Stop Financing Boko Haram Insurgents, Says FG

Following the continued acts of terrorism being perpetrated in the northeastern parts of Nigeria, the Federal Government has appealed to financiers of the Boko Haram insurgents to stop sponsoring the Islamist terrorists group.

The FG also urged the insurgents to surrender themselves and their weapons to security forces as some members of the sect had done recently.

Mike Omeri, the Coordinator, National Information Centre, made the appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mike Omeri and Alex-Badeh at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja.

Mike Omeri and Alex-Badeh at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja.

The statement which was personally signed by Omeri, stated that there was no wisdom in fighting against ourselves.

“They (terrorists) should know that this war can never be won by them,” he said.

Omeri also stated the determination of the government to rescue all persons and communities traumatised by the insurgency, adding that there were concerted efforts to restore normalcy to those communities.
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He commended Nigerians for their support and cooperation with the security forces, saying this was responsible for the successes so far recorded in the campaign to end insurgency.

The coordinator said that intense fighting was currently going on in parts of Adamawa, especially in Michika and Bazza among other areas to flush out the insurgents.

He said that security forces had been recording tremendous gains in recent weeks.
Abubakar Shekau

Abubakar Shekau

On last week’s Eid-el-Kabir festival, Omeri noted that the security awareness programme put in place by the federal government was responsible for a hitch-free celebration all over the country.

It would be recalled that the Boko Haram sect had threatened to carry out terror attacks in Nigeria during the Eid-el-Kabir festival.

A situation that prompted the Nigerian military to declare curfew in Borno state.

Rivers APC Attacks Jonathan

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has taken a swipe at President Goodluck Jonathan, following the comments credited to him during a rally organised by the South-South Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State on Saturday.

The state chairman of APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya, on Sunday described as ridiculous the President’s statement that the PDP will recover Rivers and Edo States from the hands of the APC in the 2015 and 2016 governorship elections.

This was contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, a copy obtained by Punch.

Dr. Ikanya, who stated that Jonathan’s assertion was not in line with the realities on ground in Rivers, attributed it to ignorance about the political realities in the state.

“The All Progressives Congress, Rivers State chapter, has dismissed as ridiculous the boast by President Goodluck Jonathan that his Peoples Democratic Party will recover the state from the hands of the APC during the 2015 general elections.

“This boast made on Saturday by President Jonathan during the PDP’s South-South rally in Benin City, the Edo State capital, is ridiculous because it runs counter to the realities on ground in Rivers State.

“President Jonathan’s boast is obviously based on ignorance about current political realities in Rivers State. He may not have known that the state PDP leader and prospective governorship candidate, Nyesome Wike, has polarised the PDP in Rivers State to the extent that it cannot even win a councillorship seat in a free and fair election.

READ ALSO: PDP To Woo Amaechi, Oshiomhole To Support GEJ

“Wike (Minister of State for Education) is either deluding himself or deliberately feeding Mr. President with lies in a bid to feather his nest,” Ikanya said.

The chairman, who further took a swipe at the president, blamed him for giving Rivers oil wells to Bayelsa State, and questioned why Rivers people would vote for the PDP in 2015. He also asked if it was based on supporting Akwa Ibom and Abia states to take over the state’s oil wells.

He also accused the Jonathan led-administration of not doing any meaningful project in Rivers State as well as the President’s deliberate refusal to implement the UNEP Report on Ogoni land.
“President Jonathan has left no one in doubt of his deep hatred for Rivers State and her people. So, how can we support him or any PDP candidate in 2015,” he said.

The state chairman, who lauded Governor, Rotimi Amaechi’s achievements noted that they were enough to give the APC the anticipated victory in future elections in the state.

It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan on September 27, 2014, at the PDP South-South unity rally held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin city, Edo State, said the PDP would win Edo and Rivers states in the 2015 and 2016 general and governorship elections.

