Brookings tips Jonathan to win Feb polls

Brookings tips Jonathan to win Feb polls
A WASHINGTON, US-based influential think-tank, the Brookings Institution/Africa Growth Initiative has rated President Goodluck Jonathan as the favourite to win the February 14 presidential polls
In a report entitled: “The 2015 presidential elections in Nigeria: The issues and challenges,” Brookings said the article published under the Africa Growth Initiative said Jonathan’s Peoples Domocratic Party, PDP, was more likely to win the February election.
The paper, which dwells on several aspects of the Nigerian election said that “though the election is expected to be very competitive, the odds still favour President Jonathan.”
Jonathan
Jonathan
While highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the two main political parties, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, the institution said the APC will be unable to unseat the PDP in the February elections.
The paper said: “After suffering a wave of defections to the APC last year, including five of its governors, the PDP seems to have rebounded strongly. In the battleground South-West, for instance, the party won recent governorship elections in Ekiti State and got the governor of Ondo State to defect from the Labour Party to the PDP.
“The party is especially strong in the South-South (where Jonathan comes from), the South-East and among Christians in the North. Again, while the PDP remains weak in the Muslim North, it has gained new influential members who decamped from the APC including the former governors of Kano and Borno States.
And, of course, the PDP has power of incumbency.
“APC gets much of its strength from tapping into Jonathan sentiments in the Muslim North and grievances among the Yoruba who feel that the Jonathan administration has ignored them in key political appointments.

Death wish advert: Jonathan, PDP distance selves from Fayose

Death wish advert: Jonathan, PDP distance selves from Fayose
President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have distanced themselves from the advertisements in some major newspapers by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, warning against voting for the APC presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), because of the possibilities that he would die in office because of his age.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, yesterday dismissed the denial by the PDP as “merely a case of a master dissociating himself from the errand boy after the message had backfired.”
Fayose had in the publications entitled “Enough of state burials,” warned that almost all the past Presidents from the North-West died in the office, adding: “Will thou allow history to repeat itself? Enough of state burials, Nigerians vote wisely, vote Goodluck Jonathan, Northern Presidency should wait till 2019.”
Reacting to the advertisement, yesterday, in Abuja, Director of Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, noted that the organisation and the party were not in support of the governor’s position on the issue.
Fani-Kayode said: “Governor Ayo Fayose is a distinguished leader of our party; a democratically elected governor and someone we have immense respect and affection for and he released this advert in his own name. That represents his own personal opinion which he is entitled to.
“What I can tell you on our part is that it does not represent the opinion of the Presidential Campaign Organisation or indeed the President. It is his (Fayose’s) opinion, which he is entitled to and he is somebody that we have immense respect for.
“He is a leading member of the party. I have spoken with him and we respect him but for any body to suggest that this is the position of the Presidential Campaign Organisation or President Goodluck Jonathan, that will be most unfair.
“If we wanted to say something like that we will say it without any kind of apology but of course, we will never say that because we believe in the sanctity of life. Age is not a function of how long you will live.
“It is important that we recognise the fact that age is not an indication of how long somebody will live. We believe strongly that we must continue to show immense respect to the person of General Buhari.”
He is entitled to his opinion
Fani-Kayode, however, said that he would not disclaim the advertisement since Fayose never claimed that he made his publication on behalf of either Jonathan or the PDP.
He said: “Fayose never said that he was speaking on behalf of President Jonathan but for himself and he said that he issued it in his name. And I have emphasised that, that is his opinion and he is entitled to it.
“I could only disown if a statement was purportedly made on our behalf and in fairness to him, he never said that. What is important is to emphasise that fact that his position does not represent our position on this. He is entitled to that position, he is a leading member of our party.
Questions relating to Buhari’s health
Fani-Kayode, however, insisted that although the PDP never wished the APC presidential candidate dead, “we will continue to raise questions over issues relating to his health.”
He further said: “We do not wish him ill, we do not wish him dead, we wish him long life and we believe strongly that such sentiment can be aired by individuals certainly not in our name.
“We believe it is important to always raise questions about facts; you know what these questions are and we will continue to raise them.”
PDP’s self dissociation not convincing – APC
In rejecting the denial by the Jonathan Campaign, the APC Campaign said that the response on the matter was “too casual and off-handed to impress anyone. It doesn’t sound convincing.”
It said the party “needs to take this issue more seriously to underscore its commitment to the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and the non-violence pact entered into by the party and its presidential candidate.
“It is very irresponsible for the PDP to want to distance itself from the death threat to General Buhari, made by not only a sitting governor of the PDP but also a high ranking member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Committee.
“Just in case the PDP had forgotten, what was Fani-Kayode thinking in his mind when he challenged General Buhari to make a jog round a field? Was it to put him through a body fitness workout or to plant a sniper somewhere around the field?
“Whatever the intention of the PDP was about the health status of General Buhari, we in the APC Campaign believe in the exclusivity of the divine role in the matters of life and death.
“It is not difficult for Nigerians to discern what the PDP odd intention towards the APC and its presidential candidate is. The PDP’s uncivilised death plot only exposes the mindset of the party and their cohorts.
“That the PDP can place such noxious campaign advertorial into the public domain, in a desperate attempt to promote an incompetent incumbent president is tantamount to PDP’s tradition of violence and victimization as well as an eloquent commentary on how President Goodluck Jonathan runs his administration.”
The Campaign Organisation, however, restated its request for an independent investigation into the PDP threat against General Buhari to ensure his safety and free and fair election on February 14.

