DSS arrested 16 INEC staff for electoral fraud

Men of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Imo State last night arrested 16 members of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for altering the result sheets of the governorship election to suit the figures that were “dubiously allotted to political parties”.
Among those arrested is said to be the head of operations and other Electoral Officers, who presided over the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Confirming the arrest, a DSS official, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the INEC officials were caught while thumb printing ballot papers in favour of an opposition political party. According to the reliable source, the suspects were detained at the DSS State headquarters.
 The All Progressives Congress (APC) had demanded the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ada for allegedly working for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The party also passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the INEC in the state and called for a new team to conduct the rerun.

Eligibility Suit: Plantiffs discontinue case

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, the judge presiding over the eligibility suits against the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Wednesday, stopped further hearing on two separate suits after plaintiffs filed notices of discontinuance before the court.
Three persons had asked the court to stop Buhari from contesting the March 28 presidential election.
The motions for discontinuance were filed by the plaintiffs’ lawyers on Wednesday.
Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to one of the plaintiffs, Chukwunweike Okafor, told the judge that his client decided to withdraw his suit to enable the incoming government to focus on the task of governing the country effectively.
Dr. Chike Amobi, representing Max Ozoaka, also confirmed that his client has withdrawn his suit.
The pending eligibility case is filed by one Ayakeme Whiske.

Impeachment crisis turns Ekiti to a laughing stock says Ekiti elders

Elders in Ekiti State are unhappy with the raging impeachment crises which they said have turned the Fountain of Knowledge to a battlefield.
Rising from an emergency meeting on the political crisis on Wednesday, the elders under their umbrella body, Ekiti Council of Elders, said those who don’t wish the state well in Yoruba land and the entire country “are laughing at us.”
The body chaired by Prof. Tunde Oluwasanmi promised not to rest on its oars until the crises are resolved, adding that plans are on to bring warring parties together through peace talks.
Addressing reporters shortly after the meeting held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Chairman, Standing Committee of Ekiti Council of Elders, Chief Oladeji Fasuan, said the group believes that the crises could still be resolved if the parties could make concessions.
Fasuan, who is also the Chairman of Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, said the elders have resolved to summon Governor Ayo Fayose and the Dr. Adewale Omirin-led 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the House of Assembly to meetings to ensure the resolution of the impasse.
Other prominent Ekiti elders at the meeting include former governor of old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua; the Odoba of Ado-Ekiti and former Registrar, University of Ife, Chief Alex Olu Ajayi; former Ado-Ekiti Local Government Chairman, Chief Ojo Falegan; former Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Bayo Orire; former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe and former governorship aspirant, Biola Olasehinde, among others.
Fasuan explained that the council had launched several attempts to intervene in the situation but such efforts did not yield fruit “due to the apparent refusal of our difficult sons and daughters who are operating in the political space.”
He disclosed that a suit filed by Omirin and his deputy, Adetunji Orisalade, against their impeachment limited their intervention in the crisis, noting that the council is still determined to get to the root of the matter with a view to finding solution.

Goodluck Jonathan will handover May 29 says Information minister

The Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki , on Wednesday maintained that May 29th is the date for the handover of governance from President Goodluck Jonathan to President-elect, Gen. Muhammudu Buhari.
She made the clarification at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan.
According to her, May 28th is just for the inaugural dinner.
She said: “28th May is not the date for handover. 29th May is for handover and Democracy Day.”
“The President is still the President till 29th May till when the President-elect will take over.”
“28th May is just for inaugural dinner.”
On the sack of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, by President Jonathan, she said that the President acted within his power to appoint and sack personnel.

Chibok Girls: "If Obama can find Osama then Jonathan can find the girls' says Oby Ezekwesili

The campaigner for the "BringBackOurGirls" Oby Ezekwesili have said that the chibok girls can still be find if the government is willing and steadfast.
Furthermore, she said since Obama find Osama then Goodluck Jonathan can find those girls.

