ACF, YUF Caution Asari Dokubo Over War Threats

A former Niger Delta militant, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo has been scolded by the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Yoruba Unity Forum for threatening to return to the creeks with his people following the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in last Saturday’s election.

Asari Dokubo

Asari-Dokubo was reported to have said on Wednesday that he and other militants might be forced to return to the creeks because the President’s defeat was owing to a gang up against the South-South and South-East by the North and South-West geo-political zones.

In separate interviews with corrspondents of the Punch on Thursday, the ACF and the Yoruba Unity Forum described Asari-Dokubo’s statement as unfortunate, calling on the former militant to retract his statement and immediately apologise to Nigerians.

The Secretary-General, Yoruba Unity Forum, Senator Anthony Adefuye, said, “It is an unfortunate statement, and I am sure he is suffering from the loss of his party. Very soon, he will recover and apologise to the nation for saying so. He is on his own because even the Ijaw National Congress and other groups have already congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

READ ALSO: PDP And APC In Ondo Sign Peace Accord To Work Against Mimiko

“Asari  Dokubo cannot be different. I just advise him to reconsider his statement and apologise to Nigerians.”

On his part, the ACF chieftain, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, flayed Asari-Dokubo over the threat, reminding him that President Goodluck Jonathan had already said that he was not speaking on his behalf.

He said, “Those threatening violence are on their own and I am sure that law enforcement agents will be ready to arrest and prosecute them. If they do anything stupid, the laws are there to take care of them.

“But let me advice them, this is a new Nigeria and people are hoping for the best. All hands must be on deck to help the government to succeed. Let them think twice before they do anything foolish.”

After the presidential results were announced, Asari Dokubo initially accepted the results which declared General Buhari as president elect then afterwards gave the threat to return to the creeks.

Offloading Of Dollars Triggers Massive Naira Appreciation At Parallel Market

The peaceful outcome of the recently concluded presidential election has seen massive offloading of the United States dollars at the parallel segment of the forex market since Monday.

This has also seen a significant appreciation of the naira at that segment of the market as politicians, investors and other currency users in the country who hitherto were storing the greenback for fear of post-election violence have been flooding the market with the greenback.

Specifically, the naira which had been hovering between N215 and N222 to a dollar since this year closed at N200 to a dollar on Friday. However, at the interbank market, the naira has remained at N197 to a dollar

"The dollar supply in the market presently is more than the supply and that is why we are seeing the current level of appreciation in the parallel market,"
Alhaji Yusuff Ganiyu, who trades in foreign currency in Marina, Lagos, said.

Currency analyst at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ezun told THISDAY that the outcome of the presidential election was in line with analysts’ projections.
“The emergence of Buhari connotes positive market sentiment. A lot of people thought there would be post-election violence, but that phone call from President Jonathan completely changed the perception about Nigeria in the international market.

“Also, because of the fact that a lot of people anticipated that the dollar might fall, they are selling dollars and this is one of the reasons the naira is appreciating in the black market,” he explained.

The naira had slumped 18 per cent against the dollar as oil prices collapsed by almost half since June. This had prompted Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to lower banks’ trading limits and introduce a new dealing system in February that prevents lenders from buying dollars on the interbank market without matching orders from customers needing to import goods.

“One of the first big challenges the new government is going to have to face is what on earth to do with the naira,” Samuel Vecht, who oversees $2.7 billion in five emerging-frontier-market funds at BlackRock told Bloomberg recently.
“Steps have to be taken to ensure reserves don’t keep falling.”

Analysts at Renaissance Capital Limited specifically noted that the collaboration would ensure that corruption, wastage and revenue leakages, among others, are tackled.

The report added: “Overall, our views are mixed on the implications of a Buhari victory for Nigerian banks. Investors see the asset quality risks but given where valuations are, they have been waiting for three things to justify a re-entry: a recovery in oil prices; fairer valuation of the naira, and some level of comfort on the political environment. Oil prices have recovered somewhat from their 2015 lows but remain a wild card."

Buhari’s win over President Jonathan marked Nigeria’s first democratic transition of power from one party to another since independence from Britain in 1960.