14 yrs of GSM revolution: The thorns, the thrills

14 yrs of GSM revolution: The thorns, the thrills
It seems like yesterday; but 14 years have goneby since the Global system for Mobile communication, GSM debuted in Nigeria.
Telecom-mast
In fact, last Monday, January 19, 2015, marked exactly 14 years Nigeria concluded the historic Digital Mobile Licensing round which came at the heels of telecoms deregulation in Nigeria.
The auction actually commenced on January 17 and ended on January 19, 2001. Radio Spectrum International, RSI, Charles Rivers Associates, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Mr.Paul Usoro (SAN) were consultants to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the auction.
Although, this licensing regime ushered in the ubiquitous GSM which consequently changed the face of the telecoms landscape in Africa and made Nigeria the haven for telecommunications investors, the story is not all- through rosy.
However, industry practitioners who took a critical look at the road this sector has taken from the country’s paltry 450, 000 connected lines in 2001 to over 135 million active subscribers as at the end of 2014, are seeing tremendous growth with multiplier effects in all other sectors of the economy, including the banking, education, e-commerce/retailing, agriculture, medicine, media, oil and gas, among other sectors.
Even at that, the problem of perennial low quality of service in the sector, apparently puts a clog in the wheel of progress and perhaps slowed down the pace of growth that would have made the country greater.
Besides poor quality of service with its attendant problem of dropped calls and poor voice clarity, there are other issues that bother on poor services from the operators, like unsolicited text messages, unwanted and nauseating telemarketing and locked-messages which infringe on subscribers’ right of privacy.

Increased investments
Despite these deluge of problems, Foreign direct Investment inflow in the sector is on the rise.
According to the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr, Eugene Juwah, “Over $32 billion investment has been recorded in the sector as at June 2014 from $50 million in year 2001. The investment stood at $18 billion in 2010 and $25 billion in 2012.”
With the investment, telecoms companies have been able to successfully deploy 68,124 kilometre of fibre optic cabling as at the end of December, 2013 while in 2014 alone, additional 38, 000 kilometre of fibre optic cables were laid, representing an increase of about 44.2 per cent investment in fibre optic cabling by the telecoms companies last year alone.

Increased base stations
Meanwhile, in the last 14 years, telecoms companies in Nigeria have also increased their base transceiver stations (BTS) expansion efforts from few thousands to over 27, 000, making it possible for more people to have access to telephone services thus covering many hitherto unserved and underserved communities across the country.
Beyond carrying voice signals, the industry operators are also making their BTS either 2G-enabled or 3G-enabled to be able to carry adequate data services, with the country relying on the 11 terabyte of internet capacity brought into the country by the likes of Main One, Glo1, West African Cable Systems (WACS), among others.
According to data from the Ministry of Communication Technology, between 2013 and December, 2014, 2G-enabled sites have increased from 22, 578 to 28,289 while 3G-enabled sites have increased from less than 10,000 to 15,048 during the same period.


