OAU biggest and hottest artist Virus Zamora releases new singles Owapa and hangover.
Virus got signed recently to Fox Records Inc, and this is a result of his been cool headed and focused.
Owapa was produced by Tyemmy and Hangover produced by Drestick,
both mixed and mastered by Dre Sticks.
You don't want to miss this songs. They made my day.
I am trying now to rekindle my passion for writing and talking. I am still in the process of finding myself and I believe together, we would discover and rediscover ourselves and become the best version of ourselves. I am also a Professional Fumigator and Cleaner
Chanttelle(not a real name) knew she was in trouble again. It’s 6:30 pm and she’s not home yet. It wasn’t really her fault, her boss just passed the folder to her around 3, and the presentation was slated for 8:00 a.m. the next day, so she had to stay past the 4:00 closing time.
Idriss (not a real name) was fuming by the time he opened the door. “Have I not told you to always get home before 5?”
“I’m sorry honey, my boss…….” Chantelle began to explain before Idrss cut in
“Your boss abi, Stupid Woman! Your husband is hungry at home and ou’re talking about your boss”
“The work came in late and we had to do it.”
“Shut Up!” He hit her in the face.
The impact of the hit was so hard, she fell to the floor, Idriss kicked her again.”Never talk of your boss when I’m talking to you.”
Chantelle knew this would happen, she expected it. It’s been happening like this for the past one year, anytime she comes home late from work. She’s not been able to talk about it, because she doesn’t want to lose her marriage.
Every day, we see smiling faces of beautiful women, at work, in the market, churches or mosques. Everyone sems happy without problems, or with just a few issues to worry about in life. Bliss reigns supreme on their faces, but in reality, most women, (married and unmarried) go bout with one problem they are scared to open up about. – Violence in Relationship.
Violence in relationship which can be considered as domestic violence is a crime. It ranges from minor (hits, slaps) to major issues like beating up, “slavery” and even rape sometimes. In the U.S., at least four of every ten women has experienced one form of domestic violence in their relationship. In Africa, at least 70% of women have experienced violence.
As much as we know that domestic violence is a problem, it remains a great difficulty eradicating it (especially in Africa). Here, we believe that a man is superior to a woman. We believe that a woman is her husband’s property, and he can do anything to her, at will. Well, this perception is wrong. In the world today, men and women are of equal rights. Infact, more more importance is (rightly) given to feminine issues in the developed world, in a bid to balance and stabilize the society.
Respect for women is also to be advocated. Every man (except Adam) was born of a woman. They are our mothers. They are the world’s “salt”, and without their tender heart and acts, the world will be full of chaos. Yea, a woman may act naughty sometimes, but it takes maturity and civility to understand a woman’s nature, so you won’t commit murder.
To the women, if you are a victim of domestic violence, you need a way out. Please speak up! There are agencies and non-governmental organizations that help take care of issues like that. They also help in the rehabilitation of women who have suffered domestic violence.
To the men, a woman even if she’s your wife is not your property, (Property was never in the marital vows). So, the next time her opinion differs from yours, do not slap her. Make her see reasons with you. If she’s too tired for sex, do not force her. It’s RAPE! Leave her, or try to turn her on. When next she acts funny, do not hit her. Do not let your strength overpower you. Beating a woman only shows you are weak. Talk to your woman, “cajole” her with soothing words and I can bet with you she’s gonna love her life more, and ultimately love you more.
NOTE: Some women believe domestic violence is normal. Please understand that it has never been and never will. Your life is yours, not any man’s.
For the men, if you wan show power, instead of to dey beat your wife or girlfriend, Go junction, you go see man like you. Fight am!!!
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has been bereaved.
Daddy G.O as he is fondly called lost his elder sister Esther Adetoun on the 11th of February.
Adeboye and Adetoun were said to have been very close.
She was buried yesterday.
She was aged 83.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose,
has said that the Presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari (retd.) is too frail to rule the country.
According to him, Buhari is in the United
Kingdom for other purposes other than political
tour even as he stressed that Buhari cannot win
the presidential election.
