Group Uncovers Plot to pitch President Jonathan against Obiano, Warns of Dire Consequences

 

The Initiative for Change Organization (ICO), a civil society and democracy watch group has alerted the general public of a highly organized and well-funded campaign being sponsored against the person of the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, by some disgruntled politicians in the Anambra State chapter of the PDP.

In a Press Statement issued at the weekend the group claimed that it had uncovered a massive smear campaign worth N100m sponsored by some PDP elements in the state to discredit all the great achievements of Governor Willie Obiano and incite the Presidency against him.

The statement which was signed by the President of the Group, Dr. Jideofor Igboamaka, maintains that the campaign which is being handled by a Lagos-based communications agency was intended to portray Governor Obiano as working against the re-election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

“After closely monitoring the activities of this group, we now have some incontrovertible evidence of the publicity materials they want to publish in some leading newspapers in order to incite the Presidency against the governor of Anambra State,” the statement said, further pointing out that the calumny campaigners have leveled many spurious charges against Governor Obiano.

According to the statement, “Our media monitoring wing has intercepted some of their campaign materials. We are dismayed that all the charges they are leveling against Governor Obiano are not only outlandish and incredulous but offer a deep insight on how low these people are willing to descend in order to discredit Governor Obiano

INEC SUED OVER PVC, CARD READER FOR POLLS

Former National Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade George Turnah and five others have dragged INEC to Court, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to conduct the 2015 general elections using the Permanent Voters Card, PVC and the card reading machine.
Filing the suit before the Federal High Court Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the plaintiffs, which include Barrister George Turner, Ebis Orubebe, Hon Dan Etai, Barrister Agorodi Awudumapu and Barrister Nelson Abali, dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents from conducting the forthcoming general elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11 with the use of the permanent voters card and the card reading machine as the only medium for voting pending the determination of the substantive suit.

CAN ALLEGES 40% OF CHRISTIANS YET TO COLLECT PVCS IN BAUCHI

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State Chapter, has raised an alarm that over 40 per cent of Christians in the state are yet to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).
The state CAN Chairman, Rev. Ray Maina, who stated this Wednesday while addressing newsmen in Bauchi, expressed worry that these people may be disfranchised if INEC conducts elections without given them their PVCs to enable them vote as citizens of the country.
He said: “We are worried that 40 per cent of our members are yet to collect their PVCs and they were duly registered by INEC.

JONATHAN’LL DEPLOY SOLDIERS FOR ELECTIONS —FAYOSE

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said that President Goodluck Jonathan will deploy soldiers for the forthcoming general elections in the country.
Justice R. M Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Sokoto had in a judgment delivered on January 29, 2015 barred the use of the military in the conduct of elections.
The Court of Appeal, which heard the appeal arising from the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress against Fayose’s victory in the June 21, 2014 governorship election, in its judgment on Monday, also barred the use of soldiers in the conduct of future elections in the country.
It said such constituted a violation of both the constitution and the Electoral Act.
But Fayose on Wednesday insisted that the President would continue to deploy soldiers for elections in the country.

WE’LL STOP OBANIKORO’S MINISTERIAL BID —APC SENATORS

Members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Thursday said they were resolved to stop the re-appointment of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as minister following his alleged indictment in the use of the military to rig the Ekiti governorship election in June last year.
Spokesperson of the APC Senate Caucus, Babafemi Ojudu, who spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, explained that other senators from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party were also being co-opted into the struggle.
He said APC senators had started mobilising themselves to frustrate Obanikoro’s clearance and approval for fresh appointment.

CERTIFICATE SAGA: CJN PROBES MAGISTRATE

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has okayed an investigation into a petition accusing a Chief Magistrate in Abuja, Mr. Abubakar Babashani, of deliberately frustrating moves to commence hearing on the perjury charge entered against the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (ret).
Already, the CJN has directed the magistrate to immediately file his response to the petition entitled “Case of Abuse of Office and Manifest Bias by His Worship, Abubakar Babashani, in The Criminal Complaint by Shield Jones Ufot & Ors. Vs. Muhammed Buhari.”
Reacting to the petition, the CJN via a letter with Ref. No. CJN/MAN/B9/S.1/VOL.VI/389, which was signed by his Senior Special Assistant, Mrs. Hadiza Sa’eed, said he would give due consideration to all the allegations that were raised against the magistrate in the complaint letter dated February 4, 2015.

YORUBA LEADERS ENDORSE JONATHAN •Insist on implementation of confab reports

Yoruba leaders across the country, on Thursday, endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election and insisted on the implementation of the reports of the national conference.
They advocated structural changes in the constitution of the Nigerian nation rather than the clamour for personality change at the helm of affairs in the country.
The leaders, including various groups across the Yoruba nation, which comprise the Afenifere, Yoruba Self Determinants Group, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other Yoruba leaders across the South-West states, restated their commitment to the realisation of an indivisible and united Nigeria.

NASS STOPS PRESIDENTS FROM ASSENTING NEW CONSTITUTION

• Separates the office of the Attorney General from the Justice Min
THE Senate, on Wednesday, passed the constitution amendment bill into law, marking the fourth time the 1999 Constitution is being amended.
The senators, in the process, amended Section 9 of the Constitution, to ensure that once the amendment bill scales the huddle in the state assemblies, a siting president does not need to assent to it.

Diamond Bank Makes Case for Child Development

                                                                                    

   Diamond Bank PLC, a leading retail bank in Nigeria, has restated its commitment towards the intellectual development of children in the country.

Victor Ezenwoko, Executive Director, Lagos and West Businesses, Diamond Bank PLC, who spoke during the public presentation of the finalists of the 2015 edition of the Vision Of The Child competition, stated that the Bank’s support for the competitive programme was in recognition of the importance of children to the future of the country. Diamond Bank is a sponsor of the Vision Of The Child, which is a live painting and literary arts competition for children, which forms part of activities commemorating the Lagos Black Festival of Arts and Culture.

He said: “Nigeria’s future depends not only on our children but also on the investment we make on them. It is in recognition of this that Diamond Bank supports the Vision Of The Child Competition. As a responsible corporate institution, we will continue to support this initiative because it is our own little contribution towards the wellbeing of the Nigerian Child.”

OBA OF BENIN’S SON RESIGNS FROM OSHIOMHOLE’S GOVT, ALLEGES THREAT TO LIFE

ANOTHER Prince of the Benin royal family, Prince Ekpen Erediauwa, has resigned his appointment as Executive Director (Government House) barely 24 hours after he alleged that Governor Adams Oshiomhole harassed and threatened his life over a parcel of land he acquired from the Federal Government some years ago.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government, yesterday, denied the allegation.
Prince Erediauwa said he will also institute a legal action against the governor over the alleged harassment and threat to his life.
This is coming on the heels of the recent demolition of official residences of some staff of the University of Benin by the governor, as the dust raised by that action is yet to settle.
According to Prince Erediauwa, “There is a parcel of land at Okoro-Otun Avenue, GRA Benin. It is a Federal Government property based on investigations I conducted a few years ago. I made some contacts and acquired the land.