Super Eagles scored two unreplied goals against Congo this evening to move closer to qualifying for next years AFCON.The win placed them in second position behind group leaders South Africa.Nigeria must win South Africa on Wednesday to qualify for the competition.If they lose or play draw against South Africa, the defending champion will crash out of AFCON 2015.Do you think eagles can defeat South Africa.
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani, were involved in a ghastly road accident on Friday in which eight people were injured.The accident came a day before the governor’s 50th birthday which holds today.
The governor’s official vehicle in which he was travelling and his spare vehicle were directly affected by the impact of the crash. The two officials who were in the same vehicle escaped unhurt.
According to the Tribune ,It was gathered that the governor and his deputy were on their way to an official assignment in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area and Gboko when the accident occurred. According to an eyewitness, an oncoming vehicle which overtook another vehicle lost control, sommersaulted, then hit the spare vehicle of the governor as well as the vehicle in which both the governor and his deputy were travelling.
The accident happened at Angbaaye, a few kilometres after Makurdi, the state capital. The governor’s spare vehicle was badly damaged while the impact of the accident on the on coming vehicle was very severe. Both the governor and his deputy however rushed to rescue the victims in the oncoming vehicle who were believed to be traders heading to Makurdi. Governor Suswam, who detailed some top government officials to take the injured persons to the hospital in Makurdi, however, proceeded to Gboko where he flagged off road project, while his deputy alighted at Tarka Local Government where he flagged off tree planting project.
The eight people who were injured were rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for medical attention. As a follow up to the governor’s 50th birthday ceremony which holds today, he has also scheduled a thanksgiving ceremony for tomorrow, at Aper Aku Stadium. President Goodluck Jonathan is expected at the ceremony.
Source: Tribune
MC Longs who became more famous when he did a skit in Ice Prince’s ‘Fire Of Zamani’ Album has died. He was involved in an auto crash in Jos on the 6th of November, 2014 and has been on life support at a private hospital before giving up the ghost yesterday, 14th of November.
The comedian in his early 30’s is survived by a young wife and two kids. May his soul rest in peace.
No one could have imagined that 16-year-old Gloria (not real name) was just two weeks away from the delivery of a child on September 3, 2014. Gloria, a year one senior secondary school student, lives with her married brother unaware that she was about to become a mother. But buried deeply in the girl’s heart was a painful secret she had never told a soul. With threats, pleading and persuasion, Gloria’s brother, Obi, tried to get the truth about who was responsible out of Gloria, but the little girl was too afraid to tell the truth.
According to Saturday Punch ,a neighbour, who had been friends with the family for some years, eventually got the girl to tell the truth, which shocked the girl’s brother. Timid and innocent, she looked at the floor as she spoke softly, delving into the account of a sexual abuse she had gone through in the last five years.
When Gloria’s brother brought her to Lagos seven years ago from their village in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, it was to give her a semblance of a better life, different from the pathetic one she was said to be living in. Their mother had just died at the time, while their aged father back in the village was not doing too well financially.
“She was living with me along with some of my friends at the time. Things were still rough for me and I was single.” Obi said. Not long after this, Obi’s good friend from Anambra State, a trader living in Mangoro area of Lagos named Ugochukwu Okparanta, said he would take over the care of the girl to ease the financial burden off his friend while the girl would help his wife with house chores.
“I was nine when I started living with Uncle (Okparanta). But two years after I got there, he started raping me,” Gloria began. “He started one day when I was washing plates and he started to touch me in the private part and breast.” The girl became tearful. Her voice shook and trailed off. But our correspondent assured her that she was not going to be in trouble of any kind by telling her story. Then she continued.
“He started by petting me, telling me I would like it. I refused and became afraid. Then he threatened me. He would tell me that I would be in trouble if I did not do what he wanted,” Gloria said. Asked why she could not report the problem to her brother, the girl said she thought nobody would believe her.
“If I told Madam (Okparanta’s wife), she would say I lied against her husband,” Gloria explained. Then came one night, while her boss’ wife slept in the couple’s room, Okparanta sneaked out to the room Gloria shared with his own daughter, an older girl. She said, “He told me to follow him to the sitting room. I obeyed. He raped me and while he did it, I was about to scream, but he covered my mouth with his hand very tightly. I was bleeding when he finished and I became more scared but he smiled and said the blood was normal.
“After that, he would rape me almost every night. Madam did not know anything. Anytime I refused, Uncle would threaten to deal with me. There was a day I refused and when I greeted him the following day, he did not answer me.
“He reported me to his wife that I had become pompous in his house and that I no longer greeted him.” This sexual abuse would continue for four years, according to the girl, until 2013 when his brother got married and brought her back to help around the house.However, in January 2014, the sexual abuse the girl had kept secret and thought was over would come back to haunt her.
“His wife had just had a miscarriage and I was sent to go and help her for a few days. But in the afternoon, when his children had gone to school, he dragged me to his children’s room and raped me,” Gloria said. Few days before that day, our correspondent learnt that Gloria’s brother had even gone to his ‘magnanimous’ friend, bearing a bottle of wine, to thank him for taking care of his sister over the years.
“I did not know in my wildest dream that the man I see as my friend would do such a terrible thing to my sister,” he said. Nobody knew what damage had been done until September 2014 when the symptoms of pregnancy started to manifest in the girl’s body.
“She is one of those people who could be pregnant and her flat tummy would not make anyone suspicious. I thought that if she was pregnant, it would be in early stages and could be aborted. I had no idea that she would deliver in a few days,” the neighbour told our correspondent. The day Gloria gave birth, the girl who knew nothing about motherhood was in labour for hours in her room and thought she was having a stomach ache.She only screamed when her water broke, it was learnt. But she had a crisis-free delivery and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
“I have never had sex with any other boy before. I can swear on my life,” When Gloria’s angry brother and other relations confronted Okparanta with the rape allegation, he denied initially. “He later admitted that he slept with her only once,” Obi said When Saturday PUNCH spoke with Okparanta on the phone, he initially went from feigning ignorance to outright denial.But when he was asked why he sent a cheque of N50,000, to the girl’s brother, he hesitated a little and admitted he raped the girl once.
“It is a lie that I started sleeping with her since she was 11. Even last year, I did not sleep with her,” Yes, I gave her brother a cheque because they were accusing me that I was responsible,” “I only slept with her once in January and she was not a virgin at the time. That was the last time I did it. I was not the first person to sleep with her. I am not the one that deflowered her.I was sleeping in the sitting room at the time. I just felt someone touching me. I just did not know how I slept with her after that. I hated her since then.”“I did not know what came over me that made me sleep with her. I told his brother after the incident that he should take her to a church for deliverance.
” But did he think he could be responsible since he has admitted sleeping with the girl?He said, No, I did not. I just hated the girl and felt she should not have made me to do such a bad thing. I am currently discussing with the family to see how we can take care of the baby if indeed I am responsible.
Source: Punch
According to reports this evening, Boko Haram has seized the town of Chibok in Borno state, northeast Nigeria, from where 276 school girls were kidnapped more than six months ago, a local pastor and a senator told AFP today.