The naira’s current interbank value is appropriate and the discrepancy between that and the parallel rate isn’t an indication that it’s under pressure, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele had said at the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting between March 23 and 24.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/offloading-of-dollars-triggers-massive-naira-appreciation-at-parallel-market/205927/

PDP And APC In Ondo Work Together Against Mimiko

Political gladiators have begun strategising on how their parties will have the majority in the State Assembly, which comprises of 26 members ahead of next Saturday State Assembly election in Ondo State. 

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

According to the Daily Post, there were indications on Friday evening that old members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the business mogul, Bar. Jimoh Ibrahim have signed an accord with the State leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to work for the APC candidates on the coming election.

It will be recalled that since the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Labour Party (LP) to PDP in October 2014, the party in the state has not witnessed peace.

The crisis rocking the party became deepened during the party primaries when the two factions held parallel primaries.

Since then, the party has been divided and this was attested to by President Goodluck Jonathan during his campaign in the State.

He had then stated that for PDP to win the State, some political gladiators of the party must end their political war.

READ ALSO: PDP Governors Pay Solidarity Visit To Jonathan, Read Who Shun Meeting (Photo)

One of the aides of the state chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Ayodele Olawande who picked the call put across to the chairman, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, confirmed that the chairman was in a meeting with the Old PDP members led by bussiness mogul, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim.

The aide confirmed that the APC in the state was forming a coalition with the old PDP to ensure that the APC secured majority in the state assembly.

Since the defection of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko into the PDP, Barrister Ibrahim has spearheaded the court case to reject the candidates of Dr. Mimiko, who he said were imposed on them.

Barrister Ibrahim had on many occasions said he would never have anything to do with governor Mimiko.

The coalition between the old PDP and the APC further confirms the rumples between Governor Mimiko and Barrister Ibrahim.

It is alleged that Mimiko, has ordered the stoppage of the salaries and allowances of all the deputy governor’s aides following the defection of Alhaji Ali Olanusi, who is  the Ondo State Deputy Governor, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Letter From The Northeast To Buhari

Your Excellency, let me begin with congratulating you, myself and fellow Nigerians on this momentous triumph. It was indeed, a conquest of allegiance and sacrifice, and we thank you as well as your cohort for breeding the idea of and striving towards achieving this #Change. Looking at the other side of the coin, there awaits you a great burden to deal with; while those who keenly voted for you expect heaven and earth, due to your widely celebrated reputation, those that opposed you might be expecting the most tormenting hell, due to defamatory allegations of atrocity and dictatorship that they had heard about you. However, we in the northeast are not exempted.

Permit me Sir, to convey to you what we in the northeast would want you to begin with, in our region; we need security of our lives and properties to be guaranteed just as it used to be, have peace living like other parts of the country and have our bloods duly accounted for. To be more specific, we have a belief that there was total negligence and insincerity in fighting the insecurity that has, for six years; killed our lives, demolished our markets, destroyed our schools, razed our villages, crippled our economy, reduced our jobs, disturbed our peace, displaced/handicapped our people, restricted our movement, bombarded our wellbeing and took us far back compared to other regions of the country. It is due to that belief that, never like before, you are now able to secure more than 90% of votes from both my state, Yobe and Borno states respectively, while securing 100% the IDPs camps.

Now in the northeast Sir, everything that sustains a region/nation is being targeted at and put under aggressive annihilation. For any nation to attain sustainability, it is sine-qua-non to have all or most of the following assets in place; education, economy, farming, peace, transportation, infrastructure, healthcare services, youth, policy and information. But these are the attributes that are being massively chased with extermination in the northeast, without us enjoying the fruits of being a component of any merciful government, because the government has kept on refusing to admit that we are facing the problems, talk less of healing them, for example; when it falsified the fact that more than 2000 people were massacred in Baga, and later, after facing wide condemnation, admits but reduced the number significantly and insisting that only 15,000 people were killed throughout the span of insurgency. This kind of response causes us more grief than the damages sustained from the attacks.

Finally, for the past three years, we only rejoiced widely and moved freely in my home town, Potiskum once (i.e. on 31st March, 2015) when they announced that you have won the election. There were also strategic roads in the town that we only could pass through on that very day, in the period of 3 years, due to restriction of movements. – This applies to many parts of the northeast Sir.

