Yuguda an APC mole in PDP, says FCT minister

Bala Mohammed, federal capital territory minister, has described Isa Yuguda, Bauchi state governor, as “a mole and an unabashed fifth columnist” in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for accusing him of masterminding the stoning of President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy in Bauchi. Yuguda caused a stir on Saturday when he told the BBC Hausa service that his party, PDP, was responsible for Thursday’s attack on the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan. He specifically said some senior personalities based in Abuja organised youths in the state to perpetrate the act, which led to the injury of six operatives of the department of state services. But the FCT minister has now accused Yuguda of “hobnobbing with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at night and running to the PDP in the morning”. “The attention of the minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed, has been drawn to an allegation by the governor of Bauchi state, Isa Yuguda, that he was the sponsor of the thugs that attacked the presidential campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan in Bauchi on January, 22 2015,” Nosike Ogbuenyi, the minister’s special assistant on media and publicity, wrote in a statement. “It is simply irrational for Yuguda to allege that the minister hired thugs to stone and embarrass himself while addressing the presidential rally in his home state. By this claim, Yuguda has proven correct the allegation that he has been hobnobbing with the APC at night and running with the PDP in daytime. “The question that the governor must answer quickly without equivocation is: why did the thugs not stone him whilst he was addressing the same rally, on the same podium and on the same day? Yugudu should also tell the world why he has suddenly turned into an APC spokesman by exonerating the opposition party of culpability in the attack of the PDP presidential campaign team in Bauchi. “Many Nigerians still remember recent media reports that Yuguda is the real godfather and sponsor of the APC gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi state and that he has not been campaigning for President Jonathan’s re-election in the state. Again, history is there to expose the governor as an unabashed fifth columnist in the PDP. “It would be recalled that the first attack Bala Mohammed received for wholeheartedly supporting Goodluck Jonathan (then Vice President) was in 2010. The same Yuguda, early in 2010, did everything humanly possible to recall and politically annihilate Bala Mohammed from the national assembly as the senator representing Bauchi south senatorial district. “Bala’s only sin was that he mobilised fellow lawmakers to invoke the famous ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to confer powers on the then Vice-President Jonathan to act as president while former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was away in Saudi Arabia receiving medical attention.” Ogbuenyi recalled that Yuguda’s second attack on the FCT minister came later again in 2010, when he deployed enormous energies into creating all manner of obstacles to block his return and re-registration as a member of the PDP in his native Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi state. “Again, that attempt was futile as it failed disastrously for Yuguda. Since then, Bala Mohammed has become a force to reckon with at the highest echelon of the PDP. “Furthermore, in 2011, political thugs who were protesting the victory of President Jonathan in that year’s presidential election razed down a two-storey building belonging to the FCT minister and nearly killed his mother and other relatives in Bauchi. The thugs touched none of the property of Governor Yuguda. The simple reason Bala’s house was torched and his relatives traumatised was the unequivocal support and contributions to President Jonathan’s electoral victory. “On Thursday, January 22 2015, those who are conversant with the negative trend of Bauchi politics since the Yuguda era were not surprised when the FCT minister paid another price for supporting President Goodluck Jonathan. Bala Mohammed was stoned and assaulted by political thugs while he was on stage passionately addressing the PDP presidential campaign rally. Those behind the attack on Bala Mohammed clearly are those who do not want his star or that of the president to shine. Unfortunately for them, they are too late on that mission.” He also reaffirmed Mohammed’s commitment to supporting Jonathan, adding that he would not be deterred by attacks on him. “All that said and done, the minister has no apology whatsoever for consistently supporting his principal, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He supports him because he believes in Nigeria’s oneness and peace as well as the Transformation Agenda of his administration. The minister will never be deterred by attacks on his person and/or malicious fabrications by selfish, mischievous and insincere politicians,” Nosike added. “Bala Mohammed has consistently repeated that politics is not a do-or-die affair, hence he sacrificed his gubernatorial bid to allow peace to reign in Bauchi state. He is also sharply aware that this is the time for everyone to focus on issues that would promote rancor-free campaign and elections to ensure victory for the PDP. It is on these bases that it would be ridiculous to suggest that Bala would hire thugs to attack the PDP and discredit the governor in the state – more so, because he is not contesting any position with the governor. “Finally, we wish to state categorically that based on his personal convictions and principles, Bala Mohammed cannot sponsor thugs to stone himself or his boss. We therefore enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to completely disregard Yuguda’s outrageous allegation. In fact, anyone who believes his wild allegation would believe anything. By Yuguda’s latest embarrassing conduct, he has successfully exposed his chameleonic character as an APC mole in the PDP. We call on Isa Yuguda to please respect himself by leaving Bala Mohammed alone.”