“Chibok was taken by Boko Haram. They are in control,” said Enoch Mark, a Christian pastor whose daughter and niece are among the 219 teenagers still being held. Mark and the senator for southern Borno, Ali Ndume, said the militants attacked at about 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) on Thursday, destroying communications masts and forcing residents to flee. Ndume said that he had received calls from fleeing residents saying the town “was now under their Boko Haram) control”.
“There is no telephone service now in Chibok, which is why it took time before the reports reached me,” he added.
3 Police men and 3 civilians have died this evening in Kano when a suicide bomber driving a Toyota Sienna drove into the filling station and exploded shortly after.
According to the State Police Commissioner, six people died in the process including three policemen.
A 35-year-old man, Andrew Ekanem, has been arrested by the police for allegedly raping his neighbour’s daughter in the Bariga area of Lagos State.
According to PUNCH Metro, the 14-year-old victim was still undergoing a six-month treatment for tuberculosis when she was attacked by the suspect on Monday morning. She was the first of her parents' children.
The mother of the victim, Mrs. Adenike Aderinkomi, a trader, told PUNCH at their house on Akilo Street that her daughter went to ease herself in the early hours of the morning when she was cornered by the Cross River State indigene. She claimed the suspect penetrated her daughter through the anus and vagina. She said:
“It was around 2am on Monday when my daughter woke up and said she wanted to go and ease herself. I was having my quiet time and didn’t know when I slept off. I woke up about 15 minutes later and didn’t see her in the room. I woke her father up and he said he didn’t know her whereabouts. We both became anxious and went outside to search for her. Another neighbour also joined us in the search.
” She said she was shouting her daughter’s name in the backyard, but did not get any response. Aderinkomi said about 10 minutes later, her husband saw their daughter coming out of Ekanem’s room. People overwhelmed her with a barrage of questions, but the Primary six pupil insisted she went to ease herself. Her mother said she pulled her away from the growing crowd of neighbours and pressed her to talk.
“My daughter became afraid. She then told me that while she was on her way to ease herself, Ekanem grabbed her and took her inside his room to sleep with her. She said while I was shouting her name, he covered her mouth. People seized him and wanted to beat him up. But I had to quickly report the matter to the police very early in the morning so people would not take the law into their hands,” she said. Aderinkomi said she was surprised because when her daughter fell critically ill in February, last year, Ekanem assisted her family in taking her to Calabar, the Cross River State capital, for traditional treatment.
PUNCH Metro learnt that after the alleged rape, the victim was taken to the Gbagada General Hospital for testing and treatment. A medical report, which they sighted, revealed that the victim sustained bruises in her private parts. The paper, signed by one Dr. Ojekunle of the hospital, stated:
“The child was caught with a neighbour around 2am today. She confessed that the neighbour called her on her way to ease herself and forced her and had sex with her. She sustained bruises in her anus and vagina (as a result of) sexual assault.” The victim had been taken to an undisclosed orthodox church for “prayers and deliverance”.
A carpenter, Tunde Hassan, who lives in the house where the incident happened, expressed surprise, saying nobody imagined Ekanem could do such a thing. Hassan said:
“Up till now, I cannot comprehend what happened. The man was a gentle man and he never fought or made trouble with anybody. But at the same time, people should learn to forgive when things like this happen, because you never can tell. Somebody that was bad to you today can be good to you tomorrow.
” It was learnt that the suspect was arrested by policemen from the Bariga Police Division.
A police source told PUNCH that investigation revealed the suspect was fond of the act and usually induced his victims with money. He said:
“That was not his first time of doing such a thing. This particular girl, he had slept with her about three times. He was always giving her money ranging from N200 to N500. But this time, he was caught red-handed and that was why the girl’s parents are insisting on taking him to court.
When he was queried, he didn’t give any reason for his behaviour. He’s just fond of sleeping with little girls.” The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect had been taken to court.
Yesterday (Nov. 12) at Aso Rock, President Goodluck Jonathan unveiled the new N100 commemorative note to mark 100 years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 by the British.
The new N100 note becomes the first “digital” paper banknote in Nigeria. The CB Governor, Godwin Emefiele who was present at the unveiling says a feature called Quick Response Code, QRC is available on the back of the note. Back of the 100 Naira Note Once the QRC barcode on the back of the note is scanned with an iPhone or iPad it shows the President’s face as well as all information on Nigeria’s history.
Front of the 100 Naira Note The new note is also said to have extra security features as well as features for the visually impaired. It will be officially be in circulation on December 19, 2014.
It however wasn’t revealed how much it would cost the taxpayer to produce these digital notes.
Nigerian couple Lizzy Idahosa, 24 and Jackson Omoruyi, 41, have been sentenced to prison in the UK. Lizzy got 8 years behind bars for sex trafficking and Jackson got 2 years for money laundering.
The mother of one, who is currently heavily pregnant with Jackson's second baby, was found guilty of trafficking women to and around the UK as well as inciting prostitution and money laundering. Her partner Jackson, charged £50,000 for travel from Nigeria and false documents from the ladies they brought and made them work in brothels where they had sex with 7 or 8 men a day to pay their debts.
Their victims said that before traveling to London on the promise of a better life, they had been subjected to 'juju' rituals in which they ate snails and snakes, had their hair shaved, drank dirty water and were cut with a razor. They were also threatened with illness, madness, infertility and death if they ever spoke up.
The world's tallest man, Turkey's Sultan Kosen, who stands 2.51 metres (eight feet, nine inches) tall, today came face to face -- well, face to shin -- with the world's shortest man Chandra Bahadur Dangi from Nepal, who measures just 55 centimetres (21 and a half inches).
The little and large act met as people across the globe tried to break all manner of weird and wacky world records, including banging heads, catching spears and throwing thongs. Kosen, a 31-year-old farmer, stooped down to shake hands with 74-year-old Dangi opposite the Houses of Parliament in London.
He told AFP that meeting Chandra was "amazing", although he admitted bending the long, long way down for photographs was difficult.
"I was very interested how tall he was going to be, about how far up my legs he would go, and of course once I saw him I realised how tiny he was. I do have problems with my knees so if I stand too long I do get tired. Even though he is short and I am tall, we have had similar struggles throughout our lives and when I look into Chandra's eyes I can see he is a good man.
" As well as being the tallest man, Kosen's hands are the biggest in the world -- an impressive 28.5 centimetres (11.22 inches) from the wrist to the tip of his middle finger.
Meanwhile Dangi, a primordial dwarf who makes placemats and head straps for villagers carrying heavy loads, is the shortest adult ever certified by Guinness World Records. He told AFP:
"I was very pleased to see the tallest man in the world, I was curious to meet my extreme opposite. I'm so pleased to be a Guinness record holder. Thanks to this I have visited many countries and met many people. I really love it.
" The two men met today to celebrate the 10th annual Guinness World Records Day.
Source: AFP
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, a body of Nigerian priest, paid a visit to Pres. Jonathan yesterday at the State House to express concern over increasing attacks by Boko Haram members in the North East.
The groups president and Archbishop of Jos diocese, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, who spoke with newsmen after their closed door meeting with President Jonathan, said they were at the state house to talk about lack of security in Nigeria and find out what the government is doing about it...
"We feel that things are not right. Territorially, our land is being taken away; the people we look after are displaced, their homes, their villages and towns are captured and they are internally displaced, being refugees in their own land. We thought this is not right. We have families that are just stranded. We thought that the President should know.
