Nigerian Churches Engage Actively in National Electoral Process

GENEVA, 21 April 2015 / PRN Africa / -- Member churches of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Nigeria, represented through the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), have been actively engaged in observing the recent Nigerian elections, continuing its stated conviction that effective participation of Nigerians in the processes of governance is very important in shaping the nation's future.

Despite deep political divisions and unrest in the northeast of the country, Nigeria's elections in March were judged free and fair by international observers, and the vote occasioned little violence and disruption.
“The incessant loss of lives, poverty and multiple suffering of Nigerians can be curtailed if Nigerians take full responsibilities in electing leaders. Our involvement in the election observation exercise also helps establish whether the Nigeria 2015 general elections were credible,” reads a recent statement from Emmanuel J. Udofia, the CCN president and Rev. Dr Wushishi I. Yusuf, the CCN general secretary.

The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, in his letter to Nigeria's president-elect Muhammadu Buhari conveyed congratulations on behalf of the WCC. “I was greatly relieved that the election was able to take place without major incidents of violence, and I hope that the period of transition and your taking up your new office will remain similarly peaceful,” said Tveit.

“Our member churches will strive alongside you for the good of the Nigerian people and society, particularly over issues such as fighting corruption and insecurity. I share their belief that you, as President, will work for the good of all Nigerians, irrespective of religion or tribe,” Tveit added.

The CCN, a national ecumenical partner of the WCC, trained and deployed about 2000 domestic election observers in all the 36 states of the Nigerian federation and in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. They observed the entire process of opening, accreditation, voting, counting and also the collation of results at the ward level and local government level.

Based on findings from its domestic election observers, the CCN statement also highlights technical and logistical shortcomings in the electoral process. To improve the process, the CCN has offered a set of recommendations to the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria.

SOURCE World Council of Churches (WCC)

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Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze Sets National Agenda for Buhari's Government

EZE SETS AGENDA FOR BUHARI’S GOVT 
•Says APC victory the beginning of Nigeria’s rebirth 
•Counsels party on May 28th handover date and the sharing of political offices

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has congratulated the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), describing his victory in the March 28 presidential election as being well deserved. Eze in a statement issued Wednesday morning in Port Harcourt also congratulated Nigerians for their wise choice in voting for Gen. Buhari and the APC, describing this as the beginning of the rebirth of the country.

Setting an agenda for the incoming Buhari administration, Chief Eze, the former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), said: “Nigerians expect nothing less than the reinvigoration of our economy, arresting the menace of corruption which was the hallmark of the outgoing PDP government led by President Goodluck Jonathan, eradication of the menace of Boko Haram and reassurance on the security of lives and property of Nigerians, particularly making tangible efforts to get the Chibok girls out of the dungeon of Boko Haram, creation of jobs for our teeming youths, as well as embarking upon policies and projects to unite our country and renew the faith of Nigerians in good governance.”

Apart from celebrating Gen. Buhari, whom he described as Nigeria’s Nelson Mandela, Chief Eze also congratulated other APC icons for the heroic roles they played in liberating Nigeria from the shackles of PDP. “The list is long but at the top of it are our distinguished leaders, namely, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogbonnaya Onu, Atiku Abubakar, the indomitable G7 Governors, former PDP National Chairman, Alh. Abubakar Baraje, former National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and former Vice Chairman of PDP, Dr. Sam Jaja,” Chief Eze said.

He noted that “when the G7 Governors, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dr. Sam Jaja and other patriotic Nigerian leaders met at the Yar’Adua Centre Abuja to do a parallel Convention after the leaving unconstitutional PDP Convention at the Eagle Square on 31st August 31, 2013 to form the defunct New PDP, very few people gave the group any chance of surviving, but that proved to be the beginning of the end of PDP’s days in power.”

Chief Eze expressed gratitude to the visionary G7 Governors, namely, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) for giving him the opportunity to contribute his quota to the revolution that culminated in APC’s ascension to power. He recalled: “Exactly on 9th September, 2013 I was appointed the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New PDP and with the help of the then National Chairman of the party, Alh. Abubakar K. Baraje, and National Secretary, Prince Oyinlola, Nigerians could bear witness that we did our best to salvage the dying PDP but President Jonathan and Bamanga Tukur did not give us any chance in this regard, thus leaving us with no alternative than to merge with other progressive parties on November 26, 2013 to form the APC but without the Governors of Niger and Jigawa states, both of whom chose to remain in PDP. 