Fayose, who said this in Abuja on Monday at a
press briefing, added that Buhari spoke in an
interview with foreign journalists in a suite at the
Transcorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja, and not the UK
as being portrayed by his campaigners.
He alleged that the level of falsehood upon which
the candidature of Buhari was being projected to
Nigerians “exposes the deceitful nature of the
opposition and qualifies the APC candidate for
failure at the polls come March 28.
“I don’t have anything against the North. I also
don’t have anything against General Buhari.
“But one thing is certain. The General is too
weak, too frail to be President.
“He can’t even be the governor of his state let
alone being the President of this country.”
He said it was because of the alleged frail health
of Buhari that he brought journalists to the
venue of the briefing.
But the Buhari Support Organisation has said
that Fayose needs medical help to cure him of
his negative obsession with Buhari.
Source: Punch
The former President of the federal Republic of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has dissociated himself from any social media account.
He said this in Abeokuta on Monday while reacting to a twitter account, @newsvergeonline, which had posted a tweet on Sunday, claiming that he, the ex-President had described the Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, as a “democracy wrecker.”
He said the fake twitter account with his name, Olusegun A. Obasanjo, posted the story with caption: ‘Fani-Kayode is a democracy wrecker, who’s very fluent in stupidity. Give him food, and he will sing and do shoki dance for you’.
Dismissing the twitter account, he explained that all his previous accounts on either Facebook or Twitter had long been blocked.
Obasanjo said, “I don’t know where this comes from. I don’t have any account on either the Facebook or Twitter again. Go and block it.”
He also cautioned those using his name to operate illegal social media accounts, warning that the security agencies had been placed on the alert to fish out the perpetrators.
He went further to say “Nemesis will catch up with anyone doing this. It is illegal and criminal. If I have to pass any message to the good people of Nigeria, I know how to go about it with no controversy.”
Lagos - A man, Ben Okpokiri, 30, on Wednesday,
appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court,
Lagos, charged with stripping two women and a
girl naked.
Okpokiri, who resides at No. 28, Ekiti pupa St.,
Oworonshoki, Lagos State, is facing a one-count
charge of assault.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court
that the accused committed the offence on
February 10 at the said address.
Ihiehie said that the defendant unlawfully assaulted
the three complainants and stripped them naked in
public.
He gave the names of the complainants as Bukola
Afolabi, 25, Deborah Afolabi, 18, and Esther Afolabi,
14, all sisters living at the same address as the
defendant.
He said that the offence contravened Section 170
of the Criminal Law of Lagos State which stipulated
a maximum of 1 year imprisonment, if found
guilty.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, A. M. Davis granted bail to the
defendant in the sum of N120 000 with two
sureties in like sum and an evidence of tax
payment and residence for two years to be
verified.
She adjourned the case till February 27 for further
hearing.
- NAN
Abuja - Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State said
his government has in the last three and a half
years established 26 institutes to empower young
men and women.
Kwankwaso made this known during a courtesy
visit to the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja on
Wednesday.
He said some of the products of the institutes had
been sent to universities abroad to improve their
knowledge, following which they would return to
impact their knowledge on other students in the
state.
"We have established 26 institutes which were set
up immediately I assumed office.
"The first is the Informatics Institute and we sent
about 97 of the graduates to Kamapla, Uganda
were they got BSc. degrees.
"We have sent the second set of 581; when they
return, we will employ them and send them to
secondary schools to handle ICT", he said.
He listed some other institutes as Sports,
Livestock, Irrigation, Horticulture and Corporate
Security among others.
According to him, the two state-owned universities
have been involved in the programme in order to
ensure sustenance.
He congratulated Prof. Suleiman Bogoro on his
appointment as TETFund boss, saying that the
Fund was key to the growth of tertiary education in
Nigeria.
Responding, Bogoro said that the North-West
zonal office of TETFund had been approved to be
situated in Kano.
He said that Kano was the first state in the
northern region to establish two state-owned
universities, adding the governor was education-
friendly.