Defence HQ shares graphic pics of Boko Haram members killed in Konduga

Photos: US Secretary of State, John Kerry, meets GEJ, Buhari

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Nigeria today January 25th for meetings with Nigerian President Jonathan. He also met with Gen. Buhari and APC chieftains. More pics after the cut..

And then he met Buhari and APC Chieftain...

Baga: Nigerians in the UK hold solidarity protest (photos)

Nigerians in London staged a protest in front of the Nigerian House in the UK today January 25th to register their support for the people of Baga, in Borno state following recent attacks in the community where many people have been killed and abducted. See more photos after the cut...

Photos: GEJ worships at Winners Chapel, what Pastor Oyedepo may really have said

President Jonathan worshiped at Living Faith Church a.k.a Winners Chapel in Canaanland, Ota today January 25th for their thanksgiving service after their 21 days fasting period.

There's been a lot of controversy over what Pastor Oyedepo really said to GEJ at the service. While some said pastor Oyedepo said "We will open the gate of hell on those who oppose you", members of the church who said they were there said what Oyedepo actually said was "All those opposing and against the peace of Nigeria, God would open the gates of hell to them". More pics after the cut

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WHAT IBB TOLD PRESIDENT JONATHAN-REVEALED

WHAT IBB TOLD GEJ WHEN THE LATTER VISITED THE FORMER.

"The President came here to ask for my support. I had only 15minutes prior notice before his arrival. When he came, I took him to my bedroom and had a chat with him. When he left his people said I have endorsed him. What am I supposed to do, deny it? No. For me, that is not a problem because I am a leader and what I say or don't say will give mileage to any party.

When he came here I told him that he made two political mistakes: first was to lose Rotimi, the Governor of Rivers State. When the crisis was going on, Governor Rotimi was here to pay me a visit. I confronted him and he spoke to me very honestly. Despite the problems, he was not ready to leave the PDP then. Gen. Obasanjo, myself and a few others intervened in the matter as leaders of the party but the president did not foresee the current situation and didn't take our advice seriously. Rotimi is one young man I like so much for his honesty. He is very bold and alway committed to his conviction.

I told president Jonathan that the second mistake he made was to call Obasanjo a motor pact taut. What an insult. That was wrong and the beginning of his problems. How many times had he seen Obasanjo insult Gowon. I told him that supporting him would mean to endorse the insult on Gen Obasanjo. I won't.

I advised him to go make peace with Governor Rotimi and Gen. Obasnjo. I told him it is almost getting late. I said to him, you must visit Obasanjo to apologize to him. I don't think that the outcome was favourable because it was already late.

A lot of persons have been calling me to raise concern that the President would use the Military to rig the election and I say to them that it is not likely. There is esprit d'coup. Most of the soldiers you see today are boys to our boys. President Jonathan has no option than to allow the election hold and to declare the winner. I advised him on this. Several other persons, both local and international, have also advised him on the consequences of using soldiers to influence the election. I am sure, he won't."
....IBB

Please, kindly pass it on to others...let everyone read Why IBB endorsed GEJ

Giant hippopotamus killed in River Benue

A giant hippopotamus was Thursday night killed by fishermen at River Benue in Makurdi.

