s policies, activities and responses.

http://dailytimes.ng/nigerias-intl-rating-group-commends-buharis-adherence-rule-law/

Group Urges FG To Comply With ECOWAS Court Ruling On Dasuki

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A Northern coalition of 14 human rights groups on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, comply with the ruling of the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by releasing former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.).

Speaking with journalists in Sokoto, the National Secretary of the Network for Justice and Human Rights Crusade,, Al-mustapha Abubakar Bello, said ignoring the ruling of the ECOWAS Court by the Federal Government would amount to impunity, abuse of due process and disregard for rule of law.

“Since it is a government that believes in the rule of law, the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari should adhere to the ruling of the ECOWAS Court.

“This competent court of law presided over by Justice Friday Chijioke Nwoke has ordered the immediate release of Dasuki on bail as stated in the judgement of October 4, 2016, with No: ECW/CCJ/JUD/23/16 of the SUIT NO: ECW/CCJ/APP/01/16,” Bello said.

According to him, the coalition lamented that having been granted bail by three different domestic courts, Dasuki is still in detention.

He said this was without respect for his fundamental human rights and personal liberty, which the present government preaches.

Credit: thisdaylive

Again, Group Gives FG 1-week Ultimatum To Release El-Zakzaky

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Again, group under the umbrella of Save Zakzaky’s life group of Nigeria has issued a one week ultimatum to the federal government to unconditionally release their leader Ibraheem El-Zakzaky from detention.

The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in DSS detention since December, 2015 following their clashes with the Nigerian Army.

According to the National coordinator of the group, Bashir Marafa, “We call on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to release Sheikh Zakzaky who has been unjustly in detention without trial for the past nine month unconditionally.

“No doubt, Save Zakzaky’s life group of Nigeria, with the supports and aspirations of millions of Zakzaky’s followers within Nigeria and beyond, are greatly concerned over the deteriorating health condition of our great leader Zakzaky, who has been denied access to seek for good medical care, while he is being detained with no reason whatsoever, except what we see as “great oppression”, and denying his fundamental human right as a Nigerian citizen, by the Buhari administration.

Credit:

http://leadership.ng/news/552149/el-zakzakys-release-group-gives-fg-1-week-ultimatum

Group Urges EFCC To Probe NASS Over Budget Padding

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A group named ‘Conscience Nigeria’, on Monday in Lagos, urged the EFCC to investigate the leadership of the House of Representatives over alleged N40 billion budget padding.

The Executive Director of Conscience Nigeria, Mr Tosin Adeyanju, made the plea during a peaceful protest at the Lagos office of the EFCC.

He called for the immediate interrogation of the principal officers of the House fingered in the allegation.

The former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, had named himself and some Principal Officers of the House as beneficiaries of illegal running costs amounting to billions of naira.
Till date, none of the Principal Officers directly fingered in the budget padding scandal has been invited, investigated or prosecuted.

“For the ongoing anti-corruption war to be successful, our nation must ensure that there are no sacred cows and no stone is left unturned in the fight against corruption.

“We call on the commission to immediately commence investigation into the allegation of padding of the 2016 Budget by the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives,’’ Adeyanju said.

He said that the consequences of the lawmakers’ actions would become a burden on the average Nigerian, “hence our opposition against making the issue a family affair’’.

The EFCC Deputy Director (Operations), Mr Iliyasu Kwarbai, who received a petition on behalf of the commission, commended the group for the peaceful protest.

“We have received petitions from some other persons on this same issue of budget padding. Our men are on ground already for the investigation.

“EFCC has no sacred cows. Whoever is involved in budget padding will be prosecuted.

“The President has said so before that no corrupt person will go unpunished. We call on all with facts that would help us prosecute the case to come to us,’’ Kwarbai said.

Chairmanship: PDP Group Endorses Gbenga Daniel

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) New Era has backed a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), to become the party’s next National Chairman.

Members of the group, who addressed newsmen in Abuja Wednesday, said despite the fact that the party’s zoning committee had zoned the position to the south, the South-west should be given the opportunity to occupy the post for the first time in the history of the party.

The group’s Secretary, Obute Benji, who spoke on behalf of other members, said they had met the former governor who promised to consult widely over the call on him to contest the position.

Benji, who stressed the need to fix the leadership crisis in the PDP so that the party could be set on the path of regeneration and greatness again, said the former governor has the experience to reposition the party.

“Against this backdrop, we, members of PDP New Era had embarked on broad based consultations among party stakeholders, men and women, old and young, leaders and followers on the right person to lead our party to greatness again.

“It was a consensus that since the position of the National Chairman is expected to be filled by the South West for the first time at the coming National Convention, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the right personality for the position of the National Chairman,” he also said.

“Going by his antecedents, OGD parades all the leadership qualities required to fix our party at this critical time. The leadership our party needs should be of uncompromising integrity, dynamic and sagacious, far sighted and focused with towering capacity of a team builder and player, open and courageous. All these OGD amply and naturally possesses.

Credit: DailyTrust

BringBackOurGirls Group Hits Back At Presidency

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

BringBackOurGirls group said yesterday that the statement by the presidency a few days ago, in response to its assessment of the federal government’s effort to rescue the kidnapped 218 Chibok girls — since its engagement with the President in July 2015, was a misrepresentation of the group.