According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan
has directed that TETFund should not be partisan
in the disbursement of fund and interventions in
tertiary institutions.
"State owned universities have benefited a lot from
TETFund intervention irrespective of party
affiliations.
"In the 2014 high impact intervention, the Kano
State University of Science and Technology got the
sum of N3billion.
"All state and federal universities will continue to
receive their due from TETFund as the President
has directed that such interventions should be
party blind", Bogoro said.
Chairman of TETFUND Governing Board, Dr. Musa
Babayo, said TETFund’s intervention in tertiary
institutions in Kano in the area of infrastructure had
created access to over 27,000 students.
- NAN
These are the the exchange rates for naira as at the beginning of this week
1 US Dollar = 204.300 Naira
1 European Euro = 233.183 Naira
1 British Pound = 314.360 Naira
1 Kuwaiti Dinar = 691.172 Naira
1 Libyan Dinar = 150.249 Naira
1 Israeli Shekel = 52.73 Naira
1 Egyptian pound = 26.78 Naira
1 Kenyan Shilling = 2.23 Naira
1 Japanese yen = 1.72 Naira
1 Chinese yuan renminbi = 32.69 Naira
1 CFA Franc = 0.355 (1 Naira = 2.812 CFA
Franc)
1 South African Rand = 17.57 Naira
1 Emirati Dirham (Dubai AED) = 55.62
Naira
1 Qatari Riyal = 56.10 Naira
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 54.45 Naira
1 Malaysian Ringgit = 57.05 Naira
1 Belarusian rubble = 0.013 Naira (1
Naira = 75.61 BYR )
1 Canadian Dollar = 164.077 Naira
1 Ghanaian Cedi = 59.91 Naira
1 Gambian Dalasi = 4.74 Naira
1 Russian Ruble = 3.27 Naira
1 Indonesian Rupiah = 0.016 Naira (1
Naira = 62.27 Rupiah)
1 Australian Dollar = 158.93 Naira
1 Indian rupee = 3.28 Naira
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday sent a
list of eight ministerial nominees to the Senate
for screening and approval.
The list which was contained in a letter signed
by Jonathan and addressed to Senate President,
David Mark, include names of senator Musiliu
Obanikoro from Lagos state; Senator Patricia
Akwashiki (Nasarawa); Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan
(Jigawa) and Prof. Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue).
Others are, Col. Augustine Akobundu (retd.)
(Abia); Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi); Mr.
Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Senator Joel Ikenya
(Taraba).
Jonathan in his letter dated 16th February, 2015
noted that the request for senate screening was
in accordance with Section 147 (2) of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Briefing journalists after plenary, the Chairman,
Senate Committee on Information, Media and
Public Affairs, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, said the
ministerial nominees would start appearing
before the senate as from Wednesday next week.
Source: Punch
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it has distributed 52,233,396 permanent voter's cards.
The information was contained in a mail sent to journalists on Tuesday by the commission. The figure 75.88 per cent out of the
68,833,476 registered voters in the country.
The PVCs collected were as of Tuesday 17th February.
Another bomb explosion has occurred in Biu, a major town in Borno state on Tuesday.
Some residents reported hearing explosions.
Details later
Six of the People's Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives have defected to other parties.
This occurred as the house reconvened from recess.
Three of the decampees defected to All Progressives Congress, Two to Labour Party and one to Accord Party
Details later
Continued for yesterday
#6. Share power
When a man is not willing to share power with his relationship partner, John Gottman’s research
indicates there is an 81% chance that his relationship will self-destruct. While hoarding
power may have got you ahead in your career, this strategy will backfire in your relationship
because your girlfriend will end up feeling like her opinions aren’t valuable and she doesn’t
matter to you. To help save your relationship, develop a more accepting attitude toward
compromise. Practice by giving in on issues you don’t feel extremely invested in.
#5 Find common goals
A study conducted in collaboration with a dating site in the UK found that 13% of couples reported
no longer having the same goals. This situation represents a ticking time bomb, as research has
shown that couples who share dreams and goals have longer-lasting, more satisfying
relationships. If you feel like you’ve been out of sync lately with your partner on this front, discuss your philosophy of life together. The aim is for both of you to share what you want your life to be about, where you want to end up and what these things mean to you. Look for anything that’s common between the two of you and talk about ways to work toward that aspiration together.
