Friday, February 14, 2014

Fear Grips President Jonathan's Camp Over Obasanjo's Latest Moves

The disclosure by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that President Goodluck Jonathan promised to spend only one term in office has ignited a fresh anxiety in the President’s camp. The is fear that Obasanjo’s comments may be a pointer to a major coalition against Dr Jonathan’s second term bid, which is well known, but yet to be officially announced.

Obasanjo stirred the hornet’s nest on Tuesday in London in an interview in which he confirmed that Jonathan on several occasions asked for only one term in office.
“President Jonathan said, not only once but twice, publicly, not only inside Nigeria but also outside Nigeria, that he would have one term, and he said that to me. 
One of the things that is very important in the life of any man or any person is that he will be a man or a person of his word. If you decide your word should not be taken seriously, that’s entirely up to you.”

Things You Never Knew About St. Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines day that's what almost what everyone is saying now and would continue saying until the day is over,but there are some things most of us don't know about today so lets check them out below.....

The Real Story Behind This Day (St Valentines day)

Happy Valentine's day to you reading this. Yes you..*smiles* all your special friends....How are you spending your day? Romantic dinner, work, at the orphanage, or in tears at home?...
Flowers, candy, red hearts and romance. That's what Valentine's day is all about, right? Well, maybe not...For those who don't know..this is the real story of how this day came about....

Pastor Caught in Armed Robbery in Lagos Confesses; He Says "The Flesh Is Weak"

Indeed, wonders shall never end! Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a pastor for over his involvement with notorious armed robbery gang that has been terrorising banks in major cities in the South-West of Nigeria. In his confession, Pastor Isaiah blamed the devil and greed that pushed him into armed robbery:
"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I am a man of God. I won’t tell you lies. I joined the gang when one Confidence ran to me for cover when he was declared wanted by the police. From assisting the man, he introduced me to their chairman, Fineboy. 
"This Fineboy now told me to provide my Honda bullet car for an operation as their vehicle was faulty. After the operation, he gave me N400,000 and I still drove them to First Bank robbery, where I got N300,000. We did not succeed in the Access Bank robbery and I was very sad when I read in the papers that three policemen were killed. 
"I am a man of God and I preach the word of God; the Bible condemns all the vices that I involved myself in but greed and the devil made me to do it. Again, I was afraid to quit as Fineboy had warned that he would wipe out my family if I tried to quit.
"I am very happy that I have been liberated from armed robbery by this arrest but my fear is that my arrest will affect Christiandom as those who reposed their trust on me as a pastor, will be discouraged. But it is better I face the shame and go to heaven than to die and go to hell fire."

Amaechi Meets New Rivers Police Commissioner: Warns Him Against Partisanship

Newly appointed Rivers State Commissioner, Tunde Ogunsakin has promised to manage the state’s security affairs without bias to either the All Progressives Congress, which Governor Rotimi Amaechi is a member of, or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking in Port Harcourt during an official visit to Governor Amaechi, Mr. Ogunsakin assured that he would police the state without bias, as both the president and the governor have their respective roles in ridding the state and Nigeria at large of crimes and criminality.
CP Ogunsakin said: "The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is the Chief Security Officer of the Federation while the Inspector General of Police is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Federation. 
"Also, in a state, the Executive Governor is the Chief Security Officer and the Commissioner of Police is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the State. This relationship is definitely best appreciated when it is harnessed to ensure peace and tranquillity in the state."

Shocker: Bamanga Tukur’s Wife Dumps PDP, Registers In APC

Hajiya Asiya Mohammed Bello, wife of the sacked PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, dumped the party which disgraced her husband and registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Gabasawa Ward in Kaduna North Local Government area of Kaduna State.
Tukur's wife registration card number is 0623374.
"It is true that our registration officer registered Tukur’s wife and issued her a registration card. This is one of the developments of democracy in Nigeria where you see an immediate past PDP chairman’s wife registering for APC
"As far as I am concerned, they might be united as husband and wife but may have different opinions as the far as the political scenario is concerned, it is to show you that it is a falling period for the PDP."

President Jonathan is Still Learning, He'll Do More if Re-elected –Bafarawa

Former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, who left APC, a party he formed with others just because the governor of Sokoto State, who humbled him in the last election decided to join APC, has been singing a different song since joining the PDP.
Because he has been criticising President Goodluck Jonathan strongly in recent times, he still could not praise him comfortably now. Below are the thoughts he shared with journalists on Jonathan.

