Demo-crazy !!! Okupe: Mantu is a hero… every election in this country was rigged

Doyin Okupe, a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, says all elections in the history of Nigeria have been rigged, with all political parties allegedly involved in the act.

Okupe said this in reaction to the confession of Ibrahim Mantu, a former deputy senate president, that he helped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rig elections in the past.

His confession has sparked controversy. The PDP has since denied the allegation, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) taunted the opposition party to confess its sins like Mantu.

But Okupe, via his Facebook page, said Mantu “spoke as a true compatriot” and should not be misrepresented.

According to him, Mantu’s open admittance to having rigged elections, makes him a true hero.

“For the avoidance of doubt, ALL elections are RIGGED in Nigeria from 1959 to date, without ANY exceptions,” Okupe wrote.

“This rigging is all-encompassing and involves all political parties from action group, NCNC, NPC to NRC, SDP, PDP, AD, ACN, CPC AND APC. “If anyone says anything to the contrary, such persons are wilfully perjured individuals and the true enemies of progress in Nigeria. Mantu spoke as a true patriot who desires true and genuine change.

“Suddenly the substance of his honest disposition is lost to partisan blame game that has not advanced our course of history in any way.

“People like Ibrahim Mantu and late President Yaradua who even openly admitted that the election that brought him to power was faulty, are heroes of this country.”

Okupe asked how anyone could claim that only the PDP rigged elections in Nigeria, when according to him, only ruling parties emerge as winners in gubernatorial election.

He claimed that it is only in the south-west that a”resemblance” to elections are conducted.

He advised that Nigerians, in their interest, should take Mantu’s words seriously and plan on how to conduct free and fair elections.

“How can anybody claim that only PDP rigs elections in Nigeria?” he asked.

“Parties in Nigeria rig both intra and interparty elections from wards through local governments all the way to National elections from time immemorial.

“Are we not witnesses to the undeniable fact that in all state elections, no matter how civilized, innocuous or God-fearing the state governors pretend to be, all state elections, No matter the political party involved, are won by the ruling party in the state 100%.

“For a truth, it is only in the southwest and a few other zones that a modicum resemblance to an election actually do take place. in most other parts of the country. Nothing like elections take place or better still the charade of people lining up and casting their votes is just a mere ritual that has nothing to do with the results announced.

“It is in our overall interest that we take what Mantu said seriously and for posterity sake, let us sit down and plan how to conduct proper free and fair elections in our country. Democracy is mocked if people have the right to vote but their votes do not count.” - Cable Nigeria

Shocking !!! Why I killed my master and his wife for refusing to settle me – Apprentice

A young apprentice, Okwudili Okoro, has given insight into why he murdered his master, Azubuike  Okoro and his wife, Jacinta Okoro, in a fit of age when the couple were having their meal.

Last Saturday, Okwudili and his accomplice now on the run, barged into the home of his master, Azubuike, who also doubled as his blood brother, pulled two cutlasses hidden underneath their wears and hacked man and wife to death in a pool of blood.

Okwudili  who is in the police net, said he elected to kill his brother and wife because the man refused to settle him after completing the presumably agreed three years apprenticeship.

It was learnt that he and his accomplice, Kenneth, fled the scene when their crime attracted the attention of residents, who raised an  alarm but following a report of the incident by one Joseph Nwagu at the  Sango Police Division, Okwudili was arrested.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed this in a statement, said the suspect claimed he killed his master for not settling him after serving for three years.

Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) added that the suspect was arrested when one Joseph Nwagu reported the crime to the police in Sango that Mr. Azuibike and his wife have been hacked to death.

According to the Police  Spokesman in the state, Okwudili and Kenneth left their base in Sapon  in  Abeokuta, to commit the heinous crime at  Ijako – three Local Governments apart.

“Upon his report, the DPO Sango Division SP Nasirudeen Oyedele led detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested but his accomplice escaped.

“On interrogation, the Ebonyi state born suspect claimed to have served his deceased elder brother for good three years, and when it was time for him to be settled, his brother kept on posting him from time to time.