“We took the struggle to emancipate Nigeria and free her from charlatans and the shackles of the undemocratic elements impoverishing and misgoverning our country to APC and today that August 31, 2013 move has succeeded in giving us this new hope we all are currently cherishing.”

Chief Eze prayed for God to give APC leaders the wisdom to carry along every interest bloc in the party so that APC may continue to witness the growth and progress. “Along this line, I wish to appeal for the even spread of appointments so as to give everyone a sense of belonging. As much as I appreciate the efforts of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure justice in the appointment and zoning of offices, I respectively appeal to them to ensure that justice is done to the party’s component groups since it is a historical fact that APC is an amalgam of the defunct Action Congress of Congress, All Nigerian Peoples Party, Congress for Progressive Change, New PDP and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance,” he said.

Chief Eze equally advised that the South-South and South-East geo-political zones should not be punished because of the voting pattern as the elections in the two zones were massively rigged in favour of PDP and the results did not in any way reflect the wishes of the people of South-South/South-East.

The APC chieftain advised the party and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the May 28th proposed dinner with outgoing President Jonathan. This, he said, “is laden with a lot of suspicions and undefined motives and should be discarded to avoid us being caught in whatever sinister motive is behind the idea. The handover should be done publicly on May 29th as is the tradition. There is no need for any dinner and secret handing over to Gen. Buhari.”


**********
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

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2015 Presidential Election, the Most Colourful in the History of Nigeria

 
APC presidential campaign rally in Lagos on January 30, 2015.
 
The 2015 presidential election in Nigeria was the most colourful and melodramatic election in the history of Nigeria. No previous presidential election has attracted so much fanfare of glitz and razzmatazz with top Nigerians entertainers in movies, music and comedy joining the bandwagons of the political rallies. 
The All Progressives Congress (APC) made their mega presidential campaign rallies look like music concerts with some of the most popular hip hop artistes performing live. The party also attracted the most beautiful women in the most colourful costumes. 
 
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaign in Imo State.

 
Don Jazzy and his Mavin Records stars Di'ja, D'Prince and others at the APC Presidential Rally on January 30, 2015, at the Teslim Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
 
Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi dancing hip hop "Shoki" as Davido performed.
 
 Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola dancing "Shoki".

 
Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi in his special customized APC sunglasses in the open roof bus in Lagos.
 
Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and Olamide. 

 APC Beauties.

Beautiful wives of APC Leaders. 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also attracted some of the biggest entertainers, including top Nollywood stars and singers. 

Nollywood stars and other celebrities Fidelis Duker, Mrs. Ibinabo Fiberesima- Egbuka, Onyeka Onwelu, Kate Henshaw, Monalisa Chinda, Joseph Benjamin and Femi Ogedemgbe campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan at the PDP presidential rally in Lagos.
 
Waje performing for Performing Goodluck Jonathan.

 Emeka Enyiocha and another star.
Waje performing for President Goodluck Jonathan.

 PDP presidential campaign rally on January 30, 2015, in Calabar, Cross River State.

The presidential flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) attracted the most vicious attacks from members and supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the print and electronic media and also on the most popular social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+; making Buhari the most vilified presidential candidate in the political history of Nigeria since independence and his most critical political adversary, the PDP governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayo Fayose even paid millions of naira for a terrible hate campaign advert against Buhari on the front page of The Punch, the largest circulating daily newspaper in Africa’s most populous country, wishing the retired general death. Other members of the PDP also wished him death and one of them later slumped and died. All the hate campaigns on the street, newspapers, radio, TV and internet were out of their desperation to stop Buhari from defeating their overconfident incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan. But contrary to their expectations, these hate campaigns attracted more sympathizers and followers to Buhari, especially among the youths who ironically preferred such a ruthless incorruptible political leader that will be brave enough to deal with the brazenly corrupt and incompetent administration of President Jonathan. 

Then appeared the beautiful daughter of the people's general, Zahra Buhari and caused a Twitter meltdown on January 13 attracting majority of Nigerian youths to flock to her father echoing the revolutionary mantra “Change” of the APC. Zahra Buhari became the beauty queen of the "Change" revolution on the internet.