The advocacy group in a statement signed by Aisha Yesufu and Oby Ezekwesili last night, said that contrary to the presidency’s insinuation, the movement could not be insensitive to the loss of lives and livelihoods of other Nigerians, as well as the plight of those facing the humanitarian tragedy, saying its members absolutely reject the ‘’false labelling’.

Presenting its monthly monitoring report for July 2016, BringBackOurGirls said that July 15 was 27 months to the sad day in April 2014, when the Chibok girls were abducted from their dormitories in Government Secondary School, Chibok, adding that 822 days later, 218 girls remain in captivity.

‘’We present this as part of our monthly monitoring of the efforts to rescue our girls and bring an end to the Boko Haram Insurgency’’, the group added.

‘’In a continuation of recent trends, the last month marked the liberation of thousands of our citizens and the opening up of more access routes. We also recorded a declining number of insurgent attacks within our shores and witnessed peaceful Eid celebrations in the capitals of the North East for the first time in over five years.

‘’We continue to commend our security forces for these successes which have inspired renewed hope and conviction in the capacity of our troops to #BringBackOurGirls and ensure an end to the insurgency. Sadly however, the period brought to light the scale of humanitarian crisis in the North East occasioned by acute malnutrition among children and adults, and the real threat to survival of an entire generation of our people.’’

The advocacy group added that nothing reinforced its repeated call for urgency and a more visible, deliberate and result-based humanitarian response to the insurgency than the submission from a July 8 statement by the UN Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, Toby Lanzer, who said, “A failure to act now will result in deeper and broader suffering, unlike any seen to date in Nigeria’s North East and a steeper bill for all concerned to alleviate suffering and stabilize the situation.”

The group added: ‘’We shudder at the possibility of more suffering for our fellow citizens in the North East, especially knowing what they have been through in the last few years”.

‘’Since the abduction of our girls we have led several initiatives, often times in advance of government. We crowd sourced the Citizens Solution to end terrorism early on and highlighted the need for improved military welfare and a comprehensive de-radicalisation program, among others.

‘’We anticipated the need for a system of handling the movement of affected communities and designed both the Verification, Authentication and Reunification System (VARS) and modalities for a Missing Persons’ Register.’’

The group said it had also mobilised relief materials and campaigned on behalf of the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees in neighbouring countries, going on to warn of an impending humanitarian tragedy for many months before any action began.

Credit: Thisday

Group Asks EFCC To Investigate Buratai Over Alleged ?Purchase Of Properties In Dubai

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An anti-graft coalition, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, over alleged diversion of funds to purchase properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a petition forwarded to the anti-graft commission and signed by the group’s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the group said such act was a violation of the law of public service.

According to the group, ?if the revelation is found to be true, based on evidence adduced by a newspaper, then the actions of the COAS is a great disservice, an act of sabotage against the Nigerian State and a violation of the law prohibiting public officer from investing or participating in any other business safe for farming.

Taking a cue from a publication of June 24, 2016, by Sahara Reporters, an online newspaper, the group said the newspaper revealed how the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Buratai and his two wives were alleged joint owners of a Dubai Property that was paid for in one transaction.

“The funds for the said properties were alleged to have come from a vehicle contract scam, executed while Mr. Buratai was the Director of Procurement at the Army Headquarters. “Our correspondents discovered that the Nigerian Army had awarded an apparently bogus contract for the supply of vehicles and motorcycles for the use of troops involved in an anti-terrorism offensive in Nigeria’s beleaguered northeastern zone”.

According to the publication, “The allegation that General Buratai might have pilfered funds meant for the purchase of military vehicles has sparked outrage among soldiers and officers, especially those from the northeastern part of the country. Two military sources disclosed that irate officers had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to order an investigation into the contract scam”.

“In the petition, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, the aggrieved soldiers and officers, under the umbrella of Concerned Soldiers and Officers from the North East, had accused the COAS of executing the contract through a proxy. According to the petitioners, the proxy’s name is Usman Gamawa, founder of Baggash Investment Limited. The petition stated that, rather than supply new vehicles, as contained the contract awarded, Mr. Baggash allegedly purchased second-hand vehicles and motorcycles from Niger Republic.

“On arrival in Nigeria, the vehicles were said to have been refurbished at Mogadishu Cantonment under the supervision of Staff Sergeant Dadan Garba. SaharaReporters said some of the vehicles and motorcycles had since broken down.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

New Niger Delta Militant Group Emerges, Issues 7-day Ultimatum

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Federal Government now has a new group of militants to contend with, following the emergence of the Red Egbesu Water Lions, which has vowed to team up with the Niger Delta Avengers in ensuring zero production of oil and gas in the region.

But it wasn’t clear as at Wednesday whether it was a resurrection of the Egbesu Mightier Fraternity Of Izon (Ijaw) Land and The Water Lion, a group which became prominent five years ago when its members threatened to eject people of northern origin from the region when the Boko Haram sect started attacking Christians in the North-East.

In a statement by its Creek Network Coordinator, “General” Torunanawei Latei, on Wednesday, the new militant group vowed to work with the Niger Delta Avengers and Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, to ensure that all their demands were met in the next seven days.

Among others, the group demanded the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader and the discharge of former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki from prison custody.

It also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to defreeze the bank accounts of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The Red Egbesu Water Lions, said to be an Ijaw group, threatened to shut down all oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta at the expiration of the ultimatum if the president ignores the group’s demands.

