Nigerian Army Reveals Cause of Jos Barracks Bomb Blast

Two soldiers lost their lives while one was injured on Saturday as an unserviceable ammunition exploded in 3 Division Headquarters, Nigerian Army Jos, while being transported to the demolition site.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Texas Chukwu, wo confirmed it, said in statement that the accident occurred while troops authorised to destroy the unserviceable were transporting them.

Chukwu said that the explosion did not affect the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment or the neighbouring communities.

He explained that the attention of the Cantonment was drawn to the news making the rounds in the media that a bomb exploded in the division headquarters as result of a terror attack .

``I want to use this medium, therefore, to state that this Cantonment was not under attack or attacked by the insurgents.

``There is an ongoing demolition exercise, which started on Wed. April 20, 2015 to terminate on May 4, 2015 and the members of the public were informed through the media.``

According to the deputy director, normalcy has since returned to the area.

How Dame Patience Caused Jonathan's Defeat

According to Osom Makbere, the Peoples Democratic Party, Public Secretary in Bayelsa State President Goodluck Jonathan lost the March 28 presidential election due to the divisions in the PDP fold and the overbearing attitude of the President’s wife, Dame Patience, also contributed to the president’s loss.

In a Punch report, he said "Jonathan was a victim and target of international cum domestic esoteric codes and conspiracies. On the international level, the passage of the anti-gay legislation led to criticisms and face-off with the US, and the West.

“The strides made in the economic sphere, especially domestic rice promotion, calculated by the Jonathan administration to flip economic growth, and boost import substitution, also negatively alerted the West. The shift to China for our railway transformation, and recently, the migration to Russia for arms and ammunition to quelling the insurgency also signalled to the West that Jonathan had started constituting a self-reliant and dependent nation-state, a feat seen too tall by the US and their allies in the West.

“The aforesaid international factors found room to flourish given the obstinacy and impudence on the part of Mrs. Jonathan. The end result of her personal ambition to plant ‘self-made’ governors triggered face-offs with some governors.”

I’m ready to step into Gowon’s, Shonekan’s shoes, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan is keen on playing the role of a statesman once his tenure is over on May 29.

He said yesterday in Abuja that he is already warming up to join the likes of former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Head of the defunct Interim National Government (ING),Chief Ernest Shonekan, in serving the country and the international community in whatever capacity he is assigned.

Jonathan who spoke during the fifth Presidential Prayer Breakfast at the State House, Abuja, also harped on the need for sacrifice at the different levels of governance with a view to turning around the nation’s fortune.

He said: “I will continue to do my best as I’m gradually joining Gowon and Shonekan to serve our country in different capacities.

“For the eight years I have been here as vice president and president, whenever we called upon them wherever they were in this world, they would try to come. I have seen that they are extremely patriotic and they believe in this country.”

Nigeria, according to him, would achieve its potential easily if all leaders could show that level of commitment and patriotism.

He added: “Everything about human life as an individual, a child, if you don’t make the required sacrifice you can’t get to where you want to go.

“If you don’t sacrifice your pleasure, of course you will know where you’ll end. As parents we know the kind of sacrifice we make for our children to go to school, to feed.

“To build a family you need sacrifice. So for those who have the privilege of leading at local, state and national, at all times we should be ready to make sacrifice for our nation to grow.

“Ministers must make the required sacrifice, our lawmakers because they look at all our laws, they can create crisis in the country if they are not ready to do things the right way.

“So all of us in leadership position must be ready to make sacrifice and with our prayers and with our commitment Nigeria will surely get to where it wants to go.”

He said Nigerians must not stop praying for the country to overcome its challenges.

“At times, you are forced to think that the nation is ending. Definitely this country will overcome these challenges. That is the reason for this prayer. Just like prayer helped Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, our constant prayers will help us rebuild this nation,” he said.

He thanked God for giving him the privilege to serve Nigeria as deputy governor, governor, vice president and president for over 16 years.

“That is a reasonable length of time and so I have to thank God, first because if God did not will it, it won’t have happened,” he said.

In a short exhortation entitled ‘Destiny and Decision’, Pastor Paul Enenche maintained that the choices we make in life determine our destiny.

Quoting Joshua 24:15, he said that Adam, Esau, Samson and Ruth in the Holy Bible had to make choices that affected their lives.