Read previous post here
Check out the previous post here
#8. Concentrate on the present to ensure your future:
Interestingly, the ability of your relationship to
weather tough times has a lot to do with your
mutual availability in the here and now.
Unfortunately, over time, for a variety of reasons,
many couples move further apart from each
other, meaning that when a rough patch hits,
their relationship doesn’t survive. To build a
rock-solid relationship, start by acknowledging
rather than ignoring the ordinary moments in
your relationship. If your partner wants to share
something she’s reading on the net, for example,
take a minute to listen, even if you simply grunt
in response. It may sound strange, but if you
accumulate enough of the little things, when you
really need your partner, you’ll find she’s there
for you.
#7. Don't distort:
Researchers have known for a long time that
unhappy couples focus on the negatives in their
relationships. An early study by Robinson and
Price (1980) found that unhappy couples
underestimated the occurrence of pleasurable
events in their relationships by 50%. Also,
Fincham, Beach and Baucom (1987) found that
individuals in distressed relationships were prone
to attributing negative intentions to their
partner’s behavior.
If you find yourself stuck in this rut of distorted
thinking, the next time you have a negative
thought about something your partner has done
try to come up with a more neutral explanation
for her actions. Another strategy is to consider
whether you would judge yourself so harshly if
the situation were reversed. Finally, remind
yourself often of the good times you’ve spent
together recently.
1. Quitting very vital roles in your life simply because you fell in Love. E.g, school, Job, etc.
2. Loving someone more than you Love yourself. Doing for another person what you have never done for yourself.
3. Rushing into marriage in hope that your partner
will become your ultimate provider and source.
4. Abandoning your personal values, beliefs, faith just to please another person and displease yourself.
5. Changing yourself to please another person.
6. Allowing another person to drag your life along a part you never planned or even dreamt of.
7. Giving someone control over vital areas of yourlife. Eg, your Bank account, your Facebook Password, landed property certificates, spare key to your house, ATM password, etc.
8. Allowing a man to dis-virgin you or getting pregnant for a man because he promised you marriage.
9. Living with a man or woman to whom you are not married.
10. Abandoning your family and friends in the name of “I’m in Love.”
11. Buying properties in the name of a man or
woman you are yet to marry.
12. Sticking with a man whom you have dated for at least one year and has refused to proposed nor define the relationship.
13. Turning down proposal from well meaning Lovers and waiting for a Lover who is in a far country in hope that he will marry you.
14. Waiting for a girl to give an answer to your proposal for years without moving on with your life.
15. Sticking to a Lover who treats you like an option, eg, beats you, doesn't call you, insults you when you could be someone else's queen.
16. Planning to indulge yourself in regrettable actions simply to be seen as in vogue
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state yesterday ordered his deputy, Ahmed Ibeto out of the State's Executive Council meeting.
This action was informed by Ibeto's defection from people's Democratic Party to All Progressives' Congress. The governor was said to have insisted on Ibeto leaving, or he wouldn't preside over the meeting.
Ibeto was said to have left the meeting for his office to pack his belongings when the governor threatened to use security to force him out
The below listed universities have a been declared illegal by National Universities Commission.
NUC List of Illegal Universities in Nigeria
2014
1) University of Accountancy and
Management Studies , operating anywhere
in Nigeria .
2) Christians of Charity American
University of Science & Technology,
Nkpor , Anambra State or any of its other
campuses .
3) University of Industry, Yaba , Lagos or
any of its other campuses .
4) University of Applied Sciences &
Management , Port Novo, Republic of Benin
or any of its other campuses in Nigeria .
5) Blacksmith University, Awka or any of
its other campuses .
6) Volta University College, Ho , Volta
Region , Ghana or any of its other
campuses in Nigeria .
7) Royal University Izhia , P .O . Box 800 ,
Abakaliki, Ebonyi State or any of its
other campuses .