Suleiman Abba sacked, Solomon Arase in

Police chief Suleiman Abba lost his job yesterday, becoming the first major casualty of President Goodluck Jonathan’s electoral loss. He was immediately replaced by Mr. Solomon Arase.
No reason was given for Inspector-General Abba’s sack.
It was learnt last Saturday that Dr. Jonathan was under pressure to give Abba the boot—for alleged security and protocol breaches.
A statement signed by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba of his appointment and duties with immediate effect.
“President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.
“Until his appointment as Mr. Abba’s replacement, Mr. Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
“Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as  Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.
“He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.”
Presidency sources said First Lady Patience Jonathan played a pivotal role in the events leading to Abba’s sack.
Abba, it was learnt, had earlier been summoned by the President to defend himself against allegations by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and security chiefs regarding his role during the March 28 and April 11 elections.
Abba got the push because he rebuffed a presidential directive to make some “strategic moves” that would have favoured the ruling party in the two elections, the sources said.
One of them specifically mentioned Abba’s reluctance to redeploy the Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone 6 Tunde Ogunsakin, from Rivers State to Cross River on the eve of the gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections.
The aim, it was gathered, was to enable the ruling party perfect what was described as its ectoral heist in some states in the Southsouth.
A source said when it became apparent that Abba was “using delay tactics” in carrying out the order, the First Lady, who was with some of her aides in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, instead of Bayelsa State where the President had gone to vote, called  Dr. Jonathan demanded an immediate implementation of the directive, it was said.
Miffed by what she considered to be an affront, said the source, the First Lady said Abba would regret his tardiness.
Said the source: “I can categorically tell you that Abba would have saved his job but for what happened on the eve of the governorship election when we were in Port Harcourt. Could you believe that despite an initial signal from the authorities that Ogunsakin should be moved to Calabar, Abba was playing games with the directives? He was apparently not in the mood to comply. The President had to call him directly before the order was carried out, following a complaint made to him by the First Lady.
“I am also aware that the authorities are not happy with his conduct during the presidential election, especially his seeming closeness to the president-elect and his presence at presentation of Certificate of Return to Gen. Buhari in Abuja.
He would have been allowed to stay on till the inauguration of the new government but for ignoring the wishes of the wife of the President.”
Asked if Abba explained his alleged reluctance to obey the order when he was summoned, the source said it would not have mattered as the President considered his action an act of disloyalty to constituted authority.
He said some of the security chiefs had also complained about Abba’s aloofness and “uncooperative attitude” during the presidential election in which he allegedly told his officers, including Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), to obey only orders emanating from his office.
Another source said Abba’s conduct since Buhari was elected showed evidence of disloyalty.
He was said to be behaving as if Jonathan’s tenure was over without minding the transition in place.
“His behaviour, especially his appearance at the presentation of certificate to Buhari, was described as ‘officially intolerable’,” the source said.
“There was no evidence that Abba was officially invited to the ceremony by INEC chairman to have warranted his presence. The Presidency felt he brazenly slighted the president and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“By shifting loyalty to the  president-elect, the IGP was alleged by the Presidency to have exposed other Service Chiefs’ careers to a ‘grave risk’ as it would appear to the President-elect as if they are disloyal.
“Jonathan was displeased that the IGP did not show much commitment to the team spirit with which all Service Chiefs went into the just-concluded general elections.
“By the sack, Jonathan offered to show Abba the exit way to prevent him from benefiting from any restructuring by the new administration.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The sack of Abba was not about refusal to act a script during the general election because the President was magnanimous to concede defeat but it was sheer lack of loyalty to the system.
“Why will the IGP chart a partisan course? No government can condone this.”
Another source, who spoke in confidence, said the leakage of the redeployment of AIG Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State angered the President.
The source said: “When there was security alarm from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll, the President invited IGP Abba to compare security notes. The interaction was only witnessed by the Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Dr. Dudafa.
“It was shocking for the President to read about a ‘presidential directive’ in some newspapers on the redeployment of Ogunsakin.
“The President was taken aback and he asked who could have leaked the information to the press. Neither Abba nor Dudafa claimed responsibility for the leakage.”
It was gathered that the President decided to wield the stick to prove that he is not “ a weak leader”.
A source said: “The President initially chose to ignore Abba but he changed his mind to show that he is not a weakling.
“And Jonathan has demanded loyalty from all Service Chiefs  till he leaves office on May 29.”