The momentum of the “Change” campaign soon blew across all the regions of Nigeria like a hurricane that overwhelmed President Jonathan and his billion dollar political machinery. And the presidential election already scheduled for Valentine’s Day of February 14, 2015, was suddenly postponed with spurious excuses by the government. The presidential election was shifted to March 28, 2015, with many people condemning the postponement. President Jonathan and his presidential campaign intensified their hate campaigns and reinforced the military operations to end the insurgency of the Boko Haram terrorists in the north east of the country with their master plan to use a victory over Boko Haram as the last resort to win the presidential election by all means and at all costs. But the presidential campaign of the APC was turbo charged and unstoppable with Buhari riding on double decker bus with open roof  like a rock star in Owerri, Imo State and his vice presidential nominee, the charismatic law professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo rocking and rolling with the top hip hop stars in Nigeria and hobnobbing with the masses on the streets from Lagos to Abuja. He is the one who actually boosted the new image of the conservative Buhari with panache. And re-branding the people's general for the Millennial Generation or Generation Y won over the youths who are the largest voting block in the 2015 elections. 

See more in the first book on the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria, "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Testimony on the 2015 Presidential Election" by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of "In the House of Dogs", "Bye, Bye Mugabe", "The Prophet Lied", "Diary of the Memory Keeper", and other others on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Tower Books and other major book sellers worldwide. 


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Black Xenophobia is Worse than White Apartheid in South Africa

Black Xenophobia is Worse than White Apartheid in South Africa 

Blacks hating fellow blacks is worse than apartheid. 
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of "In the House of Dogs". 

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• Posted at 13:45 WAT ADDRESS BY MINISTER MAITE NKOANA-MASHABANE TO AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES ACCREDITED TO SOUTH AFRICA IN THE AFTERMATH OF ATTACKS AGAINST FOREIGN NATIONALS IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, 17 APRIL 2015

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Statement from Brand South Africa on the current developments in South Africa, 17 April 2015

Blacks hating fellow blacks is worse than apartheid.

~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of "In the House of Dogs".

PRESS RELEASE

Statement from Brand South Africa on the current developments in South Africa, 17 April 2015

Brand South Africa joins the rest of the country in condemning the acts of violence

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, April 17, 2015/ -- Brand South Africa (http://www.southafrica.info) joins the rest of the country in condemning the acts of violence that have been levelled against some foreign national residing in some of the nine provinces of South Africa.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/bsa.jpg

We assure all our partners in the continent that South Africa stands firmly against all intolerances such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism. As such security forces are hard at work around the clock to protect vulnerable communities in the country.

The country remains true to its founding ethos that any problems or issues of concern by South African citizens must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue.

Brand South Africa assures our partners that South Africans are generally not xenophobic; this is attested to by the high number of foreign nationals who have been successfully integrated into communities all over our country, in towns, cities and villages.

Preliminary work done towards resolving this current challenge indicates that the root causes are socio-economic issues that have been raised and are being attended to by all South African role players.

Brand South Africa expresses its sincere sympathies to the regrettable loss of lives and injuries suffered during this unfortunate occurrence.

We are one Africa bound by many areas of commonalities and our spirit of UBUNTU (humanity - I am because you are) will prevail even under the trying circumstances.

Issued by:
Ms. Alice Puoane
Acting Chief Executive Officer

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Brand South Africa.


Media contact:
Ms. Sindiswa Mququ
General Manager: Africa & Middle East
T: +27 (0) 11 483-0122
M: +27 (0) 83 277 6184
Email: sindiswam@brandsouthafrica.com

SOURCE 
Brand South Africa

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Tina's Wish Clinton

President Bill Clinton speaks about the power of collaboration and cooperation during the Tina's Wish Global Women's Health Award reception at The Waldorf Astoria

Source

Tina's Wish

Media Contact

Kayleigh Lentz, Co-Communications, Inc., klentz@cocommunications.com, (914) 666-0066; Lisa Santacruz, Co-Communications, Inc., lsantacruz@cocommunications.com, (914) 666-0066

Copyright

BEATRICE MORITZ

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An Open Question for Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for Rivers State

An Open Question for Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for Rivers State.