Hundreds of Makurdi residence gathered to take a close glimpse of the animal as it was dragged out by fishermen and loaded into a canoe.


A fisherman, who identified himself as Kar, told newsmen that there are many hippopotamus in the river apart from the one that was killed. He explained that they were happy to have killed one of the water animals that has been troubling them during fishing.
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However, a resident named Sonia Ajoko Esq, said she was not happy that the fishermen killed one of the many hippos in the river.

She said, “Apart from the fact that we often take the glimpse of these hippos that usually come out of the waters, it is also not legal to kill such endangered animals.”

She called on relevant authorities to look into the circumstance that led to the killing of the hippo in the River Benue in other to preserve the endangered species.

Baga women cry out - 'Boko Haram raping our daughters'

A woman, who survived the January 3, 2015 attack by the Boko Haram insurgency group on Baga, has told the BBC Hausa service that the insurgents are raping the girls in the town.

Baga has been under the control of the insurgents since then.

Pleading for anonymity, she narrated, “Boko Haram fighters are currently in control of the town. When they attacked, they destroyed shops and burnt down our houses.

“There are lots of bodies scattered on the street and some have started decomposing.

“The militants gathered the old men who could not leave the town and some strong women and forced them to bury the corpses because of the stench – I saw all of this.

“Many of the women could not escape during the attack and we were all brought with the old men to the palace of the traditional ruler.

“I spent a week there. In the mornings and evenings, the insurgents would gather the women together and preach to them.

“Two days after the attack, a man who claimed to be Abubakar Shekau [the leader of Boko Haram] came and addressed us.

“He would say, ‘Today, where is your government from local to highest level? You are now under our control.

“After that, Shekau and many of the insurgents left the town in the hands of some Boko Haram members who are from Baga.

“These men have taken control of the young women in the town. They rape and abuse our daughters.

“In the evening, they choose ones who are neither pregnant nor nursing mothers and take them away. They don’t bring them back until the morning. If it is not rape what are they doing to them?”

BREAKING: Katsina College releases Buhari’s ​WASC results

Katsina College, formerly Provincial Secondary School, which Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, graduated from in 1961, has released Mr. Buhari’s secondary school certificate examination results.

The results, obtained exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday, confirm Mr. Buhari’s claim that he undertook the University of Cambridge West African School Certificate Examinations and obtained five credits in English Language, Geography, Hausa Language, History, and Health Science.

PT obtained the computer printout from Cambridge University as well as a statement of result, signed by the current principal of Katsina College, dated January 21, 2015.

The results show that Mr. Buhari, a former military head of state, failed in Mathematics and Woodwork, and had a pass in Literature in English.

The examination centre number was 8280 while Mr. Buhari’s candidate number was 002.

The statement of results is printed on the letter head paper of the Katsina State Ministry of Education, and it shows that the examination took place in 1961.

The Cambridge print out also shows the result of 17 other candidates at the centre, including Shehu Yar’adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Controversy over Mr. Buhari’s result escalated Tuesday after the Nigerian Army, which had earlier admitted to having a copies of his certificate, reversed itself saying it could not even attest to the details listed in his records.

The spokesperson of the Army, Olajide Laleye, said “Neither the original copy, certified true copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major-.Gen. Mohammadu Buhari‘s WASC result is in his personal file.”

He said while it is the practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the service, the selection board verifies the original copies of credentials as presented, “There is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s.”

The military’s comments came after the retired general had said that his lost copies of results were with the Army, an explanation he gave ahead of elections February 14. See it here

Buhari’s Statement of Result

Petrol price reduction too small – NLC, TUC

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Monday called on the Federal Government to come out with a more realistic template for determining the right cost of a litre of petrol in the country.

Although the groups welcomed the reduction of the pump price from N97 to N87 per litre, they argued that it was far from what the cost of the product should be.



They spoke just as most filling stations still sold petrol at the old price of N97 instead of the N87 announced on Sunday night by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The NLC, in a statement by its General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson , said the reduction was “not sufficiently deep enough.”