I hope that lack of freedom, peace and confidence meets end when you descend the throne, and I pray that a ministry, commission or a special rehabilitation program be created to handle our problems. 
Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
Sulaiman Badamasi
MSc. Health Informatics (CUU)
sulaimanmahir@gmail.com

Boko Haram Storms Kayamla, Borno Village

Boko Haram insurgents have on April 4, Saturday, launched an attack in Kayamla village located just 20 km from Borno state capital Maiduguri.

Muhammed Gava, a member of the Civilian-JTF in Borno, confirmed the development to Premium Times:

“We just got a report from our vigilante members around Konduga local government area that Boko Haram terrorists were in Kayamla and we’ve just assembled a team of vigilante members and the Civilian-JTF who are about to storm Kayamla now.”

The details on the casualties remain sketchy at the moment.

It would be noted that this village has been targeted by Boko Haram at least two times in the past 10 months. The Kaymla market ‘attracts’ the terrorists as they can easily cause significant damage, and also to get some supplies there.

Boko Haram has lost control over nearly all territories by March 2015. Abubakar Shekau has even been declared ‘a man on the run’, meaning there is no more strongholds under his control. However, recapturing territories of the so-called ‘caliphate’ does not bring full solution to the problem of the insurgency, and random attacks are likely to continue.

READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/415633-boko-haram-storms-kayamla-borno-village.html

Lamido Pledges Allegiance To PDP

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State,  has said quitting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not an option for him despite people in the state voting massively for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC),  because the PDP can still recover from its loss.

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State

He spoke to State House correspondents after he met behind closed doors with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night, Daily Independent reports.

Lamido lamented the loss of the PDP in the presidential polls, blaming it on the mismanagement of its initial successes, but praised Muhammadu Buhari of the APC for his ability to snatch the Presidency from the ruling party; although he said the ultimate winner remains Nigeria.

“I’m sure if you know the party’s (PDP) history, what it went through in the last 16 years, it has the capacity to bounce back.

“With the elections, the pains and the anger, PDP made some mistakes and I have been saying so; very costly mistakes, and we have not been able to properly manage our successes.

“But I don’t think quitting PDP is the answer and in any case, Nigerian people have said yes to the APC; they have spoken in very loud and unmistaken ways.

“The votes are very unambiguous and so, we respect their choice and their rights and we praise Buhari for being able to take the ticket from the PDP.

“Though, I am not happy, but it is Nigeria that won, not Buhari. None of them lost but Nigeria won and it is enough of the anxiety, enough of the worry and the fear in Africa.

READ ALSO: Checkout 5 Political Disciples Of Jonathan That May Be Forced To Flee After Buhari Won

“It was so intense, you would not believe it as confirmed by the chairperson of the African Union and other international friends who have called thanking Nigeria for really saving Nigeria and also saving Africa,” he said.

On the speculation that PDP governors did not work hard enough for Jonathan, he said, “we won’t go into blame game; in what way will this blame change the attitude of the crowd?

“Leadership is a very huge burden and it is normal for the followership to stick in order to look at things from their own perspective.”

Lamido added; “whoever becomes the president is a Nigerian president, not a president for a particular region. This is how I see this election and I thank Nigerians for standing for Nigeria.”

Governor Lamido was one of the PDP state governors who shunned a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan following the conclusion of the 2015 Presidential election.

Jonathan’s defeat deflates Keshi

When the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was told by President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles Coach, little did the former Eagles captain know that events of the 2015 presidential elections were going to contrive against his ambition to boss over the senior national team.

The President was believed to have given the directive during his meeting with NFF President, Amaju Pinnick at the Aso Rock Villa on October 29.
It came after the NFF axed Keshi in the thick of the 2015 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign. But with the order from the nation’s number one citizen, it appeared that the hands of the Pinnick-led NFF body were handcuffed by circumstance.

Despite bungling Nigeria’s 2015 AFCON hopes and setting our country’s football development backwards, the NFF was unable to do away with Keshi. Tempers flared as stakeholders mounted pressure on the Pinnick to get a new manager for the team, which sadly it could not do because of the Presidential order.

The President was advised by a top security man who is a friend of Keshi to retain the former Eagles captain. Jonathan heeded the man’s advice and asked Pinnick to reconsider Keshi.