If you are sure that more people love you enough to vote for you, would you need guns, machetes and thugs to attack and murder supporters of your rival opponent?

55 members killed in Rivers; INEC, security agencies set to ...
dailypost.ng/.../55-members-killed-in-rivers-inec-security-agencies-set-to...
Apr 7, 2015 - Decrying the way APC members were being killed by thugs, the APC ... of the instances of what APC members and supporters in Rivers State ...
Graphic photos: APC members shot dead in Rivers state ...
lindaikeji.blogspot.com/.../graphic-photos-apc-members-shot-dead-in.ht...
Mar 28, 2015 - Graphic photos: APC members shot dead in Rivers state, many arrested .... In a few units where APC supporters insisted on 'No Card, No ...

11-04-15
PRESS RELEASE

APC party agents in all 5 polling units in Kalio Ama (Ward 9), Okrika were abducted out of their units by PDP militants while police men on duty watched helplessly. Spirited efforts were made by other APC stalwarts to trace, locate and release them where they were being held. By the time they were restored to their duty posts, electoral materials had been hijacked and taken away by PDP members in all the units.

No security presence in ward 7, Okrika.. Meanwhile. Samuel Okoko, a PDP member is openly patrolling with police and one Philemon Atelibo moving around with over 20 cult boys. APC supporters are being attacked in Ward 5, Okrika.

In Borokiri in Port harcourt a policeman has been shot dead. 0n confirmed report has it that the Presidency has given order to re-deployed the AIG 0gunshaken immediately for assisting to ensure peace in Rivers State which did not go well with Dame Patience Jonathan.

 ~Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
SSA Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State.
11 - 04 – 15

 Governorship Situation Report 1 By Bekee Anyalewechi <publisher@theneighbourhood.com.ng>

Governorship [/House of Assembly Elections
Rivers State
Situation Report 1
Saturday, April 11, 2015

Situation report – Across Rivers State

The Governorship/Houses of Assembly Elections in Rivers State have been a miniature war with armed militias and thugs working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Elections in Rivers State appear to be a do-or-die battle for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDD, and its chieftains. Yesterday, Friday April 10, Sports Minister, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, arrived his native Abonnema, Akuku Toru local Government, in company with security agents and armed militiamen went around the community terrorising supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC.


The heavily armed militiamen working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP seized electoral materials in Akuku Toru Wards 15, 16 and 17. They stormed the area where officials were distributing materials in a gunboat manned by one Chief Isimama Ikiriko, hijacked all materials at gunpoint. The attackers were led by two notorious cultists who were identified as

Hope Dan Opusungi and Kenneth Dan Opusungi.

Having seized the materials, the armed men barred polling agents of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from escorting the materials to the distribution centre. The two Opusungis’, like Chief Ikiriko, are all known card-carrying members of PDP. Kenneth Opusingi and his crew were lodged at De Don Hotel in Abonema. All these activities were carried out in the presence of Security Officials.

Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo’s close associate, Roland Sekibo, also known as gun runner, was moving with soldiers, policemen and suspected cultists. The cultists used machetes and other dangerous weapons to unleash terror on All Progressives Congress, APC. Many people were driven into the bush where they sought refuge, while Sekibo, military men, policemen and crew took over the Abonnema Bridge turning back APC chieftains and supporters. Shooting continued and still ongoing as at the time of the report.

Prior to the elections, Dame Patience Jonathan wife of the President and a native of Oba ama Okirka, had visited Rivers State meeting with Tom Ateke, an ex militant leader, security chiefs, DPO and other INEC personnel. From threatening to cajoling she appealed that she will be disgraced by an APC win in Rivers State.

To ensure that she achieves her aim she has turned Rivers State into a killing field. In Idu, ONELGA, the youth leader, Hon. Clever Orukowu was reported dead. Also in Borokiri, Rex Lawson Extension, a policeman was killed.


In her hometown, the Election Officer has forced manual accreditation on all parties regardless of resistance by agents. militia men, Nna Alibi, Solomon Opusiki, Jeremiah Opuikpaki, Angbona and Ogubi are going round from ward to ward shooting and retrieving the result sheets. They have hijacked materials in wads 2,4,5,6,7,8 and 9. In ward 3, PDP members were thumb printing in the home of Daibi Biamofori.
Yet all isn’t gloom in Tai Local Government Area, Local Government Areas, MOPOL56 2ic recovered materials meant for nine wards in the home of Dr. Jacobson Nbina’s house in Semi, Tai. However attempts were being made to release the culprits as at the time of filing this report.

