INEC driver caught with electoral materials in Delta

Pandemonium broke out yesterday at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Asaba when a driver attached to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was caught with electoral materials for tomorrow’s election.

Trouble started when the driver (names withheld) arrived the CBN office where sensitive materials were being dispatched to council headquarters and informed the Electoral Officer that before his vehicle is loaded with the materials, he needed to refill his fuel tank.

But as he was driving out, loyalists of some political parties suspected his movement and accosted him, allegedly forcing the vehicle open in the process of interrogation and discovered to their chagrin that materials were already in the vehicle.

An eyewitness said the vehicle was vandalized by the mob who accused the driver of attempting to make away with the materials.

Contacted, Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Celestina Kalu confirmed the incident, adding that the driver and the vehicle were in police custody while matter was under investigation.

A source in the Asaba office of INEC also confirmed the development but insisted that the suspect was wrongly accused as the said vehicle was yet to be loaded with sensitive materials at the time he apprehended.

According to the source, the driver had left INEC office with the content of non-sensitive materials including card readers and registers to the CBN office to pick the sensitive materials.

“What happened is that the driver came in from INEC office and informed the Electoral Officer that prior to the loading of the materials, he would go and refill his tank. He was going to refill his tank when he was accosted.

“As usual, he was carrying non-sensitive materials including card readers and registers because they have been with us at INEC. So it is nothing serious because those materials can be reproduced by our IT department,” the source noted.

South African caught with N74 million hidden in packs of Jungle Oats

A 39-year-old South African woman was intercepted at the Murtala M​u​hammed International Airport, Lagos, with $373,725 (N74.4million) and €2,120 (N450,000) concealed inside packs of oats, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said.

In a statement Thursday, the agency said the money was detected during an inward screening of passengers on a South African airline flight from Johannesburg.

Two Nigerians are also being investigated by the anti-narcotic agency in connection with the case.

Hamza Umar, the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, identified the lady as Nosisi Nqgula.

“The mode of concealment presents reasonable grounds for money laundering,” Mr. Umar said. “Five packs of oats were found to contain $373,725 and €2,120. Two Nigerians, Damian Akamelus and Prophet Cyprian Chigere are also being interrogated in connection with the seized money.”

Victoria Egbase, NDLEA Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, said th​e​ refusal ​of the South African ​to declare the money and the manner of concealment were criminal and that the case was being investigated to establish possible link with drug trafficking.

The suspect, Ms. Nqgula, who works in a cosmetic shop, said the bag containing the money was given to her by a Nigerian in South Africa.

“I live in Johannesburg, South Africa,” Ms. Nqgula said in her statement. “I was given a bag by a Nigerian to deliver to one Damian Akamelu. During examination of my bags at the Lagos airport, the money was found inside packs of oats.”

Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, who commended the officers for detecting the money, ordered that the case be investigated to determine the source of the money.

“One of the mandates of the agency is to identify, trace, freeze, confiscate or seize proceeds derived from drug-related offences or property whose value corresponds to such proceeds,” said Mr. Giade. “I have therefore directed that the case be investigated to ascertain the source of the money.”

The investigation report is expected to be presented to Mr. Giade for necessary action. Meanwhile, officials of the South Africa Embassy are said to be in touch with the suspect.

APC alleges PDP plans to rig Lagos elections, questions Jonathan’s commitment to credible polls

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the PDP over its desperation to capture Lagos State at all cost, including using fake result sheets which were flown in from Abuja for Saturday’s elections, warning that the people will resist any attempt to rob them of their votes.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the rigging plans are being led by President Goodluck Jonathan, who has already flown into Lagos where he has held a meeting with his point men, including Musiliu Obanikoro, Jimi Agbaje and Gani Adams.

It said that before the meeting, eagle-eyed Nigerians who are appalled by the PDP’s rigging plans have widely circulated on the Social Media the details of the planned electoral malfeasance, including the airlifting from Abuja to Lagos of a Black Kia Mohave SUV, with plate number DHQ 340, which was packed with election materials (especially result sheets).

”The meeting in Lagos was aimed at devising a strategy to distribute the fake result sheets that were packed into the SUV, which will be free to move around (because of its plate number) despite the restriction on vehicular movement during the elections.

”It is sad that the same President, who conceded defeat in the presidential election and then followed up with a speech in which he
said he would like his ‘legacy’ of free and fair elections to endure, is the one who is presiding over a desperate move to steal the people’s votes on Saturday.

”How can President Jonathan’s ‘legacy’ endure when one of his last acts in office is a seeming vengeance mission to lead his party to
capture Lagos, because the PDP sees the state as a cash cow that they can milk to death, with the party’s gravy train at the federal level having derailed?” the party queried.

”In their desperation over the Lagos election, they have shamelessly divided the people along ethnic, religious and regional lines, thus setting the stage for the condemnable hate speeches to which they have in turn latched on to further whip up primordial sentiments.

