Clay Richie

The National publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has said that the party subscribes to recognised disciplined means to express it’s concerns. Metuh reacted to the outburst of their party agent Elder Godsday Orubebe, who held the whole country and those watching beyond the shores of the country, to ransom,  at the INEC collation center this morning. Metuh said that;

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged Nigerians to accept the outcome of Saturday’s presidential election in good faith, saying; “the election result is the will of God and Nigerians, and all lovers of peace, progress and development of Nigeria must accept it”.

Prior to the election, one would know that election in Rivers would not be of pap and laughter. This is so because the pressure was incredibly towering there among the political goliaths who are ready to strangle the national patriotic spirit for their personal political ego and interest at all cost.

In an interview with the Uk Guardian, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka painted the sorry picture of a helpless President Jonathan who is ostensibly surrounded by aides holding him captive.

Youths, believed to be from Jos North Local Government area have burnt down the private residence of  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Adams Alkali, popularly known as “Dan London” in Jos, Plateau State.

by Musa Abdullahi & Agency Report Nigerian troops battled scores of Boko Haram fighters outside the northeastern city of Bauchi on Sunday, residents and a military source told AFP. Soldiers supported by two fighter jets intercepted the militants who were in 20 pick-up trucks at Dungulbe village, seven kilometres (four miles) from the city, and engaged them in fierce fighting.

Dear Nigerian leaders, I want to appreciate your condolence messages to Singaporeans since my death on Sunday, March 22. Having died at the age of 91, I would not say I died young. In fact, life expectancy in Singapore, which I led as prime minister for 31 years, is 80 years for men and 85 for women. You may even say I spent an overtime of 11 years. I would say I lived a good life which I devoted to the progress of my country. I can confidently say that everything I did — including that for which I was heavily criticised for being “highhanded” — was for the benefit of my people, not for personal gain. I died a fulfilled man with no regrets whatsoever.

Thousands of APC members in Port Harcourt Sunday protested against the handling of the presidential and national Assembly elections held yesterday in Rivers State. Heavily armed anti-riot Policemen have taken over a portion of the ever busy Aba road the protesters armed with placards are marching to the state office of the Independent National Electoral Comission, INEC.

This democracy was purchased at a very high price, essentially because aside the blood of several innocent Nigerians that were shed, we sacrificed a popular mandate: the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, still adjudged the freest and the best ever. That historic mandate was scuttled and the man who secured it, Bashorun M. K. O. Abiola, was killed. We must always remember that.

Agency France-Presses bureau chief in Nigeria, Phil Hazlewood is repotting an attack on a polling Unit in Gombe State, Northern Nigeria as Nigerians get accredited to vote for presidential and Legislative offices.

Nigeria’s  President Goodluck Jonathan, First Lady, Dame Paticece Jonathan finally accredited using the Incident Report card as the card reader failed the first family in Otuoke, the President’s country home. Earlier, the President and wife were not YET accredited – confirmed by Bayelsa State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner.

Fellow Nigerians, today is not June 12, 1993, but it has all the trappings of that fateful day. For those who may not remember, let me repeat for the umpteenth time, that was our most beautiful democratic day as Nigerians trooped out in droves to vote for a candidate of their choice. And it was a straight fight, but a battle royale, between Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the Aare Ona Kakanfo (a generalissimo) of Yorubaland and Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, a Kano businessman.  That election was epic because Abiola defeated his opponent black and blue all over Nigeria.

Pope Francis, today donated money from the Italian church offerings to Nigerian families affected by Boko Haram activities in the north According to Vatican press.

Gallant Nigerian Military troops, this morning recovered Gwoza, the headquarters and last stronghold of Boko Haram in Borno state, from the trip of the insurgents, pushing them out, to the fringes of the country.

On Thursday, March 26th, President Goodluck Jonathan and I signed a new accord reinforcing our commitment to violent-free elections. The new accord is a follow up to the Abuja Accord which we signed, along with nine other party leaders, on Jan. 14th 2015, to show our commitment to free, fair and credible elections in our dear country.

Ahead of the Saturday’s presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan has described his main contender, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress as a gamble that is not worth taking by Nigerians.

The real essence of the presidential election on Saturday, March 28 is a continuation of the illusive search for the architect of modern Nigeria. Every other interpretation given to it is mere exercise in cognitive dissonance. Our transition from one republic to another has been associated with this search. Unfortunately, we have been consistently deprived of selfless leaders with vision.

We have reached point where we must make a point. History beckons. We must answer it well or not all. To respond wisely is to open ourselves to a better future. Elections are set for March 28. They will determine the fate of the nation for years to come. There can be no more fence-sitting because that fence has been torn down by the vast disparity between our current reality and our desired future.

Dear Cabal, It is time for you to give up. It is time for you to abandon ship. Dear unscrupulous cabal, enough has surely been enough. We have had it with you… your time and grip of treasury is done; your choking of this nation is over. This letter is addressed to you. You know you are a cabal if you have cut up a slice of the paupers’ loaf that you fondly and atrociously call the ‘national cake.’ Yes that is you. You lazy godawful, who earned what you did not work for and made us suffer. You thief.