He had no choice. But Keshi grew wings, looking down on the federation and even calling Pinnick a liar in a radio programme. On the weight on Jonathan’s seeming protection Keshi felt larger than the federation and said that failure to qualify Nigeria to the last Nations Cup would not determine his job as Eagles coach. He eventually failed to qualify and lorded himself on the board members who even quiver before him.

The board offered Keshi contract more than three weeks now but Keshi was said not to be happy with the terms especially the one that compels him to report to the technical director of the federation, a position now occupied by Amodu Shaibu. He wants to report directly to the NFF President.

Upset by the offer, Keshi cried wolf, saying he was offered a slave contract, which he strongly objected to, pointing accusing fingers at the NFF for being economical with the truth. The NFF, in its response through the Chairman of the Technical Committee, Felix Anyanwi-Agwu berated Keshi for his unprofessional conduct in talking about the contract offer in public, instead of communicating his grouses directly to the NFF
All these were playing out as the presidential electioneering process entered its zero hour, with President Jonathan having little time to mind the business of the NFF and its search for a new Eagles coach. Directing a football federation on the appointment of a coach was one of the low points of President Jonathan.

But not wanting to be seen to be disobeying orders from above, Pinnick, with two days left to the presidential elections, told reporters in Abuja that the contract of Keshi was ready and all that was missing was for the former Mali and Togo coach to sign the dotted lines.

The elections finally held on Saturday, March 28, with President Jonathan losing to General Mohammadu Buhari (retd) although the NFF had told Keshi before now to apologise publicly and take the job. He had called NFF President a liar on radio and still wanted the Eagles job.

Despite Pinnick’s claims that election stopped the signing of the deal by both parties, observers believe that the football governing body was only playing for time to know where the pendulum of powers would swing before taking a decisive stand on a matter that has been on for 10 months.

Keshi was also said to have delayed signing the contract, waiting for Jonathan’s victory to boldly tell the federation to amend the supposed offending terms in the contract. Jonathan’s defeat, we gathered, has deflated his ego and he is expected to cringe before the federation now.

South Africa, Equitorial Guinea, Burkina Faso were among the countries that were said to have shown interest in Keshi. None signed him.

Buhari Will Not Force My Impeachment Illegally - Fayose

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state and fierce critic of Muhammadu Buhari during the electioneering period, has expressed optimism that the president-elect would obey the rule of law.

Reacting to the impeachment moves against him by lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fayose, who was the first PDP official to congratulate Buhari for his victory, said those lawmakers trying to oust him were only advertising their ignorance and crudity in the market place.

“The script being acted by the APC is a failed one because no one, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to test the will of Ekiti people,” read a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, Fayose’s special assistant on public communication and new media.

“The speaker of Ekiti house of assembly is Hon Dele Olugbemi and not Dr Adewale Omirin.

“Since last year November, these so-called lawmakers abdicated their duties and ran to Lagos only for them to resurface on Wednesday, but they hurriedly ran away again.

“Now they are posting notice of impeachment signed on March 9, 2015 and Ekiti people are asking; was the motion for impeachment moved and adopted in Lagos or Osun state house of assembly? Is impeachment of a governor done along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway inside a moving bus?

“Rather than going about advertising their ignorance and crudity, the APC lawmakers should wait for the court to adjudicate on the case they filed because even the president-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), will respect the rule of law when he assumes office.”

The assembly had been involved in crisis since October when Ayodele Fayose, the governor, assumed office.

However, the crisis reached its height when PDP members with minority number impeached Omirin as speaker under controversial circumstances.

Their APC colleagues responded by suspending the seven PDP lawmakers and resolved to relocate the sitting of the house to the premises of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), alleging that the assembly complex was no longer safe for legislative activities because it had been taken over by thugs.

But Fayose has acknowledged the action of the PDP lawmakers, and continues to insist that Omirin is no longer speaker.

APC USA Writes Buhari And Osinbajo, Congratulates And Warns Them

His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari and ​​ ​ April 1, 2015
His Excellency Prof Y. O. Osinbajo
i/c The National Chairman ​​​​​​
All Progressives Congress
National Secretariat​​​​​​​
40 Blantyre Street
Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street
Wuse II
Abuja Nigeria.