As part of its requests which must be met in the next one week, the group called for the “unconditional and immediate payment to victims of the Bonga Oil Spill and Chevron gas explosion in Koluama, Bayelsa state”.

While decrying the alleged lawlessness of the Buhari-led federal government, the Ijaw group argued that the government was becoming notorious for deliberate disobedience to court orders.

Credit: Thisday

PDP Against Igbo Presidency– APC Group

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Buhari South East Youth Movement [BSEYM] has accused the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] of working against the emergence of President of Igbo extraction. According to the group, by its recent zoning, PDP has automatically ruled out the possibility an Igbo man becoming the President of Nigeria, saying that singular act has shown that the party does not regard Ndigbo.

BSEYM, in a statement therefore called on Ndigbo, especially the youths and women, to reject PDP, which it alleged “has greatly improvised the zone in their 16 years of misrule”.

The group urged South members of the party to withdraw their membership of the party in totality, claiming that the party has nothing good for them. In the statement jointly signed by BSEYM’s director-general Engr. Nwabueze Onwuneme and the publicity secretary, Comrade Igwe Samuel Obinna, it said PDP’s zoning of the Presidency to the North ahead of 2019 “goes to show the disdain the PDP has for the people of the zone”.

The statement further said that the zoning “seriously goes against the spirit of justice, fairness and equity in the rotation of power between the North and South”. According to the group, “peradventure the PDP succeeds, it will extend the Igbo Presidency project to year 2027 from the earlier year 2023 been projected for the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, which would now leave the North there for twelve years as against eight years been projected by the APC”.

Urging Ndigbo to reject PDP, the group noted that “by the end of President Muhammad Buhari’s second tenure it will then be ripe for the Igbos as the only ethnic nationality in southern Nigeria yet to produce an elected President after both the South-west and south-south have all had their shots on the Presidency of the nation”.

Credit: Vanguard

Alleged Killings Of Herdsmen: Group Threatens To Drag IPOB To ICC

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Conference of Minority Tribes of Nigeria (CMTN), has said it will drag the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague following the alleged killings of some Fulani herdsmen in Abia State.

The group which condemned the killings of the northerners, described it as a crime against humanity. Recall that bikerings have followed the allegations by the Department of State Services, DSS, Abuja Headquarters, that members of IPOB killed some Fulani herdsmen in Abia State, and dumped them in gutters.

But this allegation, the separatist group, other groups, as well as the Abia State government, has denied, describing it as a lie from the pit of hell. In separate press statements, they condemned the DSS, accusing the nation’s secrete police of wanting to spark another ethnic pogrom in Nigeria.

However, addressing a press conference on Monday, in Abuja, Secretary General of CMTN, Comrade Samson Babalola said these alleged killings marked a new low in what had been cordial relations between ethnic nationalities in Nigeria that have always accepted each other as family. He said other ethnic groups strongly condemned government forces when it clamped down on IPOB’ protests and had even planned sympathy marches in support of IPOB and its leaders that are being detained.

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Group Petitions Buhari Over Fraud In NYSC

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by civil rights group under the aegis The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET, to order an immediate investigation into the finances of all National Youth Service Corps, NYSC officials and management staffs connected with the online portal.

CESJET in a petition signed by its Executive Director, Sunday Attah and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari also want a forensic audit conducted on all revenues from the online portal and remittances to the Federation account.

The NYSC had last year introduced four thousand naira (N4,000.00) fee for accessing the online portal for registration and printing of call up letter by corps members.

The petition said, “the anti-people fee was vehemently opposed by Nigerians when it was introduced because it remains exorbitant and exploitative of youths that are mobilising to serve the nation.

“Your Excellency, the NYSC management conveniently structured this extortion as a Private Public Partnership, PPP similar to the Immigration recruitment scam that led to loss of life. At inception, the claims by Brigadier-General Olawumi and his cohorts basically implied that users of the online platform must pay for the initial cost of acquiring hardware and setting up the portal. The explanation was that there would be a drop in the N4000 fee over the course of time when the cost of setting up the portal would have been recovered. Conveniently, no definite timeline for reviewing the fee was provided.

“In addition to being an extortion racket, the PPP arrangement equally implies that Your Excellency’s directive on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for all revenues generated by government agencies is in a grey area. Whatever agreement NYSC signed with its PPP implementing partner, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, remains secretive and details of remittances to the Federal Government are unknown.

“Nigerians were also misled into thinking that using the online portal was optional while the realities on ground are totally different. Those who tried not to use the portal ultimately discovered they must revert to it or risk losing the chance to serve their fatherland.

“We resorted to writing Your Excellency after all the petitions sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to halt the self enrichment being carried out by the NYSC and the principal actor, the Director General and they failed to act accordingly.

” The NYSC be compelled to truly make the use of the online portal optional

“A directive be given for a full scale investigation of the finances of all other NYSC officials and management staff with connections to the portal

“A directive be given for a forensic audit of all revenues from the online portal and remittances to the Federation Account.”