“He stated that when he realized that his brother is not ready to settle him, he contracted one Kenneth who is now on the run and they both bought two cutlasses, sharpened it to the edges and headed to his deceased elder brother’s house in Ijako.

“On getting there, they met the deceased eating with his wife and before he can utter a word, they descended heavily on them with the sharp cutlasses and matcheted them to death.

“The two corpses have been taken to the general hospital Otta mortuary for post mortem examination.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation,” Oyeyemi stated

According to him, the fleeing accomplice of the suspect would apprehended and brought to book within the shortest possible time.- The Nation

Terrorism : Fulani Herdsmen invade Benue communities, raze houses

Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Monday invaded some settlements in Tombo ward, Logo local government area in Benue State.

The herdsmen, who arrived the communities in SUV, came with their cattle which grazed freely on farmlands.

The leader of the community, Chief Job Tiza, told our correspondent that the herdsmen destroyed farm crops and razed houses in the affected communities.

Tiza said farmers in the area have deserted their homes and are now taking refuge in Ayilamo, a community in Logo LGA.

He said the herdsmen displayed their weapons in the presence of soldiers who are taking part in Operation Cat Race, a military exercise in the state. - The Nation

PL : Pardew's West Brom departure equals Premier League record

Alan Pardew’s departure as West Brom head coach means that no Premier League season has seen more permanent bosses leave their post during a campaign than 2017-18.

Pardew has overseen a dismal run of form since his appointment in November 2017 and leaves the club 10 points adrift of safety with six games remaining.

Frank De Boer lost his job at Crystal Palace just four games into the Premier League season, while Craig Shakespeare (Leicester City), Ronald Koeman (Everton), Slaven Bilic (West Ham), Tony Pulis (West Brom) and Paul Clement (Swansea City) all left their clubs before the end of December.

Pardew joins Mark Hughes (Stoke City), Marco Silva (Watford) and Mauricio Pellegrino (Southampton) in being relieved of their positions since the turn of the year. 

It means half the sides in the Premier League have changed their man in charge this term - making it the most precarious season for top-flight managers since the 2013-14 campaign. - Goal

PL news : Chelsea youngster holds 'secret talks' with Nigeria

A young Chelsea player is said to have held ‘secret talks’ with the Nigerian Football Federation over the possibility of changing his national alliance.

All Nigeria Soccer claim that an unnamed British-born Chelsea player could feature for Nigeria in the near future.
The player was said to hold talks at the team’s hotel in London before Nigeria’s friendly with Serbia, which was held at Barnet’s Hive Stadium.

Nigeria tried to encourage Tammy Abraham but failed in their attempts, with the striker opting for England.

They have tried to sign up players early in the past, before they make a senior debut for England, through their family backgrounds.

Ola Ain recently changed his national team alliance to Nigeria and has since made three senior appearances.

While the website does not name the individual, they list the following names as possible contenders; Tariq Uwakwe, Faustino Anjorin, Fikayo Tomori, Ike Ugbo, Tyreece Walters and Jordan Aina.

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The unnamed player could potentially join the likes of Aina and fellow Chelsea defender Victor Moses, should he decide to play for Nigeria. - Read Sport

Presidency makes u-turn, backs Danjuma’s call for self-defence

A Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, yesterday backed calls by former Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd) that Nigerians should defend themselves against the unending violence in some parts of the country.

Shehu, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s political programme, Sunday Politics, however, warned that it must be within the ambit of the law.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with you defending yourself in line with the law,” he said.

“The security services in the country will probably not be telling Nigerians to do nothing when they come and attack,”

DAILY POST reports that a day earlier, the Buhari-led government had appealed to prominent Nigerians, who have national influence, to watch what they say. 

Meanwhile, on the reaction of the President to the Former Defence Minister’s outburst, Shehu said he believed that President Buhari was taking the pleas made by Nigerians seriously in dealing with the issues raised.

“This is a listening government and the reaction then was of silence to say to them that we have heard you.

“We will listen to the useful advice you have given us. We will take what we can use from what you have said,” he noted.

The Presidential aide, however, exonerated the military of condoning attacks that have led to bloodshed in the land.