Your Excellences:

An Open Letter to H.E. General Muhammadu Buhari and H.E. Prof Y. O. Osinbajo
APC USA International Secretariat make haste to congratulate you on your successful victory in the Presidential polls of March 28th. most importantly, we are delighted at the outgoing administrations acceptance of results, this is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Black Africa; APC USA /Nigerians in Diaspora are proud to be associated with this democratic precedence.
Your Excellences Sirs, we like to bring to your attention: beware of political jogglers, most especially the ones that capsized the outgoing administration; parading themselves for immediate appointments (collecting notes and recommendations from rulers and clerics who are yet to return whopping gratifications to the treasury) Hence, the need to be mindful and synonymous with outgoing administrations, would do anything within its resources to destroy our great party, some of them are paid infiltrators). These perpetrators forcefully want to live in the corridor of power all their lives, seeking political immunities and favors, also afraid to return to their hometowns for non-known significant development. Unknown to them their names are on international wanted lists and APC cannot fall prey to such infiltrators on wanted lists, for obvious reasons; sustain its credibility, international ratings, and fresh love from youths and social media followership. Closely monitor these parameter while looking up to the next poll from now.
As patriots of this party with foreknowledge of such politicians’ unpatriotic attitudes towards our great party, trying to induce carted wealth from the incumbent is unacceptable; because, the successful victory of this party today is a result of needed change – not money, but about each individual’s selfless commitment to the progress of our beloved Nation. We want believe our unbiased observations will receive speedily consideration. In avoidance of being overshadowed, hence the right time to look inward for committed APC members with you at the time of tussles and needs, who fought relentlessly; brought about this historic victory. This party members are found everywhere and in diaspora, and may be quite but did great things cum are not boot leakers and praise singing are not synonymous with them, but action speaks louder than voice!


APC USA International Secretariat is aware there are men and women of goodwill, and character and virtue across the country and in diaspora that are willing to join hands with your administration in total reformation of Nigeria, specifically upturn Nigeria into its rightful place. Such party faithful’s and their families turned down huge gratifications and various political appointments, and for these reasons received serious threats and stress, for there believes in APCs dreams and aspirations and sovereignty of Nigeria.

It is important to commend our great party, for the acknowledging and seeking the services of a diaspora and an icon who joined forces, won suit for duel citizens contest in polls, an ardent advocate of Nigerians in Diaspora Voting in Future Elections and former (2007) New Democrats Presidential Candidate and currently APC Chieftain, Prof Isa Odidi – Canada, appointed Director General Buhari/APC Campaign Organizations and Member APC National Committee on Fund Raising, co – founded APC USA International Secretariat, an ultimate success in small and medium businesses, and owner of highly competitive pharmaceutical industry, humanitarian and a friend to World Leaders, including United Nations. Prof Isa understands international cultures and languages, and profoundly suitable and best qualified to serve this administration as Industry, Trade & Investment or Health Ministry to fast swathe Nigeria upward.
Notwithstanding, the following ministries/parastatals should be considered by your administration: Nigerians in Diaspora, Youth Development, People with Disabilities, etc. APC USA International Secretariat accepts responsibilities of this letter and at the shortest possible time able to visit Nigeria and to arranged for the President’s visit to United States of America and defend its recommendations and resubmit publications, programs and discuss #NigeriaUnite USA 1st New Nigerian Democracy Award to all those who made this historic democratic process a success to the likes of: HRH Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, HRH The Oba of Benin, Omon’oba Erediauwa, HRH Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, HRH Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, H.E. Atiku Abubakar, Edo State Executive Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Roman Catholic Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, Captain Sagir Koli, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Chief Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule – Dan Masanin Kano, Former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, Former President of South Africa, Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, US Secretary of State Senator John Kerry, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Executive Governor of Rivers State, Executive Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE, Director General Diaspora Prof Isa Odidi – Canada, APC/Buhari Campaign Organization, Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory – Mall Nasir El-Rufai, The Executive Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Co-founder Transparency International & #BringBackOurGirls Obiageli Ezekwesili, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof Tam David West, Sahara Reporters, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), African Union, ECOWAS, etc.