”The PDP cannot now seek to benefit from the problems it caused in the first instance. This party (PDP) and its leader, the President, have divided Nigerians in general and Lagos residents in particular more than any individual or group and at any time in history. If today things are being said that should not have been said, it is the direct consequence of the PDP’s divisiveness,” APC added.

The party advised the President to desist from any vengeance mission that will only rubbish whatever is left of his so-called legacy of
free and fair elections.

It urged all APC members and supporters, and indeed all the good people of Lagos, to be extra vigilant on Saturday to thwart the evil machinations of the fallen behemoth called the PDP.

”Lagosians, please come out en masse on Saturday and vote in a peaceful manner for a candidate of your choice. Say no to coercion,
defend your votes and repudiate all architects of divisiveness and rigging,” APC said.

Guber Polls: AIG, three police commissioner deployed to Benue

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba has deployed one Assistant Inspector General (AIG) and three commissioners of police to Benue to cover today’s governorship and state assembly elections in the State.

Recall that the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega on Thursday in Makurdi ranked Benue State highest in incidences of electoral violence in the just concluded March 28 elections across the country.

This is just as the Military comprising of Army, Navy and Airforce as well as other security agencies in the state have also been assigned to mount surveillance around the state during the exercise.

Governor Gabriel Suswam who disclosed this while briefing newsmen yesterday after a security meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi, said the senior police officers were sent from Abuja for the purpose of the election.

While noting that their deployment to the state was as a result of speculations making the round about the possible breakdown of law and order in the state, Suswam revealed that each of the police commissioners would take charge of a senatorial district while the AIG is to oversee the entire security operations for as long as the exercise will last in the state.

The Governor posited that the decision was taken in the best interest of residents in the state to forestall possible outbreak of violence trouble during the elections even as he appealed to parties involved in the election to see the exercise as a game.

Suswam who urged people of the state to remain calm and go out to vote for candidates of their choice assured that everything that needed to be put in place have already been done by the state government to ensure a free, fair and credible election devoid of violence.

Commenting, the Police commissioner in charge of Benue North West (zone B), Jimoh Ozi Obeh maintained that the idea of each CP being in control of a senatorial district was meant to avert a reoccurrence of violence in some parts of the state during the March 28 poll.

He however warned people to adhere strictly to restriction of movement stressing that no candidate should move around outside their polling unit just as he assured the electorates of safety of lives and property.

Nigeria heads list of countries accessing stolen data

How far does stolen data get before a breach is detected? That’s the question Bitglass asked — and answered — in a recent experiment.

The Cambell, Calif.-based company went on the Dark Web and planted documents filled with mocked-up data realistic enough to pass as real until the point of actually using it to make financial transitions.

According to a report the company released this Tuesday, it took just 12 days for the data to be looked at more than 1,000 times in 22 different countries. Russia and Nigeria headed up the list.

Meanwhile, according to the latest report from FireEye’s Mandiant, it takes 205 days to discover the average data breach.

“The level of access after just 12 days was extraordinary,” said the report. “Imagine how much further the data would spread in 205 days.”

Your goal is simple: Beat Mali – NFF to Falcons

Ahead of today’s return leg All Africa Games qualifying match against Mali in Abuja, Chairperson of the Nigeria National Women’s League and Executive Committee Member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, has commanded the Super Falcons to go all out and bring glory to the country.

Onyedinma, who visited Super Falcons in their camp on Thursday evening, said she came to underscore the importance of Friday’s game and ticket to the AAG.

“This match looks simple because we know that we will always beat Mali, but then we will take it seriously because it is a qualifying match. I want you girls to show Nigerians that it was jet-lag that made you play 1-1 draw in Bamako. You girls must put a better show when they come calling on Friday,” she was quoted by thenff.com.

“This is now our turf and you must show Malians the stuff you are made of; that you are African Champions.”

Onyedinma however expressed delight over the arrival of some overseas-based players for the encounter, whilst appreciating their various clubs for releasing them for this crucial national assignment.

“I thank the clubs that released the girls to come and play. After tomorrow’s match, we will be able to assess the team for the World Cup. I know that, by the time we finish the qualifying matches and play a few friendly matches, we will be ready for World Cup glory,” she concluded.

Nigeria’s Falcons swoops to 8-0 victory in AAG qualifier

African champions Super Falcons of Nigeria will feature in the women’s football event at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo after they trounced Mali 8-0 to go through 9-1 on aggregate.

Liverpool Ladies star Asisat Oshoala shone brightly as she was virtually involved in all the goals by Nigeria besides scoring a double herself.

France-based Desire Oparanozie gave hosts Falcons the lead after three minutes.

Francisca Ordega made it 2-0 after 18 minutes, before Oshoala increased Nigeria lead on 36 minutes.

Oparanozie then made it 4-0 just a minute to half time.

A minute after the interval, Oshoala netted her brace as Mali tried to play damage control.

Ordega became the third Nigeria star to grab a brace when she hit target in the 62nd minute.

Skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku fired home the seventh goal from 23 yards after 69 minutes, before substitute Esther Sunday completed the rout in the 71st minute off a rebound.