As Catholics, we have laid a good structure for relief and taking care of such situation, we want the government to collaborate with us. We just wanted to remind him of things he already knows, there was nothing we said that was new, we just wanted to lay emphasis and we wanted him to know we are concerned.
The President is already doing his bit; he has assured us that he is on top of the situation" Bishop Kaigama argued that although muslims have also been killed during the various attacks, the primary aim of Boko Haram is to wipe out Christianity and islamiatize Nigeria "When we admit that some Muslims are also targeted, we want to believe that the principal aim and concern of Boko Haram is to eliminate Christianity and pave the way for total Islamization of the country" he said
The police in Anambra State are interrogating a man to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a seven-month pregnant woman during a marathon sex bout with him in Onitsha.
Vanguard reports that the man (names withheld), according to a police source, had allegedly taken the deceased to an undisclosed hotel in Onitsha, only for the hotel staff to discover that the woman was dead in the morning.
The incident, the source said, occurred on Tuesday when the man allegedly checked into the hotel with the heavily pregnant woman, only to find out in the morning that his partner could not wake up on Wednesday morning. A resident’s account Though the police in Onitsha Area Command refused to give details on the incident, a resident of the area said the suspect and the deceased were just love birds. He said the suspect had lodged into the hotel room and invited the deceased through a phone call.
The source further faulted rumours that the woman died as a result of charms made by her husband, adding that it was possible that the woman died of exhaustion from the marathon sex romp. He urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
At press time, nobody from the suspect or deceased’s family had been identified, as the corpse was deposited in an undisclosed mortuary in Onitsha by the police.
At the Inland Town Police Division, Onitsha, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Cosmas Eze, refused to comment on the incident but referred Vanguard to the Area Commander, ACP Benjamin Wordu, for clarifications. Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Uche Ezeh, said the command received the information concerning the incident, disclosing that the suspect had been arrested and case transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Awka, for further investigations.
Source: vanguard
The Nigeria military has released a statement confirming the crash of its patrol helicopter yesterday night in Yola and also revealed that 3 crew members aboard the helicopter died in the crash.
Find the statement below
"At about 2200hours yesterday 13 November 2014, a ground attack helicopter on an armed patrol crashed around the Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State. The crew of 3 was lost in the ill-fated accident. Rescue party worked throughout the night to preserve the wreckage of the aircraft and scene of the accident for proper investigation to be carried out. Further details would be made known later."
The Confederation of African Football has announced Equatorial Guinea as the new host of the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 following the decision of the football body to drop Morocco 3 days ago.
CAF dropped Morocco as host of the football tournament on Tuesday November 11th following the nations request for postponement of the tournament in their country over Ebola fears.
A statement released by CAF this afternoon says the dates for the tournament will remain from Jan. 17-February 8 2015 and that four cities will be used for the tournament: Malabo, Bata, Mongomo and Ebebiyin.
Find the full statement by CAF after the cut... The Head of State and President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo this Friday 14 November met with the President of CAF Issa Hayatou concerning the possibility for Equatorial Guinea to host the Africa Cup of Nations Orange 2015. Following fraternal and fruitful discussions, the Head of State of Equatorial Guinea has agreed to host the tournament from January 17 to February 8, 2015.
Therefore, the Executive Committee of CAF confirms that the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2015 will be held in Equatorial Guinea on the dates agreed, and the national team of Equatorial Guinea is qualified for the final tournament as a representative of the country host. The four cities selected for the finals are Malabo, Bata, Mongomo and Ebebiyin. The draw for the finals will take place Wednesday, December 3, 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
The Executive Committee of CAF and President Issa Hayatou seize this opportunity to express their sincere thanks and deep appreciation to the people of Equatorial Guinea, its government, and particularly to His Excellency the Head of State and President of the Republic Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
According to a breaking news report by AFP, Boko Haram men have captured Chibok community. A serving senator from Borno state and a resident Pastor confirmed the development to AFP.
"Chibok was taken by Boko Haram. They are in control," said Enoch Mark, a Christian pastor whose daughter and niece are among the 219 teenagers still being held. Borno Senator, Ali Ndume told AFP that the militants attacked at about 4pm on Thursday, destroying communications masts and forcing residents to flee.
A Ghanaian citizen resident in Nigeria, Israel Nana has confessed that his mission to Nigeria was to dispose people of their valuable properties and become rich before going back to his country.
The 30-year old Nana said he nearly accomplished his mission and was preparing to return to Ghana when he was arrested.
According to PMNews, Nana came to Nigeria five years ago and had been busy stealing and making money. He was a well known criminal in his home town in Kumasi, Ghana and because of his renowned notorious activities, he decided to relocate to Nigeria to continue his criminal activities.
On how he came to Nigeria, Nana said his friend who lives in Nigeria helped him secure passage into the country, adding that, immediately he got into Nigeria, he began stealing and later graduated to car snatching. He said since he came to Nigeria, he had lived in four cities in four states namely, Abuja, Lagos, Edo and Rivers. He said he settled for car snatching because “you don’t need sophisticated weapon such as guns, pistol bullets etc to carry out the operation and it was easy to dispose the cars because a buyer was already ready to pay the money”.
On the choice of cars he specialize in stealing, he said the demand are Toyota Cars especially Camry but Honda, Nissan Jeeps and others were also in high demand. He said he was arrested in Rivers State after one Alhaji who buys stolen cars from him was arrested in Abuja a fortnight ago.
He said he was still surprised on what was happening to him because he never thought he would be arrested. Nana is a member of the five-man gang car syndicate arrested by the Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad for car snatching in Nigeria. They were paraded by the Lagos State Commissioner of police, Mr Kayode Aderanti at Ikeja, Lagos. Some of the vehicles stolen were also recovered across cities in Nigeria.
Source: PMnews
5 days after he was abducted by unknown gunmen at his farm in Adamawa state, The younger brother of former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu has regained his freedom.
According to a family source, he returned unhurt. It is however not clear whether any ransom was paid for honorable sani Ribadu's release.
These vehicles were impounded by Ondo state sector command of federal road safety corps.We should think about our life and that of other road users as we load our vehicles.
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is contesting in next year's presidential election.
Below is what he said during his declaration at a rally on Monday Nov. 10th.
“My people, in 2015 I will be the president of the country. Three months ago when I said I want to be president they asked, “Can an Igboman be president? But now when they count those contesting for president they will first count Rochas Okorocha, before Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Kwankwaso.
When they said they have zoned the presidency to the North, I asked, When was the meeting held? Now we have zoned it to Igboland. In 2015, there will be a turnaround in the fortunes of Ndigbo. They only know themselves; they don’t care about Igbo. APC is an emergency party for a new Nigeria; I would not have joined APC if PDP was doing well. We will defeat PDP in 2015,”
Find the EFCC Press statement below A suspected fraudster, Adekunle Balogun a.k.a Malan Salihu, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over fraudulent dealings involving the sum of $1million USD.
The 44-year- old Ordinary Diploma certificate holder in Textile and Polymer Technology was picked up by operatives of the Commission in Lagos for allegedly duping one Precious Chukwuma Emelue of N100million by deceiving him into believing that, he would assist him in retrieving a sum of $1million from a Pakistani bank: Kan-Cern Limited, which payment was allegedly stopped by the International Monetary Fund, IMF. Emelue claimed that, in 2012, he met one Mr. Perry Kandoharty (a Diplomat with the Pakistani High Commission) in Lagos.