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Group Demands Discharge Of Saraki

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), known as Nigeria Needs Positive Change Group (NNPCG), at the weekend, called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, discharge and acquit the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki or re-arraign a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The group, in a statement signed by one Mr. Jide Jokotade, said that “this has become imperative following developments at the Friday sitting of the CCT at the ongoing trial of Dr. Saraki on an alleged false declaration of assets where the lead counsel of the Federal Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), publicly admitted to have erred both in the charges and procedure leading to his prosecution”

“If Dr. Saraki were not acquitted immediately, the FGN must be honourable too to re- arraign former governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu whom the same prosecutor, Mr. Jacobs, equally admitted was discharged in error even though evidence proved he had a case to answer.

“Earlier, the fact that two charges were also dropped by the Federal Government owing to lack of evidence against Dr. Saraki is clear testimony that there were and there are still errors in the charges. And this confirms earlier claims by Saraki and his supporters that the exercise at the CCT was persecution, not prosecution. And it is politically motivated. ?The most honourable option available was for the CCT to discharge and acquit him without further delay,” NNPCG insisted.

The statement described the ? continuation of the trial at the CCT as an abuse of power and judicial process maintaining that “since the prosecutor had pronounced publicly and admitted to established flaws in the trial and any further action in that direction amounted to persecution and political vendetta.

Credit: Dailytimes

Group Appeals To FG Over Arrest, Harassment Of Ijaw Youths

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Iwere Peace Movement, a socio-cultural organization in the Niger Delta, has appealed to the Federal Government to halt the continued arrest and harassment of Ijaw youths in the Niger Delta, particularly in Warri. It argued that the action is creating tension in the region.

Also the Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group faulted the allegation that a former ex-militant leader was behind the bombing of the oil pipelines and abduction of journalists in the creeks last year. The group claimed there was a calculated attempt by some PDP members who defected to APC in the area to destroy the Ijaws.

However, the Iwere Peace Movement in a statement signed by Mr Merie Oritsejolomi and Johnbull Deghelli Omadeli, charged security agents to go after those behind the destruction of the oil pipelines and not innocent Ijaw youths being arrested and humiliated by security agents.

According to the statement, “we have observed with pains the arrest of several innocent Ijaw youths by security agencies since the destruction of some oil pipelines by unknown persons.

“In as much as we support the efforts of the military in going after the perpetrators, we appeal strongly that this incessant arrest of Ijaw youths under the guise of searching for the perpetrators of the pipeline destruction must stop.”

“We are all Nigerians and no Nigerian must be treated as an animal or a visitor in his own land. It is sad watching Ijaw youths being arrested on a daily basis living their families in pain because of issues they know nothing about. This is not the best way of resolving the current tension in the region rather it may escalate it because when people feel betrayed by a nation that is supposed to protect them they can seek alternative means to survive.

“So we are strongly appealing to the Federal Government to apply diplomacy because when you intimidate people, nobody will want to help you in the investigation. Ijaw youths must not be seen as the problem of this nation. Those behind the destruction of the pipelines should be apprehended while innocent Ijaw youths in detention should be allowed to re-join their families so as to douse the tension in the region” it stated.

The Iwere Peace Movement added that “with this allegation from the Itsekiri group,it is obvious that the Itsekiri former PDP member who defected to the APC and the Itsekiris of Ugborodo are the ones that carried out the bombing of the pipelines and accusing Tompolo just to divert attention. The tried woefully to exploit the recent issue between Tompolo and the EFCC to score cheap political point.”

Credit: Vanguard

FG Urged To Criminalize Failure Of Parent To Enrol Children In Schools

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A group has urged the Nigerian government to criminalize the failure of parents to enrol their children in schools.

The charge was given in Abuja by a nongovernmental organization, Paulash Initiative, during its programme to increase awareness of the impact of girl child education.

The founder of the group, Folashade Okomayi, said unless the government makes non-enrollment of school-aged children an offence punishable by law, Nigeria will not be able to rid itself of out- of-school children.

“I think what the government should do is that when children are seen hawking; or doing menial jobs during school hours; government should take them somewhere and trace their parents or wards,” she said.

“If they punish one or two parents under a certain law that should be enacted for the purpose; others will take caution.”

Mrs. Okomayi added that the rally was organised to enlighten Nigerians about the growing challenges facing the girl child in the country.

“A lot of girls are still being subjected to the background in our society. When you talk about growing number of out-of-school children, the greatest number of those affected is girls,” she said.

“In terms of domestic violence, girls are also mostly at the receiving end. The story is the same when you talk about child marriage.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Group Accuses N’Assembly Members Of Working 15 Days & Pocketing N13bn

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Is it true that members of both arms of the National Assembly who recently embarked on annual recess have only worked for about 15days since their inauguration on June 9th?

This was the poser raised by the Team Leader of Media Integrity and Coordinator, Projekthope, a pressure group seeking a better Nigeria, Steve Aborisade.

Aborisade in a press release, said the recess which came barely few days after the National Assembly had remained shut due to leadership crisis was a great disservice to the nation.

According to him: “A situation which has ensured that they have sat for legislative business for only about 15 days since their inauguration three months ago, but in the process collectively pocketed over N13 billion within same period in allowances with not a single bill to their names is an indictment of the character and texture of the personalities of individuals occupying both chambers of our national assembly…”

Read More: thisdaylive

Syrian Rebel Group Executes 18 ISIS Fighters In New Video

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A Syrian rebel group operating around Damascus has executed 18 alleged members of the Islamic State group in a video mimicking the extremist organisation’s own productions.

The video, which emerged overnight, shows fighters from Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) wearing the orange prison clothes that ISIS victims often sport.

