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