In the course of their discussions, Emelue told Kandoharty that he was widely experienced in deep sea fishing. And after much deliberation, they both agreed to work together on a business. Emelue would provide land for a fish processing factory in Nigeria and space for the development of fish ponds. Emelue claimed that Kandoharty sent him a mail informing him of a deposit of $1,000,000.00 into Kan -Cern Limited. It was this fund, allegedly stopped by IMF, which Balogun made him believe he could pull out for him. In the course of his dealings with Emelue, Balogun allegedly obtained money in different instalments from him "to obtain certificates from authorities" handling drug, anti-terrorism and money laundering issues.
The suspect is also alleged to have impersonated the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde and used his name to extort his victm. But Balogun denies that he impersonated the EFCC Chair. "I didn't call myself Lamorde.
What I told him was that Lamorde was a Lion and I'm the only tiger that can approach him", he said. Several items were recovered from him during a search of his house. They include documents bearing the names of the State Security Service, SSS; Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; and Insurance companies among others. Balogun would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
A container fell off the trailer climbing Ojuelegba flyover and landed on a commercial bus parked under the Ojuelegba bridge last night.
No life was lost as there was nobody in the parked bus..
There was a report that the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff ,Alex Badeh evacuated his family with a helicopter shortly before Boko Haram insurgents took over his own town.
A response has been issued to the claims as published on the Defence HQ website The attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to an article with the caption, “The Helicopters that evacuated CDS Badeh’s family from Mubi: A lesson for All Nigerians” written by a certain Elvis Iyorngurum and posted in an on-line news outlet, NewsRescue.com on the 6th of November, 2014.
The said article which contained strings of deliberate falsehood and spurious allegations claimed that few hours before the attack on Mubi by the terrorists, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal AS Badeh flew in helicopters and evacuated his family from the town and abandoned everyone else to their fate.
While the DHQ remains at a loss as to the motive for these unconscionable fabrications, it is pertinent to quickly repudiate the false claim and to state clearly that at no time did the CDS send any helicopter to evacuate any of his family members before, during or after the attack on his home town. Contrary to the claims by the author, the helicopter that flew to Mubi was on an operational mission to reinforce the ground troops in preparation of efforts to repel the attack. The helicopter did not convey any civilian or relation of the CDS as disdainfully insinuated in the article.
Considering the fact that the falsehood packaged against Air Chief Marshal Badeh by Elvis has not only been mischievously and widely circulated, it has been further made viral on the social media, it can no longer be dismissed as one of those careless efforts in the campaign to tarnish the name and integrity of this senior officer and the Armed Forces who are doing their best to address the security situation in the country. The damage done by the fabrications contained in that article has not only personal, but national security implications.
Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh as the Chief of Defence Staff has uppermost in his heart, the interest of the entire citizens of Nigeria, whom he swore to protect.
Insinuating that the CDS is self-centred and insensitive to the plight of his people is wicked and damaging indeed.
The DHQ wishes to reassure Nigerians that as a patriot and one on whose shoulders the leadership of Nigerian Armed Forces rests, he has honestly reaffirmed severally that he considers every Nigerian and every part of Nigeria as deserving of equal protection especially at this challenging times. Just like any other Nigerian, the CDS is pained at the mindless carnage and bloody violence perpetrated against innocent Nigerians by the terrorist group. Contrary to the falsehood bandied around by a number of professional critics and detractors, the CDS believes that every town or village under attack deserves protection whether it is his home town or not.
This false story on Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh is one of the many fabrications being circulated as information or articles by individuals who have remained desperate in the efforts to dampen the spirit and morale of military personnel in particular and Nigerians in general as we strive to stop the activities of terrorists on rampage against our people. It is therefore necessary to appeal to the populace of concerned citizens to join hands with the security forces in this effort by refraining from the series of distractive criticisms and comments.
The mass media is again requested to beware of lifting stories on the military from online media that has become the main channel of disseminating falsehood on happenings in the system.
One of Britain's most wanted people, a British woman terrorist suspect dubbed the 'White Widow' has reportedly been killed in Ukraine.
And according to the story's source, Regnum News Agency in Moscow, Samantha Lewthwaite, 30, was gunned down by a Russian sniper two weeks ago.
The News Agency said: 'One of the world's most wanted terrorists Samantha Lewthwaite who fought as part of a Ukrainian battalion has been killed by a volunteer sniper.
According to our information, the White Widow fought on the side of Ukrainian volunteer battalion Aidar as a sniper. She was killed by 'a volunteer sniper who came to fight at the Lugansk front from Russia.
The Russian sniper who killed the British terrorist now has a price of nearly one million dollars on his head from Ukrainian special services.
' DailyMail, however notes that the extraordinary unconfirmed claim came amid a welter of propaganda from Moscow and Kiev over the Ukrainian crisis. And there are suspicions that the claim that Lewthwaite is dead could be an attempt by Russia to bolster its anti-terrorism credentials at a time when it is controversially massing armour and troops in Ukraine.
Reports last month claimed Lewthwaite - a former soldier's daughter - joined Islamic State earlier this year and became one of the most powerful women in the network. Born in Northern Ireland and schooled in Aylesbury, she was not previously linked to Ukraine. Lewthwaite was married to 7/7 suicide bomber Germaine Lindsay, 19, a Jamaican-born Yorkshireman, and allegedly left Britain in 2009 before being linked to atrocities in Africa. She was also responsible for training a special team of female suicide bombers in Syria, it was alleged. Lewthwaite allegedly trained and mentored British converts who volunteered to fight for the IS. The 7/7 attack on the London transport network on 7 July 2005 killed 52 people.
Daily mail
According to AFP: An explosion rocked a teacher training college in northwestern Nigeria as students were sitting exams on Wednesday, police and a student told AFP.
Niger state police spokesman Ibrahim Gambari confirmed the blast at the Federal College of Education in Kontagora, while Mary Okafor said the explosion sent students fleeing as they sat tests.
"At least 10 students were killed and several others injured. They have all been moved to the general hospital. We have all been asked to vacate the school," she said.
Contrary to reports that Myles Munroe's daughter died in the ill fated plane crash that killed her parents, the church, Bahamas Faith Ministry, has released a statement stating otherwise.
Read it below:
On behalf of the Board of Governors and the entire Bahamas Faith Ministries Family we wish to extend our gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of love and support by the many persons who have offered condolences and prayers.
Among those confirmed to have passed away in yesterday’s tragic plane crash were: Founder & President of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Pastor Ruth Munroe, Senior Vice-President Dr. Richard Pinder, Newly installed Youth Pastors Lavard and Radel Parks and their son Johannan, Pilots Stanley Thurston and Farkhan Cooper and one additional passenger. Words cannot express our profound sense of loss for all of the team members on this tragic flight.
Dr. Munroe was our visionary, our founder, our mentor, advisor, father figure and friend. He was a global leader and icon and was respected worldwide. His wife Ruth was a faithful companion and constant support for Dr. Munroe and was equally beloved.
Dr. Richard Pinder was the embodiment of a true Pastor who loved people, was faithful in service and gave his best to all.
Pastor Rich as he was affectionally called was truly the glue that kept our ministry together. His warm smile and personal pastoral care was truly a comfort and a blessing to so many of our members throughout the years of our church.