The ISIS prisoners however are wearing black clothes and chained together wearing ankle and hand shackles with metal balls attached.

The nearly 20-minute production mimics many aspects of IS’s own execution videos, with similar sound effects and visuals.

Jaysh al-Islam fighters in the video say the IS forces are being executed in part as revenge for the deaths of at least three of the rebel group’s members who were beheaded by ISIS.

Read More: yahoo

APC Lambasts Group Asking Buhari To Resign

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as a product of poor thinking and deliberate mischief the statement credited to a group, called the PDP Media Watchdog, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to resign because of his comments over his age.

The PDP has denied any link to the group.

But in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the APC said if the authors of the statement had understood simple English, taken the pains to engage in deep thinking and contextualized the comments, they would not have rushed to the press to ask the President to resign.

”What President Buhari was saying, which was lost on those who issued that jejune statement, is that only his love and passion for the country could have made him, at his age, to come out of retirement to seek the office of President, over 30 years after he presided over the affairs of the country.

”For 16 years, Nigerians gave the PDP the benefit of the doubt to move the country forward, but instead, the party put Nigeria in reverse gear at a high speed, spinning it towards a doomsday that was only averted when Nigerians showed the PDP the red card. This is what necessitated President Buhari to continuously seek the country’s highest political office, so he can help put the country on a forward march again. Nothing else matters, not for him the excitement of an office he previously held and the quest for personal accomplishment.

If the country had been well managed, President Buhari will not at 72 be crisscrossing the whole world seeking solution to Nigeria’s problems, it said.

APC said within three weeks of his inauguration, President Buhari has succeeded in returning Nigeria to the comity of nations, to such an extent that world leaders are now so eager to engage him on how to assist his country in key areas, including security and the fight against corruption.

”Within three weeks of President Buhari’s inauguration, he had done what the PDP government could not do in six years: Invigorate the fight against Boko Haram by rallying a regional and global front against the terror group. Today, the US has pledged to give $5 million for the fight against Boko Haram, in addition to other material support. This is apart from the support that has been pledged by the G-7 for Nigeria’s efforts to quell the insurgency.

”Thanks to President Buhari’s shuttle diplomacy, the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) that the PDP government could not bring together for all of six years is ready to deploy next month, while the President has ordered the release of $21 million to facilitate the establishment of the headquarters of the force in N’Djamena, Chad.

”Since assuming office about three weeks ago, President Buhari has visited Chad, Niger, Germany and South Africa, winning support and friends for Nigeria all over again and returning the country to the comity of respected nations. Those who were put off by the PDP government’s resort to politicizing the fight against Boko Haram – even as the insurgents grew stronger – are now joining President Buhari to battle the terrorists. In no distant future, the results of his tireless efforts will begin to show.

”On the domestic front, President Buhari has been handling pressing issues far away from the klieg light, and his efforts to assemble a first class team to implement his change mantra, which he is personally driving, are continuing apace. We in the APC, and we are sure most unbiased Nigerians, are very proud of President Buhari and the vigour he has shown in governance, the kind of vigour we did not see in the immediate past administration that was presided over by a far younger man,” the party said.

It said only anarchists and non-democrats will ask a President who has not spent one month in office to resign, adding: ”It rankles when those making these calls are from the ranks of the party that failed to avail itself creditably in 16 years.”

APC said it has deliberately refused to join issues with the PDP, which has been issuing a series of insipid press statements that showed clearly that the party is not ready to provide a robust opposition to the APC-led federal government.

”For the umpteenth time, we say that the PDP and its satellite bodies must realize that in order to be relevant, credible and to make the necessary impact, they must pick on real issues and articulate them intelligently, rather than latching on to trite matters. This very amateurish display won’t get them anywhere,” the party said.

Credit: premiumtimesng

Group Rejects Assembly’s Hasty Passing Of Bills

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has rejected the 46 bills reportedly passed by the National Assembly.

According to the prodemocracy group, the bills were passed without recourse. “The lawmakers passed the 46 bills within a space of 10 minutes with no sense of reflection about the implication of their action on the image of the country,”TMG Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said.

“This disturbing output, coming at a time the seventh National Assembly is winding down in preparation for the inauguration of the eighth Assembly, is indeed the same impunity that became the hallmark of those entrusted with the responsibility of running the Nigerian State in the recent past.
It was therefore not surprising that they ran the country aground.”

His group also condemned the alleged subtle attempt by the lawmakers to promulgate decrees instead of legislating for the good governance of Nigeria.

“We take exception to the use of the nation’s democratic apparatus for acts of legislative rascality, such as the arbitrary passage of the 46 bills. At TMG, we wonder why the 7th Assembly would choose the twilight of its session to embarrass Nigeria, at a time when our country is basking in the glorious milestone of a successful transition,” the official said.

He said the latest move, which is said to cast Nigeria in a shameful light before the global community, was coming from “an excessively overpaid National Assembly that had been a drain pipe, taking a good chunk of the nation’s financial resources, without commensurate results to show for it.”

“TMG finds it disheartening that the lawmakers who are taking so much from the system do not have the character and good conduct to draw the line between what is proper, just and fair and that which is not. Since 2011, when the 7th National Assembly was inaugurated, lawmakers largely helped themselves through impossible allowances in the guise of making laws,”
Zikirullahi added.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to refuse assent to these hastily- passed laws and called on Nigerians to be vigilant in order to check characters of those willing to make the country a laughing stock in the global comity of nations.