Meanwhile, on September 18, 2014, the All Progressives Congress, APC, South-south chapter announced that the party will do everything possible to stop the alleged threat to the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, by President Goodluck

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan CallsF or UN Security Council Reform

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in New York, the United States of America, called for the review of the United Nations Security Council in the face of global insecurity challenges. Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati said Jonathan, made this call while delivering Nigeria's annual statement to the United Nations General Assembly. Abati said Jonathan's call for the reform was predicated on the need for 'transparency, inclusivity, and common ownership' in the UN Security Council. 'The failure of unanimity of action by the Security Council over pressing challenges to global peace and security in Syria, Iraq, the conflict in Ukraine, and the renewed aggression between Israel and Palestine, have strengthened the case for the reform of the Security Council,' President Jonathan was quoted as telling the annual gathering of global leaders. The President also called for an urgent review of the United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world. He added, 'Today's challenges can only be resolved by a Security Council whose working methods engender transparency, inclusivity, and common ownership through equitable representation of all regions in the decision making process of the council. 'It is imperative that we take advantage of 2015, which also marks the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 reform, to make concrete progress on the reform of the council. 'We call for a fast-tracked process, in line with the initiative of His Excellency John Ashe, President of the 68th General Assembly, for establishing a working group on reform. 'Indeed, the Security Council requires the collective resolve of all member states to ensure that 2015 brings decisive progress.' The President noted that the world continued to witness war, even though, the UN was established about 70 years ago to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. He also said, 'Today's terrorism is vicious and aimless. Its consequences are extremely agonising, marked by a tendency to annihilate victims, and completely destroy infrastructure and properties. The involvement of foreign fighters has remained a common feature of terrorist groups - whether Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, Al Shaabab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria, or the newly emerging Islamic State. 'The new dimension introduced by the IS to conquer territory and establish its destructive ideology, is a major challenge that must be collectively halted before it becomes the norm. This refocuses attention on the need to review present tools for United Nations peacekeeping operations.' He, however, assured the gathering that Nigeria would continue to do everything possible to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State in April. He also expressed the determination of his administration to curb the violent and criminal activities of Boko Haram. He said, 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the countries and organisations that expressed solidarity with us, and have continued to support our determined efforts to free our daughters. 'Although it has been over three months since they were abducted, we have never relented in our efforts to set them safely free. Together with our partners, we are working assiduously to free our daughters and reunite them with their families. 'Let me underline today, that we shall not waiver until we end this mindless war on the innocent, and bring all the perpetrators to justice. We will triumph over terrorism.' On the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa, the President assured the United Nations that Nigeria was now free of Ebola. But he said that the world must act in unison to stop the disease from becoming a global disaster. The President said, 'While Nigeria was able to respond effectively to control the spread of the disease, the situation in Liberia and Sierra Leone requires sustainable, collective global action to contain. Through the concerted efforts of our healthcare professionals, the World Health Organisation and our international partners, we have been able to contain the EVD and we can confidently say that Nigeria is today, Ebola-free. 'We have however continued to support efforts at containing the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. It is pertinent to stress the need for the international community to properly appreciate the enormity of the EVD challenge.'

Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha celebrated his 52nd birthday yesterday Sept. 22nd by riding a bicycle on the streets of Owerri...