Air Force helicopter crashes in Lagos

A helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force has crashed in Lagos.

Dele Alonge, Air Force spokesperson, in a statement said the helicopter was a on a training mission in Lagos at about 10 a. m. on Friday when it crashed.

He said the helicopter, which suffered severe damage, was returning to the Apron after the completion of the training exercise when it crashed due to hydraulic failure while on taxi to the hanger.

Mr. Alonge said there was no casualty although the main Rotor debris caused damage to some ground equipment on location.
He added that the Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosun, has ordered an immediate investigation into the crash.

Boko Haram Kills 20 In Borno

Suspected Boko Haram militants on Thursday killed at least 20 people in an attack on a remote village near Askira Uba, Borno State.

Survivors, according to an online news medium, Premium Times, said the insurgents stormed Dile village at 2 a.m. in several vehicles, burning houses and killing anybody in sight.

Ibrahim Usman, a resident who fled to Mubi, said 20 persons were feared killed in the village and many others sustained injuries during the attack.

“Dozens of Boko Haram fighters attacked our village at about 2a.m. and killed 20 people,” Usman said.

“Many of us fled to the bush to avoid being killed. Everybody was running for his life. We don’t know the whereabouts of our family members.”

He called on military authorities to deploy troops to the area to check the activities of the militants.

Another fleeing resident, Gambo Abakura, said: “They just started burning houses and shooting at sight. Most of the insurgents had turbaned their heads; others in quasi-military uniform, chanting Allahu Akbar, meaning Allah is Great,” he said.

Although attempt to speak to military authorities in Yola was not successful but a security source confirmed the attack.

”Yes, there was an attack because many residents had fled to Mubi and they told us the insurgents have several camps in the bush around the area from where they wreak havoc on villages,” said a local vigilante in Askira, Mallam Baba.

Igbo lost $7bn to Boko Haram insurgency –Ohakim

Former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim has disclosed that Igbo resident in the North lost about $7 billion to Boko Haram insurgency. He also said that since the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, assured Nigerians before his election that Boko Haram will be a thing of the past as soon as he is elected, he should keep to the promise.
Ohakim who spoke to Abuja Metro on behalf of the Igbo Conversational Group‎ (ICG), while congratulating Buhari said the group believes he has what it takes to live up to expectations in that regard so that Nd’Igbo can go back to their businesses in the affected areas even after the huge loses.

Jonathan is outstanding
The former governor who is the chief convener of the group alongside, ‎Nze Chidi Duru, ‎Bishop Blaise Iwuogo and ‎Chike Maduekwe, also commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s comportment and deep sense of accommodation. Nigerians will forever remember him for steadfastly upholding democratic ethics and allowing space for every player. President Jonathan came to power when the nation was in a big quagmire and it is to his credit that the country had a smooth transition following the sudden demise of his predecessor, the late President Umar Yar’Adua. We salute him for his courage in conceding defeat while asking that he should remain available for the country to tap from his experience,” he said.
Ohakim also urged the president-elect to keep to his promises he made through a delegation he sent to the conversational meeting in Enugu on March 21, led by Prof. Pat Utomi‎, including the creation of two additional states in the South East to correct the imbalance in the country.

You made a promise
Ohakim said this was one of Buhari’s campaign promises, and that ‎the president-elect had assured it will be one of his priorities as he intends to do everything constitutionally possible to lobby for the creation of new states.
“This issue was dealt with elaborately in the earlier statement by the ICG and needs no emphasis here. Happily, it is one of the issues the president-elect promised to look into during his campaigns”, he said.
Ohakim further explained that: “Agreed though that demands made at the eve of an election is a common trait among politicians, it needs no exaggeration to state that the president-elect is a politician of a rare mould. We have no doubt whatsoever that going by his antecedents, the president-elect was under no pressure in agreeing to look into the plight of the Igbo.  Needless to say, we firmly believe that he will live up to his promises and go ahead to offer the Igbo the needed leverage that will enable them fully tap their enormous individual and collective potentials, as canvassed by ICG in our previous statements.

Clear doubts
‎In spite of the imperatives and nuances of electoral contest, the ICG expects the president-elect to be magnanimous in victory. He should take immediate and practical steps to allay all the fears hitherto held about his personality and every claims of a fixated mind over some sections of the country. And because the entire country is his constituency today, no part should be seen as an underdog. Above all, he must consult deeply and widely and be a good listener.