“The President must send a clear message about his intention to exorcise all vestiges of impunity from our polity by rejecting this attempt to ridicule Nigeria. We also call on all Nigerians to be vigilant in order to check characters who are all too willing to make our country a laughing stock in the global comity of nations on account of their unexamined actions.”

Credit: CAJ News

Group Asks Court To Halt Buhari’s Inauguration

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A group, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, has instituted a fresh suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from swearing the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday.

The suit filed on Tuesday is also seeking an order nullifying the certificate of return issued to Buhari by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The plaintiff hinged the suit on the allegation that Buhari did not qualify to contest the presidential election on the grounds that he gave false information about his academic qualification to INEC. Between January and February 2015 there were about 10 cases instituted by various plaintiffs challenging Buhari’s eligibility to stand for the poll on the grounds of his academic qualification controversy. But after he won, the cases were withdrawn.

In the fresh suit filed by its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, the group alleged that Buhari did not meet the qualification enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to stand for the March 28, 2015 presidential election.

Buhari, INEC, the CJN are the 1st to the 3rd respondents in the suit respectively.

The plaintiff is seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the CJN “or any person acting in his capacity” from swearing in Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any other date thereof pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The plaintiff seeks among other orders, “A declaration that the 3rd defendant be stopped from swearing in the 1st defendant as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the issue of perjury involving the 1st defendant has not been resolved.

“An order restraining the 3rd defendant or any person appointed for such purpose from swearing in the 1st defendant as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any future dates whatsoever for giving false information to the 2nd respondent on oath.

“An order annulling the Certificate of Return given to the 1st defendant by the 2nd defendant.”

The grounds canvassed by the plaintiff read, “The 1st respondent (Buhari) gave false information in the affidavit he presented to the 2nd respondent (INEC) and on the strength of which he contested and purportedly won the presidential election which was conducted by the 2nd respondent on March 28, 2015.

“The 1st respondent deposed to an affidavit dated November 24, 2014 that his West African School Leaving Certificate is in the custody of the Secretary to the Military Board.

“The Nigerian Army on January 20, 2015, said that in the personal file of the 1st respondent with the Nigerian Army, they do not have the original copy of his West African School Leaving Certificate nor does the Nigerian Army have the Certified True Copy of his WASC results neither do they have a photocopy of the said result.

“The 1st respondent has not met the qualifications enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, Cap E6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 (as amended) to have contested the position of President of Nigeria at the 2015 general elections.

“That the authority conferred by Section 140 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on the 3rd respondent to administer oath of office to any person who will occupy the office of the President of Nigeria cannot be exercised in respect of the 1st respondent who has not fulfilled the requirements of the same constitution and the Electoral Act as it relates to his eligibility to occupy the office of President of Nigeria.”

The case has not been assigned to any judge.

Credit: punchng

Group Appeals To Buhari Not To Dissolve NDDC Board

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A group, the Niger Delta Professionals Association, has appealed to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, not to dissolve the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

In a statement issued in Abuja Wednesday, the group, through its President, Ose Olise, also advised Mr. Buhari against taking any action that would return the oil-rich region to its former bloody state.

Already, the group said it has received reports that some outgoing governors from the region are trying to manipulate the youth in the region into staging a protest against the leadership of the development agency.

“We are aware that they have already procured some youths from Niger Delta especially Akwa Ibom State among other states to organize a protest against the management of NDDC Board,” the group stated.

“We are also aware that they have sponsored some elements who have already filed a suit to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the management and Board of NDDC on false allegations.”

It, therefore, used the medium to draw the attention of Niger Delta indigenes and Nigerians to the thickening plot by some politicians to stoke crisis in the region.

Since elections have come and gone and the winners declared, the group advised politicians in the country to concentrate their efforts in things that would move the country forward.

It also argued that politicians should put the overall interest of the nation and the Niger Delta region above their individual and collective political interests.

The group said since the NDDC board is less than two years, it should be allowed to compete its tenure, saying if it is found that it did not fulfil its statutory mandate, Mr. Buhari can refuse to renew the boards second term.

The group described as “uncivil, gross misconduct and impunity” to instigate the dissolution of a performing board because some politicians are interested in filling the position with their stooges.

It said dissolving the NDDC board without any significant reason would send wrong signals to the people of the region and could trigger crises.

“We are using this medium to respectfully and humbly advise General Muhammadu Buhari to be very careful with the way he handles Niger Delta matters, in order not to end up creating a serious and unprecedented anarchy in the region.

“We wish to call on the American President Barack Obama, David Cameron of United Kingdom, Angela Mikel of Germany, and other well-meaning world leaders to prevail on the incoming government of General Buhari to religiously avoid unrest in the region by allowing the incumbent Board of NDDC to be.”

The group also appealed to eminent religious leaders and leaders of thought across the country to prevail on the incoming government not to take actions that would rob it of the support Nigerians gave it at the just concluded polls.

“Let peace reign in Niger Delta Region. Let us not dissolve the incumbent NDDC board just because it was instituted by outgoing Peoples Democratic Party-led government of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

“In the interest of peace equity and good conscience let the incumbent board of NDDC serve out their tenure. PDP and APC are made up of Nigerians. Politics is not war. Election has come and gone let us build our country.”