8) Atlanta University, Anyigba , Kogi State
or any of its other campuses .
9) Sunday Adokpela University, Otada
Adoka , Otukpo , Benue State or any of
its other campuses .
10) United Christian University, Macotis
Campus, Imo State or any of its
other campuses .
11) United Nigeria University College , Okija ,
Anambra State or any of its
other campuses .
12) Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi,
Benue State or any of its other campuses .
13) UNESCO University, Ndoni , Rivers State
or any of its other campuses .
14) Saint Augustine’ s University of
Technology, Jos, Plateau State or any of
its other campuses .
15) The International University, Missouri ,
USA , Kano and Lagos Study Centres, or
any of its campuses in Nigeria .
16) Collumbus University, UK operating
anywhere in Nigeria .
17) Tiu International University, UK
operating anywhere in Nigeria
18) Pebbles University, UK operating
anywhere in Nigeria .
19) London External Studies UK operating
anywhere in Nigeria .
20) Pilgrims University operating anywhere
in Nigeria .
21) Lobi Business School Makurdi, Benue
State or any of its campuses in Nigeria .
22) West African Christian University
operating anywhere in Nigeria .
23) Bolta University College Aba or any of
its campuses in Nigeria .
24) JBC Seminary Inc . ( Wukari Jubilee
University) Kaduna Illegal Campus.
25) Westlan University, Esie , Kwara State
or any of its campuses in Nigeria .
26) St. Andrews University College , Abuja
or any of its campuses in Nigeria .
27) EC-Council University, USA , Ikeja
Lagos Study Centre .
28) Atlas University, Ikot Udoso Uko , Uyo
Akwa Ibom State or any of its campuses in
Nigeria .
29) Concept College/Universities ( London )
Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria .
30) Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja or
any of its campuses in Nigeria .
31) Kingdom of Christ University, Abuja or
any of its campuses in Nigeria .
32) Acada University, Akinlalu , Oyo State
or any of its campuses in Nigeria .
33) Fifom University, Mbaise, Imo State or
any of its campuses in Nigeria .
34) Houdegbe North American University
campuses in Nigeria .
35) Atlantic Intercontinental University,
Okija , Anambra State .
36) Open International University, Akure .
37) Middle Belt University ( North Central
University) , Otukpo
38) Leadway University, Ughelli , Delta
State
39) Metro University, Dutse/Bwari , Abuja
40) Southend University, Ngwuro Egeru
( Afam) Ndoki, Rivers State
41) Olympic University, Nsukka , Enugu
State
42) Federal College of Complementary and
Alternative Medicine , Abuja .
43) Temple University, Abuja ..
44) Irish University Business School
London , operating anywhere in Nigeria .
45) National University of Technology,
Lafia , Nasarawa State .
46) University of Accountancy and
Management Studies , Mowe , Lagos –
Ibadan Expressway and its Annex at 41,
Ikorodu Road , Lagos.
47) University of Education, Winneba
Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria .
48) Cape Coast University, Ghana,
operating anywhere in Nigeria .
49) African University Cooperative
Development ( AUCD ) , Cotonou,
Benin Republic , operating anywhere in
Nigeria .
50) Pacific Western University, Denver ,
Colorado, Owerri Study Centre .
51) Evangel University of America &
Chudick Management Academic , Lagos.
52) Enugu State University of Science and
Technology ( Gboko Campus ) .
53) Career Light Resources Centre , Jos.
54) University of West Africa, Kwali-Abuja ,
FCT .
55) Coastal Univversity , Iba - Oku , Akwa-
Ibom State .
56) Kaduna Bussiness School , Kaduna.
#10
How satisfied you feel in your relationship has to
do with how connected you feel to your partner.
Research suggests that our ability to connect
with others (our attachment style) is influenced
by our childhood experiences. According to Prior
and Glasser (2006), 65% of children can be
classified as having a secure attachment style,
with the remaining 35% having an insecure
attachment style.