Faulty second Niger Bridge
The Igbo, Ohakim said were against the present arrangement to prosecute the second Niger Bridge project on a private-public partnership (PPP) ‎by the federal government as it was against their interest.
“We urge the in-coming government to review this immediately,” he called. “The second Niger Bridge is the only project under the N400 billion national intervention project of 2005 that is handled as PPP arrangement. In the alternative, we demand that South East share of the intervention project be channeled to the development of the Osemoto seaport.
“We wish to seize this opportunity to restate our demand that the federal government should as a matter of urgency revitalize the proposed seaport in Osemoto, Imo State.
Osemoto (Oguta LGA, Imo State)/Uzoakwa (Ihiala LGA, Anambra State) is the deepest natural harbour in Nigeria and will offer real naval and marine transportation platforms if developed.
“Most interesting, the ADB report shows that it lies only 18 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean and will be a strategic hub for oil and gas industry and inland dry docking to promote trade and create employment. Above all, it will open the Igbo land to the sea.
“In addition, it will open up more than 3,000 square kilometers of the most fertile agricultural land that has one of the highest alluvial deposits which has been in existence for well over a million years.
“The Osemoto deep sea port and all the associated industry will create well over two million jobs for our teeming unemployed youths”, he said.

Aba power project
The ICG also made case for the Aba Integrated Power Project, and according to the former Imo State governor, “‎in 2005, the federal government under President Olusegun Obasanjo concessioned the Aba metropolis to the investors of a 141MW plant in Aba as a security for financing the project. The then President convinced many Igbo investors who rushed and set up various plants/factories on the understanding that this power plant will see the light of the day.
“The plant was completed by M/S Geometric Consortium with state-of-the-art equipment from General Electric (GE) with an investment of over N100b since 15 months ago.
Unfortunately, M/S BPE went ahead to double concession the same zone. The plant cannot take off. The investors are crying, unemployed youths are crying, Igbo are crying. This conspiracy and injustice must be addressed by the in-coming administration as soon as possible”.

Abandoned property in Rivers State
The group also complained bitterly over the 85 percent of property belonging to Igbo in Rivers State that have been classified as abandoned 45 years after the civil war, asking the new government to address it.
“The Igbo demands that the incoming administration should look into this matter as a top priority and bring to a closure this festering wound which remains an embarrassment to Nigeria. Under no circumstance should it be acceptable that the property of a Nigerian citizen is tagged abandoned in any part of the federation. The ICG calls on the in-coming federal government to review this injustice as a matter of urgency”, he said.

South East federal roads
He also said: “The ICG demands that in addition to the immediate rehabilitation of all federal roads in the Southeast with high economic value, we would like the Buhari administration to complete the Otuocha-Mmiata-Kogi Road. This road is less than 150km and will knock off about three hours from every journey from the South East to Abuja. This road was awarded to Nigercat in 2009 under President Umar Yar’Adua administration but curiously the federal government has not shown any interest in completing this project of high economic value to Nd’Igbo.”
On the fate of the Igbo in the new dispensation, Ohakim said, “‎the outcome of the 2015 presidential election has introduced a new vista to Igbo politics. Without any exaggerations, Ndigbo stand to benefit immensely from the change that has just taken place, in the sense that the new era will re-define Igbo politics more positively.
“Presidential power may become less accessible to Ndi Igbo but the current state of affairs offers an opportunity for a new and purposeful leadership to emerge in Igbo land.
“This new leadership must be people who will have the guts and intellectual capacity to become a credible opposition to the new dispensation if need be. In the new dispensation, politics of money and contract will have no place and in this regard, ICG is of the firm belief that the Igbo will be the biggest beneficiaries.
“Consequently, the ICG calls on Igbo youth to see the opportunity offered by the current development in the country to be more proactive and begin to think of ways of ridding Igbo land of the near zero intellectual content in its politics. Igbo youths should seize the present opportunity to come to the fore front on the fight against injustice to the Igbo.

April 11: Vote for APC, Nkire urges Igbo in Lagos

Former National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), and now member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sam Nkire, has urged Igbo in Lagos to vote for the APC and all its candidates in Lagos State on Saturday.
Nkire, in a telephone conversation with Daily Sun correspondent yesterday advised his kinsmen in Lagos State to vote the party, pointing out that, “that is where the political trend is going now in Nigeria,” adding that, “without mincing words, that is where our benefits are.”
The APC BoT member, who recalled that, “we Igbo are itinerary businessmen and women,” said, “and thus, we should seek peace with our host communities” advising that, “we should always play their politics because it would benefit us at the end of the day.”
While opposing the idea of imposing particular political parties on anybody, Nkire said: “As a democrat myself, I know that democracy is a matter of choice.” He, however, urged the Igbo community across the nation and even abroad to “always exercise good judgement to be part of the community where they live.”
Speaking further, the APC chieftain stated the need to be friendly with and not to be hostile to the host communities where the Igbo find themselves just as he advised host communities to integrate their fellow Nigerians from other parts of the country especially from the eastern part of the country, whom he said were travelers in search of good things of life through legitimate means.
“Igbo in Lagos are part of Lagos and should play Lagos politics. It is not advisable to do anything that could aggravate our insecurity. And the host community should see them as part of that community and therefore, accommodate and integrate them by giving them slots in political offices like local government chairmanship, House of Assembly, both at the state and national levels as well as commissionership slots,” Nkire advised.
According to him, Igbo community in Lagos has a huge population that could not be ignored and would always want to utilise their population to seek for political relevance but advised that, “Igbo should not join the wrong team because today, Nigeria is going the way of the APC and Igbo community should join the winning team.”
The APC BoT member regretted that wrong politicking had robbed the Igbo Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives, by putting all their eggs in a wrong basket, enthusing however that, “we still have time to amend by joining the main stream politics in Nigeria.”
His words: “Buhari is going to reposition the country and we should be part of it. Why should we be part of the fading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? In the next four years, if Buhari does well, I am afraid if the Igbo would not be held responsible for being part of the rot and bad deeds of the past 16 years. As a member of the APC’s BoT, and one of you, I cannot misadvise you,” Nkire submitted.