USPF’s subsidy-based backbone transmission
In a similar vein, the commission said through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), it has bridged the gap between the served and underserved areas of the country, with a subsidy-based project designed to facilitate the connection of rural and semi-urban areas to the national transmission backbone infrastructure with the intention to facilitate the build-out of backbone transmission infrastructure.
The project is expected to be implemented in all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, using targeted subsidies.
Just recently, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said that about 1, 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling has also been run so far, through the project.
The minister listed that over 170 base stations, in total, had been deployed only through the USPF to un-served and underserved areas by the end of 2014, with each of the base stations serving a cluster of communities.
Consequently, telecoms sector has grown from obscurity to limelight, emerging as a major contributor to the country’s economy with its current contribution of 10 per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
These metrics contributed immensely in the International Telecommunication Union, ITU’s rating of the country as the fastest growing telecommunications market for five consecutive years. Perhaps, other areas of positive impact of the sector in 14 years includes the areas of service tariff, cost of owning communication devices and cost of acquiring telephone line.
From N50 per minute of phone call in 2001, the cost has crashed by 78 per cent today as telecoms subscribers now make call for as low as N10 or N9 per minute across networks.
The NCC adopted in 2013 Progressive reduction interconnect termination rates whereby New Entrants and small operators had termination rates for voice services pegged at N4.90 in April 2013, N4.40 in April 2014 and by April this year it will drop to N3.90 for all networks.
Also, SIM cards are almost given pro bono by telecoms networks today, whereas, 14 years ago, Nigerians were paying between N25, 000 and N20, 000 to acquire a SIM card with only net-worth individuals being able to own telephone lines.
The NCC introduced the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) whereby subscribers are at liberty to navigate across networks without losing their SIM number. And because operators are afraid of losing their customers, they have had to be on their toes on areas of service provision in order not to lose subscribers.

The sector can fare better
In a similar submission, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said the telecoms sector has performed well as an enabler of most of the ICT-driven activities that have brought about efficiency in the country.
He said: “Today, we bank with ease, we do online cash transfers, we use Automated Teller Machines (ATM), mobile money operators, e-wallet in agriculture, telemedicine, among others, but we forget that all of these activities, in addition to their traditional duty of providing voice and internet service, run on the networks of telecoms companies. Yet, cashless transactions are on the rise every day.
“So, rather than criticize the sector for its little shortcomings, we should commend the players for helping the country to manage all these loads. I can imagine what will happen if telecoms companies decide not to carry any traffic (voice and data) in a day the way we witness it in the oil sector, where companies suddenly stop petrol distribution, thereby creating scarcity,” Adebayo argued.
Although the sector may have not fared so badly in 14 years, there are however room for improvement.

Sack Keshi, others now – Ex-sports minister

Sack Keshi, others now – Ex-sports minister
FORMER Minister of Sports, Dr. Sa’idu Sumaila Sambawa has advised the Nigeria Football Federation not to renew the contract of Coach Stephen Keshi or any of the other coaches currently in the technical crew of the national team.
Sambawa who was speaking in a television interview in Abuja aired Tuesday, said his advice was informed by the need to get a technically sound coach who would chart a new course for the national team.
In his view, the NFF should advertise the vacant position of the national team coach in national and international newspapers so as to open the process of getting a replacement for out-of-contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.
“Anybody form anywhere, who is qualified and meet the requirements can apply,” the former Minister said, adding, “it does not matter if the new coach comes from Ghana or Nigeria, whether he is black or white, let a competent hand be employed.”
Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi gives a press conference at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba on June 15, 2014, on the eve of their Group F 2014 FIFA World Cup football match against Iran. AFP PHOTO
Continuing, Sambawa said, “what we need now is a technically sound and well remunerated coach. We don’t want a coach who will be taking money from players before he invites them to camp, share their allowances before fielding them. We need a sound comfortable coach who can instill discipline in the team and can call off players’ bluff when they feel bigger than the team.”
A weak coach would only make matters worse, the former minister reasoned, saying, “we don’t want a coach who will field a player from Bayelsa because the President is from Bayelsa.”