Why 2015 Elections Will Be Tough- Buhari

A chieftain of the All Progressives congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that the 2015 general election would be tough. The former military head of state made the revelation on Tuesday, at Lokoja township stadium, Kogi State, during the formal reception of Kogi PDP decampees to the APC, Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: APC Denies Buhari, Others Automatic Ticket Buhari, who is also a presidential aspirant under the APC, urged party members to collect their voters’ card and hold on to them. He pleaded with Nigerians to also vote out those he termed “treasury looters,” and promised that APC would provide free amenities and improved infrastructures like water, electricity and improved education system for Nigerians. He further hinted that the 2015 polls are expected to be tough as the APC is bent on taking over the government, from councillor to presidency. “The next five months will be very tough. Next election is going to be different and next year is going to be tough because APC is ready for change in Nigeria. We will stop corruption; no more will anybody put government money into private pockets” Buhari said. Speaking also at the event, the party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, who received the defectors accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of giving Nigeria a bad name. He said Nigeria is terribly asleep and is having a serious nightmare. The party’s national chairman, who is also the former governor of Edo State, further stated that Nigeria will continue to experience nightmare except the ruling PDP is voted out of power. “There is hope for Nigeria if Nigerians wake up fast and vote for APC which is becoming the fastest growing party in Nigeria, and has come to remedy the ills meted on the country” Odigie-Oyegun said. READ ALSO: Atiku Reacts To Automatic Ticket Similarly, former Vice- President, Atiku Abubakar, advised Nigerians to protect their votes, noting that several elections have been rigged because voters failed to protect their votes. It would be recalled that the former head of state, Buhari, on September 18, 2014, said his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will put an end to corruption if elected into power, while Atiku Abubakar, who is a strong contender the former, last week called on Catholic Bishops in Nigeria to pray for the country to overcome the many challenges currently threatening security, freedom of religion and citizenship in many parts of the country.

"I'm Not Sick" Said Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State.

Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who is also one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to Lagos today after a prolonged trip abroad and denied rumors that he was seriously ill. by SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK Sep 18, 2014 1.4K 51 72 Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who is also one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to Lagos today after a prolonged trip abroad and denied rumors that he was seriously ill. Bola Tinubu deplaning from a private jet on Thursday Speaking to reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Mr. Tinubu said he was never indisposed during his trip abroad. He added that he was asking God to forgive those who spread rumors about his ill health. “I’m as fit as a fiddle,” said the former governor. He added: “There was nothing wrong before I left the country. We had the Osun gubernatorial election and I’d planned a long vacation and some other research assignments in the political arena. It was to learn from people who had experienced the development of opposition parties in the past.” Defending the apparent secrecy about his location abroad, Mr. Tinubu said, “I don’t have to disclose to people my vacation location. But it was very shocking and sad that there were speculations about my health. This is a sign of the lack of trust people have for leadership in the country. When I had the knee problem, I disclosed to Nigerians that I was going for a knee surgery and I came back. Even then, they started peddling rumors. I don’t know whether some people deliberately insinuate that I have a medical problem. It seems like a deliberate falsehood to me. It is all lies. There was no day that I had the need for even Panadol since I left this country for this trip. I was very busy, reading and talking to people of great intelligence that I believe I could gain from politically.” After stating that he wanted divine forgiveness for those spreading rumors of his illness, Mr. Tinubu added, “I wish them all they wish for me.” Speaking on Nigerian politics, the APC leader said that Nigerians had become tired of the kind of leadership provided by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “The entire nation has lost its trust in the ruling party. It is a challenging time and we have to be very careful. The APC has all the ingredients to save Nigeria and we shall save our dear country,” he said.

Governor Amaechi’s Cousin Murdered In Rivers

The Rivers State Government on Friday announced the murder of Mr. Sabinus Ordu, a cousin to Governor Chibuike Amaechi. The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, who made the announcement in Port Harcourt, said Ordu was murdered in his home town, Ubima, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State, Premium Times reports. According to her, the mutilated body of the deceased who was the vice principal of the Community Secondary School, Aluu was discovered on Monday night. She said Ordu is actually a senior cousin to the governor because they share same grandfather, returned home in the afternoon from CSS, Aluu, where he is the vice principal and told the boy staying with him that he was going into the bush to check his traps when his assailant hecked him to death with a machete. The commissioner said the boy staying with him raised an alarm which attracted the villagers after observing that the deceased had not returned by midnight. She said a search party was sent to look for him, adding that on their way into the bush saw the victim’s motorcycle by the bush path before discovering his mutilated lifeless body, with several machete cuts on it. Semenitari revealed that the incident has been reported at Elele Police Division, while the corpse of Mr. Ordu had been deposited in a private mortuary. However, it could not be ascertained as at press time if the murder is politically motivated.