What prompted your defection to the PDP?

PDP’s Many Lies and The Truth About Obasanjo’s Visit to Rivers

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress says it is shocked by the shameful lies being spewed out by the PDP in the State, particularly on the working visit of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, that is scheduled for next week Monday, 17th February, 2014.

The APC in a statement by Chief Eze Chukwemeka Eze said:
“It is not in our character to join issues with a group whose stock-in-trade is falsehood and the dishing out of lies upon lies against a performing Governor just because he decided to dump the visionless Peoples Democratic Party and join his soul mates in APC, where he truly belongs. Even so, we are constrained to respond and set the records straight because lies, when told many times without being challenged, could be accepted as fact by the unsuspecting public. 
"In this regard, we wish to respond as follows regarding some of the malicious lies by the PDP leadership in Rivers State as contained in a statement issued by the propagandist Jerry Needam alias ‘Jerry the Liar’ on behalf of the PDP’s factional State Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah...

Missing funds: Forensic auditors to probe NNPC, others

The Federal Government on Thursday said it would appoint independent forensic auditors to investigate transactions carried out in the oil and gas sector.

The auditors, according to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will examine the books of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation as well as other government agencies operating in the oil and gas sector.

The move, she stated, would help to unravel the controversies surrounding the alleged unremitted $20bn oil revenue by the NNPC.

Oduah, others still under EFCC investigation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  has said  that all those involved in the controversial purchase of  N255m  bulletproof cars  by the Nigerian Aviation Civil Authority, including the sacked   Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, were still being investigated.

 A   source at the EFCC, who made this known to The  PUNCH   on Thursday in Abuja,  said  the outcome of the investigation would determine those to be  prosecuted.

 “We are progressing in the investigation into the scandal and I can assure you that anyone who is found culpable will be prosecuted; just wait and see,” he  stated....

Drama as Reps refer 2014 budget to committees

The 2014 budget passed second reading  in  the House of Representatives on Thursday after it went through three days of debate by lawmakers.

The budget of N4.6tn was later referred to the committee stage where the various standing committees of the House would invite agencies to defend their proposals.

However,  the session was not devoid of drama, as the Peoples Democratic Party members and the Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, exchanged words several times.

JAMB fixes UTME for April 12, May 17

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has scheduled this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for April 12 and May 17.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, said  on Thursday that  paper-pencil test  would hold on April 12 while computer-based test would hold on   May 17,2014, across 2,000 centres.
Ojerinde stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Obasanjo Agrees To Commission Amaechi's Projects In Rivers; PDP Is Very Angry

President Olusegun Obasanjo is one man you just can't put in a box, he operates out of the box at all times and there is nothing anyone can do to change that. He said Nigeria is now his constituency, not just PDP.

But the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has been crying since they learnt of the invitation the former President got from Governor Rotimi Amaechi with a view to showcase his wonderful works in the state.
"Who in this world would say he does not know that Governor Amaechi built over 350 primary and secondary schools? But the truth is that Obasanjo is coming to Rivers State to see and inauguration what some blind leaders refused to see."
But the opposition PDP is seeing Obasanjo's invitation to Rivers State differently.

Update On Stella Oduah's Controversial Sack

The active online community was jolted back to political reality on Wednesday afternoon, when the news of the sacking of controversial Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, filtered in. Although the consensus of several Nigerians on Twitter and Facebook is that her resignation came late, many still consider it as good news.

Writer, social commentator, Tolu Ogunlesi, tweeted: “So BMW Queen @stellaoduah is no longer a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye, also joined the unending debate on Twitter. His tweet read:
“Well-done, Mr President, for sacking Orubebe and Stella Oduah. Though belated, kudos, GEJ. Deziani is next on line. The people are winning.” 
Dino Melaye later wrote, “We will re-file our cases against Stella Oduah and Orubebe at the EFCC and in court. No public thief will go unpunished. Power is transient.”

President Jonathan Holds Secret Meeting with PDP Senators in Aso Rock

After their dollars bribe to some APC lawmakers was exposed by one of the lawmaker they gave money to but refused, the PDP leadership in the Senate met with President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night in the Aso Rock presidential villa to plot a fresh move against the fast-growing opposition ahead of 2015.

Senate President, David Mark, had announced at the end of the senate proceedings on Wednesday that PDP members should assemble in his residence, they all moved together to the meeting from Apo quarters.

The agenda of the meeting was how the senators can work for Jonathan's 2015 ambition...