Pastors Lavard & Radel Parks were recently installed as Youth Pastors of the Youth Ministry having both being officially ordained and installed as the church’s second full time Youth Pastors on Easter Sunday April 20th 2014.
Both were products of both Dr. Munroe and Dr. Pinders’ leadership and were personally mentored by Dr.Dave & Pastor Angie Burrows.
Our pilots included Senior Officer Stanley Thurston who was an experienced pilot and served for many years as Pastor Myles’s personal pilot.
Also on board was Co-Pilot Frakhan Cooper who was also a faithful member of our aviation team. Both gave excellent service.
Dr. Munroe taught us to have faith and to pursue purpose and advance the Kingdom Principles of Jesus Christ here on earth. He also taught us to be leaders.
As a Church body and organization we will move forward as Dr. Munroe would have wanted us to. We recognize that there will be challenges but we have full confidence that God will see us through and we intend to make our founding leaders proud. We ask for your continued prayers and support.
We will issue further details on plans for home going services and other matters relating to the future of Bahamas Faith Ministries in due course.
Here is the press release by Nigeria Police:
DIVERSION OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WITHIN AND AROUND CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ABUJA.
This is to alert the public of a major event taking place at Eagle Square Abuja tomorrow Tuesday, 11th November, 2014.
Members of the public are advised to use alternative routes, as vehicular traffic will be diverted from most of the roads leading in and out of Eagle Square Central Business District, Abuja between 0500am and 0800pm of Tuesday, 11th November, 2014.
The Nigeria Police Force regrets any inconvenience the diversion of vehicular movements within the area may cause members of the public, as this is one of the proactive security measures put in place to avoid break down of law and order in the area and Abuja at large.
Ag.CP EMMANUEL OJUKWU,
psc FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,ABUJA.
The former military Head of State ,Muhammed buhari took to Facebook to react to yesterday's bombing in a secondary school in Yobe that killed over 47 young people.
A 25-year old man, Olawale Salau, has been stabbed to death by his childhood friend, Kamoru Kushimo.
And according to PUNCH, the incident happened on Wednesday, last week on Alafia Street, in the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State.
Olawale Salau had just gotten his jobless childhood friend released on bail after he was detained for attacking someone in the neighbourhood. But when he started asking his friend to change his aggressive behaviour, a resident, Sola Adebambo (not real name), said Kushimo became angry and accused the deceased of reporting him to people who had been rebuking him. He said the suspect began insulting the deceased and threatened to end their friendship. Sola said:
“In the afternoon of that fateful day, he verbally assaulted him for hours while we were all drinking at the club. Salau did not answer him and people asked Kushimo to stop, but he refused. Then he said he wanted their friendship to end. Salau told him that if that was what he wanted, he was satisfied with the decision. But we all became surprised as Kushimo said he wanted to fight with him. While we were all trying to settle the quarrel, Kushimo grabbed a bottle and smashed it against the wall. The splinters fell on me and injured another friend of ours. But Salau held him from using the bottle. I tried separating them.
” They reportedly went their separate ways after some community leaders intervened. However, unknown to Salau, his friend had gone to waylay him in the dark, armed with a knife. The resident who spoke to PUNCH Metro said he had gone to attend to the injured friend identified as Flash, when he was returning to the street and saw the suspect racing towards him.
“I didn’t know he had stabbed Salau in the chest and armpit with the knife. But I ran after him. He wanted to jump the fence of a house into the next street, but I grabbed him. He pleaded with me to release him, but I told him he was going nowhere. It was then I saw Salau screaming that he had been stabbed. I handed Kushimo over to an elderly man and tried to help Salau up. But he was down and nobody even came near because it was dark.
” The victim’s boss, Taofeek Olaoye, said the 25-year-old could not make it as he died before he could get medical help. He said: “I was about going to bed when I received a call that Salau had been injured. I didn’t know what exactly transpired between him and his friend. When I got there, I carried him into the car, as life was gradually ebbing out of him. We took him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital at Ikeja, where he was confirmed dead. It was an unfortunate incident because we had just closed from work when all this happened. He was a very hardworking boy, who had been with me for about eight years.
” PUNCH observed that the street was still tense a day after the incident, as residents discussed in hush tones. Thick blood stains could still be seen at the frontage of the house where the deceased reportedly slumped. Some pieces of furniture and electronic gadgets were burnt beside the blood spot. It was learnt that angry residents brought out the property of the suspect and vandalised them. The deceased’s girlfriend, Funmilayo Egunbiyi, said she and Salau were planning their wedding when he was killed. She said:
“I feel so terrible about this loss. He was my confidante. I want justice for him. Also, I am aware there was a third person who instigated the fight. The police should arrest him.
” The Chairman of the Community Development Area and the traditional ruler of the area said they could not comment because they had already gone to bed when Salau was killed.
PUNCH Metro, however, learnt that the matter was reported at the Dopemu Police Division in Agege, and the suspect was in police custody.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu confirmed the incident. He added that the corpse of the deceased had been taken to a morgue. “It involved two friends who were apparently fighting and one stabbed the other to death. The suspect is in police custody while the remains of Salau have been taken to the morgue,” he said.
Yobe State Government has closed down all public and private schools in the state following a bomb blast that occurred at Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum in the state where 48 students lost their lives and 79 students injured.
The commissioner of education in the state announced this morning that the closure was with immediate effect.
According to the commissioner, the government decided to close the schools to enable it adopt more security measures to guarantee the safety of students, teachers and the school environment across the state.
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, yesterday in Enugu declared his intention of contesting for next year’s presidential election, saying his victory had been prophesied.
While addressing the large crowd that turned up for his presidential declaration, Okorocha said;
“Three months ago when I said I want to be president they asked, “Can an Igboman be president?” “But now when they count those contesting for president they will first count Rochas Okorocha, before Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Kwankwaso.
“When they said they have zoned the presidency to the North, I asked, “When was the meeting held?” “Now we have zoned it to Igboland. In 2015, there will be a turnaround in the fortunes of Ndigbo.
” He also accused president jonathan and prominent Igbo PDP politicians of not caring about the well being of Igbo.
“They only know themselves; they don’t care about Igbo. APC is an emergency party for a new Nigeria; I would not have joined APC if PDP was doing well. We will defeat PDP in 2015,” he declared. About the 47 students that died yesterday in Yobe, Rochas Okorocha says PDP has failed God.
Below is the full text of president Jonathan's declaration speech today Nov. 11 at the Eagle's Square Dear Compatriots:
1. Four years ago, precisely September 18, 2010; I stood in this Eagle Square, to offer myself for election as the President of our beloved country on the platform of our great party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
2. Seven months after that declaration, you elected me to lead this country with overwhelming support from all parts of our Nation. I remain grateful for the trust you reposed in me to lead our Nation through uncommon challenges in our march of progress as a united and democratic country.
3. Over the years, the Almighty God has made it possible for me to develop a bond with you and I am grateful for your support and understanding in the difficult periods we have journeyed through.
4. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our stewardship has not been without challenges. We have had to deal with the wave of insurgency that has swept through some parts of our dear country. Only yesterday, Government Science Secondary School in YobeState was bombed by insurgents, killing our promising young children who were seeking education to build the country and support their parents. Many Nigerians have lost their lives and property to these mindless killings. Let me crave the indulgence of all present here to stand up to observe a minutes silence in honour of these young lads wholost their lives. Clearly, this has cast a dark cloud on our Nation but we will surely win the war against terror. A number of young men and women have been kidnapped by these criminal elements including our daughters from Chibok. We will free our daughters and defeat terrorism.
5. We are equipping the armed forces and deploying special forces to engage the terrorist and end this senseless war. We must protect our country. We must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to end this criminal violence in our Nation.
6. To ensure the long term stability and development of the affected areas, government has launched three programmes: The Presidential Initiative for the North East, the Victim Support Fund and the Safe School Initiative. The Presidential Initiative for the Northeastis focused on improving infrastructure and economic growth in the region. The Safe School Initiative is centred on creating a safe environment to encourage our children in the communities to acquire education. The Victim Support Fund, a partnership with the Private Sector, has raised about 60 billion Naira, which will help to empower and rehabilitate victims of terror. I promise the victims of these dastardly acts that we will continue to stand with you.
7. I am grateful to all Nigerians for standing with me.
8. Let me also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, for the opportunity you have given to me to serve our country, Nigeria.
9. I am overwhelmed by the trust, confidence and support of the various organs of our party, the Board of Trustees, the National Caucus, the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the PDP Governors Forum, members of the PDPCaucuses of the National Assembly, and others.
10. This day affords me the opportunity to continue the conversation of development we started together.
11. Infrastructure has been a major focus area of my administrationand so, we pursued the power sector reform to this point of irreversible progress. Nigeria has undertaken a most transparent and corruption free bidding process, attracting global commendation. The on-going 450MW Azura Power Plant in Edo State is a testimony to the success of this transformation.
12. We have also resumed development of our Hydro-Power potential, with the construction of the 700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Plant, while construction work on the 3,050MW Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant is about to take off.
13. Our power generation and distribution companies have now been privatized. We are firmly on the road to guaranteed regular power supply in the months ahead. This our bold move, is paying off!
14. We are committed to environmental protection and conservation and reducing vulnerability to climate change. In this regard, we have embarked on a number of projects across the country. Of particular note is the AfricanGreat Green Wall Programmed, where we have released about 16 billionnaira for implementation. The project will create a green belt across 11 states from Kebbi to Borno.
15. In the past three and half years, the water sector has witnessed unprecedented improvement. Access to potable water is now 67%, up from 58% in 2010, while sanitation coverage is 41%, from 32% within the same period.
16. Major developments in water include the completion of 37 Dams and rehabilitation of 10, with several others on-going construction. The flagship Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam which is being built to contain flood from Lake Nyos, is now at 90% completion. We have also completed about 5,000 rural and semi urban water schemes.
17. We are reforming the National Urban Water supply programmes in 12 states, with 385 formal and informal irrigation projects, covering a total land area of 118000 ha, cultivated mostly by small holder farmers. This has yielded over 3 million metric tons of assorted grains and vegetables, with a market value of about 45billion naira.
18. Before the advent of this administration, the Railway system was practically dead. Today, we have revived the rail sector. The narrow gauge line from Lagos to Kano has been rehabilitated with improved coaches providing regular services. The rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maidugurirail line is progressing with the Port Harcourt-Gombe segment as well as the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna expected to be completed and fully operational by December 2014.
19. Already, work on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, is progressing. The tracks of the rail line will be completed by December this year 2014. Upon completion of the project in the first quarter of 2015, itwill be possible for Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. The Itape-Ajaokuta-Wari standard gauge line has attained an advanced stage, with the track completely laid. We hope to commence full operation before the end of 2015.
20. Other segments of the new standard gauge speed train network are
planned with contract already awarded for the Lagos –Ibadan Segment. There will be more of such modern and faster rail connections in the coming years. Already, discussions are now at advanced stage, for the Coastal rail line that will traverse through 10 states, from Lagos through the South-Southand South-East, all the way to Calabar.
21. My administration has successfully completed the dredging of the lower River Niger from Baro in Niger State to Warriin in Delta State. The cheering news is that over 6.7 million passengers and over 1.6 million tonnes of cargo have been moved through this channel in less than three years.
22. I am happy to also report that our ports now operate 24 hour service, which has led to the reduction of clearing time and improved efficiency.
23. When I assumed office in 2010, out of the 35,000km of federal roads nationwide, only about 5,000km were motorable. Today, that number has increased to about 25,000km. We expect to complete the remaining 10,000kmin three years while initiating new ones.
24. I made a commitment to build two new major bridges across the River Niger and River Benue. Today, the new bridge over the River Benue, connecting Loko in Nassarawa State to Oweto in Benue State has reached an advance stage of completion, while work has commenced on the Second Niger Bridge.
25. Beyond these, my administration has concluded plans to re-commence the construction of Bodo-Bonny Road with three major bridges on the alignment that will link the Island of Bonny with Rivers mainland.
26. Preliminary works have started on my administration’s planned re-construction and expansion of the MurtalaMuhammed International Airport Road in Lagos to a world class entry point into our country. Only a few months ago, work started on the dualization of Kano-Katsina Road. While many Nigerians are celebrating the marked improvements on our roads, I want to assure that it will get even better as we move forward.
27. In the pursuit of an integrated transportation system, we embarked on the construction of five new Airport Terminal Buildings and Air-field facilities. We are alsore-constructing existing ones.The re-construction upon completion, will lead to improved passenger processing, increased cargo handling capacity and enhancedAir-field facilities that meet international standard and improves safety. These efforts have been met with global acknowledgement including the attainment and retention of the FAA Category One status.
28. In housing, we signed the National Housing Policy to kick-start the framework for providing more affordable homes for our people. We have also expanded the National Housing Fund to accommodate more Nigerians. We have started a revolution in the housing sector with the start of theNigerianMortgage and Refinanced Company(NMRC) a new initiative of my administration, that will enable more citizens in the lower income bracket to become first time home owners.
29. Our partners such as the World Bank group are supporting this with US300million dollars interest free credit, while my administration will back it with over 100billion naira in bonds. We are already processing 66,000 mortgage applications for our young people. We have amended the PENCOM Act to enable thepension funds invest inhousing sector bonds. This will create a boom in the housing sector.
30. In the Federal Capital Territory, we are rapidly building a befitting National Capital by expanding and providing new infrastructure, developing ten new districts and Satellite Towns to cater for the ever increasing population. In no distant future, you will be able to arrive at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport and proceed to the city using the Abuja Light Rail. In addition to providing durable health, educational and transportation services, we are also collaborating with Organized Labour to build functional, affordable and social housing in Abuja.
31. Other critical capital developments that are being packaged by this Administration include the development of the Ultra-Modern World Trade Centre, the Abuja Town Centre, the Jabi Lake Comprehensive Centre, the Centenary City and the Land Swap Districts. This private sector driven infrastructural development will positively change the skyline of the city and provide the required office and residential accommodation, shopping and recreation as well as tourism and entertainment facilities of the FCT.
32. In our determination to encourage much greater participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry, one of the first actions I took, was the enactmentof the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. As a result of this law, indigenous Nigerian participation levels, in upstream and downstream activities of the oil and gas industry have increased by over 45%, thereby increasing employment opportunities for our youth.