Mixed reactions welcome Jonathan, Buhari peace pact

MIXED reactions, yesterday, greeted the peace pact signed by Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Maj-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
2015-buhari-jonathan-pollWhile the leadership of the PDP hailed the signing of the peace accord, a retired Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, and activist lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, said the agreements reached by presidential aspirants to prevent violence during and after the forthcoming general elections cannot hold water.
However, notable Nigerians who spoke in support of the pact included former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor Tam David-West; one-time Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav; constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN); Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin and the Labour Party scribe, Mr Kayode Ajulo.
PDP urges APC to rein in members
The national leadership of the PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, explained that the accord was in line with what he described as the irrevocable commitment of the party to peace and progress of the nation at all times.
According to the PDP spokesperson, the PDP has already, in the last one week of campaigns, demonstrated its resolve for peaceful polls by ensuring that its members adhere strictly to its code of conduct on violence free polls, just as it urged the leadership of the APC to inculcate same in their members.
Metuh said: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, and the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for signing the pact on non-violence ahead of 2015 general elections. This is in line with the irrevocable commitment of the PDP to peace and progress of the nation at all times.
“It is timely, therefore, to urge the leadership of the APC to move beyond signing of the peace pact to genuinely taking practical steps to rein in members, especially, the horde of brigand thugs already on the loose in parts of the country or be held responsible for any failure.
It’s capable of engendering healthy polls —Tsav
Also throwing his weight behind the initiative, a retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Tsav, said the pact was capable of bringing about a healthy conduct of the elections.
He, however, warned that the good intentions of the president could be jeopardised by security operatives through overzealousness if not checked.
According to him, “the security agencies must remain impartial and civilised in the discharge of their duties during the elections.”
Jonathan should show us commitment  —David-West
On his part, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor David-West, urged Jonathan to show that he is committed in conducting a violence free-election.
He said: “It is a welcome development but it is shameful that after so many years of existing as a nation, Nigerians have not learnt how to live peacefully. It is shameful that they are signing accord on how to remain peaceful. Having non-violence elections should have been part of our political culture. Much as I am happy that they signed the agreement, implementation is where we should focus on. Implementation of what they agreed upon is the issue.
It’s superior to the law—Sagay
Legal luminary, Prof. Sagay, welcomed the development, noting that the peace pact is superior to the law.
Sagay said: “It is morally binding, it is superior to the law because this is a question of not only of conscience but also of integrity and honour. For me, it is superior to any law because any act of violence is a crime already.
It should go beyond photo hugs —LP
Describing the peace accord as a good omen for Nigeria’s democracy, the Labour Party, LP, however, said it should go beyond the photo hugs.
LP’s National Secretary, Mr Kayode Ajulo, said: “It is welcome development. We are happy and we are sure that entire people of Nigeria are happy. This is one of the issues the Labour Party has been canvassing. We need to eschew violence, we need to ask for peace.
Elections should not be a do-or-die affair. One of the things I will urge the participants is that this should go beyond the photo hugs, they should put it into play. It is easy for them to smile and ask their supporters to do something else. This should go down to the ward and unit levels.”
It’s more of a moral issue — Afenifere
Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, in its reaction, described the pact as more of a moral issues.
Afenifere’s spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “Like somebody said that it is a shame for us as a country, 54 years after independence, we still have to ask international bodies to come and help us sign treaties. That is the bitter truth of it.
“We believe in Afenifere that the peace pact does not have any legal binding on anybody. It is not a legal document, it is more of a moral issue. If we all decide that we have a non-violence elections, the politicians must be guided in their utterances and Nigerians must not allow themselves to be used for violence.”
A waste of time  — Okogie, Falana
The retired cleric, Okogie and activist lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, faulted the initiative, saying it will not work. The duo said this at a programme organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in honour of the late fiery lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, in  Lagos.
The 11th series of the annual programme tagged “Fawehinmiism” was with the theme: “Ethnicity, Religion: Promises and illusions of democracy in the struggle to uplift the masses from impoverishment.”
According to Okogie and Falana, nothing in the agreement can prevent voters in Lagos, Borno or any part of the country from going violence if their votes did not count at the forthcoming general elections.
“The peace pact signed by President Jonathan and Buhari will not work. They think we are fools and can deceive us,” Okogie said.
According to them, Jonathan and Buhari cannot sit in Abuja or any part of the country and speak for the masses of Nigerians who are willing to express their minds through the ballot boxes.
Okogie said: “The event was a waste of time as none of those who signed the peace accord could be made to account for any uprising that may happen after the elections. The country should be concern about ensuring that electoral
offenders and those against the progress of Nigeria are prosecuted rather than signing an accord that will never work.” “Out of all these politicians, I don’t see anyone of them worthy to lead the country. Anyone who want to lead the country must be a father to the people in its true words and see Nigerians as his family. Every citizens problem must be his problem,” he said.
It’ll amount to nothing if… — Mohammed
For Second Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed, the peace accord will amount to nothing if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Police and Presidency fail to conduct a free and fair elections.
According to him, those who are after peace must warn both INEC and the police to conduct themselves during and after elections to avoid mayhem because Nigerians will not stand and watch elections being rigged this time.
Mohammed said “the peace accord between the two gentlemen means absolutely nothing if the government in power tries to use INEC and the Police to rig out the opposition. Some of us still believe strongly that INEC is partisan and General Buhari raised some very pertinent issues which I believe we must all listen to because he has contested elections severally, so he knows where the shoes pinches”.