It argued that the N10 reduction was not substantial enough as it translated to only 10.3 per cent per litre as against the 33 per cent reduction in other countries.

The congress also said that the government had denied Nigerians the full benefits of the falling price of crude oil in the international market with the devaluation of the naira.

It said, “The reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit from N97 to N87 per litre is a welcome development. However in our estimation, it is not sufficiently deep enough.

“Prior to this price reduction, government had substantially devalued the naira, thus ensuring that the full benefits of falling crude price are not passed on to Nigerians.

“The N10 price slash translates to 10.3 per cent reduction compared to 33 per cent price reduction in most countries. For instance, in the United States the price dipped to under $2 from $3 per gallon.”

The NLC also said that the price reduction should have come from the board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, the body entrusted with the responsibility of fixing the prices of petroleum products.

The labour body however appealed to transport operators to ensure that Nigerians benefitted from the price reduction.

TUC, through its President, Bala Kaigama, also urged the government to come out with a more realistic template that would be beneficial to the citizenry.

It said, “That they have attempted to be sensitive to the demands of the people is enough for us to commend.

“We however urge them to be more sensitive particularly in the area of working out a more realistic template. They have started, the price is going down, we need a more realistic template that would make Nigerians to benefit from the impact of the falling oil prices.”

Also on Monday, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association said the reduction in the pump price of petrol should have been accompanied by the complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

Though it commended the review, it noted that it was shameful for a foremost producer of crude oil in Africa to rely on importation of refined products for consumption locally.

NECA stated that the opportunity presented by the slide in oil prices should be utilised by the government to deregulate the industry and privatise the four government refineries.

The association, in a statement by its Director-General, NECA, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, added, “It is a common thing for government to weigh economic imperatives against political exigencies in moments of political engagement and political process as we are currently experiencing. Government is more likely to accord priority to political exigencies while relegating economic imperatives to the background, particularly if the fallout of the economic imperatives will undermine public perception of the government.

“The issue, however, is that the government is not faced with that choice under the current circumstance as the economy stands to gain from the deregulation policy. We, therefore, call on the government to do the needful by coming out boldly and courageously to inform the Nigerian populace that it has deregulated the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.”

Shortly after they spoke, the PPPRA announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of petrol from N81.51 to N77.66 per litre.

The agency said the reduction became necessary following the reduction in the pump price of fuel.

The agency, in a statement, said, “Consequent upon this (government’s) announcement, the PPPRA, in exercise of its mandate of determining the pricing policy and setting benchmark prices of petroleum products, hereby further announces the new ex-depot price of PMS as N77.66 per litre.

“In view of the foregoing, oil marketers are hereby advised to adhere strictly to this new price regime, as the PPPRA, in conjunction with the Department of Petroleum Resources shall enforce compliance in order to ensure that consumers benefit fully from this new review. In other words, any violation of the prevailing price regime, shall attract appropriate sanctions.

“It is therefore our wish to advise Nigerians against any form of panic-buying, as there are enough products in all depots across the country. We also wish to assure Nigerians that the PPPRA, in exercise of its mandate, is fully committed to ensuring adequate supply and distribution of petroleum products.”

Meanwhile, most major and independent marketers of petrol did not adjust their pumps to reflect the new price regime.

From Lagos to the Federal Capital Territory, Oyo to Ekiti, and Cross River to Plateau states, motorists were told by fuel station attendants that they were either waiting for an “official order from appropriate quarters” or wanted to sell off their old stock first.

In President Goodluck Jonathan’s state, Bayelsa; Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, the product sold for between N100 and N105 in most filling stations.

When one of our correspondents visited Mobil Filling Station at Gbagada Lagos, around 2 pm, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ajaja, H. O, was seen insisting that petrol should be sold at N87 per litre. But the station attendants said they had not been given the directive by their head office to change the price.

At Capital Oil Mega Filling Station on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of the attendants said they did not change their price because they were still selling their old stock.