As an adult, an insecure attachment style is
associated with a slew of relationship troubles,
including jealousy, obsession, and emotional
highs and lows. The good news is that,
regardless of your present pattern, you can
become more securely attached, or connected, to
your partner by developing a deeper friendship.
To do that, incrementally spend more time with
her doing something you both enjoy. Also,
regularly ask for updates on your partner’s likes,
dislikes, current stressors, and new interests, as
people change over time.
#9
Remember when you first started dating, how you
used to go that extra mile to impress her? Well,
one of the secrets to a long, fulfilling relationship
is to continue to actively appreciate your partner.
You don’t necessarily have to pull out all the
stops the way you did back in the day, but
regular efforts to show your partner that you
appreciate her will do wonders for improving
your relationship.
If you’re not sure where to start, a good place is
by doling out daily compliments. Tell her she
looks hot or thank her for organizational abilities
when she reminds you to call your mother. The
only rule is to make sure that you genuinely
mean what you say.
To be continued tomorrow....
Singer and ace music producer Cobhams Asuquo
and wife Ojuolape are currently in LA where they
will attend the Grammy Awards happening later
tonight in LA. More pics after the cut...
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The INEC chairman addressed a press conference yesterday night to confirm to the nation about the election postponement.
Read the full text of his address below
STATEMENT ON THE TIMETABLE FOR 2015
GENERAL ELECTIONS BY THE CHAIRMAN,
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL
COMMISSION (INEC), PROFESSOR ATTAHIRU M.
JEGA, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY
07th, 2015.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Introduction
We invited you here today to make known the
position of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) on the timetable for the 2015
general elections. Let me state from the outset
that the Commission’s position was reached after
carefully weighing the suggestions from briefings
held with different stakeholders in the electoral
process.
The conduct of elections in a country like Nigeria
is invariably a collective venture that involves not
just the Election Management Body (EMB), but
also a diverse range of stakeholders, notably
security agencies, political parties and their
candidates, voters, as well as interest groups,
such as the civil society organizations and the
media. To guarantee successful conduct of
elections, there are things that are wholly the
responsibility of the EMB. But there are other
things critical for the success of elections, which
fall outside the control of the EMB.
In other words, while INEC must work hard to
perfect its systems and processes for conducting
elections, and take responsibility for any
imperfections thereof, whatever the Commission
does may not by itself be sufficient to guarantee
the success of elections. There are a number of
issues in the preparation and conduct of an
election, the most critical of which is security,
which is not under the control of INEC.
Current State of INEC’s Preparedness
On Thursday, February 5, 2015, I was invited to
brief the National Council of State, which is the
highest advisory to the President comprising past
and present leaders in Nigeria, on the level of
preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015
general elections. I made a presentation to the
Council titled ‘Preparations for the 2015 General
Elections: Progress Report,’ in which I gave a
detailed account of what the Commission has
been doing in readiness for the national elections
(National Assembly and Presidential) scheduled
for February 14th, and the state elections
(Governorship and State Assembly) scheduled for
February 28th, 2015.
The summary of my presentation to the National
Council of State meeting is that, for matters
under its control, INEC is substantially ready for
the general elections as scheduled, despite
discernible challenges being encountered with
some of its processes like the collection of
Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by registered
members of the public.
In addition, INEC has been doing everything it can
to facilitate the collection of the PVCs by
registered members of the public. As at 5th
February 2015, the total number of PVCs collected
was 45, 829, 808, representing 66.58% of the total
number of registered voters.
In the delivery and deployment of electoral
materials, INEC is also at a comfort level in its
readiness for the general elections as scheduled
(see the presentation to the Council of State).
The Commission’s preparations are not yet
perfect or fully accomplished. But our level of
preparedness, despite a few challenges, is
sufficient to conduct free, fair and credible
elections as scheduled on February 14th and
February 28th. Compared with 2011 when, within
a short time, we conducted general elections that
were universally adjudged free, fair and credible
and the best in Nigeria’s recent electoral history,
our processes are today better refined, more
robust and therefore capable of delivering even
better elections.