By Chris Nomjov Frontline candidates in the forthcoming March 28 Presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Genenral Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have signed another peace accord in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In an era of instant analysis too often driven by the superficialities of the twenty-four hour news cycle, Jean Herskovits has published a thoughtful, detailed  op-ed on Nigeria  only a few days away from national elections. Her perspective is that of an academic who is devoted to the development of African democracy and good governance and has been writing about Nigeria for forty-five years. Her op-ed is a must-read.

Finally, the week has arrived when Nigeria will face the oddest and staunchest test for its electoral experimentation. Odd because, as I have argued for some time, the two acknowledged top contending political parties are ideological twins, united by a shared predatory vision of governance. And if my hunch is right, then Nigerians stand to see, at best, cosmetic and fleeting benefits should the opposition APC win—and the certain continuation of a ruinous order should the ruling PDP retain power.

Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Comrade Shehu Sani, has described the government of President Goodluck Jonathan as an affliction on the people of Nigeria.

With the emergence of radical political science professor as INEC chairman, an attempt has been made by the former ASUU chairman and Bayero University Vice Chancellor Prof Attahiru Jega to reform Nigerian electoral system by recognising perceived credible people as electoral umpire. And that necessitated the involvement of tertiary institutions lecturers and NYSC Corps members as INEC Adhoc staffs. The duo are regarded as those that will never compromise on anything that has to do with fairness and justice, even if it’s at a gunpoint. But do they still have that integrity up to now?

This is a very important national call on all Nigerians. Regardless of your ethnicity, religion, social status or age, there is danger hovering around us all. We are facing a great threat which is capable of bringing this huge nation of ours down to a state of total collapse, except we act in a most patriotic and impassionate manner to avert this danger. We are preoccupied with politics, but we need to pause, reason and act to save our future.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned against any orchestrated, last-minute disqualification of its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu, in order to pave the way for an easy victory for President Goodluck Jonathan or even another postponement of the elections

The All Progressives Congress may have earned itself N500million. A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the the Nigerian Communications Commission and five other telecommunication companies to pay the opposition party N500m for unlawfully shutting down the party’s presidential campaign fund-raising platform.

Nigerians living in Germany have endorsed the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in the March 28th elections. The endorsement was announced at a gathering at the Hochfeld Hall, Hochfeld, Duisburg, Germany last weekend. About 100 Nigerians were in attendance and they all pledged to ensure all their relatives back home vote for the APC ticket.

My friend used to tell me about a guy who went on to become a Governor of one of the South West states in the 1999 election. Before he got the Alliance for Democracy (AD) ticket to run as governor, he used to regularly visit their house. My friend says there was never a time he had a meal without decorating his agbada with some of the stew. And then when it was time for him to leave, they would have to help his exit by pushing his car to start.

‘Nigeria can change today if she discovers leaders who have the will, the ability and the vision. Such people are rare in any time or place.’ ~Chinua Achebe Next week Nigerians will go to the polls to make the great decision that will alter the nation’s history forever. We will choose who takes charge over the destiny of this great country and lead us into light and on to the path of brotherhood and justice, or not. Will it be APC’s Muhammadu Buhari or PDP’s Goodluck Jonathan? The world will know in a matter of days.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godwill Akpabio reportedly collapsed yesterday at a function in the state and rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the United Kingdom, newspunch.org  has exclusively learnt.

Nobel laureate ,Wole Soyinka has announced that he nolonger sees Dame Patience Jonathan as Nigeria’s first lady; TheCable reports.

Nigeria’s more than 70 million voters will soon go to the polls to choose their country’s leader for the next four years. Whether the victor is incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan or opposition challenger General Muhammadu Buhari is entirely for Nigerians to decide. Around the globe, Nigeria’s friends will be united in hoping that the vote will be peaceful, transparent, and fair and that—win or lose—all sides will respect the outcome.

Chadian and Nigerien troops fighting Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East are reportedly begging their Nigerian counterparts to take over towns recaptured from the sect. Nigerian authorities had announced that troops had recaptured all towns occupied by members of the terrorist group in Adamawa and Yobe states, remaining Borno, the last of the three north-eastern states mostly affected by the insurgency.

When the devil wishes to destroy any man, it starts by making him blind. This is the story of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) and his Friends and Associates. Fellow Nigerians, you wouldn’t believe what happened recently in Villa, during a book launch of GEJ!

When we examine the predicament of Nigeria; when we review our history in light of our record of decades of malgovernance, outrageous corruption (economic terrorism), insubordination by authorities and failed administrations; one reality presents itself: we are unique.

Here we go again: another presidential election is upon us. The season of fear. The season of war and rumours of war. We’ve been lectured that this is not just another election; this is THE election. According to some foreign “Nigeria experts”, it is the election that will lead to the end of our beloved country as we currently know it. Nigeria is about to disintegrate, they say. Even if these exaggerations have been taken too far, I have to admit that this is probably the most tension-soaked presidential election in Nigeria’s history. The hot air being generated by the combatants is rapidly depleting the ozone layer and causing significant climate change in the political sphere.