New Rivers State Police Commissioner Reads The Riot Act

The new commissioner of police in Rivers State, Tunde Ogunsakin on Wednesday took over from the former controversial commissioner, Joseph Mbu, with a warning that he would not tolerate any forms of indiscipline and corruption among officers and men of the command.
“I will not tolerate acts of indiscipline from you, the officers and your men; everyone is expected to do his or her job. I expect everyone to be committed to his or her job. I expect total loyalty to the Nigeria Police Force. 
“If you don’t perform your duties, or if you are found wanting in your duty posts, you will be summarily dealt with. I will be going out on patrol to check how officers and men of this command are doing in their duty posts."
The commissioner of police disclosed that things have changed and assured that he will pay a courtesy visit on Governor Rotimi Amaechi at Government House as the chief security officer of the state...

Tinubu Wades Into Osun School Crisis

National leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, arrived Osogbo on Wednesday morning to intervene in the school classification crisis in Osun state. He had Bishop Magnus Atilade and Bishop Ayo Opadokun in tow to attend the meeting with the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Osun Branch.
Tinubu enjoined the leaders to be careful not to turn their children to canon fodder for political battle. "We must be weary of those exploiting this situation for political ends," he implored. "Our children will be exposed to danger. Their education will suffer unless we settle down and deal with these issues."

Here's President Jonathan's Legacy

The president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan said at the launch of two new programs in Abuja, February 11th, 2014, that his legacies will outlive his administration. Many Nigerians are delighted as it appears the Nigeria’s president since February 2010 is making such statements as he wraps up his reign and prepares to hand over in 2015 at the end of his current tenure and 8 years in Aso rock.

 Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan promised Nigerians that he will not be contesting re-election.

It is true that the legacy of Goodluck Jonathan and his administration will long outlive him and be talked of, written of and studied in Nigerian schools for generations to come. 
Below we tried to summarize 20 of his most notable legacies...

Some of my critics are very corrupt –President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday took on critics of his government’s posture in the fight against corruption, saying some of the critics were very corrupt individuals. The President has been under severe criticisms from Nigerians over his attitude towards the fight against corruption, especially among top officials of government.

In fact, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, in a scathing remark recently, said the ‘body language’ of the President showed that he was not interested in fighting the scourge of corruption. The Speaker spoke at an event organised by the Nigerian Bar Association to mark the 2013 International Anti-corruption Day in Abuja on December 9, 2013.

Jonathan sacks Oduah, three other ministers

Less than 48 hours after ordering his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, to resign, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday sacked four ministers from the Federal Executive Council.

The affected persons are the ministers of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah; Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe; Police Affairs, Navy Cpt. Caleb Olubolade; and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.

All the ministers, except Oduah, attended the FEC meeting on Wednesday at which Jonathan announced their exit.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Defection: PDP regains House majority status

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday regained its majority status in the House of Representatives following the  defection of five members of the All Progressives Congress to the PDP.

The PDP, which had earlier lost the majority status in the House to the APC, now has 178 lawmakers to APC’s 168.

Although the APC also gained one member from the PDP on Tuesday, the latter is now in the majority.
The APC had moved to 172 members on December 19, 2013 after 37 PDP lawmakers defected to the party.

How The APC Can Emerge Victorious In 2015

The All Progressives Congress started with a momentum as a radical opposition party in Nigeria. Relatively, it seems to have achieved visibility nationwide, especially in the media. It has also succeeded in antagonising the ruling Peoples Democratic Party on many issues and has attracted many prominent politicians from the ruling party including five governors and a former Vice-President recently. 
The party has also caused sizeable apprehension in the National Assembly and in the process “harvested” many senators and members of the House of Representatives into its fold. As a political party that had only recently commenced formal membership registration, this is no mean feat. 
However, the fast-growing party must go beyond all these if it intends to successfully displace the PDP and form government at the centre in 2015
Below are three steps APC must take urgently if its desire to upstage the PDP will be realised...

2015 will be better than 2011 elections – Jega



ABUJA — Contrary to criticisms that have trailed the recently released time-table for the 2015 general elections by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega has avowed that the exercise would be much better than the previous ones.

Professor Jega made the promise, yesterday, in Abuja at the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC/INEC forum with broadcast operators on media coverage of elections.

Jega said INEC had learnt its lessons from Anambra election conducted last year, which was dogged by logistic lapses, but was quick to say that INEC would not allow a repeat of such mistakes in the coming elections.