Other Variables
But as I mentioned earlier, there are some other
variables equally crucial for successful conduct of
the 2015 general elections that are outside the
control of INEC. One important variable is security
for the elections.
While the Commission has a very good working
relationship with all security agencies, especially
on the platform of the Inter-agency Consultative
Committee on Election Security (ICCES) since its
inception in 2010, it has become pertinent for it to
seriously consider the security advisory presented
to it by the Security and Intelligence Services. I
would like to reiterate here that INEC is an EMB
and not a security agency. It relies on the
security services to provide a safe environment for
personnel, voters, election observers and election
materials to conduct elections wherever it
deploys. Where the security services strongly
advise otherwise, it would be unconscionable of
the Commission to deploy personnel and call
voters out in such a situation.
Last Wednesday, which was a day before the
Council of State meeting, the office of the
National Security Adviser (NSA) wrote a letter to
the Commission, drawing attention to recent
developments in four Northeast states of Borno,
Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe currently experiencing
the challenge of insurgency. The letter stated that
security could not be guaranteed during the
proposed period in February for the general
elections.
This advisory was reinforced at the Council of
State meeting on Thursday where the NSA and all
the Armed Services and Intelligence Chiefs
unanimously reiterated that the safety and
security of our operations cannot be guaranteed,
and that the Security Services needed at least six
weeks within which to conclude a major military
operation against the insurgency in the Northeast;
and that during this operation, the military will be
concentrating its attention in the theatre of
operations such that they may not be able to
provide the traditional support they render to the
Police and other agencies during elections.
INEC’s Decision
We have done wide ranging consultation to enable
us have as much input as is necessary before
taking an informed decision. In the series of
consultations that we held with stakeholders, the
questions consistently posed to them for
consideration are:
(i) In view of the latest development, should INEC
proceed with the conduct of the general elections
as scheduled in spite of this strong advice; and if
so, what alternative security arrangements are
available to be put in place?
(ii) Or, should INEC take the advice and adjust
the schedules of the general elections within the
framework of Constitutional provisions?
The Commission held a meeting after the
consultations, and decided to take the advice of
the Security Chiefs and adjust the dates of the
elections. We have done this relying on Section
26(1) of the Electoral 2010 (As Amended), which
states thus: “Where a date has been appointed for
the holding of an election, and there is reason to
believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely
to occur if the election is proceeded with on that
date or it is impossible to conduct the elections
as a result of natural disasters or other
emergencies, the Commission may postpone the
election and shall in respect of the area, or areas
concerned, appoint another date for the holding of
the postponed election, provided that such reason
for the postponement is cogent and verifiable”.
INEC not being a security agency that could by
itself guarantee protection for personnel and
materials, as well as voters during elections, the
Commission cannot lightly wave off the advice by
the nation’s Security Chiefs. The Commission is
specifically concerned about the security of our ad
hoc staff who constitute at least 600,000 young
men and women, together with our regular staff,
voters, election observers as well as election
materials painstakingly acquired over the last one
and half years. This concern is limited not just to
the areas in the North-eastern part of Nigeria
experiencing insurgency; the risk of deploying
young men and women and calling people to
exercise their democratic rights in a situation
where their security cannot be guaranteed is a
most onerous responsibility. Under such
circumstances, few EMBs across the world, if any,
would contemplate proceeding with the elections
as scheduled. No matter the extent of INEC’s
preparedness, therefore, if the security of
personnel, voters, election observers and election
materials cannot be guaranteed, the life of
innocent young men and women as well the
prospects of free, fair, credible and peaceful
elections would be greatly jeopardised.
Consequently, the Commission has decided to
reschedule the 2015 general elections thus: the
national elections (i.e. Presidential and National
Assembly) are now to hold on March 28th, 2015;
while the state elections (Governorship and State
Assembly) are to hold on April 11th, 2015. It
should be noted that this rescheduling falls within
the constitutional framework for the conduct of
the elections, notably, Sections 76(2), 116(2),
132(2) and 178(2). See also Section 25 of the
Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).