33. We have also succeeded in eliminating the long queues that previously characterisedour filling stations, through regular and sustained product supply.
34. Gas infrastructure to ensure adequate Gas to Power and Gas to Industry, is being aggressively put in place.Over 450km of gas pipelines have been installed over the last 3years. Another 2,000km is planned over the next 4years. Critical petrochemical andfertilizerfacilities have commenced including thegas industrial park in Delta State, for which I am scheduled to perform the ground-breaking this Friday. This will create millionsof jobsand make Nigeria a regional hub.
35. In addition, as a result of government favourable policies the private sector is investing over 12 billion dollars in the petrochemical sector, over the next 4years. This will surely create millions of jobs for our people.
36. In terms of gas supply, we have grown from less than500million cubic feet per day, 4yearsago, to about1.5 billion cubic feet per day currently. Our goal is to attain 4 billion cubic feet per day, over the next 4years.
37. We have changed the face of agriculture. We moved agriculture away from a development Programme to agriculture as a business. My vision is to create wealth for our people through agriculture.
38. We have focused on encouraging the private sector to boost investments in the agricultural sector. As a result, the number of seed companies rose from five to eighty in the past three years. Private sector investment in the agricultural sector expanded by $ US 5.6 billion across the Agricultural value chain.
39. We ended decades of corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors. We developed a transparent and efficient system of reaching farmers directly with subsidized farm inputs. Before our reforms, fertilizer procurement and distribution took from the needy and gave to the greedy. We restored dignity back to farmers. Today, 14 million farmers, of which 2 million are women, access fertilizers with their mobile phones, through an e-wallet system. Nigeria is the first country in the world to develop an e-wallet system to reach farmers with subsidized farm inputs on their mobile phones. Several African countries are now borrowing this transparent and efficient e-wallet system for their own countries.
40. Our national food production expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons between 2011 and 2014, a record, exceeding our set target of 20 million metric tons set for 2015.The Dangote Group, has committed to invest $US 1 billion in commercial rice production and processing. With all these developments, we are expected to be an exporter of rice in the next five years. This will be a new dawn!
41. The benefits are showing on our food imports. Our food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion Naira in 2009 to 684 billion Naira by December 2013, even with our increasing population, a reduction of 40%.
42. Nigeria met its Millennium Development Goal Oneon reducing hunger and extreme poverty, two years ahead of 2015 target set by the United Nations, and was given an award by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
43. To sustain this trend, we are encouraging young graduates through the Nagropreneurs Programme to go into commercial Agriculture. We are also encouraging our students in Post Primary Schools to embrace commercial Agriculture through the National School Agriculture Programme.
44. My dear people, corruption remains a big challenge in our national life. It corrodes our efforts at development and at motivating competence in critical sectors of our national growth. We have eradicated it in the agricultural sector and we will surely eradicate it in other sectors of our economy.
45. Going forward, my focus is to continue to reinforce institutions, systems, and processes to tackle corruption, and also to bring to justice those that perpetrate corruption. Through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System(IPPIS), we have weeded out 56,000 ghost workers from the Federal Civil Service, saving 162 billion naira.
46. I have directed ICPC to bring the perpetrators of this criminal act to book. Let this be very clear, public officers must live by example, fully accounting for the national trust and resources in their care.
47. In our journey to progress, knowledge is indispensable. Knowledge is power! This is why my administration established 14 new Universities out of which 12 are conventional and two are specializedPolice and Maritime Universities. Under my watch, every state in Nigeria, now has a Federal University.
48. In addition, over 500billion naira have been spent, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the special NEEDS assessment fund on various projects to increase access and improve the quality of infrastructure at the tertiary level of our education system.
49. To provide equal access and opportunities in education and ensure that no Nigerian child is left behind, we have established and equipped 150 Almajiri Schoolsacross the Northern states and the Out-of-School-Children Programme including Specialized Boys and Girls Schools across the country.
50. Fellow Nigerians, our country was faced with a major National security, humanitarian, and economic threat in the form of the Ebola Virus Disease, which arrived in the country on July 20, 2014, by way of a foreign national, Mr Patrick Sawyer.
51. Realizing the imminent threat, I declared a national emergency, pulling states, local and federal government into action as well as individual Nigerians to combat this disease. Without the quick action of patriotic Nigerians in the First Consultant Hospital, as well as the co-operation of Lagos and Rivers State, where the disease occurred, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the co-operation of all Nigerians we could not have succeeded in overcoming this deadly disease. Fellow Nigerians we stopped Ebola together.
52. Just as we stopped Ebola, we are on our way to eradicating the Polio Virus in our country. We have reduced the incident of new Polio Virus from 300 in 2010, to 6 today.
53. My brothers and sisters, to encourage entrepreneurship and self-reliance among our teeming graduates, we have developed creative opportunities for enterprise for our young people.
54. Programmes such as YouWIN, the Graduate Internship Scheme, the Nagropreneurs Initiative, the 220 Billion Naira Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fundand the 3 Billion Naira Grant to Nollywoodare empowering our graduates, the creative industry and other young people to start up their own businesses and employ others.
55. We have supported the growth of industry through policy and action. We launched The National industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), and the National Enterprise Development Programme as key drivers to bring about our desires in the industrial sectors and to diversify our economy. Our new National Automobile Policy is transforming Nigeria into a vibrant hub for the automobile industry. Our own Innoson Motors is producing world standard vehicles, and Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia, have set up factories in Nigeria and are employing thousands of our people.
56. Our support for cement production is unprecedented. We have increased our installed capacity from 16.5 million metric tons per annum in 2011 to 39.5 million metric tons per annum in 2014. Nigeria is now exporting cement. We are moving forward!We must produce what we consume and consume what we produce.
57. Our efforts to create an enabling environment for job creation in different sectors of the economy including the MSME sector, agriculture, housing and manufacturing have yielded results. Between the third quarter of 2012, when we started tracking jobs created and the end of 2013, 1.9 million jobs were created. To deepen our success in this area, I have created a Presidential Jobs Creation Board headed by the Vice President with the mandate to create at least two million jobs a year.
58. My brothers and sisters, our economy is heading in the right direction and our efforts are yielding positive results. Our economy continues to grow at the rate of 6 to 7 percent annually, one of the highest in the world. Our country is now the top investment destination and the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of 80trillion naira (510billion dollars) as well as the 26thlargest economy in the world.
59. As part of its efforts to support inclusive growth and economic development in Nigeriathrough the CBN, my administration has created and disbursed the sum of 200billion naira via the Commercial Agric and Credit scheme, 300billion naira Power and Aviation fund, 220billion naira Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Fund, as well as 300 billion naira rail sector refinancing facilities at single digit interest rate. We will continue to deepen the reforms in the financial sector,in order to sustain thegrowth of our economy and uplift our people from poverty to prosperity.
60. Dear Compatriots, I promised as President,that we wouldsanitizeand restoreintegrity in our electoral process,by ensuring that our votes are not only counted, but truly count. We have gone to great length to ensure transparent, free, fair, and credible elections. Elections have been conducted across the country with local and international election observers testifying to their transparency.
61. On the international scene, we have advanced our regional, continental and global objectives. We have strengthened our relationships with our neighbours and in many instances supported them to protect their democracy, security and stability.We are serving for a second time within a period of 4years at the United Nations Security Council.This is unprecedented in our Nation’s history. My brothers and sister, this is a growing attestation of our country’s growing influence.