Elsewhere in Abua/Odual - most materials were hijacked by PDP led by Henry Ogiri (DFA, NDDC) in connivance with INEC EO to Okolomade via Bayelsa State. PDP thugs chased all APC agents and other party members out of Units 4 - 9 in Ward 003 and carted away with all the electoral materials. Marshall Uwom from Ward 003, Otari community, hijacked INEC materials with thugs just now. In Ahoada East – INEC Presiding Officers, POs, lodged in Palm Royal Hotel by PDP officials. Promised N100,000 each to rig in favour of PDP. No security presence at all and materials are about to be moved. While in Emuohua, armed militia men, sponsored by Elder Chinedu Tasie/Nwabueze who lives in town and they have camped in Chineme Madume’s house in Omuaran village in Ibaa Ward 6 in Emohua LGA. In ward 4 in Emuohua, SPO, Adona Igwe has carted away with the result sheets and other sensitive materials. She was eventually located.


In Tombia, Degema Local Government Area, and ex-Niger Delta warlord and House of Assembly candidate on the platform of PDP, Farah Dagogo, and his group terriorized the community, shooting and threatening all those who would not vote for the PDP.


In Andoni, hometown of Rivers state Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, Security threat against APC members by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by suspected Islander Cult group who were lodged in Ebukuma Town, Andoni local government. Gun shots were fired by the PDP armed men warning APC members not to come out on Saturday to vote. In Ward 007, PU 002, thugs with guns threatening the community people. Accra Titus Jones who was caught with AK-47 Riffles with four others by the police is from Andoni Ward 5, Ikuru Town and a notorious cultist. He is the same boy that led PDP thugs to the ward to hijack election materials in the last elections. Thugs hired by a PDP women leader Mrs Tonye Oyinda are presently mounted in the polling unit to prevent Ibinabo Briggs (APC) agent from going close to the materials.

In Asari Toru - Commissioner for Women Affairs’ house is being attacked by thugs who are shooting and setting her house ablaze with explosives. No security, PDP thugs are moving about the community shooting guns and dynamites. They have threatened to burn down Dr. Dawari's George's house. One Mr. John had his property and car were vandalized. The issue is all over Buguma town. In Ward 019, they informed that there is shooting by thugs and it's being spare-headed by one Dr. Wokoma in the entire Buguma town. The caller also informed that they threw dynamite. Properties are being burnt right now. The people can't come out. They are scared. They need security urgently - Ward 005. In Ward 025, the caller reported that all the electoral materials have been burnt.
The heavily armed militiamen working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP seized electoral materials in Akuku Toru Wards 15, 16 and 17. They stormed the area where officials were distributing materials in a gunboat manned by one Chief Isimama Ikiriko, hijacked all materials at gunpoint. The attackers were led by two notorious cultists who were identified as

Hope Dan Opusungi and Kenneth Dan Opusungi.

Having seized the materials, the armed men barred polling agents of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from escorting the materials to the distribution centre. The two Opusungis’, like Chief Ikiriko, are all known card-carrying members of PDP. Kenneth Opusingi and his crew were lodged at De Don Hotel in Abonema. All these activities were carried out in the presence of Security Officials.

Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo’s close associate, Roland Sekibo, also known as gun runner, was moving with soldiers, policemen and suspected cultists. The cultists used machetes and other dangerous weapons to unleash terror on All Progressives Congress, APC. Many people were driven into the bush where they sought refuge, while Sekibo, military men, policemen and crew took over the Abonnema Bridge turning back APC chieftains and supporters. Shooting continued and still ongoing as at the time of the report.

Prior to the elections, Dame Patience Jonathan wife of the President and a native of Oba ama Okirka, had visited Rivers State meeting with Tom Ateke, an ex militant leader, security chiefs, DPO and other INEC personnel. From threatening to cajoling she appealed that she will be disgraced by an APC win in Rivers State.