Messages of hope from blind JAMB candidates -photo-

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) seems to be one  of the many innovative agencies in Nigeria considering their tendency to adapt technologies to their oeprations.
This year, it conducted a full computer-based tests for all its candidates.
Moreover, it took more steps to procure machines and equipment to enable disabled candidates, especially the visually challenged ones to be part of the test.
During the last JAMB examination, Abuja Metro at the Chams Centre  had a wonderful interaction with some visually-impairedcandidates as they took their exams with brail computers fitted with hearing aids to read the exam questions to them.
They all admitted it was a sweet and wonderful experience that has become a boost to their ambitions.
The candidates said the Computer Based Test (CBT) that held last month touched their lives in special ways and made them feel important, remembered and part of the system that encourages them realize their potential in education and career development.

Friendly machines
The Braillenote Apex did play its role in accommodating the visually impaired and gave all candidates equal chances in the exam regardless of their challenges. The Braillenote Apex was acquired from a software giant, Humanware based in Europe. It enabled the visually impaired candidates to read and answer questions via voice or Braille.
At the centre, Abuja Metro discovered that the special candidates were properly taught while preparing for the CBT test how to make best use of the gadgets. The exam environment was very conducive. The paraphenalia consisted of a round table with eight or five candidates with just two sessions. They were provided with refreshment because of the long five hours their exams lasted. They all confirmed using the Braillenote Apex for the first time and tagged it easy or interesting. Prior to the time of JAMB Computer Based Test, such candidates used typewriters to write exams that came with a lot of mistakes.
Even the Minister for Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who was quite impressed, pointed out that the BrailleNote Apex provided by JAMB for the 150 visually impaired candidates taking the exams was first of its kind in Africa and encouraged the special candidates on his visit to a center in Abuja that the ministry is out to assist them actualize their dreams. “We are catching up with modalities; we are catching up with technology particularly in enabling the blind candidates. It is the first of its kind in the continent.”
One of the visually impaired candidates, referred to as Pastor Lucky who attended the Government Secondary School Gwale felt excited about the experience and said he is hopeful of attaining his ambition to study law wants to study law in the university. “I find it very much interesting and I cherish the experience. It is encouraging and I must say the government has demonstrated that it really has the challenged persons in mind by putting up the facilities for the examination.
“Initially, when we were told this year’s exam will be computer based, I was worried about what will become of the visually impaired, but surprisingly, we were made to understand that there is provision for us. I say kudos to the government and more power to their elbow. They should do more so we can catch up with the modern world and even set the trend.”
Another candidate, Kingsley Uche, of Naka Memorial School in Platuea State, described the procedure for the examination as simple. He said “if you know how to use the facilities, it is very simple because you don’t have to worry if your type writer ink is coming up well or not, you just have to do the thing without stress. It is better.
“I must appreciate the government for making this possible, this is how great Nigeria starts. I also commend JAMB for this wonderful effort. It is an ideology that cannot be joked with. No one would have any problem with loss of papers after the exams, thereby stopping the person’s admission.  I will see my result the next day unlike the typewritten exam where we have to wait for months.”

Improved facility
Talking about the efficiency of the BrailleNote Apex over the typewriter, Pastor Lucky said: “It is better than the typewriting because with this I will make my corrections whenever I make mistake. But with the typewriter, once you make a mistake, it remains. It can’t be corrected. But here you can easily, go back and correct it. I think it will be great if the facility is provided in the universities.”
He explained some shortcomings in the equipment and said they have brought such complaints to the notice of the examiners and wished they were corrected for future tests.
“There are some corrections that ought to be made. In English language for instance, there should be a way the computer would help visually impaired candidates to detect phonetic  symbols or fill gaps on dotted lines.”
Kingsley Uche on his part said: “Rome was not built in a day, JAMB has tried their best and I believe tomorrow, more will be done. But to me this is the best, and I know more can come as innovation keeps coming. I appreciate JAMB for this opportunity.”
Kingsley Uche is a young man who boils with passion for law and wishes to help victimized people in the future. He said: “By the special grace of God I want to study law because the passion has been there since my childhood, I want to speak for the less privileged, talk on behalf of the widows, oppressed, depressed and suppressed. The people are suffering, and I am a victim of one or two things but I don’t want to go into that. So, I don’t want people to face it anymore, I want the upcoming generation to have a voice.”
While these special candidates expressed gratitude to the government and JAMB, they hope that using the computer will not just end at the JAMB level, but extended to the universities and possibly that the BrailleNote Apex computer can be affordable to the candidates for personal use.