Enugu PDP denies violating court order on Ugwuanyi

Enugu State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed report accusing the PDP of violating a purported court order restraining it from recognising Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

pdplogoThis came as a former Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Ogbo Asogwa has criticised Senator Ayogu Eze and some other PDP governorship aspirants, including Prof. Onyeke O. Onyeke and Dr Sam Onyishi for “not deeming it fit to join the Enugu PDP family to receive President Goodluck Jonathan during the recent presidential rally in Enugu”.

Speaking yesterday on behalf of PDP, an Abuja-based legal practitioner and one of the leaders of the party in Enugu, Chief Onwurah Aniagboso, said the PDP, had addressed the matter extensively before now and explained that “there was no such order.”

He maintained that the PDP remained a law-abiding party and “could not have disobeyed an order that is inexistent in the first place”.

“Yes, there are two pending cases on the Enugu PDP governorship primary before Justice S.E Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. One was filed by Sen. Ayogu Eze against the PDP, but Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s Counsel, P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN) applied and Ugwanyi was joined in the suite,while another case is Dr. Samuel Onyishi V. PDP.”

He explained that although it was true that Senator Ayogu Eze had initially asked for an ex-parte order to restrain the PDP from submitting Ugwuanyi’s name to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as Enugu PDP governorship candidate, the court turned down the prayer and demanded that the PDP and INEC be put on Notice.

Chief Aniagboso said he was aware that the PDP’s counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), filed a preliminary objection on resumption of the case on December 18, 2004, contesting that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case, which had been adjourned to January 14, 2015.

It could however be recalled that the case was not heard due to the industrial action by the judicial workers union.

According to him, “I am also aware that the court did not grant any prayer by Dr. Onyishi’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) seeking to restrain the PDP from submitting Hon. Ugwuanyi’s name to the INEC or restraining INEC from accepting Ugwuanyi as Enugu PDP governorship candidate.”

“Unless a prayer for an order of injunction is granted, you cannot call it an order yet; hence I see nothing in law, which bars the PDP from presenting its flag to Hon. Ugwuanyi as its bonafide candidate in the February 28 election or the INEC from treating him as PDP’s candidate”.

‘My wife threatens my life when she’s drunk’

A businessman, Rasheed Ogunwande, yesterday, made an impassioned plea at a Yaba Customary Court to dissolve his 10-year-old marriage on the grounds of drunkenness.
Ogunwande, 43, who resides at 10, Araromi Street, Onike, in Iwaya area of Lagos, told the court that his wife, Ajarat, was always threatening his life.
He said: “She threatens my life anytime she is drunk. She is also fond of fighting me and raining abuses on me whenever she is in her state of stupor.
“My wife drinks alcohol as if it is water and gets drunk easily. She is a disgrace.”
Ogunwande, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the 10-year-old marriage already blessed with three children.
He said the love he had for her had turned sour.
The President of the court, Mr. Rahim Daodu, who said the respondent had refused to appear in court, ordered the court’s registrar to summon her to appear before him.
Further hearing has been adjourned till January 27.