He was of the view that members of the Armed forces were there to defend citizens of the country even to their own detriment.

DAILY POST recalls that Danjuma had on March 24 accused the military of complicity in the killings within Taraba, Benue and other “riverine states” in the country.

According to Danjuma, during a convocation ceremony of Taraba State University, “The peace in this state is under assault. There is an attempt at ethnic cleansing in this state and, of course, in all the riverine state of Nigeria. We must resist it. We must stop it. Every one of us must rise up,”

Following his outburst, many Nigerians have expressed their views, with many criticizing the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for failing to address the security challenges in parts of the country. - Daily Post

17-year-old girl commits suicide in Jigawa

The Police in Jigawa says a 17-year-old girl has committed suicide by consuming insecticide popularly known as “Piyapiya”.

The Jigawa Police Command spokesman, SP Abdu Jinjiri, our reporters in Dutse on Monday that the incident happened in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state.

“Information reached us that Gambo Jibrin, aged 17 of Gambara Village was brought to the General Hospital, Birnin Kudu unconsciously after she was suspected to have drunk insecticide substance.

“Immediately the information was received, detectives were drafted to the hospital to confirm the information.

“Unfortunately, the detectives met the victim dead already,” Jinjiri said.

He explained that remains of the deceased had already been handover to her family for burial according to Islamic rites.

The police spokesman said that investigation had commenced to ascertain the cause of the deceased action. - NAN

Bola Awe : Lack of history hinders development

Renowned historian, Prof. Bolanle Awe, has said for the country to get out of economic hardship, it needs History as a discipline to strategise action plans for transformation.

She spoke with The Nation at the weekend in Oyo town after visiting the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111.

Awe said to come out of recession, Nigeria must embrace the benefits and hopes offered by History, not only to learn what those countries did to overcome their problems and become super powers, but must cultivate the character required for transformation.

She said History should not only be made compulsory, but government functionaries should be made to appreciate and understand its essence.

‘’Their good grasp of History will afford them the needed foresight to manoeuvre the rigours of governance. It will also enable them to understand their environment, the people and the happenings around them.

‘’The recovery methods and tactics are embedded in History books. It is free knowledge. Ideas alone are not enough. Nigeria has experienced recession before; our history is replete with stories of how our progenitors recalibrated the economies of their kingdoms and chiefdoms, especially after the abolition of slave trade,’’ the don said.

Awe, the pioneer director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, said History offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave.

Oba Adeyemi described her as ‘’an academic giant, whose life and achievements have distinguished her as an outstanding and highly principled individual, who has contributed to the development of her fatherland.” - The Nation

Ghetto republic !!! Garba Shehu: Amnesty will make Boko Haram fighters useful to the nation

Garba Shehu, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, has described the amnesty the president granted to Boko Haram members as a “win-win situation.”

While receiving the freed Dapchi schoolgirls on March 23, Buhari had said the federal government was willing to accept the unconditional laying down of arms by repentant insurgents.

Speaking at an interactive session with state house correspondents during the weekend, Shehu said the amnesty would help the insurgents to “be useful to the nation.”

He also said the measure would help the government save cost by channelling funds used in the war against insurgency to other areas.

“It is proverbially said all wars end up in the boardroom. You can defeat people technically on the field but at the end, you must come to the conference room to resolve all issues ” he said.

“So, if Boko Haram would lay down their arms and stop fighting and stop preaching their negative ideology, the country should be able to embrace them; welcome all of them so that they continue to live normal lives and be useful to the nation.

“What that means is that we will be saving cost, saving lives that are being lost through bombing, killing of service personnel and we will be saving money that we are using to procure weapons so that such money can go into services and infrastructure and welfare of the citizens of this country. It is a win-win situation.”

The presidential spokesman described as unfair, allegations that the president is shielding herdsmen accused of killings.

He said the allegations is a negative effect of the social media, adding: “This is an administration that has done extremely well and to a president who has sworn to an oath to defend the constitution and protect every life and property, it is very unfair and uncharitable to say that he will shield anybody.”

He said it has to take everyone at various levels of authority to shield the accused from the law.