Over this campaign period, we had enjoyable pleasure of working with Prof Isa Odidi and pro Buhari groups, and not limited to dedicated anchors, worked us through National Secretariat are: Hon. Dr. Mohammed Sani Abdul (Bauchi) Plateau State APC Gubernatorial Aspirant Barrister Solomon Dalung, Ashiru Sherriff (Kano) Hon. Binta Masi Garba (Adamawa), Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed (Kaduna State) Mohammed Attah (Kogi State), supported by Engr Tasiu Ringim (Kano State), Allhaji Muftau Medupin (Kogi State), Dr. Jerome Wakili (Taraba State) and Martin Okpareke (Imo State), William Isa John (United Kingdom), Ms. Nimota Raji (Canada) and our liaison officer with National Secretariat: APC Katsina State House of Representative Contestant, Hajiya Fatima Yusuf Usman Katsina, and Diaspora Woman Leader Ms. Mesi Ada Usiade (California).
APC USA International Secretariat and allies wants to assure the National Secretariat of its preparedness to out rightly win April 11 polls. The campaign has long started.

Once again, Your Excellences Sirs, accept our heartily congratulations as well as best wishes.

Francis John, +1.816.359.8527
Executive President
APC USA International Secretariat

The Jonathans Allegedly Moving Out Of Aso Villa

President Goodluck Jonathan and his relatives are gradually moving their personal things out of the presidential villa, reports say.

The Punch correspondent observed several buses loaded with bags as they were leaving the villa on April 4, Friday.

A source disclosed that the early removal could be connected with the need to carry out renovation at the residence before the inauguration on May 29.

Therefore Jonathan might have to operate from outside the residence from now on.

It was also learned that the presidency has started investigating how the recording of the telephone call between him and Buhari, in which he congratulated the president-elect, had leaked online.

READ ALSO: Jonathan’s Congratulation To Buhari: The Phone Call That Changed The History

The presidency was said to have been dissatisfied with the release of the audio. It is yet to be ascertained whether the conversation was leaked by Jonathan’s or Buhari’s camp.

The source explained:

“Definitely, unauthorised release of a raw recording of the President’s telephone conversation, if from our (presidency’s) end is a security breach that cannot go without being investigated.”

Earlier this week reports emerged that Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s First Lady, had already started moving out of the villa. A truck packed with personal belongings was spotted when it was driving out of the residence.

Meanwhile it was reported yesterday that Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari met yesterday behind closed doors at Aso Rock, apparently to discuss the transition ceremony.

READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/415527-the-jonathans-allegedly-moving-out-of-aso-villa.html

CAN Prays For Successful Buhari Adminstration

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in a statement sent to Premium Times prayed for the success of the coming administration of the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor, said, “I also pray for peace for the incoming administration led by Rtd Major General, Muhammadu Buhari with optimism that Nigeria will witness peace and progress under his administration.”

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

Mr. Oritsejafor, a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, has faced several allegations including being too partisan in support of the the incumbent, as well as corruption and money laundering. The accusations worsened when his privately owned plane was stopped in 2014 in South Africa with $9.3 million in cash allegedly for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian government. The money was seized by South African authorities for breaching the country’s financial laws while Nigeria later said the money belonged to its government. Mr. Oritsejafor denied any wrongdoing saying he had leased the plane to a private firm.

In his Easter message on Saturday, the leader of the organisation that represents Nigerian Christians also commended outgoing President Jonathan.

“The need for peace that our President, Goodluck Jonathan, has demonstrated in the recently held presidential elections should be the point of reference for all our political leaders in the coming elections, there is nothing greater than peace and love as enunciated by God and demonstrated by our dear president,” he said.

The cleric prayed for the restoration of unity and stability of Nigeria and thanked citizens for supporting the country’s leaders.

READ ALSO: PDP And APC In Ondo Sign Peace Accord To Work Against Mimiko

Jonathan, a Christian from Southern Nigeria, has received several commendations since he conceded defeat to Mr. Buhari, a Muslim from Northern Nigeria, after the conclusion of the March 28 presidential election which is considered the most hotly contested in the country’s history.

The election also marked the first time since independence in 1960 that an incumbent president would lose elections. The elections were also the first since 1999, after military rule, that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party would become a minority in both chambers of the Nigerian parliament.

Mr. Buhari’s All Progressives Congress will now assume majority in both chambers of the parliament while he is expected to be sworn as president on May 29.

READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/415624-can-prays-for-successful-buhari-adminstration.html