Magic machine
According to expert information, personal Braille Note Apex has the thinnest and lightest Braille note taker, soft key applications for dynamic real-time communications, enhanced support for large documents and media files, plug-and-play visual display, convenient user-replaceable battery. It also possesses integrated real-time clock that maintains time and date for 30 days without battery power.
The comfortable full-size Braille keyboard makes note taking quick and easy. Signature thumb keys make extensive reading a real pleasure and effortless. The BrailleNote Apex offers outstanding stereo sound capabilities for playing back recordings, listening to audio books, interviews, news, music or any Internet radio programs.

Presidential poll: OMPALAN greets Buhari, hails Jonathan

National leader and chairman, BoT of Oil Mineral Producing Areas Landlords’ Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN), Bishop Udo Azogu, has congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the victory at the presidential election. He also hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in conceding defeat.
He said Jonathan’s “show of robust statesmanship has worn the hearts of Nigerians and has written his name indelibly in gold on the sands of time, setting a bench mark for future presidents of Nigeria and indeed Africa.”
Speaking at his Oguta country home, Imo State, Azogu said “Buhari’s victory is as a result of divine intervention. Nigerians have spoken, and we must all respect the verdict of the plurality of Nigerians through a valid democratic process.”
He praised the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, and his team for being focused and delivering credible elections “even though they did not come without perceived challenges in some areas of the country.” He thanked the international community especially the United States, Britain, ECOWAS and the AU for ensuring that the elections went smoothly.
The OMPALAN national leader and Primate of Our Sanctuary Gospel Church, advised Buhari “to forgive all those who offended him and pursue policies that will unite the Country and deepen good governance in all facets of the economy.”
Azogu called on all Imolites to return Governor Rochas Okorocha to power on April 11, describing Okorocha as “a gift not only to Igbo land but, to Nigeria. His decision in pulling out from APGA and aligning with APC at the nascent stage of the formation of the mega party has revealed an uncommon political sagacity that projects the governor as the acclaimed leader of the Igbo race.
“Let us not pretend that all is well like the proverbial ostrich, Azogu. All is not well with the Igbo race in the new opposition party. Rochas is the anointed leader of the Igbo people who is destined to lead us to the Promised Land.
“I wish to appeal to the good people of South East to realign with the new government at the centre and vote massively for APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial and house of assembly elections. Not doing so will be a deliberate ploy by selfish politicians to plunge South East into perpetual spiritual and physical thralldom.