“The president controls only one layer of authority, what are the governors doing? Is the social media also saying that the governors are protecting the herdsmen from the law, are they saying the local government are also protecting them?” he asked.

“This is a president whose passion is not even for the office, even when everyone is asking him to go for a second term he is keeping quiet because his focus remains the nation and the problem of the country.”

Shehu said the president “richly” deserves a second term in office. - Cable Nigeria

Boko haram latest attacks :15 persons killed, 55 injured

No fewer than 15 persons are feared dead while 55 others sustained injuries in a Sunday night attack by Boko Haram insurgents at Bale community in the outskirts of Maiduguri.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that echoes from sporadic gunshots and multiple explosions, which lasted for hours on Sunday evening, were heard from the outskirts of the city.

Competent security sources told NAN that a number of insurgents attacked Bale-Shuwa and Bale-Kura communities near Maiduguri in an attempt to infiltrate the town at about 8: 00 p. m.

The source disclosed that the insurgents parked their vehicles few meters away from a security check point and sneaked into the community.

The source added that the security operatives engaged in fierce gun battle with the insurgents who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and shot sporadically.

“Dozens of people including women and children were wounded from the explosion and gun shots.

“Due to darkness dead bodies were not evacuated immediately because there were suicide bombers among the attackers,” he added.

However, the Commander of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, denied any death on the side of his soldiers or civilians in the attack.

Reacting to NAN inquiry in a text message, he said, however, that some of the Boko Haram insurgents were killed.

“That’s not correct. There was an attack which was repelled and some Boko Haram insurgents were killed by gallant soldiers.

“However, Boko Haram came with suicide bombers who denoted their vests while running from the troops fire in a nearby community and that led to 14 civilians being injured from the blasts.” - Daily Post

Same slogan for years !!! Osinbajo: Nigeria on path of resurrection

Nigeria is on the path of resurrection and progress, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after the Easter Service at the Aso Villa Chapel, he said the resurrection of Jesus Christ implied that the country was moving out of its challenges to a greater hope and peace.

He said: ”The resurrection of Jesus Christ is also a strong and powerful message to the nation.

“The message is that our nation is on the path of resurrection, is on the path of progress, is on the path of elevation.

“We are moving out from all our challenges and we are going to a place of greater hope, peace and prosperity and abundance for all of us,” Prof. Osinbajo said.

Aso Villa Chapel Chaplain Pastor Seyi Malomo, who delivered a sermon on: “The temporary  hour of darkness”, said Nigeria would rise again.

He said the resurrection of Christ signified that darkness could only reign but for a while.

“No natter the evil, the problem we are facing, just as Jesus only laid in the grave for three days, all these will be over.

“As long as Jesus rose from the dead, we are going to rise again, even all of you listening to me,” he said.

The cleric urged all Nigerians to emulate Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life for the salvation of mankind.

He said: “In terms of sacrifice, we have to emulate the life of Jesus Christ.

“He sacrificed for mankind. And we are liberated and celebrating because he paid the sacrifice.

“We are all call to do our role in giving that sacrifice that will bring the liberation, the greatness of our nation.”

Various songs were rendered to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

Also yesterday, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara asked Nigerians to show unity, love and sacrifice for the unity and development of the country.

He said in his Easter message: “As we celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary for the redemption of our souls, I urge you all to draw lessons from the selfless service of Christ.

“It is important that such love that Jesus Christ had for mankind to lay down his life for us is what we must show to one another, irrespective of tribe, status or religion.”

“It is by so doing that Nigeria can grow in peace and attain only meaningful progress.”- The Nation

Only change Buhari brought is changing criminals to saints – Bishop Yisa

The Anglican Bishop of Minna Diocese, Rt. Revd. Daniel Yisa, has said three years on, Nigerians are yet to experience the much-promised Change from the Buhari administration.

In a sermon on the occasion of Easter celebration in Minna yesterday, Bishop Yisa alleged that “the only change the administration has succeeded in bringing is changing criminals to saints when they crossed over to the ruling party.

“If the six people mentioned (in first looters’ list) are the thieves, what happened to the rest, especially those that crossed over to the ruling party?” he queried.