Xenophobic: FG directs Nigerians to remain indoors in S’African over attacks

Foreign Minister Aminu Wali

Nigerians resident in South Africa have been directed by the Federal Government to remain indoors up until the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country are put under control.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of a meeting he attended at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the directive was communicated to them by Nigeria’s mission in Pretoria.

The minister said,   “With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian has so far been affected.

“They informed me that they have called members of the Nigerian community and addressed them and told them to close their shops, stay at home and keep out of trouble and obey the laws of South Africa.

“They have also confirmed that the South African authorities have moved in to take actions that would forestall any further disturbance in that country.”

Wali however said the government would not hesitate to evacuate Nigerians from the country if the situation worsened.

He said, “If it (the situation) gets worse, it is the duty of our country to make sure our people are brought back and we are taking that duty seriously. We are not prepared to allow any of our nationals to be subjected to such inhuman treatment.

“We are not being reactionary because this is happening to all foreigners, not Nigerians alone. We are monitoring the situation and will now take action according to the situation that develops.”

On the investigation ordered by the President on the recent diplomatic row between Nigeria and Morocco over the reported telephone conversation   between Jonathan   and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Wali simply said, “We are still at it.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later issued a statement in which it called on the South Africa government to stop the attacks and put in place measures to   “prevent a reoccurrence. “Condemning the attacks which began two weeks ago,   it said Nigeria abhorred violence and also “stands firm in its conviction that no cause could justify taking innocent souls.”

The statement read in part, “The people and government of Nigeria stand in solidarity with the rest of the world to condemn these unprovoked attacks on fellow Africans who have left their countries to seek greener pastures and better livelihood for themselves.

“The government of Nigeria would like to use this medium to reiterate its abhorrence of violence and … therefore calls on the government of South Africa to live up to its responsibilities and take all necessary steps to stop the ongoing xenophobic attacks.

“It is gratifying to note, however, that the a South African President(Jacob Zuma) has condemned the attack. In addition, the city of Durban has also organised rallies against xenophobia.”

Also in Abuja, the   House of Representatives   asked the government to recall Nigeria’s Ambassador     for “consultations “over the widespread attacks and killing of non-South African blacks.

A motion debated by the members of the House in Abuja, highlighted the plight of African migrants in South Africa, whom they said were being “slaughtered like animals” by black South Africans.

The motion stressed that Nigerians were among the victims.

The House specifically requested South African President, Jacob Zuma, to immediately investigate the attacks and punish those responsible.

The motion was sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs,   Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

“Nigeria frowns on the spate of killings of Nigerians in South Africa and requests President Zuma to investigate the cases and bring the perpetrators to justice”, the motion stated.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that though Nigerians had suffered xenophobic attacks in the past in South Africa, the latest cases were ignited by comments credited to the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who had reportedly asked migrant Africans to return to their countries of origin.

The motion read further, “The House notes sadly that the recent attacks which have left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised, many beaten up mercilessly, were incited by a statement allegedly made by South African Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who told African migrants to go home as they are no longer welcomed in South Africa.

“Son of President Zuma, Edward, allegedly echoed the same statement. This ignited a strong debate, and worse still, immediate backlash of violent reactions among the Zulus in Kwazulu, who unleashed terror on foreign immigrants, including Nigerians in Jo-bourg, Durban and Pretoria.

“They steal, break into their homes, businesses, take their properties, killing them.

“At least five have been killed in Durban, hundreds stranded and unable to return home.”

Many members, who contributed to the debate, expressed sadness over the turn of events in South Africa.

They recalled with pain, the sacrifices Nigeria made to free South Africa from the clutches of apartheid.

“What is happening in South Africa is a demonstration of the shortness of their memory,” a member from Enugu State,   Tobi Okechukwu, said.

Another lawmaker,   Abubakar Momoh,   advised South Africans to turn their anger against those who oppressed them in the apartheid era and not fellow Africans, who gave so much to secure their freedom.

The motion was passed in a unanimous voice vote at Thursday’s session, which was presided over by the Speaker,   Aminu Tambuwal.

A Nigerian based in South Africa on Thursday stress  that the South African Government was secretly promoting the   attacks on black Africans in their country.

“It’s horrendous. The government is secretly gingering them. The government wants all   illegal immigrants to be driven away but it went out of proportion. But our people are prepared. We are not running away.”