For the avoidance of doubt, we will under no
circumstances approve an arrangement that is
not in line with the provisions of our laws. Our
hope is that with this rescheduling, the security
services will do their best to ensure that the
security environment needed for safe and peaceful
conduct of the 2015 elections is rapidly put in
place.
We in INEC reassure all Nigerians and indeed the
international community of our commitment to do
everything within the law and to conduct free,
fair, credible and peaceful elections. We call on
the security agencies to honour their commitment
to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to take
place within the period of extension. We also call
on Nigerians, political parties, candidates and all
other stakeholders to accept this decision in good
faith and ensure the maintenance of peace.
As for us in INEC we’ll endeavour to use the
period of the extension to keep on perfecting our
systems and processes for conducting the best
elections in Nigeria’s history. In particular, we
believe that we would resolve all outstanding
issues related to non-collection of PVCs, which
agitate the minds of many Nigerians.
Finally, we wish to call on all Nigerians to accept
our decision, which is taken in good faith and the
best interest of deepening democracy ion our
country.
Thank you.
Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR
Chairman, INEC
Students of Obafemi Awolowo University allegedly locked down offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ile-Ife today, disrupting training of ad-hoc staff for the coming elections.
The students were said to be protesting the alleged refusal of electoral officers to select OAU students as ad-hoc staff.
Police on ground could do nothing to stop the protesting students.
It should be recalled that OAU students last year protested over not being paid on time in some polling units after being used as ad-hoc staff in the Osun state August Guber elections.
INEC has denied claims that the February elections have been postponed by six weeks. In a tweet by @inecnigeria the commission said INEC currently meeting with political
parties, meeting with civil society
organisations coming up shortly
#Nigeriadecides
re photos
Tweets
INEC Nigeria
@inecnigeria 1h
INEC Chairman arrives for meeting with
CSOs. Stay with us... #Nigeriadecides
View details ·
INEC Nigeria
@inecnigeria 3h
INEC has not made any official
announcement about Feb. 14th polls.
Meetings still ongoing #Nigeriadecides
We'll keep updating you as the story develops
Bro, when your girlfriend’s sentences are conflicting, she passwords her phone (very tight password that she’s not telling you), she starts visiting uncles and aunts in unknown places, and shows any of the signs mentioned before, you have the right to ask her about it. If she doesn’t give a satisfactory explanation, you have the right to walk away if you cannot cope with it.
It seems the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the 2015 general elections by six weeks.
An official close to the commission said the decision was reached earlier today 7th February at a stakeholders meeting.
INEC is citing insecurity posed by Boko Haram insurgency as it's reason for the postponement.
INEC is yet to give an official statement, but should do so later in the day.
A Massachusetts woman and her 9-year-old
daughter were found hanging Friday in the
basement of their home by police officers who
later discovered what authorities called “written
information” that’s being reviewed to see if it
sheds light on what happened.
The bodies of Ariana Rosa-Soares, 32, and her
daughter, Marley Soares, were found shortly
before 10 a.m. in their home in Brockton, about
25 miles south of Boston, after a concerned
family friend called police asking for assistance
at the house, Plymouth County District Attorney
Timothy Cruz said.
Cruz didn’t disclose the contents of the written
information found at the scene and said it was
too early to say whether the deaths were
murders or a murder-suicide. He said the girl’s
father was interviewed by state police, and it
didn’t appear to be a case of domestic violence.
“It’s a terrible situation which we are going to
get to the end of when we get all the information
together,” Cruz said.
Rosa-Soares also had an 11-year-old daughter
who wasn’t home when the bodies were found,
authorities said.
Brockton and state police are investigating and
medical examiners will be performing autopsies
to try to determine the cause and manner of the
deaths.
Jose Rosa, Rosa-Soares’ father, told The Boston
Globe that he believed his daughter had a mental
illness and that he was concerned about her
ability to be a parent. He said he had sought
help from the state Department of Children and
Families.
Source: Punch
The Osun state election petition tribunal has declared Governor Rauf Aregbesola winner of the August 2014 governorship elections in the state.
Details later
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4. Jacqueline Badger Mars $20 billion
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