Credit: premiumtimesng

Senate Presidency: 65 Senators Support Saraki, Group Headed By Dino Melaye

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

As federal lawmakers wait for the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone political positions in the National Assembly, a group known as The Like Minds has emerged with backing to the aspirations of senators Bukola Saraki and Ali Ndume.

The Like Minds claims to have 65 Senators on its list. The group is reportedly headed by former member of the House of Representatives and Senator-elect from Kogi State, Dino Melaye.

The group claims its membership cuts across all the six geo-political zones, including 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senators.

The group claimed it was working to ensure that no external influence or external political godfather hijacked the Senate leadership.

A source privy to the group disclosed that despite the alleged endorsement of a particular aspirant and his alleged sponsorship by the leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the numerical number of The Like Minds group continues to increase on daily basis.

The source further said the North East, which was said to have endorsed the candidature of Senator Ahmad Lawan has 15 Senators in The Like Minds camp and nine Senators out of 21 from the North West.

He also said 11 APC Senators out of 18 from the North Central had identified with The Like Minds, while 11 out of 18 from the South West had also given their backing to the Saraki/Ali Ndume camp.

He, however, said it was “the belief of The Like Minds that the decision on which zone produces the Senate President will be taken by the national leadership of the APC and that the group will only act in accordance with the decision of the party.”

Another source, who declined to be named also said that whoever emerged as the Senate President must be the consensus candidate of the Senators.

“We want to make sure that it is only Senators that will decide who will be the Senate President and not an external body.

“We are committed to serving the country and giving the best for the overall interest of the generality of the people,” he added.

Credit: sunnewsonline

Arrest Rivers, Akwa Ibom INEC Chiefs, Group Raises Alarm On Electoral Fraud

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, demanding the arrest and investigation of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Gesila Khan, and that of Akwa Ibom State, Austin Okoji.

The demand by the civic group follows exposure of irregularities in the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the two South-South states.

Challenging the credibility of elections in the states, CSNAC stated that there were irregularities in the numbers of total votes cast and votes polled in each of the states by the winners and the numbers of authentic accredited voters generated by INEC central server in Abuja.

The group’s petition was titled ‘Demand For Urgent Investigation Of Fraudulent Manipulation Of Election Results In Akwa Ibom And Rivers States Governorship Elections Of April 11, 2015 By Two Resident Electoral Commissioners.’

“In brazen contravention of several provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Austin Okojie, falsely declared that 1,158,624 people voted in the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections in Akwa Ibom State, leaving a difference of 721,496 in excess of the actual card readers figures of accredited voters,” the group said in its petition.

“In a similar vein, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, declared 1,228,614 total votes, contrary to the figure of 292,878 accredited voters recorded in the INEC central server in Abuja. This is in excess of 935,736 votes.

“Local and international observers who physically observed elections in both States had, immediately after the elections, called for the cancellation of elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. The conduct and outcomes of the elections were declared to be flawed, below standard and inconsistent with provisions of the electoral Act, 2010.

“An online newspaper, Premiumtimesng, in its publication of Saturday, April 9, 2015 titled; River’s Nyesom Wike a goner; INEC document exposes fraud by PDP, INEC in guber poll, confirmed allegations contained in the petition forwarded to our a network and findings of our independent investigations.”

Read More: premiumtimesng

Group Petitions Police Affairs Minister, Police IG Over Policemen Detained By Nigerian Army

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Following a PREMIUM TIMES exclusive report about the detention of 10 counter terrorism police officers since April 21, a rights group, Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People, has petitioned the Minister of Police Affairs and Inspector general of Police, requesting their intervention for the release of the detained police officers.

One of the detainees had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that he and his colleagues were detained on the instruction of a Colonel Kalejaye, head of the army forward operation base, because they refused his directive to “impersonate” soldiers by wearing their uniforms for training in Kaduna State.

One of the detainees, on Wednesday, told PREMIUM TIMES that following reports on their plight, the military had started to give them food.

In its petition, signed by its national coordinator, Waheed Saka, the group demanded “immediate and unconditional release of the detainee officers; security synergy among military and paramilitary agency for effective security; and inquiry into the controversial deployment.”

The group also expressed hope that “this unnecessary institutional superiority among security agencies will be properly addressed and necessary reform for implementation will be done for the good of our national security”.

The CDRP said it is concerned about right to life of Nigerian citizen.

“We considered the detainee first as a citizen before they enlisted as policemen in the service of their fatherland,” the group said. “We subsequently condemned the detention as unlawful, unwarranted and totally unacceptable as carried by the online media and various media outlet on 26th April 2015.

“However, the request for your intervention is necessary as all our effort to free the detainees is not fruitful and our independent investigation revealed that the detained officers are still in army cell somewhere in Gwagwalada under a condition that we considered inhuman and filty.

“More so, it is definitely easy to secure the popular minority elite, but if our nation security will operate according to international best practice, we must strive to protect, defend and patriotically respect the rights of our rank and file officers who sworn to defend the green, white and green flag of our country against any internal uprising.”

Read More: premiumtimesng

Group Accuses First Lady Of Hiring Thugs To Protest Against Dickson

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A socio-cultural group, Niger Delta Solidarity Forum, NDSF, has alleged that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and her godson and presidential aide, Mr. Waripomowei Dudufa, are planning to destabilise the peace and prevailing stable political atmosphere in Bayelsa State by engaging about 1,000 political thugs to protest against the state governor, Seriake Dickson on the streets of Yenogoa.