Also speaking, the Aso Villa Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, described the session as the last presidential prayer breakfast under President Jonathan and that the country owes God immense gratitude for averting bloodshed during the last elections.

He said:”We are aware of the fears in the land before, during and after the general elections, but the President’s decision has ensured peace.

“There were predictions that either the president or his wife would die in office. But we thank God they will walk out of office alive.”

At the service were Gen. Gowon who read a passage from Philippians 2: 1-11, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Staff to the President, Gen. Jones Arogbofa (rtd) and members of the diplomatic corps.

All eyes on APC to meet Nigerians’ expectations

A House of Representatives member-elect, Hon. Oluwole Oke, has said that all eyes are on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to meet the aspirations of Nigerians when the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is sworn in on May 29.

Oke, who would be representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The PDP, Oke added, will put the new ruling party on its toes and ensure that it delivers on all its electoral promises.

He commended the outgoing President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for his patriotism in accepting defeat, saying with that singular act, he has won the confidence of the international community particularly foreign investors.

Oke, however, berated politicians defecting from the PDP to the APC, describing their action irresponsible.

He said: “It is very irresponsible; though they have their fundamental human rights to join any party of their choice, but to me, if the APC people had defected to PDP in the last 16 years ago, would they be where they are today?

“These people laboured, they toiled day and night for16 years and they strategised to capture power and because they have captured power, you now suddenly jump to APC. It is bad. You heard what the President-elect said, you heard what the National Chairman of the APC has said, that all sinners are allowed to come to the church, but they would not allow them to go to the pulpit. That is a clear message.

“Being in opposition does not mean being an enemy of the state or being an enemy of the government. Our duty is to form a shadow government in line with international democratic practices and to hold the majority party to its electoral promises and to ensure that they discharge their duties constitutionally so that at the end of the day, every Nigerian will benefit from good governance. Don’t forget that if Nigeria gets better, it is not only the APC members that would benefit. All of us collectively will benefit.”

APC, LP allege multiple thumb printing in Delta Central

Agents of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) have accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of promoting multiple thumb-printing by inducing voters with N500 during yesterday’s rescheduled Delta North senatorial district election.

The agents alleged PDP chieftains were busy buying voters with N500 and intimidating them.

On their part, chieftains of the PDP expressed confidence of winning the election.

But the exercise was marred by a poor turnout.

There was, however, no recorded incident of violence.

In Abraka ward 2, unit 7 by Ebenezer Baptist Church, the exercise was peaceful though there were allegations of electoral malpractices.

The House of Rep- elect for Ethiope constituency, Hon. Lovette Idisi, told reporters after casting his vote that the PDP candidate, Chief Ighoyota Amori, will emerge victorious.

This, he said, was because of the structure of the party across the state.

PDP crisis: S/South Gov to replace Muazu

An outgoing governor from the Southsouth is being tipped to take over as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the plot to unseat the incumbent, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, thickens.

Mu’azu is being targeted by many party faithful for the party’s disastrous outing in the recent elections, its worst since it swept into power in 1999.

The ‘Mu’azu must- go’ campaign is being spearheaded by chieftains of the party including governors in the Southsouth and Southeast who see the two zones as the new power base of the party and which must now be in the PDP’s driver’s seat with a view to repositioning the party ahead of the 2019 elections.

More party members are being recruited to join the campaign which sources said may terminate Mu’azu’s leadership as early as May 29, the same day President Goodluck Jonathan will be handing over power to General Muhammadu Buhari.

The PDP chairman is from Bauchi in the Northeast geo-political zone.

His critics blame him for the inability of the party to do well in the north in particular and the nation in general in the elections.

The Nation gathered that the plot to move against him came about at a meeting of all the PDP governors, governors- elect, Senators, Senators- elect, Reps and Reps-elect last week.

The meeting was said to have x-rayed the party’s performance in each of the six geo-political zones.

According to sources, the meeting was characterised by accusations and counter accusations of disloyalty, betrayal and anti-party activities amongst chieftains, especially in the northern zones.

Soon after the Abuja meeting, one of the Southsouth governors openly blamed PDP’s loss at the federal level on what he described as indiscipline and disloyalty by some party members.

He spoke at the inauguration of a special committee to examine the performance and conduct of the PDP leaders during the polls.

The governor who warned that dire consequences awaited any member found to be involved in anti-party activities, emphasised the importance of party discipline and loyalty towards achieving success in any political contest.