To ensure that she achieves her aim she has turned Rivers State into a killing field. In Idu, ONELGA, the youth leader, Hon. Clever Orukowu was reported dead. Also in Borokiri, Rex Lawson Extension, a policeman was killed.

APC agents in Bonny, staged a peaceful protest as all the SPO's in Ward 012 were PDP Exco members. An APC agent was detained by INEC officials in Bonny. One Victor Oko Jumbo led over a hundred cult boys loyal to Wike into Bonny. They are familiar faces at the University of Port Harcourt. Leader of the armed cultists was identified as Uche Ekwueme. Efforts to make arrest failed. One PDP Randolph Brown is in-charge of the police. The DPO botched the plan.


In Ward 015, PU 001, Gokana Local Government Area, Chairman has been abducted by Solomon Ndigbara. The entrance has been padlocked and the thugs are armed. Ward 016, PU 002 no INEC staff or material visible as at that moment(8.43am). Ward 004, Result sheets have been diverted. Ward 004 Original Result sheets and ballot papers have been diverted in connivance with INEC officials and INEC adhoc staff who are PDP members.


There were shootings in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Ward 2 Onanelu by PDP thugs. In Omoku, all returning officers are members of PDP. We had hoped that there would be reshuffling. This was some of their strategy last time in Ward 001 and it is working for them again. Festus the Ward Collation Officer reported that the Police DPO did not allow APC agent and the APC chieftain Ofule Enebele to take stock of Election materials. The DPO was later involved in a private discussion with the PDP Stakeholders, Ward 014. Ward 006, no result sheet. Ward 016, PU 015 no result sheet. INEC officials are being replaced with PDP members. Ward 008, no result sheet.

Obio/Akpor - APC agents are not being allowed into the primary school at ward 6 Obio/Akpor while PDP agents Odogu (PDP Ward 6 chairman), Jaja Mgba and Ihianhi Chioma were allowed to go in.

The DPO, Ozuoba Divisional Police headquarters, from the information gathered is assisting the PDP in Akpor kingdom under the leadership of ‘Heaven’, the ward Chairman, to snatch away sensitive materials like result sheets this night. Ammunition arriving through Rumukparali by boat.

Mr .Wilson was escorting electoral materials but had to run for safety when PDP thugs arrived and threatened everyone's safety. Mr Wilson ran for cover and abandoned his agents' phone at home.

Materials are being transferred from the INEC truck into a Mitsubishi Bus at Rumuola College of Arts and Science with the assistance of the police.

INEC materials have been tempered with at the Obio/Akpor RAC centre. They have been changed with fake materials but our (APC) agents are fully on ground to make sure no material is distributed to the units until we have verified their validity. But we need security to make sure we are safe. Commander has not answered my calls since.

Obio/Akpor collation centre, the materials were hijacked last night. No PDP agents were found present.

In Ward 006, police manhandling all APC Agents and restricting their access to electoral materials while giving PDP agents full access. Materials are moving to polling units without APC agents accompanying them.

In Ward 011, no result sheet. Call from Rumuola rack centre. police prevented APC members from coming in. at 2:00am a car drove in exchanging materials to the vehicles. Police shut into the air to scare them away. They need the INEC officials to ascertain if the other materials are original.

A special police unit drafted to the RAC covering wards 9, 10 and 11 situate at St. John's model primary school Rumueme beat up and chased APC agents away to allow Anugbum Onuoha (cousin to the PDP Guber Candidate) to come in with a carton containing some electoral materials and took away original results sheets for those wards. These 3 wards have no less than 90,000 votes.

No result sheet in Rumueme Ward Ward 010, PU 023. In unit 8 inclusive in the troubled area and the caller said it's Rumuomasi rack centre(where materials for election are to be collected). The caller informed that the policemen brought in materials which were exchanged with other materials.

Caller said the result sheet is missing in Ward 008. Heavy Security presence needed. There is threat to life and property in Ward 004, PU 003. Report as at 8.19.06am of April 11.

Attention situation room, the DPO Ozuoba divisional Headquarter, from the information gathered is assisting the PDP in Akpor Kingdom under the leadership of Heaven, the ward Chairman to snatch away sensitive materials like result sheets this night. Arms and ammunition being brought into Rumukparali.

Despite the crisis and violence visited across Rivers State by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP even before the elections, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was in early lead prompting renewed attacks on APC members and polling units.