Fellow Nigerians, please I have no intention of scaring anyone today but to paint a realistic scenario of what may likely happen soon. Experience has taught me not to dismiss anything as mere rumour these days. I vividly recollect the damage even unfounded rumour can cause in a country so prone to malicious gossips as Nigeria.

There are two major parties in Abia State contesting the gubernatorial seat: the PDP and APGA. Under sane circumstances, they should find themselves cooperating for reasons not far-fetched. One, they’re both victims of bad governance, two, their people are endangered and finally, APGA adopted President Jonathan as their presidential candidate. The last should attract reciprocity in kind, that is, PDP should find in APGA, a partner.

People who say, “President Goodluck Jonathan has done nothing!” are not being truthful, but those who take it literally are even more guilty. Jonathan has done something. In November 2013, I travelled into Nigeria and wrote about the mess that was the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on this column. Sixteen months later, that same airport is very far from being world class but it is a long travel from the seamy dump of shame it looked like that November. I also believe that his administration has not done too badly with Information and Communication Technology.

One month ago, the APC had whipped its supporters into frenzy in believing it is bound to win an election it really has no chance of winning. In truth, if the election had been conducted then for chairman of the EFCC, Muhammadu Buhari would have been declared winner by a landslide. However, with postponement of the election, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. Even Buhari’s self-styled credential as Mr. Integrity has unraveled.

In October last year, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published a report on how the falling oil prices would affect members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), many of which “need oil prices to average way above the current Brent crude oil price of $90 a barrel to balance their books.” Using data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Arab Petroleum Investments Corp and Deutsche Bank, the WSJ wrote that the “struggling OPEC members are suffering partly for failing to diversify their economies when oil prices were high”, as well as not investing “enough in their oil industries to sustain them through leaner times.”

Hajia Aishat Buhari, wife of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has replied the wife President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan who has been campaigning that General Buhari will jail his political opponents if elected President in the March 28 election, saying Patience Jonathan needs not fear as Nigerians only want a change in the way Nigeria is being run presently .

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday vowed his administration will resist any attempt by the Boko Haram terrorist group to take control of any town or village within the country. The President made this remark when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took its campaign trail to Damatuiru the Yobe state capital north east Nigeria.

When a presidential spokesman begins to react to beer-parlour gossips about his principal with a full-page newspaper article, then you know the rumour mongers are in good business. Some of the title-tattle Dr. Rueben Abati was responding to last Sunday had been on the shelves for years. While I was still trying to digest Abati’s apologetics, President Goodluck Jonathan joined the fray. Speaking at a conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), he described himself as “the most criticised president in the whole world”. He said of the criticisms: “Sometimes I ask: Were there roads across this country and Jonathan brought floods to wipe them out? Or, we had power and I brought hurricanes to bring down the infrastructure? Were there massive irrigation projects in the North where agriculture can thrive and massive farms, and Jonathan brought drought to wipe out these farms under two years?”

Two things are certain about this article; it will not be published by  Sahara Reporters ( they have proven to be a completely anti-Jonathan media outlet who are now so far from objectivity that one wonders if they sit back and realise that the media is supposed to be unbiased).Secondly, all the people who are opposed to Jonathan being re-elected will say that I have been paid.

As hard as it is to accept, either we like it or not, Tinubu is the biggest factor in Nigerian politics today. As a political entrepreneur, Tinubu has stepped in as a big deal in our evolutionary process. Not even the former king maker of Kwara, Olusola Saraki or the Ibadan extract of penkelemesi era, Adedibu, can command the level of political sophistication Tinubu now wields. Everywhere in Nigeria, starting from Lagos, the handwriting of Tinubu is very bold.

After about five hours of security meeting at the presidential villa today,  Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Kenneth   Minimah expressed doubts elections will go on as scheduled in Northeast region of the country, a development that may make the coming general elections inconclusive and consequently set the country on fire.

Desperation surges within the presidency and PDP camp. Postponing the election to March 28, this group thought they had bought added time to alter the electoral equation in their favor. They were frightened that February 14 would have been their demise. Four weeks out of the six week delay, they have not found the elixir they craved. The date change has not changed the electoral dynamic in their favor. With the damage they have done to the nation, how could they think a mere six weeks would return to them the precious goodwill they had so meanly squandered? They now discover there likely is no sudden alteration that can repair the mess they have made of things.  The extra time has only been a temporary stay of execution of the people’s sovereign will against a desolate government that, through its callous neglect of the economy and national security, has been more hindrance than help to the people it once vowed to serve.

Dear Compatriots, In the past few months that I have traveled round this country on campaigns, I have experienced the sheer beauty of our diversity. From Port Harcourt to Kano, from Abeokuta to Gusau, I experienced first-hand the daily sufferings and struggles of our people. I also experienced the overwhelming desire of our people for change.