PDP PAYS RELIGIOUS LEADERS N6 BILLION TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST BUHARI - AMAECHI

Rivers State Governor and Director-General of Buhari Presidential Campaign Organization, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of bribing some Christian religious leaders with N6 billion to campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and it’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the compromised religious leaders are circulating documents to Nigerians alleging that APC and Buhari will islamize the entire country if elected into power during the February general elections.
Amaechi, who spoke during the APC governorship campaign rally at Emohua, headquarters of Emohua local government area of Rivers state, said Nigerians were too enlightened for an individual or a political party to islamize the whole country, and advised the affected pastors to return the money to the coffers of the Federal Government.

OMG! CAPTURED JORDANIAN PILOT BURNT ALIVE IN A CAGE BY ISIS

 Oh dear Lord! Why aren't these world powers trying to eliminate ISIS once & for all? The 27 year old Jordanian pilot who was captured by ISIS militants after his warplane crashed while he was conducting airstrikes over Syria in December 2014, has been killed in the most despicable manner.

The terrorists released a video today showing the brutal murder of Lieutenant Moaz al-Kasasbeh. He was burnt alive while locked in a cage. The Jordanian military believe he was killed on Jan. 3rd. More photos after the cut...

I WILL DO BETTER IN MY SECOND TERM – JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said that he deserve a second term in order to allow him consolidate on the achievements he has recorded during his first term in office.
Speaking with Traditional Rulers in Kogi state before the presidential Rally in Lokoja, President Jonathan said most governments worldwide perform better during the second term of their administrations.
According to the president, public office holders perform better during their second term because they have enough time to settle down and plan quickly.
“Whatever we have done in the last four years, we believe that we will even do more in the next four years. Most governments all over the world do better in their second tenure.
“This is because the Presidents are more stable that time, especially in this two terms arrangement. They are more stable. They sit down and plan for the country and focus on key areas.”

I PLEDGE TO GOD NOT TO STEAL PUBLIC FUNDS - OSINBAJO

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential running mate Professor Yemi Osinbajo declared that he had pledged to God not to steal public funds when elected into office at the February 14 elections. 
The APC presidential running mate said this through his Twitter handle (@ProfOsinbajo), adding that their government would free Nigerians from shackles of bad governance.
He said Nigerians are too poor to be short-changed again, adding that his party has designed many programmes to address the problems bedeveling the country.
"I have made a pledge with God, that I will not steal public funds either before or even as a 'thank you,'"Osinbajo said.

ALL PVCS READY NATIONWIDE -INEC

A few days to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, said all eligible voters who could not collect their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) can now avail themselves, stating that the cards are ready for collection nationwide.
Indeed, prominent registered voters, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar,Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and others, had at separate times complained about non-availability of their PVCs.
However, INEC yesterday allayed such fears, stressing that the challenge was a result of lost of data caused by some members of the commission.
INEC’s Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Nick Dazang, who made the disclosure yesterday at a one-day workshop held for newsmen in Kaduna, explained that, “Initial lost of data led to loss of finger prints and that was why the Sultan of Sokoto, Governor Fashola of Lagos, others could not get their PVCs.
“What I know is that those whose data were lost and those who did the Continuous Voter Register (CVR), their cards are now ready. The attitude of some INEC staff led to loss of the data.”

WHY THERE’RE COWARDS IN THE ARMY – NYIAM

A member of the defunct 2014 National Conference, Col Tony Nyiam, has revealed why soldiers took to their heels on sighting members of the Boko Haram, saying that “today’s soldiers lack the spirit of patriotism, commitment and courage which should be the attribute of a gallant soldier.”
Nyiam, who spoke at a symposium on the National Conference and the 2015 elections organised by the HH Macaulay Centre for the Advancement of Democracy yesterday in Abuja, blamed what he termed undue interference in the recruitment process into the armed forces as reason “there are soldiers who are lily-livered in the war front.”

WHY I BACKED OUT OF PUBLIC DEBATES – BUHARI

• Prefers town-hall meetings
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, says instead of the PDP-controlled presidential debate, he had kicked off town hall meetings to directly interact with Nigerians from all walks of life.
Buhari alongside his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, will interact and explain to citizens, the policy thrust of their envisaged administration and how the set objectives will be achieved.

CBN DISBURSES N18BN TO 5 POWER FIRMS

Five electricity firms yesterday received a total of N18.261 billion lifeline under the Nigerian Electricity Stabilisation Facility from the original N213 billion.
Speaking while disbursing the fund to the firms in Abuja at the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation (NEMS) signing ceremony and disbursement of N18.261 billion to two electricity distribution companies and three electricity generation companies, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, warned the firms to use the fund judiciously.
The beneficiary firms include Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc N5,164,365,623.88; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Plc, which got N11,367,311,028.00; Jeba Hydroelectric Plc, N816,831,881.50; Kainji Hydroelectric Plc, N234,815,594.62 and Shiroro Hydroelectric Plc, N678,650,019.72.