The same reasons were given by officials of the two Oando filling stations on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway.

When contacted on the telephone, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos Zone, Tokunbo Korodo, said that compliance level might not be total in the interim.

According to him, marketers were of the view that they should have been informed by the government before making the reduction public.

“If government wants marketers to switch to the new price with immediate effect, there should be some provisions for marketers who would make loses by doing so,” he said.

60-year-old bricklayer rapes primary-six pupil

A 60-year-old bricklayer, Segun Benson, has been accused of raping a primary six pupil on Mommoh Street in the Agege area of Lagos State.

In the course of the rape, the victim’s private parts were said to have been damaged.


Benson, who has an aged mother, was said to have never been married, while attempts by his mother to get him a wife had continually been turned down.

After he allegedly ravished the victim, he was said to have sent her out, despite the flow of blood from her private parts.

Residents were said to have sighted the victim in a public bathroom writhing in pain.

After bleeding from her private parts for a while, the 14-year-old was said to have collapsed.

She reportedly told concerned residents that Segun tricked her into his room with N50 and raped her.

A resident and an eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Iya Egun, told newsmen she initially thought the victim was having her menstrual flow.

She said, “I saw her writhing in pain in a bathroom. She said she wanted to defecate, but I saw blood coming out of her private parts.

“I raised the alarm and when other people arrived at the scene, she said it was Segun that raped her.”

A relative, Okunloye Kehinde, said the victim’s private parts had been damaged.

He said, “I got a call around 2pm that fateful Saturday. When I got there, I saw a crowd of people around her. I saw a container filled with blood. Even her clothes were drenched in blood.”

Kehinde said he went with the victim’s father to report the incident at the Elere Police Division.

The police, in company with some relatives of the victim, arrested the suspect in his house.

Our source spoke with the victim who walked with some difficulty.

She said, “I am in primary six. On Friday, he gave me N50 to buy sweet for myself. He then asked me to caress his private parts. When I told him I would tell my daddy, he said I should not go home.

“He took me to his house around Railway Line where he raped me. I was there from 3pm till around 7pm. I started bleeding from his house and when I got home the blood did not stop. But I kept it secret until Saturday when people saw it.”

Her mother, Taibat, said she had never met the suspect before.

“I have seven kids and she is the third child. I was sleeping when people called me that my daughter had been raped. I have never met the man before though he lives on the street. The government should take over the case and do what is right,” she said.

Our correspondent reached out to the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Tinuke Benson, who is in her nineties.

The woman, while fighting back tears, pleaded with the press to intervene on her behalf because the suspect was her only son.

She said, “Segun is my only child. I had four other children and they are all dead. He is the reason for my living. I don’t know why he did what he did.

“Each time I tried to get him a wife, he refused and told me he was old enough to look for a woman for himself. He said that many times without getting a wife. Please help me because he’s my hope.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

Jonathan will concede defeat, congratulate winner – Presidency

The Minister of State for Works, Dayo Adeyeye, has hinted that President Goodluck Jonathan will concede defeat and congratulate whoever emerges winner in the forthcoming presidential election.

Adeyeye stated this while responding to a question on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’. “Of course. President (Jonathan), on many cases is always the first person to congratulate the winner even when the winner is not a member of our party. So, we believe in democracy.”

He was then asked if the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) persistent attacks on General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate implied that the party was afraid that Buhari could win next month’s presidential poll, Adeyeye stressed that the PDP was not afraid of Buhari.

He said the Presidency was not jittery about the coming presidential election, claiming that Jonathan had performed more than any other president since 1999.

“We are not afraid of General Buhari. I believe General Buhari is the easiest person to defeat in any election. Nigeria needs a 21st century leader,” the Daily Trust quoted him to have said.

According to Adeyeye, while Jonathan is a PhD holder, Buhari’s secondary education is still a subject of controversy.

He said Nigerians should also feel concerned about the health status of General Buhari and that of other presidential candidates.

The minister added that Jonathan deserved to be re-elected because of his performance within the last four years.