Why Agagu boys defected to APC in Ondo: The Obasanjo/Tinubu connections

Finally, the bubble burst on Tuesday, January 13 in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as some politicians known as the Agagu Boys defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.
This development, though a big shock, but was dismissed by the State PDP, which said their defection was long overdue.
Reports had it that the late former governor Dr. Olusegun Agagu, before his demise had been fraternizing with the leadership of the APC.
The late Agagu at some point was alleged to have met with the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu several times on the possibility to collaborate.
The information leaked to the leadership of the PDP and Agagu was said to be sidelined on matters of the state, as Mimiko dictated the tune, even while in his former Party. Then, Agagu and his boys were tagged PDP Jagaban.
However, with the death of Agagu and the development which led to Mimiko defection to the PDP, the Agagu boys became threatened and uncomfortable with his leadership of the party.
File: APC chieftains with Obasanjo yesterday during Buhari's presidential campaign to Abeokuta.
File: APC chieftains with Obasanjo yesterday during Buhari’s presidential campaign to Abeokuta.
Political future
After much dilly-dallying, Agagu’s younger brother who was his Chief of Staff for six years Femi Agagu led others to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his late brother’s god-father, to seek his advice on their political future under Mimiko’s leadership of the Party in the state.
Femi confirmed to journalist that former President Obasanjo knows and approves of their defection bid. Asked if their recent meeting with President Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State has anything to do with their defection, Femi said “It has every thing to do with our action.”
journalist reliably gathered that the former President Obasanjo facilitated the meeting  Agagu boys had with Tinubu in his Bourdillion, Lagos residence.
Basking in the euphoria of his endorsement by the former President and Tinubu, Femi Agagu swung into action and started the mobilization of those he helped while he was the Chief of Staff and who benefited from his brother’s six years reign.
He won the hearts of some  former Commissioners who are his friends and whom he influenced their appointment- Olaitan Ayeni (Works), Boye Adegbemisoye (Special Duties) and two former Speakers, Victor Olabimtan who is a Federal Commissioner, Federal Civil Service Commission and Taofiq Abdusalam.
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko
Others are a State party chairman, working committee members, members of National Assembly, Speakers and members of Ondo State House of Assembly, commissioners and Special Advisers. A former Speaker, Hon Olabimtan was said to have jumped ship because of an alleged disagreement over his re-appointment as Commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission after serving his term.
But another source said he was annoyed because his appointment as the state Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan campaign was allegedly upturned by Governor Mimiko. This has however been denied by the governor’s aide who described him as been selfish and self centred. No fewer than 48 names were paraded as defectors to the opposition APC. Among the defectors were former Commissioners- Niran Sule (Special Duties), Mrs Bukola Tenabe (Women Affairs), Tola Wewe (Tourism), Tola Aworh (Information) and Akinyemi Akinnigbagbe (Agriculture), .
Also a serving member representing Owo/Ose Hon Eniolorunda Omosule and another former member, Hon Akinyujha Jones equally defected.
Some foot soldiers of the PDP governorship candidate in the 2012 election, Chief Olusola Oke were among the defectors.
Femi Agagu at a conference to announce their defection said “We have resolved to embrace change which the APC represents and drum support for the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as well as all the candidates of the party.
“We took this decision after lengthy sessions of consultation with friends, political associates as well as supporters in all the 203 wards of the state. We have also received the confidence of distinguished elder statesmen, non political young and elderly citizens who are concerned about the future of our dear state and country.”
Swift reaction
Meanwhile, receiving the defectors, the party Vice Chairman in the South West, Chief Oluwole Akinyelure and the state Chairman, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke said they will be integrated into the party not as joiners but co-founders.
They urged the new members to work tirelessly for the party to win in the next year elections.
But in a swift reaction to the development, the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, in a statement issued by the state’s Publicity Secretary, Hon. Banji Okunnomo said those who claimed to have defected from the PDP had since ceased to be members of the ruling party.
The party said: “The game plan of  the members of the opposition who only waited till now to make their membership of the party public was to act as spoilers within but failed to achieve their aims. The PDP in Ondo state today is free of disloyal elements who hitherto worked with the opposition from within.