The bishop enjoined Nigerian leaders to emulate the leadership style of Jesus Christ who led by example, saying: “If you are a leader, you should be a leader in words, thoughts and actions.

“When we have a government that is supposed to transform the lives of the people and it’s not doing so, then you know that not every government that preaches change is sincere. Under the government, politics has become business.

“Jesus left a legacy for us, He redeemed us, that is why we are celebrating.

“What are we going to celebrate at the end of the tenure of this government? Those that have the capacity to speak out, have been silenced one way or the other.”

The cleric expressed the need for leaders to sacrifice, saying Jesus sacrificed his life to save humanity.

“The kind of sacrifice I expect from this government is for them to drive on our roads rather than fly. Let them sacrifice by driving on roads like Mokwa to Jebba bridge and see what the common man is passing through.

“I wish there are no chartered flights for these people to travel with so that they can ply our roads. If they are sacrificing, let them drive on our roads,” he said. - Daily Post

Pope Francis baptises Nigerian ‘migrant hero’ at Easter eve mass

TENS of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square yesterday for an Easter mass led by Pope Francis, who on the previous night, baptised eight people, including a man known in Italy as the “migrant hero”, Nigerian John Francesco Ogah.

Ogah, 31, was praised after he intercepted another man attempting to rob a supermarket in Rome’s Centocelle neighbourhood on September 26, 2017.

According to Italian news reports, Ogah had been begging for spare change outside the Carrefour market when a masked thief, armed with a meat cleaver, tried to make off with 400 euros ($636 Cdn) he had stolen from the cashiers.

Security cameras captured his courageous next steps: With nothing more than his  bare hands, Ogah confronted the thief, wrested the cleaver away and held him by the collar until police arrived, after the man fell from his attempted getaway motorcycle.

Ogah, who did not have permission to stay in Italy, then left the scene, fearing it would be discovered he did not have documents, according to La Repubblica newspaper.

Police using footage from the surveillance cameras tracked him down and rewarded him by helping him get legal permission to stay in the country.

The police captain, who worked in the neighbourhood, stood at Ogah’s side as his godfather during Saturday night’s baptism.

The faithful attending Sunday’s service underwent heavy security checks to enter St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis opened the festivities with a Tweet to his global flock: “Our faith is born on Easter morning: Jesus is alive!”

He then delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” message (“to the city and the world”) message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Francis called for peace in a world marked by war and conflict, “beginning with the beloved and long-suffering land of Syria,” and extending to the entire Middle East, the Korean peninsula and parts of Africa affected by “hunger, endemic conflicts and terrorism.”

The Pope reflected on the power of Christianity’s core belief – that Jesus rose from the dead following crucifixion.

The pontiff said the message of the resurrection offers hope in a world “marked by so many acts of injustice and violence.”

“It bears fruits of hope and dignity where there are deprivation and exclusion, hunger and unemployment; where there are migrants and refugees, so often rejected by today’s culture of waste, and victims of the drug trade, human trafficking and contemporary forms of slavery,” the Pope said.

He called for a “swift end” to carnage in Syria, demanding that aid be delivered to the needy there and calling for “fitting conditions for the returned and the displaced”.

The Pope also urged reconciliation in Israel and hoped that mutual respect would “prevail over divisions” in Yemen and the entire Middle East.

‘Hunger forced me to steal phone’

A 19-year-old labourer, Umar Aliyu, has told a Minna Magistrates’ Court in Niger State that hunger forced him to steal a techno phone, valued at N27,000.

Aliyu, who was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft, said he stole the phone with an intention to sell it and buy food.

He begged the court for leniency, saying he had learnt his lesson.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the magistrate, Mariam Kings, after listening to Aliyu’s plea, sentenced him to one month with an option of N10,000 fine.

Police prosecutor Moses Emberga told the court that Dahiru Rabiu of Chachanga village reported the matter at Minna Police Station on March 22.

He quoted the complainant as saying he was eating lunch on that day when the accused stole the phone.

According to Emberga, the accused confessed to stealing the phone, which he (accused), claimed to have handed over to Musa, for safe keeping.