“From proceeding at the meeting, it was obvious that the party urgently needs a new direction. For this to happen, we must get new leadership immediately. And there is no pretending that the leadership can no longer remain in the north following its woeful performance in that region,” a party source told The Nation.

“We cannot be led by people whose commitment to the party is now questionable. Those who have stakes in the party must take charge and rescue the party at this crucial stage. This is the idea behind the resolve to bring the chairmanship back to the south. But I am not aware that a particular is mentioned to occupy the seat,” the source, a defeated Senatorial candidate who was at the meeting added.

It was also gathered that at the end of the Abuja post-mortem, PDP governors from the southern states met with some prominent party leaders including Senator Pius Anyim and Chief E.K Clark and urged them to support the replacement of Muazu with a respected Southsouth Governor before May 29.

“The presidency has bought into the idea and Muazu’s days in office may be numbered. Prominent party leaders like E.K Clark and others have endorsed the candidature of the outgoing Governor who has not been elected or appointed into any public office for now,” another source said.

“It is a popular opinion amongst us that the leadership of the party should return to the south now that a northerner is the next president of the country,” another source added.

The Nation learnt that a repeat of the meeting has been scheduled for this week. It is expected that the anti-Muazu governors will move against the PDP boss anytime after the said meeting.

Okorocha wins re-election as PDP’s Ikpeazu leads in Abia

voters in Imo state yesterday re-elected Governor Rochas Okorocha for a second term in office, endorsing him ahead of his closest opponent, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Okorocha who accumulated 385,671 votes as against Ihedioha’s 306,142 , a difference of 79529, at the close of voting on April 11,got an additional 31,326 votes yesterday leaving 13,624 for Ihedioha in yesterday’s supplementary election.

The election took place in 200 Polling Units across 23 local government areas.

Of this number of LGAs,Okorocha won in 21.

His performance defied efforts of the PDP to manipulate the process through rigging .

Poll returns announced last night are as follows:

Nkwerre Local Government. Re-run held in two wards.

APC: 255

PDP: 164

Oru West

APC: 395

PDP: 129

Okigwe (re-run in two wards)

APC: 603

PDP: 76

Orlu (re-run held in three wards)

APC: 687

PDP: 179

Ihite Uboma (re-run held in one polling unit)

APC: 131

PDP: 66

Nwangele (re-run held in three polling units)

APC: 279

PDP: 55

Orsu (re-run held in three polling units)

APC: 471

PDP: 218

Njaba (re-run held in six polling units)

APC: 1,095

PDP: 236

Obowo (re-run held in two wards)

APC: 697

PDP: 505

Owerri North

APC: 674

PDP: 620

Onuimo

APC: 412

PDP: 207

Ezinhitte Mbaise (re-run held at four polling units)

APC: 213

PDP: 715

Ihime Mbano

APC: 604

PDP: 393

Abo Mbaise

APC: 686

PDP: 939

Owerri West

APC: 1,342

PDP: 793

Ohaji Egbema

APC: 1,210

PDP: 996

Mbaitoli

APC: 3,997

PDP: 2,422

Oru East

APC: 7,154

PDP: 118

Ngow Okpala

APC: 4150

PDP: 323

Isu

APC: 2,773

PDP: 979

Similar governorship supplementary elections took place in Abia and Taraba states.

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP was in a comfortable lead in Abia with Dr Alex Otti of APGA trailing,while Mr.Darius Ishaku of PDP was coasting to victory in Taraba ahead of Senator Aisha Al-Hassan of APC.

A serving senator of PDP,Mr.Hope Uzodinma, was arrested by the police in connection with illegal thumb printing of ballot papers in a private house in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo as the election got underway yesterday.

Arrested with him were his uncle ,elder sister and fake INEC officials were yesterday arrested by security men while thumb printing ballot papers in a private home at Oru East Local Government Area.

The Senator who was later released on personal recognition, was said to have mobilized hoodlums who set bonfires on the road to prevent security men from taking away the suspects.

It took a reinforcement of soldiers and men of the Department of State Security to rescue the Policemen and take the suspects to the Police Headquarters in Owerri, where they were detained.

Also arrested were fake INEC officials who posed as Returning Officers at the Collation Centre.

The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igini, who was among the INEC team deployed for the election, said that the fake INEC officials were arrested at Umumma Primary School Ward 10 Polling Unit 008, Polling Unit 003 and three others.