BIU ATTACK: 78 Boko Haram terrorists killed in military onslaught

Military authorities, yesterday, said 78 Boko Haram insurgents were killed during the two-hour gun battle with the insurgents who tried to capture a military base in Biu, Borno State, Wednesday.
Hundreds of terrorists, including foreign nationals, in the early hours of Wednesday invaded Biu, in an attempt to capture a military base with the aim of carting the weapons in the armoury, thus expanding their operational bases.
Biu is a religiously mixed town and the largest in southern Borno. It is an important commercial centre that includes a large military base
Among the terrorists who were either killed or captured during the battle included some Chadians. Two anti-Aircraft Guns were captured from the terrorists during the operation.
Military sources told Vanguard yesterday afternoon that, no fewer than 78 bodies of the terrorists had been recovered.
Residents trooped to the scene of the fighting to see the dead gunmen and their bullet-riddled vans, Vanguard learned.
Contacted, Defence spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade noted that the military was more concerned about the success of the operations than the figures of terrorists killed during operations.
Olukolade, nevertheless, confirmed that mopping up exercise in the area was continuing, adding: “What is important now is for us to consolidate on the victory, recapture areas where the terrorists are presently operating and restore peace to the entire north east.”

Gov Debate: Ambode, Agbaje, others differ on education, tax

Gov Debate: Ambode, Agbaje, others differ on education, tax
All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his People’s Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, National Conscience Party, NCP, governorship candidate, Mr. Ayodele Akele and six other candidates vying for the state governorship seat, yesterday, disagreed over the tax regime, the challenges confronting education and other issues bordering on the development of the state.
2015-Gubernatorial-Debate-a
L- R Mr Olujimi Agbaje PDP , Gubernatorial Candidate, Mr. AyodedeAkele – NCP Gubernatorial Candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode , APC Gubernatorial Candidatae, Rt. Rev. Biodun J. Adeyemi Bishop of Badagry Diocese, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Olusola Odedeji Bishop Diocese of Lagos West( Chief Host) During Diocese of Lagos West ( Church of Nigeria) In conjunction with the Dioceseof Badagry &Lagos MainlandOrganised 2015 Gubernatorial Debate at Vining Memorial Church G. R. A. Ikeja Lagos Photo By Diran Oshe
The candidates spoke at the third edition of the gubernatorial debate organised by the Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion (Church of Nigeria), Ikeja which also had in attendance Senator, Musiliu Obanikoro, Lagos chairman of APC, Chief Henry Ajomale and others.
Other candidates at the debates were; Action Alliance, Mr. Ishola Aregbesola, Kowa Party, Mr. Victor Adeniji, Mega Progressives Peoples Party, MPPP, Mr. Kayode Jacobs, Alliance for Democracy, AD, Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye, Labour Party, Pastor Biodun Popoola, Independent Democrats, Mr. Akinola Obadia.
The debate was moderated by Professor Bayo Asaju while President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, Dr. Oladimeji Alo, Mr. Ray Echebiri and Rev. Olusola Odedeji and Reverend Adeyemi, Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West and Badagry respectively.
Speaking on the effect of the price of crude oil on the state’s economy, Ambode said: “Two-third of the Lagos revenue is generated from tax. And we knew that a day like this will come and that was why we strengthened our tax system.
“There are eight million residents of Lagos who should be in the tax net but we have only four million captured at present. The next strategy is to ensure that we become more efficient in generating more revenue internally. We will be more creative with it by pleading with those that are yet to embrace the payment of tax in the state. The tax we get was what we have used to develop the state”
But Agbaje was quick to fault the claim by Ambode, saying “the state government is putting the burden of the eight million persons who should have paid tax on the four million tax payers. And it is heavy and they are grumbling. You have to expand the tax net rather than over burden the few that are complying. Also, there is need to expand the economy to create more jobs and others.”
He noted that the revenue generated within the state was enough to cater for the state needs. “But there is a lot of wastage by the government. At the moment, the state does not encourage businesses.”
Ogunseye avowed that “the drop in oil price globally does not translate to over taxing the residents. Rather than increase the tax levies, I will increase the number of production and the number of people engaged in it. Our problem is that few people are doing the job.
Jacob said the tax regime in the state has forced “a lot of SMEs to relocate to Ogijo and Mowe in Ogun State. But for us, we will give tax holidays to these smaller companies in order to thrive.”
According to Akele; “The bulk of the revenue generated by the state government is been mismanaged by some individuals. But when I am elected, I will use 15 per cent of the revenue generated in the state to run the State service and we will terminate the contract of those private individuals who manage the tax administration in the state. And we will have enough funds to provide infrastructure.

