Anti-impeachment protest rock Ekiti

A huge protest is currently ongoing in Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, against the move of Ekiti State House of Assembly to impeach the state Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, over alleged constitutional breaches.

Heavy security has been put in place in strategic locations in Ado Ekiti, while entry routes have been blocked and taken over by security operatives.

Details later. . .

Rivers Citizen protests in Abuja, seeks Rivers REC’s, Ms Khan sack

Due to the Rivers state rigging of the presidential and National assembly elections by the PDP, the people of rivers state have shifted their protest to the office of INEC in Abuja calling for the REC sack.
A massive protest has taken place at the offices of Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) In Abuja calling for the removal of Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Gesila Khan. The protesters stormed INEC headquarters early today asking that Ms. Khan be removed from conducting Saturday's governorship elections because she is already compromised. 

Hundreds of protesters mostly the supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Coalition of Nigerian Political Parties Rivers State chapter early this morning besieged the headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to demand for the removal of the controversial Resident Electoral in their state.
Protesters claimed the state REC Gesila Khan is partial and biased in the conduct of the last week Presidential Election in the state.                                                                                  
The protesters who carried placards with the following inscriptions; remove Rivers REC now, No more rigging in Rivers State, Gesila is corrupt, Jega save us, 13 Political parties demand REC removal, INEC ad-hoc staff thumbprint for PDP in Rivers, We will not allow Gesila to conduct Governorship election.                  
 The Coalition of  Political Parties also described the Resident Electoral Officer as an embarrassment to the Commission, who allowed electoral officers to thumb print for a political party under her watch. " She gave the result sheet to PDP Leaders in the State to write the result".                            
They called on the INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega to redeploy the Commissioner in the interest of democracy, just as he maintained that the people of Rivers State would resist any attempt to repeat the massive fraud that was orchestrated during last Saturday's presidential election.

Rivers protest in Abuja credit:Tunji Obasa

VIDEO: Footage of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, threatening the Ndigbo

The controversial video footage of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, threatening the Ndigbo community in Lagos with death if they vote for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Jimi Agbaje. He made these comments on Sunday during a visit by Ndigbo community leaders in Lagos.
The spectacle began with the Oba of Lagos who, according to sources at the scene was visibly agitated, addressed a crowd of people while sitting. He began by announcing his support for All Progressives Congress  (APC) candidate Akin Ambode but then started yelling that “if anyone of you [Igbos] goes against Akin Ambode that I picked, that is your end! I tell you in the name of God!” He then jumped up from the table, to speak to the crowd while standing.
He continued with his threats by saying “on Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that [APC candidate] Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos state, the person is going to die inside this water.”
The Oba of Lagos then added that, “Jimi is my blood relation, and I told him he can never be Governor in Lagos now!” and that “if you [the crowd] do what I want then Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you, if you go against this you will be banished to the water! Finished!”
He also told the crowd that “He is going on a mission and God will give him the wisdom and knowledge to fulfill that mission. Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos and it will not change.”
After Oba Akiolu ended his tirade, the leader of the Igbo community began an almost comical response by promising the Oba that Ndigbo in Lagos will vote for the Oba's candidate.
The Oba of Lagos has since denied his comments. His comments come just six days before Lagos voters to polling stations in what could be a competitive election.

I won't be a Tribal Governor says Ambode

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has said he will not discriminate against any tribe if he is voted into office.
Ambode said this less than a day after the Oba of Lagos,  Rilwan Akiolu,  reportedly threatened to place a curses on those who would not vote for Ambode on Saturday.
The governorship candidate said this while receiving 20 buses from a groip, Nigeria Progressive Ambassadors, in Lagos, according to a statement on Monday.
He said, “Every group in Lagos is safe in my hands as governor. I will not discriminate against any religious or ethnic group. It is our Lagos and we must build it together.”
Ambode added, “In my acceptance speech after the primaries, I made this note that I will be a governor for all and Lagos is safe  in my hands. I want to build on the foundation of unity, peace, progress and development laid by my predecessor.
“I am your best choice for a Lagos that must continue to thrive. And though tongue and tribe may differ we stand in brotherhood in Lagos from the smallest ethnic groups to the major ones.  We are all stakeholders.”
Speaking through the group’s General Secretary, Miss Vuakpor Ojo, the group, which is made of young persons, said it “strongly believe in the future of Lagos” and the country as a whole.
Ojo said, “We are a body of forward-thinking Nigerians, who are ready to partner with people, who have the ability to give an enabling future to this state and sustain its excellence.
“You are one of us, and this donation of 20 buses depicts our commitment to the cause to make a detribalised leader like you, who understands the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos, govern the state starting from May 29."

Playing Opposition Politics In Nigeria Is Not Easy says Ngige

Still basking in  the euphoria of the victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 28, 2015 presidential election, the former governor of Anambra State and the senator representing Anambra Central, Dr. Chris Ngige, observed, weekend, that it had not been easy playing politics of opposition in Nigeria, in view of the domineering attitude by those in government.

Ngige, who received a hero’s welcome organised by members of APC in Anambra State on his return from Abuja, said he played opposition politics for 10 years and, therefore, knew how the shoe pinched.
He said: “I must thank all those who remained steadfast in APC because playing opposition can be frustrating and tempting.
‘’Though I was receiving overtures from the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, I rejected them because the principles on which we formed that party were jettisoned and bastardised.
“At the amalgamation of some political parties to form APC, I decided to run for governor but many notable politicians told me that though I am a good candidate, it was better for me not to run because I must never be allowed to win as the forces against me were numerous
“However, I insisted on running because God had told me that APC would form the next Federal Government. Though I did not win the governorship, I was consistently telling our people that APC was the best bet for Igbo in Nigerian politics.
“But many Igbo people, who are benefiting from Federal Government contracts, decided to sacrifice the future of their children and children’s children. I know many of these Igbo contractors cannot play opposition politics and their next move may be to move into APC.
“Let me assure consistent members of APC that we are going to screen those who may wish to join us in APC. While our doors will remain open to welcome new members, we will only admit those who are good, as we will not make it an all comers’ affair.”