He said: “myself accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General of Police and Commissioner Police have arrested poll officials in Oru East involved in mass thumb printing and have now been taken to Owerri.

“Upon my suspicion, an imposter who claimed to be lNEC staff without proof ,acting as a presiding officer, l ordered his arrest and it was effected by the Police”.

At another location, an APC chieftain was shot by hoodlums when he resisted their plan to hijack the election materials.

Another victim and a supporter of the APC, Chief Rex Anunobi, who was kidnapped from his home by the PDP thugs at the instance of a PDP Senator, was rescued by policemen led by an AIG.

Voters turn out was generally low.

Voters turn out was not different in Abia State,although polling was generally peaceful .The election which was scheduled to take place in 299 polling units of nine local government areas started in some polling centers as early as 8am while in others it started at about 9am.

The nine local government areas for the supplementary election were Aba

North and South, Ikwuano, Ohafia, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Umuahia South

Umunneochi and Bende, while Umuahia North was for state House of Assembly.

In Umuobutu/Saint Silas Primary School, Old Umuahia and Umuezeala in Umuahia South council areas, accreditation started at about 9am while in Umuobia it started by 11:30am because of delay in rectifying the card reader which developed a little fault.

The restriction order for vehicular movement was not strictly enforced

as vehicles, other than those on election duty, were seen plying the roads. Inter and intra city Commercial buses and tricycles did their normal business.

The PDP governorship candidate,Dr.Ikpeazu said the tension occasioned by the supplementary election was more artificial than natural.

He told reporters in Aba that if the results of the governorship election conducted on April 11, 2015 had been declared, there would have been no tension in the state.

He however expressed the hope that “the tension will diffuse naturally because that tension was created, it was not natural, it was artificial.”

The candidate, who expressed confidence that he would win the p election, also advised political aspirants to be less desperate in order to reduce tension in the polity.

Voters turn out in Taraba was high and reports last night said Mr.Ishaku was well ahead in the early returns from the polling units.

Winner of the elections is expected to be announced today by INEC.

At the close of voting on April 11, Ishaku, an architect and former Minister of State for Power, Environment and Niger Delta Affairs, was leading with 54,812 votes. He won the election in nine of the 16 local government councils with 317,198 votes, while Alhassan, a lawyer and got 262,386 votes garnered in six local government areas.

127,125 voters were registered in the 10 local government areas of the state where the supplementary election took place yesterday.

Senator representing Southern Taraba Emmanuel Bwacha boasted yesterday that Ishaku would be returned as winner.

“If you like conduct this election 10 times, the same result would be produced; because the people will not change their opinion of the candidates,” Bwacha said.

Poor outing in Delta

The supplementary election in Delta Central Senatorial District was also characterised by low voter turnout, despite prompt despatch of electoral officials and materials.

In Unit 9, 10 of Ward 9 and Unit 8, Ward 10 all in Ekpan community, the atmosphere was very calm. In Effurun Ward 1, Unit 10, the same was the case. Electoral officers complained of poor voters turnout, but added that there was no issue of violence, as those who came out conducted themselves in an orderly manner.

Agents of the three major political parties in the state, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) who spoke to newsmen said the exercise was going smoothly and materials were intact.

Speaking with journalists at his country home in Jesse, Ethiope West council area, Hon. Halims Agoda, the APC senatorial candidate said he was optimistic that he would come out victorious in the election.

“Every human being is incurably optimistic. Why shouldn’t I be when I know that out of the three of us, I am the most credible candidate to represent Delta central,” he stated.

“I spent 12 productive years of my life in the House of Representatives. I will continue to render services to my people. Whatever you hear is a masquerade of the PDP.

“There are currently 17 federal positions for Delta state. They won’t come through Okowa, those will come through APC. Very soon, the PDP hierarchy will be looking towards APC.”

Candidate on the platform of the PDP, Chief Ighoyota Amori who spoke in his Mosogar residence noted that although there was no supplementary election in his area, reports so far gathered from their agents indicate that the process was “peaceful and favourable” to his party.

Lamenting the poor turn out of voters, he said, “We don’t blame the electorates because they have gone through two to three elections and are tired of coming out. The enthusiasm cannot be the same.

“All the same, PDP faithful came out and we are very hopeful. We are waiting to see the units that we will lose in this re-run. If big figures emerge, INEC will be blamed.”

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