On education
On the challenges affecting education, Agbaje lamented; “82 per cent of the state budget in this sector is spent on recurrent expenditure. All the funds allocated to education was always spent on salaries. And with that, our education will not improve. The education of today is not for the factory but about creativity.”
The PDP candidate added; ”The state government spends three per cent on primary education and that is the key because if the foundation is not effective, there can never be solid structure.”
Akele noted that public school classrooms were overcrowded, saying; “The student ratio in our time was 20 students to a teacher. But in Lagos, our classroom is like a venue for Town Hall meeting. We will reduce the population in the classrooms.
“For instance, the infrastructure in Lagos State University, LASU, is in shambles. It is disservice to the founders of the institution. The current government has inflicted injury on the residents of the state.”
Jacob affirmed that everything was wrong with education because the students who graduated from the College of Educations in the state do not go into teaching, adding “the government is not making teaching attractive.”
Ambode in a swift reaction said: “Agbaje said that 85 per cent of the state budget is spent on salary. That is not true. He didn’t understand that there are several schools in the state and the population of the pupils is increasing daily.
“And the number of teachers must also increase. Obviously, the numbers reflect the number of teachers and others that were gainfully employed by the government. Also there would be need to review the curriculum to ensure that our youths meet international standards.”

You have no governance experience before 1999, Agbaje tells Tinubu
Agbaje in reaction to the claim by Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against him, said that Tinubu had no governance experience before assuming the post of governor in the state.
“Even the national leader of the ruling party in Lagos did not have government experience before he was elected as governor of this state in 1999. All he had was three months as Senator before he was elected.”
Ambode reacting, said: “But the result of what that leader (Tinubu) did can speak for itself.

APC govt’ll cater for women, youths, end insurgency — Buhari

All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), yesterday, in Abuja, said APC government would not only initiate policies and programmes that would impact positively on the lives of youths and women, if voted into office, but would also provide the necessary military equipment and personnel to end insurgency in the country.
BUHARI-optimism
Buhari
In two separate statements, through APC and APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, Buhari promised Nigerians a better and safer country if APC was voted into power in the February 14 presidential election.
Buhari, while expressing his condolence to the families of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in various military operations to keep Nigeria secure including the current battle against the insurgents in North East, in a statement through APC, said: ‘’May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace. An APC government will provide the necessary military equipment and personnel to prosecute the battle effectively and efficiently as soon as we are voted into power in the forthcoming elections.
“APC as a party also recognises the sufferings of the pensioners whose pension arrears and gratuity have remained a serious problem. This will be corrected by the APC government.
“I urge you all in the Armed Forces to remain apolitical and focus on the ethos of discipline which is the hallmark of your profession. I wish to assure you of my unalloyed commitment to returning the Armed Forces to its place of pride among comity of nations.
“I am aware of the neglect of the military over the years and assure you that everything will be done within available resources to train and equip the military to the level comparable with other developed armies of the world in the shortest possible time.
“The Nigerian military had accomplished a lot of feats in building and ensuring global security and peace in conjunction with the armed forces of other great nations of the world as was experienced in the Congo, Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Lebanon and other areas (since the Armed Forces were established) Therefore, I call on all Nigerians to join us in the APC in our quest to making Nigeria a better place for all.
In another statement through, APCPCO’s Directorate of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Buhari said: “APC’s manifesto contains several innovations and legislative proposals that will promote the manpower development and social participation of women and youths in the country.
The statement, signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “Drawing extensively from the information contained in the APC’s manifesto, a federal government under the leadership of Buhari promises to offer women and youths in Nigeria a new deal.
“We are firmly committed to the value that women are the backbone of the Nigerian society, especially in our rural communities. Therefore, issues that matter to the average Nigerian woman cut across the spectrum of policy areas, such as agriculture – where they predominate as farmers and farm labourers – to health and education, where their concern for their children are paramount.
“Our policy position for women takes into cognisance the fact that in spite of several rights outlined in the 1999 Constitution, many women do not enjoy the same freedoms as men, particularly in the fields of education, economic empowerment and political participation.
“No society can progress where half of its population suffers systemic discrimination. An APC government will seek to end all forms of gender discrimination in both public and private sectors, in education, employment and housing and also protect equal property and inheritance rights.”
The statement explained the core policy objectives of the APC for women and youths to include, “improving anti-discriminatory legislation and instituting merit-based action in employment; injecting gender as a component of federal character and appointing a Minister for Women and Gender in the Office of the President.”