The NDSF however said it would “mobilize its members across the entire region and resist any planned street protests in Bayelsa State.”

In a statement issued on Thursday by its General Secretary, Nelson Ebebi, the group alleged that Mrs. Jonathan, along with Dudafa and two incumbent senators from the state intend to cause chaos and confusion by sponsoring street protests in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Read More: dailypost

Group Passes Vote Of No Confidence On APC Leadership In Enugu State

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Patriots, a political group in Enugu State, has passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

In a communiqué after its meeting in Enugu, the group on Wednesday called for the immediate change in the party’s leadership structure.

The group, made up of elders and stakeholders from different parts of the state, expressed dissatisfaction with the management of the funds released to the leadership for the 2015 general elections.

The communiqué signed by its Coordinator, Vincent Anidiobu, and Secretary, Chief Vitalis Ani, called for an audit of the funds received by the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the election, Okey Ezea, saying it was dissatisfied with the “abysmal outing of the party in the state” at the elections.

The group also agreed to rebuild, restructure and reposition the state chapter of the APC to prepare it for the challenges ahead, while ensuring credible and harmonious leadership in the party.

It congratulated Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, on his success at the polls and called on him to see the entire country as his constituency.

It said the stakeholders were already studying the credentials of candidates who had shown interest in ministerial appointments in the state.

“Our ideal candidate shall be one that is technically competent, with proven track records and of proven integrity, whose loyalty to the party is not in doubt.

“The candidate must be such that shall have the capacity and ability to reconcile all the warring factions in the party and reunite and reposition the party in the state,’’ it said.

“Enugu State has always worked with the party at the centre and does not wish to be in opposition for long.

“Now that power is about to change hands from the PDP to the APC at the centre, deliberate steps should be taken to realign the state to the party at the center in order not to deprive it of developmental projects and key appointments from the central government,” it said.

The stakeholders also described as unfortunate the crisis of confidence between the executive and the legislature in the state.

“Both parties have been protecting themselves in corruption. Enugu citizens must rise up to demand for accountability from Governor Sullivan Chime and the Speaker, Eugene Odo, as well as other members of the present state assembly,” the communiqué said.

Credit: NAN

Run From Obiano, Group Tells Buhari

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A socio-polical pressure group, Maka Odinma Anambra, has enjoined Governor Willie Obiano and other leaders of the South East to stop embarrassing the zone by their cavalier and shameless attempt to jump onto the Buhari victory train, which they naively refused to board only few weeks earlier .

Irked by last Friday’s visit by Governor Obiano to president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, wherein he pledged to give General Buhari the same hundred per cent support which he gave to President Goodluck Jonathan, the group wondered whether it was the same man who throughout the electioneering period urged his party members not to vote for a ” Jihadist” and a party belonging to the Hausa/Yoruba ethnic nationalities .

“It is either Governor Obiano’s mathematics does not add up, or in a desperation to display unbridled loyalty, he mixed up the figures. Pray, if he pledges to give the General the same 100 percent support which he said he gave to President Jonathan before, during and after the general election, then it goes without question that he obviously gave General Buhari zero support during the election that won him victory”, the group said in a statement signed by its Secretary, Emeka Nwazue.

“For a man who openly said before the election that any Igbo who vote for APC is a bastard and an enemy of Biafra, and who also used machinery of his government to suppress the interests of General Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in both the Presidential, National and State Assembly elections barely one month ago, to seek to benefit from his perfidy clearly fore-grounds the new abyss into which leadership appear to be sinking in the South East geo-political zone, especially Anambra”, the socio-political organization said.

The group contended that while it was alright for Governor Obiano to pay a courtesy visit on president-elect Buhari, there is everything wrong in attempting to Nicodemously foist on himself the leadership of the Igbo race, or it’s elected officials – as his posturing during the visit suggested – especially as those who assiduously worked for the glory which he seeks to appropriate, such as Governor Rochas Okorocha, Senator Chris Ngige, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and the Hon. Afam Ogene, amongst others, have not embarked upon the kind of booty-begging adventure which he undertook.

“As a mather of fact, we urge Gov. Obiano to remain in the All Proressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which he steadily decimates with each passing day, instead of seeking to pollute current attempts at strengthening the APC in the South east geo-political zone,” Maka Odinma Amambra stated.

Jonathan’s Group Wants Buhari Prosecuted At ICC For 2011 Post-Election Violence

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A political group sympathetic to President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking to ambush Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by advocating his prosecution for his alleged role in the post-election violence that rocked parts of northern Nigeria after the 2011 general elections.

According to the group, the recurrence of violence would be “totally unacceptable.”Sahara Reporters MediaSome members of the National Service Corps as well as other Nigerians lost their lives in riots that broke out after President Goodluck Jonathan was announced as the winner of the 2011 presidential election.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja today, a group of northern political elements said that those responsible for the premeditated arson, killings and destruction of property in 2011 must be brought to justice.

The group, which has retained an international lawyer, Goran Sluiter, stated, “As a fresh round of general elections approaches, recent provocative utterances and inciting statements laced with threat and intimidation by some political actors necessitate our renewed request for the International Court of Justice (ICC) to urgently launch criminal investigations in order to checkmate the reoccurrence of the political violence in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.”