PROTESTERS ASK INEC TO DELAY ELECTIONS

A motley crowd of about 100 youths mainly from Abuja suburb yesterday gathered at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters calling for the postponement of the general election beginning February 14.
Similar protest held on Monday at the INEC head office where a group of 50 youths demanded for the poll’s postponement citing difficulty in the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
Organisers of yesterday’s protest also said the elections should be pushed forward because about 40% of PVCs were yet to be distributed.
They claimed that INEC required 960,000 ad hoc staff but that up till now those staff had not been fully recruited.
Should the election go ahead as planned, they argued, millions of Nigerian would be disenfranchised.

INEC, APC DENYING US PVCS IN LAGOS – IGBO YOUTHS

Igbo Youth Congress, IYC, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State of foiling Igbo’s attempt to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs because of their resolve to vote for all the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the forthcoming February elections.
At a press conference at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, yesterday, IYC National President, Comrade Jerry Onyemaechi Ugwu, said while the possession of the PVCs should be the right of every eligible voter, the APC, in collaboration with INEC had prevented Igbos from collecting their cards so as to disenfranchise them during the coming elections.
Ugwu said the Igbos in Amuwo-Odofin and Ojo areas were more hit by the development as the APC connives with INEC personnel to issue the PVCs to only indigenes they trust and believe to be APC members while the non-indigenes, especially Igbos were denied the cards even though they had registered in the same centres.

5 PDP GOVS SET TO JOIN APC – BARAJE

As Lamido explains meeting with Amaechi
The former Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje yesterday disclosed that five more governors of the ruling party and their structures are joining APC ahead of 2015 general elections.
Baraje did not however give details of the governors that are crossing over to the opposition. But some PDP governors in the North and South South are said to be neck deep into the APC but are waiting for the right time to make the strategic switch to avoid being witchunted.
Baraje who stated this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin to mark his 64th birthday also alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was behind the proposal for an interim government if General Muhammadu Buhari won the Presidential election.
Baraje said the ruling party has been planning many tricks including the postponement of the election, stressing that the APC will join Nigerians to reject such undemocratic action by the ruling party.

LAMIDO NOT LEAVING PDP, AIDE INSISTS

Contrary to the speculations that Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State may be on his way to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lamido is not ready to leave the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of this month’s polls,Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal.
Lamido and his long-time ally, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the Rivers State governor and the Buhari Presidential Campaign Director-General, had met behind closed doors, at the weekend in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
But details of what transpired at the meeting between the duo were never made public, as both men refused to speak to the Press on the visit, thus fuelling speculation that it may be in preparation for Lamido’s eventual defection to the APC, just as some PDP chieftains are also insinuating that the meeting may be part of Ameachi’s own plans to return to the PDP.

I’LL BAN IMPORTATION OF RICE, TOMATO –BUHARI

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Buhari (retd), on Monday said if elected on February 14, he would ban the importation of basic items like rice and tomato in order to enhance local production of the products.
He also said his administration would focus on agriculture, mining, infrastructure and job provision at the top of its economic agenda.
Buhari, who gave a summary of how he intended to revive the economy in a meeting with the Organised Private Sector in Lagos, said his government would place emphasis on three key issues of security, tackling corruption and reviving the ailing economy.
The meeting, which had all the key members of the APC in attendance, was hosted by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

DON’T THREATEN DANJUMA, ACF WARNS TOMPOLO, DOKUBO

The northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, has warned Niger Delta ex-militants not to threaten a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.).
The northern group said neither Danjuma nor any citizen of the country for that matter should be threatened with attacks by the ex-militants, who have been threatening fire and brimstone should President Goodluck Jonathan loses the February 14 presidential poll.
The ex-militants had threatened to attack Danjuma’s business interest in the Niger Delta for daring to ask that security agencies should arrest leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari;and other ex-militants.
Dokubo-Asari, Victor Ben Ebikabowei a.k.a Boy Loaf; Government Ekpudomenowei, a.k.a Tompolo and other militants had, during a meeting at the Bayelse State Government House, vowed to unleash violence on Nigerians if Jonathan failed in his re-election bid.
They said any attempt to unseat the President would be seen as a direct affront to the Ijaw nation.

JONATHAN RECEIVES FORENSIC REPORT ON NNPC ACCOUNTS

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, received the report of the forensic investigation he ordered into the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Jonathan had ordered the investigation in March last year, following allegations of missing funds from the corporation’s accounts made by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and now Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
The firm engaged for the job, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, has concluded its assignment and, led by its country Senior Partner, Uyi Akpata, presented its report to the president at the State House, Abuja, with Jonathan promising that he would get experts to look at it as quickly as possible.

FG, COMMISSIONERS FORECLOSE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS OVER ELECTIONS

CONTRARY to earlier indications that the Federal Government might order the closure of both private and public schools across the country, to allow for hitch-free conduct of polls this month, the stakeholders’ meeting of Monday objected to the plan.
Rising from the consultative meeting with the 36 state commissioners for education, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretary, in Abuja, on Monday, Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said all schools would remain in session throughout the election period.
He said the meeting resolved that academic activities could go on unhindered in both basic and tertiary institutions across the country.