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The Ezekwesili Personal Principles and Individual Integrity “Test” (EPPIT) as Our Guide Moving Forward

 The Ezekwesili Personal Principles and Individual Integrity “Test” (EPPIT) as Our Guide Moving Forward
~ By  Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi

On the basis of pure principles with a new Nigeria ahead of all of us, there is need for the nation to be guided by individuals and institutions with high values, using what could be called the Ezekwesili Personal Principles and Individual Integrity Test (EPPIT). 

Henceforth and periodically our potential and current public leaders could take the EPPIT informally and we could generally measure their works and deeds constructively. In this way, a future Nigeria would be led by competent individuals and solid Institutions. For much too long, public institutions in Nigeria have revolved around corruption, religious strain and ethnic divide, resulting in chaotic institutional practices.

The EPPIT could help in fetching out individuals who would help our public and private institutions. The   EPPIT could help reveal the quality of the individuals occupying our institutions. It could help uncover individuals who would use their knowledge to develop public policies that bring about public good, restore institutional confidence, and act as a   tool to help reveal individuals who are all about better management of resources, whose focus are on value-added services and are comfortable with a living in a manner that is not excessive. 

EPPIT could assist in revealing persons who, with decent and dignified ethics, could help nourish our God-given assets in a non-personal   and collective manner.

The   EPPIT could help reveal potential leaders who are concerned about the improvement in the standard of living of the people. It could help reveal   immoral politicians that are always money hungry and are all about looting the public treasury. It may help reveal those who value intelligence, development and democracy. 

The EPPIT could help reveal a line of potentially aspiring and active leaders who believe in the spirit of uplifting leadership, inclusive leadership, trusting leadership, and collective leadership towards institutional, political,   economic and   governance successes.

The EPPIT should be extended to others in the media, military, police, education, and healthcare and all other public-related institutions. The test could also help uncover those who may undermine national empowerment and who are all about personal power, selfish needs, and self-enrichment.

The EPPIT which was informally carved out from the nation-building pronouncements and deeds by Obiageli Ezekwesili could guide us to identify individuals imbibed with the spirit to building a common national character, expression, and loyalty through robust institutions.
~~
Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, a Consultant in National Psychology, and a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association.
Email: Jos5930458@aol.com
 

 

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President Barack Obama, Nigerians Await Your Visit as the Nation Shifts from an Underground Presidency

President Barack Obama, Nigerians Await Your Visit as the Nation Shifts from an Underground Presidency

~ By Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi

Nigerians have not stopped celebrating since March 2015 which marked the point when the Jonathan Administration, where trust was very hard to establish, where the leadership behaved as if Nigeria was their personal kitchen, and where the use of political power through the military and police expanded like we have never seen before in our democratic history, ended.

We are very hopeful that in the coming months and years, open acts of political corruption, underground forms of government business, extended use of political gang members, dirty little secrets, open bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, and corrupt use of the judiciary will be fully minimized or completely eviscerated.

The heaviest fundamental threat to our national security and way of life was public corruption, at least in the last thirty six months, not excluding issues of insurgency which are a direct side effect of corruption-induced poverty.

Since 2010 especially, the quality of our courts, legislature, treasury, police, prisons, military, and other national security-related supports has been so bad with each of them singularly situated to feed into the politics of corruption in favor of Jonathan’s underground economy or government while the people looked on helplessly.

Now the days of these political deities who saw themselves as worthy of worship by the rest of us are gone forever.

Here is what we believe about President Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, God willing, Allah willing. He will help bring back national integrity to the country. Certainly, he is not an angel, and in spite of his hard ways in the yesterdays, the people see him as, all in all, a good man who will be able to rebuild trust, respect and productive governance guided not in half-truths, but in full truths. We see him as a man who will open his ears to learning and open himself to critics from decent advisers.

Buhari, being a man of good faith and learning, will not be open to damaging acts of compromise and the people see him as being able to bring in discipline, efficiency, high work ethics and transparency into the government.

It is our hope that this generally known cool but deeply thoughtful man, with good reasons, will not be aloof to the basic security and corporate needs of the people.

It is our hope that he will do good through the government by rebuilding or refreshing institutions that will do the most good works in our society.