Read Professor Pat Utomi's Exposé On PDP versus APC

Clichés have a way of reinforcing stereotypes and shielding either the truth or an understanding of trends that result in more than the narrow visions of the point. There is perhaps no better example of this than frequently repeated view that there is no difference between the major political parties in Nigeria today. It is a cliché that needs discerning exploration.

It may be true that no clear set of ideas defined engagement of parties in the wake of the hurried departure of the military in 1999 but, lessons from history suggest that the kind of groaning and travails that currently mark the system have had a way of giving birth to something new and more desirable. It is this history that leads me to being more cautious in judgement.
It is in fact my expectation that the more carefully observed signs pointing to an All Progressives Congress (APC) that will be ideologically left of centre, and very peoples-oriented, a kind of people sensitive and responsive enterprise economy, that is justice focused. Also that even the PDP will come out of this process less prone to impunity, even if conservative, and may become more disciplined. 
Why do I think so? 

How PDP Is Using Dollars To Bribe House of Reps Members

PDP has gone to court to challenge the decision of its members to dump the party and join the APC but they do not have enough confidence in their case in court, at least that's how it appears giving their desperation.

The All Progressives Congress has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of using public funds to lure back a handful of the federal lawmakers who have defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress, and thus condemned what it called political horse trading carried too far.
"Nigerians can now see why their country has gone broke; why the allocation to states from the Federation Account has continued to dwindle, and why infrastructures have either remained decrepit or non-existent. It is not difficult to imagine the number of boreholes that 10 million dollars can sink, or how far such a huge amount will go in building cottage hospitals and health clinics.

"'Things are bound to get worse in the days ahead because the desperate PDP will, more and more, use public funds to try to change the course of history. We therefore urge Nigerians to remain resolute in the face of what will be a wave of inducements never before seen in these climes, because there is no going back on the plan to vote out the PDP next year and save Nigeria from a rapacious and inept leadership."
In fact, the Presidency is so desperate that they are even offering Rivers lawmakers $5million each...

How I Want To Leave Nigeria ––President Jonathan

Sometimes I wonder if there is no way the federal government can actually touch the lives of the masses of this country, giving the fact that the Presidency manages over 50% of the nations total wealth.

Anyway, President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday inaugurated another programme, this time it is the  Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme. He claimed the policies so far put in place by his administration are indications he would leave the country better and stronger.
“This year, we have launched the Mortgage Refinancing Company, that is another area that will revolutionarise the housing sector, where people will be able to build their own affordable houses instead of paying rent. 
“We have also launched the dry season farming scheme and have revolutionised agriculture with our new initiatives that all the players in agriculture including the World Bank are commending the Nigerian programmes and today, we are launching this twin programme – Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme."

Senate president David Mark blocks 11 PDP senators’ defection bid

There was a drama in  the Senate on Tuesday when five senators announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. But they  were immediately  ruled out of order by the  Senate President,  David Mark, who cited a case they instituted against him.

The senators, who announced their  defection during  plenary in Abuja,  are   Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central);  Aisha Al – Hassan, (Taraba North);  Magnus Abe (Rivers South-East); Wilson Ake (Rivers West) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West).

They are also  among the 11 members of the upper arm of the National Assembly, who forwarded  a letter to Mark informing him of their defection to the opposition APC.

Budget: Reps kick against N700m Villa hospital, others

The  2014 budget debate by the  House of Representatives resumed  on   Tuesday  with  members  kicking against  the votes for some  subheads planned by the Federal Government.Such votes include the  N971bn  earmarked for  fuel subsidy,  N700m for  a hospital in the Presidential Villa and the N63bn voted for amnesty programme and N7bn for   National Conference.

Among the lawmakers that  raised the issues were  the  Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa;  the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr. Suleiman Kawu; and  Rafikat Onobamiro.

 Dabiri-Erewa, in her contribution,  noted that the government had through this year’s budget  again proved that the large amount it spent on the maintenance of the nation’s  refineries in 2013 was a waste.

Biometric registration of bank customers begins Friday

The Bankers’ Committee on Tuesday rose from its 315th meeting and announced that the biometric registration of bank customers would commence on Friday.
As a result, all Deposit Money Banks will on that day commence the registration of their customers’ details, including their fingerprints.

The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, briefed journalists at the end of the bi-monthly meeting held in Lagos.

He said the biometric identification system would help the fight against fraud and money laundering, and also enhance the protection of bank customers.