Presidential election made Jonathan hero

Sometime last year, President Goodluck Jonathan gave  a verdict on himself and his administration . He declared  that, though his government had acquitted itself on several fronts, he, ironically, had received a barrage of  tackles and criticisms  far more than his predecessors .
Like a prophet, he  predicted that before he would leave office, he would  become the most celebrated President.
Many people brushed aside the prediction. They wondered what kind of miracle the President would perform in office that would transform him overnight. But Jonathan’s prediction came to pass last week, barely two months to the May 29 expiration of his tenure.
It is no longer news that his ambition to lead the country for another term of four years was aborted last week when he lost the 2015 presidential polls to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
But the President turned his loss into a blessing of sort following his decision to concede defeat and congratulate Buhari long before the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega,  finished announcing the results of the polls. The move took Nigerians and the international community by surprise.
The global reaction is understandable. The President’s  telephone conversation with Buhari, his critics and supporters would agree, helped to reduce if not erase the palpable tension that had engulfed the country . More surprisingly is the fact that that those who had  been shouting “crucify him,” at President  Jonathan quickly made a u-turn and hailed him  as the true hero of democracy.
An elated Chairman of the National Peace Committee on 2015 Elections, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar,  at the end of the closed-door meeting with President Jonathan, described the President as a man of his word . The President, had prior and during the election maintained   that no blood of any Nigerian was worth his ambition.
The former Head of State noted that Jonathan would go down in history as the first contestant in Nigeria to congratulate his rival on real using that he lost the election. Abubakar urged  all Nigerians including those celebrating and sorrowing to join hands with the President to peacefully handover to the next government.
Abubakar said, “We were at the middle of a meeting with the international observers to try to see how we can still water the tension down, when gladly I called Gen. Buhari that we are going to see him, he told me that Mr. President has called him at about 5:15 p.m. and congratulated him and conceded defeat.
“We were spellbound and the reason we have come here is to thank President Jonathan for this statesmanship. In the history of Nigeria I think this is the first time where a contestant has called his rival to congratulate him and through this point, President Jonathan maintained a point that the blood of Nigerians is not worth his presidency and by his action he has proved that. He has proved that he is a man of his word‎ because during our interaction on this peace committee he has always maintained that he is going to accept the result of the elections which ever way it is done. And he has proved this.
“And I think we need Nigerians, all of us to join hands in making sure we assist him in the peaceful handing over. And I will appeal to all politicians, ‎those who are celebrating and those who are sorrowful to give peace a chance to be moderate. In any contest, there is always going to be a winner and President Jonathan has accepted that he lost and we want to thank him.
“On behalf of Nigerians I want to thank President Jonathan for being the statesman that he is, he has approved that he is a statesman and he has the love of this country in his heart. So Nigerians should please help him to ensure this is real.”
The APC which before now never had anything good to say about the President, showered praises on him for conceding defeat and congratulating Gen. Buhari, even before he was formally declared as the winner of the presidential election, by INEC. The opposition party described the President’s action as a rare display of maturity and sportsmanship.‎
Buhari on his part congratulated President  Jonathan for peacefully relinquishing power on Wednesday, a day after becoming the first Nigerian politician to unseat a sitting leader at the ballot box.
The President-elect said “President Jonathan was a worthy opponent and I extend the hand of fellowship to him. We have proven to the world that we are people who have embraced democracy. We have put one-party state behind us.”
The deluge of commendation and praises that came to Jonathan were not restricted to the shores of the country alone. The US President Barack Obama, hailed the President a day after the election was formally announced by INEC.
Obama insisted that Jonathan’s action showed “Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles.”
He  said in a White House statement, “President Jonathan has placed his country’s interests first by conceding the election and congratulating president-elect (Muhammadu) Buhari on his victory. I look forward to working with President Jonathan throughout the remainder of his term, and I thank him for his many years of service and his statesmanlike conduct at this critical juncture.”
Elated by the public’s appreciation of his sacrifice Jonathan, who ,some have  described as the best youth president, posted  text of his broadcast to the nation, following INEC’s confirmation of Gen. Buhari victory at the polls on his facebook page.
Not even when former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, was quoted as saying “I Want To Thank President Goodluck Jonathan‎ For Bringing Facebook To Nigeria” at Jonathan’s ‘Facebook’ book launch  held on Monday December 20, 2010 at Eko Hotel, Lagos, did it generate so much comments.
As at the time Abuja metro visited his page at 5.43 p.m. Saturday his posts had generated 67,222 likes and 38,718 comments.
Many of the comments saluted President  Jonathan, for being statesmanly and making history as  the first ever president to concede defeat at a  presidential election, describing him as a rare gem.

Defection: It won’t affect our chances–Lamido

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has said that the defection of the state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mahmud Gumel and others, would not in any way affect the party’s chances in Saturday’s polls.
According to him, all those who defected, including his deputy, since 2007, have all contributed to the growth and development of the “new Jigawa,” under his administration, insisting that  whether they like it or not they were part of the Jigawa history, in the last eight years.
He added that there was no way the defectors, especially the deputy governor, could distance themselves from the successes or failures of the administration in the last eight years.
Lamido, spoke yesterday to Daily Sun, when his reaction was sought on the sudden and dramatic defection of his deputy governor, barely four days to the governorship election in the state.
While insisting that he harbours no ill-feelings against them for their actions, the Jigawa governor, who is completing his second and final term in office, further said: “They are adults, and so to that extent, they are aware of the implications of their actions. I am sure they weigh the implications before arriving at the decision.
“But as for my deputy, the reason he gave for his defection is neither here nor there. Anyway, their defection will not in any way affect our chances at the polls.
“In Sha Allah, the people of Jigawa State will not let us down because they know we have also kept to our promises over the last eight years. No hard feelings, no ill-feelings against them,” Lamido, added.

White cop shoots unarmed black man 5 times in the back, handcuffs his lifeless body. He's now been arrested and charged with murder

Unbelievable! The video of this shooting is so shocking. And all this happened because of a broken tail light. The moment a white police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina shot a fleeing unarmed black man five times in the back then handcuffed his lifeless body after he crumpled on the ground has been captured on tape. The video, shot by a pedestrian, was sent to the New York Times.

Police officer Michael Slager, 33, opened fire on father-of-four Walter Scott, 50, on Saturday morning April 4th after stopping him over a broken tail light. The police officer was arrested yesterday April 7th after the video was seen by police. He had initially claimed he shot Scott because he feared for his life, but the video shows Scott actually fleeing from him. The officer shot 8 times, three missed Scott, a Coast Guard veteran. He has now been charged with murder. The video is quite shocking. Watch here and continue to read the story








 



 

             Scott left and his killer right

Keith Summey, the mayor of North Charleston, termed the killing a 'bad decision' at a press conference announcing the charges.

"When you’re wrong, you’re wrong. When you make a bad decision, don’t care if you’re behind the shield or a citizen on the street, you have to live with that decision.'

On Monday, the police officer's lawyer issued a statement putting across Slager's version of events. He said the officer 'felt threatened and reached for his department-issued firearm and fired his weapon. "Officer Slager believes he followed all the proper procedures and policies of the North Charleston Police Department'.

But after seeing the shooting tape yesterday, the lawyer said he was no longer representing Slager

 

Under South Carolina law, Slager could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted of murder.