62. In the first quarter of this year, our country celebrated its centenary. To prepare the nation for the challenges of the next one hundred years, I convened a National Conference where recommendations and resolutions were reached towards a more perfect union. We shall implement the report.
63. Four years ago, I made a commitment to advance the rise and rise of womanhood. Today, I am glad that we have made remarkable progress in this regard, trusting in the potential of our women and reaping from their dedication and ingenuity. I believe that any nation that ignores womanhood cannot achieve its full potential. It is in this regard that I ensured that women were given more opportunities in government, and I have notbeen disappointed.
64. Specifically, I doubled the percentage of women in the cabinet and gave them more challenging assignments.
65. The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is now admitting female cadets as regular combatants and it is now possible for a woman to rise through the ranks to the peak in military service,and become a full general.
66. We must continue to sustain the banner of freedom and justice that we have held high in our country. I am proud to say that there are no political prisoners in Nigeria today.No Nigerian has been driven to exile and no one will be, under my watch.
67. It is in furtherance of a peaceful, participatory and inclusive democracy that I signed the Freedom of Information (FOI)Bill into law, to expand the frontiers of our fundamental freedom.
68. Let me re-affirm that under a Jonathan Presidency, your views, no matter how freely expressed, will not send you to prison or into exile.
69. I am convinced that I have kept my pact with Nigerians, and it is now time to look to the future. With your tremendous support, we have collectively done so much in the last three and half years, but to take our country to the next level, there is still more to be done.
70. History has shown that the path of honour for any true leader is not to walk away from his people in moments of challenges. We must stand together in adversity and overcome all threats to our development. We must defend our future, for the sake of our children.
71. So many things have inspired me in the journey to this moment. I want to appreciate ordinary Nigerians, especially young people, for the solidarity shown to me by contributing their meagre resources to enable me arrive at this point.
72. I appreciate the kind gesture of the Cattle Breeders Union, Miyetti Allah, and the Market Women Association, who encouraged me by coming together to contribute to the purchase of my Nomination form.
73. In the same vein, I am touched by the National Association of Widows who also encouraged me with their widow’s mite.
74. This labour of love, from ordinary Nigerians, has increased my appreciation of your solidarity, my trust in our joint destiny, and all we have achieved together these past three and half years.
75. Therefore, after seeking the face of God, in quiet reflection with my family and having listened to the call of our people nationwide to run, I, GoodluckEbeleAzikiweJonathan, have acceptedto re-present myself, on the platform of The Peoples’ Democratic Party, for re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015 general elections.
76. Democracy is a collective action, energized by individual responsibility. Your mandate at this time will inspire in me the strength to complete the good work we have started together.
77. My dear people of Nigeria, we must complete the task of ensuring that we lift the poor out of the depth of want, and place their feet firmly on the ladder of prosperity.
78. In this election season, I appeal to all of you, not to harm, maim or kill; and not to incite violence of any kind. We must never forget our common bond, one people from the womb of one Nigeria. Again I say: My ambition to serve you is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I remain committed to this principle of non-violence.
79. If you believe that we must build a country that works for all, where the strong lift up the weak, and not trample upon them, where the vote of every citizen determines who governs or represents you, where the democratic space is open to all citizens to fulfil their aspirations, irrespective of the circumstance of birth, your brother, GoodluckEbeleAzikiweJonathan stands ready to continue in service to you.
80. My brothers and sisters,we cannot go back to the old ways! Our railways were allowed to rot in neglect, we have revived and are modernising them.
81. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our road infrastructure collapsed. We are reconstructing, and expandingfederal roads across the country. 82. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our airport terminal buildings were dilapidated and our airspace unsafe. We are fixing this.
83. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our agricultural practices did not benefit our farmers and our people. Fertilizer distribution was a major source of fraud and we were importing food more than our budget can carry. Now we are on our way to self-sufficiency in food production.
84. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
85. We cannot go back to the old ways, where there were long queues at our filling stations due to irregular supply of products and our people were exploited.
86. We cannot go back to the old ways, when women and youths were denied opportunities in government and in responsible positions.
87. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
88. We cannot go back to the old ways!We had skewed distribution of tertiary institutions.Whereas some states had more than onedegree awarding institution, some had none. We have nowmade sure all states have at least one Federal University.
89. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our economy is now the largest in Africa. Once, we were virtuallyimporting everything, now we are exporting several products,including cement.
90. We cannot go back to the old ways!In 2009, average life expectancy was 47 years, by the end of 2013, it was 52 years. Some of our hospitals now perform open heart surgeries, kidney transplants and other challenging operations as we reposition our health service to end decades of medical tourism that drains our scarce resources.
91. We cannot go back to the old ways!Together, in unity, we overcame Ebola, and in the process demonstrated the strength of the Nigerian spirit. And together, united, we must maintain our vigilance.
92. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
93. We cannot go back to the old ways where individual freedoms were trampled upon and citizens were locked up for expressing their views or criticising government.
94. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
95. We cannot go back to the old ways! We must continue to have free and fair elections. We cannot go back to the era where ballot box snatching and stuffing became the norm.Where your votes never counted.
96. Certainly, we cannot!
97. We have to move forward! Only forward!!, my dear people, Forward!!!
98. In moving forward, I see a Nigeria that thirsts for progress with children across the nation, eager for knowledge and safely in schools!
99. I see a Nigeria where all who have taken up arms, would again embrace peace!
100. I see a Nigeria where our women can aspire to any heights, without hindrance! 101. I see a Nigeria where the flames in the Eagles will rekindle, and the Falcons soaring higher in victory!
102. I see a Nigeria where the children of Mustapha, and Christopher, Ade and Ada,Timi and Bunmi, Nnamdi and Namadi, do not go hungry!
103. I see a Nigeria where all, no matter their beliefs, live in peace and harmony!
104. I see a Nigeria where the green passport is accorded a royal reception the world over!
105. I see a Nigeria where one day the next generation will take us to outer space.
106. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, leadership is about staying focused to achieve goals despite challenges. I have been faced with many challenges since coming to office as President. With your support and encouragement, we have stayed the course.
107. We are succeeding, against all odds. For the young Nigerian child, who grew up in the rural area, just like me, we are expanding opportunities and giving them hope. For the market woman, we are expanding opportunities. For our young entrepreneurs, we are expanding opportunities. For the right of our people to vote and for their voices to be heard, we are expanding opportunities. For Nigerians to have the right to free speech, we are expanding opportunities. For the job seekers, against all odds, we are expanding opportunities.
108. While serving our people, I will always ensure the rule of law. I do not intimidate, I expand the democratic space. I give voice to the voiceless and uphold the weak, for the nation belongs to us all. Fellow Nigerians, as we build our democracy, leaders must show temperance at all times. That is a virtue, one which I treasure, and will always uphold.
109. My people, Nigeria is destined for greatness. Today, here at Eagle Square, I say to Nigeria, that working together in love, in strength and in faith, we will build a nation of one people, united in purpose and in action.
110. Fellow Nigerians, it is forward ever! We must put our hopes to work! Together, we will realize our collective destiny.
111. Thank you!!
112. God bless Nigeria!!