We hope he will institute cost efficient government programs that will be most effective and marked with ways that will express caring and compassion toward the people.

In his time, let public institutions evidence the clothing of moral image and do good things, just like good organizations, churches and charities do, and operate in terms of responsibility.

In his time, just like the people want the government to care for them, let the people also care for the government by exhibiting step by step good conduct and proper etiquette when interacting with those in government--collective acts that will drastically reduce widespread suffering, despair, greed, and abandonment and allow the nation to move up and not down as seen in recent years.

President Barack Obama, as a son of Africa and the leader of the free world, in your last visits to Africa, you promised the people of the continent a new model of democratic partnership. Sir, now is the time!

Twice you avoided Nigeria, but do not do this now, as the people are waiting to see you side by side with Buhari in the coming months, sharing your ideas of trade, investment, healthcare, education, electricity, infrastructure, job creation, transportation, technology, security, economic growth, and institution-building.

President Barack Obama, with your mixed background of Muslim and Christian heritage, you will be in the right place during your visit, as we all know you clearly understand our people with all of their challenges and struggles, especially under an estranged government in the last few years.

Given your ongoing great successes in America and around the world, in terms of building a healthy and fair system of democracy, Nigeria calls out to their son to visit us in the nearest future, and lay a foundational opening on which to begin to build a new relationship with America, and the rest of the world. Sir, we look forward to seeing you soon as Buhari seeks to move Nigeria to what I call "A Peaceful, Progressive, and Prosperous Nigeria (APPN)."

President Barack Obama, as with your other African visits and dancing moves, such as we saw in Tanzania, this time Nigerians will give you the best welcome dance and the whole world will see you as you shake to Davido Skelewu's music. Sir, it is one of a kind! Welcome to Nigeria in advance!

Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, a Consultant in National Psychology, and a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. Jos5930458@aol.com

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Top Executives in the Private Sector in Nigeria

Who are the top executives in all the different sectors of corporate Nigeria? These are outstanding Nigerian men and women who are leaders of industry and nation builders of a New Nigeria in the 21st century. Elvis Krivokuca is the Editor-in-Chief of a directory of 32 books on "Who's Who" in the private sector of Africa's largest economy published by Top Executives Publications and Rankings in the United States of America.

Nigerian Top Executives in the Entertainment & Media Industry

Nigerian Top Executives in the Advertising, Marketing & PR Industry

 


The book Nigerian Top Executives in the Design, Printing & Publishing Industry contains comprehensive biographies of the top 10% highest-ranked executives of Nigeria’s design, printing & publishing industry. Inclusion in the bibliography was determined according to a unique and objective criteria that consisted of a combination of total number of employees managed and visibility in international business networks. The serious academic research about business achievements makes this book a world-renowned authority with the absolute power to honor performance and recognize excellence in the industry. As the result of a comprehensive research exercise, a number of top executives were selected for inclusion in the directory.

These individuals were identified as personifying passion, courage, commitment, success, excellence and spirit. This book represents an honor of championship and recognizes the struggles endured to ascend to the top, especially by those “silent” hard working people who contributed to the advancement of their companies and to the people of Nigeria. In order to compile this work, a few million biographies were carefully analyzed. All biographies originated from public sources and were made public by the people themselves. Due to the fact that only a small fragment of Nigerian business leaders can be included in a directory of this nature, a strict selection criteria was meticulously applied and there were no exceptions.

While every effort has been made to ensure the executives that have made a difference to Nigeria’s design, printing & publishing industry have been addressed, there is a distinct possibility that the list of people included in this book is not complete, as there will always be great business leaders who strictly refrain from publishing information about themselves. It is also possible that some of the data sources employed were outdated or even inaccurate. As such, while the book contains the best information that could be found in public sources at the time of the research, it remains far from perfect.

The intention is to continue to publish this directory on an annual basis in order to gradually increase the quality and accuracy of the material contained within it. A large number of copies of the book will be provided to governmental institutions and public administration, universities and colleges, important associations and to media archives. Above all, as this unique book contains biographies of top Nigerian executives who hold precise positions in individual companies, it is deemed that the information will be of use to both professionals and the general public. Nigeria’s economy can be strengthened through stronger integration of key executives in certain industries. This book represents a small but significant contribution to the achievement of this objective.


 

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