A lawyer for the family said that the footage shows Slager 'casually' taking Scott's life, and acting as if there would be no repercussions.

Attorney L. Chris Stewart said: 'This was a cop who felt like he could get away with just shooting anybody that many times in the back... He just casually shot a man that many times in the back. At the moment he turned and ran and was not a threat to anybody else that officer was completely unjustified.'

Stewart said the family would also pursue civil charges against Slager. 

No going back on Fayose’s impeachment – Ekiti lawmakers

The All Progressives Congress (APC) legislators in Ekiti State House of Assembly have vowed to impeach Governor Ayodele Fayose, following allegations of constitutional breaches.
Addressing a Press conference in Osogbo yesterday, the 19 lawmakers led by Speaker Adewale Omirin, said Fayose had allegedly committed impeachable offences.
The Speaker said 19 legislators had fixed their sitting for yesterday  to continue legislative business on the investigation into the allegations levelled against Fayose, but the governor allegedly sent some soldiers and thugs to prevent them from sitting.
“Despite officially writing the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, informing him of our sitting,state government officials still led thugs into the Assembly,” he said.
He further explained that the vehicle conveying the lawmakers to the complex  for their sitting yesterday was waylaid at Itaure by heavily armed soldiers despite that the CP Lakanu was allegedly aware of the movement and the proposed sitting.

Kalu’s mother, brothers join APC

The rank of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East was yesterday swelled when Elder (Mrs.) Eunice Uzor Kalu, leader of the Reality Organisation in the South-East and mother of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and her members joined the party.
Also, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Nnanna Uzor Kalu and ex-Chief of Staff to Governor Theodore Orji, Mr. Mascot Uzor Kalu, joined the APC.
This was the highpoint of the visit of President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari, to Imo State to thank the people for voting for him as well as asking them to also vote for Governor Rochas Okorocha and APC House of Assembly candidates in Saturday elections.
Speaking at a Town Hall meeting in Owerri, Buhari gave assurance that APC will experience credible polls in South East and South-South, better than what happened during the Presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago.
The President-elect noted that South-East states have exhibited courage and commitment and so deserve the system of change to be brought by the incoming APC government.
“Okorocha and the governors of Rivers and Edo have shown courage to the system of APC. The vote of the people is their strength and if it is allowed to count, they can vote out a government that does not meet their expectations and this is what the APC government stands for,” he said.
While promising to give the South-East zone a level playing ground in his administration, he urged the electorate to vote all the APC governorship candidates at the weekend’s election.
Buhari also expressed his happiness over the appreciation of naira immediately he was declared the winner of the presidential polls, describing it as the handiwork of God for the change he talked about.
Governor Okorocha, in his speech earlier, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat, describing his action as maturity.
He described Buhari as a stabiliser who is coming in at a critical time of the nation, while urging him to carry everybody along. He reminded the President-elect of the trauma the Igbo are going through in the North.
“Let me now remind you that you are the President of the country and not of APC alone; so we urge you to carry everybody along. Today, we shall have a new Nigeria. Buhari Okechukwu is a President of a new Nigeria. Igbo are going through pains in the North and we hope that you will help us,” Okorocha said.
Present at the event were the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Senator Chris Ngige, Prince Eze Madumere, Elder (Mrs.) Eunice Orji Kalu, Senator Osita Izunaso, the Imo State House of Assembly Speaker, Ben Uwajumogu, among other APC leaders across the South East.
Meanwhile, there are speculations that ex-Governor Kalu may follow his mother and brothers to join the APC, if he eventually succumbs to pressure.
Daily Sun gathered that the APC leadership has been mounting pressure on Kalu to join the party.
When contacted on this, Kalu said he was about boarding a plane in London for Abuja and would not comment.
Sources close to Kalu, however, said that the former governor wants to consult President Goodluck Jonathan and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu first. Also, Kalu wants to retrieve his mandate in the Abia North senatorial election saga, the source stated.
“APC has approached Kalu, but he wants to consult President Jonathan and Mu’azu. Also, he wants to get to the bottom of the injustice done him in the Abia North senatorial election before making up his mind,” the source stated.
It also revealed that Buhari is a family friend of the Kalus and therefore, “they will be glad to support him to succeed.”
On Kalu’s membership of the PDP, the source said: “The PDP has not been fair to the Kalu family. Despite the fact that Kalu was a major financier of the PDP, former President Olusegun Obasanjo deregistered him, which led to the formation of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA). Also, Governor TA Orji in connivance with Mrs. Jonathan dealt with him.”
On the defection of Kalu’s mum and brothers to APC, he said: “The Kalus are free to belong to any party they want. We are all Nigerians. APC and PDP are the same people.”
Stakeholders in South East told Daily Sun that there’s a general belief that the APC in the zone needs to put its acts together now and not wait till 2019, when it would have been too late to be integrated into the party.
“That’s why   a large number of South easterners are joining APC now,” he stated.