Terrorists Attacked Kenyan university, kill 147 people

Survivors of the attack  credit:AFP

No fewer than 147 people have been killed after an Islamic group stormed a university in eastern Kenya, the country’s interior minister said.

This is just as the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan condemned the attack and commiserated with the families of the victims.

Sky News reports that two police officers are among the dead following heavy gunfire and explosions in a campus building at Garissa University.

At least 79 others have been wounded.

Interior minister Joseph Nkaissery claimed the siege was almost over.

“We are mopping up the area,” he told reporters.

Somalia’s al Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack.

“We sorted people out and released the Muslims,” said spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab.

“There are many dead bodies of Christians inside the building. We are also holding many Christians alive. Fighting still goes on inside the college,” he added.

Two of the militants have been killed and one arrested as he tried to flee, according to Kenya’s interior ministry.

The Red Cross counted 50 students that had been safely freed, while the interior ministry said 500 of 815 students had been accounted for.

Student Michael Bwana, who managed to flee, said most of the hostages were girls.

Kenya Police Chief Joseph Boinet told reporters that gunmen forced their way into the university at 5.30am by shooting at the guards manning the main gate.

“The gunmen shot indiscriminately while inside the university compound,” he said.

“Police… engaged the gunmen in a fierce shootout; however, the attackers retreated and gained entry into one of the hostels.”

A gunfight between security services and the perpetrators lasted several hours, according to the Red Cross.

The area has been sealed off and the army called in to try and “flush out” the attackers.

Students reported seeing five masked gunmen.

The authorities have offered a $215,000 (£145,000) reward for a man called Mohamed Mohamud, who has been linked to the attack.

Collins Wetangula, the vice chairman of the student union, said he was preparing to take a shower when he heard gunshots coming from a dorm.

“All I could hear were footsteps and gunshots; nobody was screaming because they thought this would lead the gunmen to know where they are,” he said.

“The gunmen were saying sisi ni al-Shabab (Swahili for we are al-Shabab).

“If you were a Christian you were shot on the spot. With each blast of the gun I thought I was going to die.”

Grace Kai, a student at a neighbouring college, said there had been warnings of an imminent attack.

“Some strangers had been spotted in Garissa town and were suspected to be terrorists,” she said.

“Then on Monday our college principal told us… that strangers had been spotted in our college. On Tuesday we were released to go home, and our college closed, but the campus remained in session, and now they have been attacked.”

Kenya’s northern and eastern regions, which border Somalia, have been most affected by attacks blamed on al Shabaab Islamists from Somalia.

The militants, who have links to al Qaeda, have vowed to take retribution against Kenya for sending its troops to Somalia.

Al Shabaab was responsible for the deadly attack in 2013 on the Westgate shopping mall. At least 67 people were killed when a group of gunmen rampaged through the centre in Nairobi.

On the latest raid, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said: “I extend condolences to the families of those who have perished in this attack. We continue to pray for the quick recovery of the injured, and the safe rescue of those held hostage.”

He added that 10,000 police recruits would be fast-tracked following the attack.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday commiserated with the government and people of Kenya as well the families of those who died in the terrorist attack.

In a statement by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, the President condemned what he called deliberate targeting of innocent persons, schools and other soft targets by terrorists.

He said such barbaric acts of violence ought to have no place in any civilised society.

The statement added, “The President assures President Uhuru Kenyatta and the brotherly people of Kenya that Nigeria stands in full solidarity with them as they come to grips once again with the aftermath of another heinous terrorist attack on their country.

“Nigeria, President Jonathan affirms, will continue to work with Kenya, other African countries and the international community to rid the world of all terrorist groups.

“The President believes that the attack on the Kenyan University and other similar atrocities across the world must strengthen and solidify the resolve of the global community to take more urgent and co-ordinated actions to speedily defeat the agents of global terror.”

Bode George denied going on "exile" if APC wins

The leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Chief Bode George, says the loss his party suffered in the presidential election has strengthened his resolve to ensure victory for his party in Lagos.

He, therefore, said that he would strategise and lead a massive campaign against the All Progressives Congress, which has been in power in Lagos for the past 16 years.

George told Punch correspondent during a telephone interview on Wednesday that he would lead the campaign of the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, like an army general.

He said, “I am here and I will be at the centre of operation. The people of Lagos also want a change and we are going to be here to lead the battle. The battle is on and the people of Lagos want a change and we will ensure that we get it right.

“Lagos people know that this administration has mismanaged their resources. We are not leaving anything undone. We will reach out to the people during the campaigns.”

George said he would never defect to another party. “I will remain a member of the PDP till I leave this world,” he said.

The PDP leader denied reports that he said he would go on exile following the victory of Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential polls.

He said he would rather travel outside the country for a while in order to finish writing his autobiography, saying he had been unable to finish the book because of his busy schedule.

He said, “I have been travelling long before now and now I need a long rest. I am 70 and I need to tidy up my memoirs and if you want to do that, you need a lot of time away from all of the hassles. But it does not mean I will no longer be a Nigerian. I have no personal grudge against Buhari or all the other people.

“We are in two different parties with different ideologies and if he is the President, I have no objection and I wish him the best of luck. The break will give me time. Rather than running up and down to Abuja, I will be there (abroad) writing my memoirs and doing other things for myself. Of course I will come back, my mother is still alive. I am not scampering out of Nigeria.”

Source:Punch