Friday, February 7, 2014

How APC Will Forge A New Course For Nigeria ––Bola Tinubu

The caliber of the people here is reflective of the bright, great minds Nigeria is blessed with. Leaders, thinkers, financial experts and skilled professionals present here today must not relent until Nigeria gets it right.

Let me start by attempting to paint a realistic picture of the state of our nation today. It is a picture we all are familiar with but which we have done little to confront and demand that things change. As we rounded off the year 2013, the nation was engulfed by mind blowing revelations about reckless executive spending and extensive corruption particularly in the oil sector, a sector that has since become a salad of corruption.

Right before our eyes we are witnessing what perhaps is the greatest rape and plunder of our collective wealth. That it is happening under an elected government is more saddening. The trajectory of developments revolving around massive daily oil thefts to the tune of 400,000 barrels per day, the conversion of NNPC into an ATM, the outrageous $10.8billion spent on kerosene subsidy and repair of depots and pipelines, the revelation by the Governor of Central Bank that $20 billion dollars oil money is still missing and the awards of heavily inflated contracts as patronage to party loyalists and the very disarticulated economy we now operate under depicts a government spinning recklessly out of control. 
A government that routinely abuses power and manipulates the people....

PDP Chairman's Peace Talks With Obasanjo Failed

Strong indications have emerged that efforts by the troubled Peoples Democratic Party to make ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to have a rethink on his decision to stay away from the party’s activities have failed.
“Baba (Obasanjo) is still insisting on issues he raised in his two letters, particularly the restructuring of the party. He had said that he would withdraw from the party’s activities, until grievances he mentioned in the letter to the PDP and the President are addressed. 
“On Jonathan’s purported second (or third) term ambition, Obasanjo stated that nothing had changed from what he wrote in the letter to the President because it is a matter of honour.”

FG bows to pressure, redeploys Rivers Commisioner of police

The Police Service Commission on Thursday   bowed to   pressure by transferring the controversial  Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu.

To take over from him is the Commissioner in charge of the Special Fraud Unit, Johnson Ogunsakin.
Mbu was moved to the Federal Capital Territory Command  in  a  transfer exercise that affected 21 other  CPs and 13 Deputy Commissioners of Police.

It was  widely believed that the All Progressives Congress  directive to its members in the National Assembly  to block the passage of all Executive bills, including  the 2014 budget,  might have contributed to Mbu’s  redeployment.

Jonathan may meet Amaechi soon

President Goodluck Jonathan may meet the Governor of Rivers State Mr. Rotimi Amaechi soon, The PUNCH has learnt

A source at the meeting the President had with the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party  at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday night, disclosed this to our correspondent.
Going by the tune of the meeting, the source said the President might initiate a meeting with Amaechi soon.

The source, who is close to the President, told our correspondent that the President was asked to make peace with anyone capable of helping him to win the 2015 presidential election.

SSS grills Dokubo-Asari for six hours

The State Security Service has released the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Muhajid Dokubo-Asari, after quizzing him for six hours on Thursday.

Asari, who arrived at the SSS headquarters in Abuja at 9.45am on Thursday was quizzed and released around 4pm.

The former warlord was said to have been cautioned against making provocative and inflammatory statements before he was allowed to go home.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Jonathan's Secret Ambition: EK Clark and The Fear of Tinubu

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events, While small minds discuss people.
––Eleanor Roosevelt

All in the queer quest for political relevance and more precisely to get his Ijaw brother, incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, back to Aso Rock come 2015, Chief Edwin Clark has suddenly found his long-lost voice and turned himself into his paymaster's megaphone.
Ordinarily, one would not want to join issues with any Nigerian who has worthy contributions to make to elevate the level of national discourse. But when an elder citizen such as Clark starts employing tactless tirades, gutter snipe language to disparage and deconstruct great achievers in the political field, we have to remind him that even within the ambit of free expression there is a boundary of decency. 
Beyond that, right-thinking people do not over step...

Serious Tension In The Senate

After failing to come up with a reasonable excuse why he happily allow Senators to decamp from their party to PDP in the past, Senate President David Mark cited a court order and declined to accept the defecting 11 PDP Senators’ letter who have indicated their intention to join the APC.

At a closed door session of the Senate on Wednesday, Mark reportedly said he would not accept the letter until the injunction restraining him and House of Reps Speaker Aminu Tambuwal is vacated.
But Tambuwal has been reading letters of Senators who who are moving from APC to PDP and from PDP to APC, so what exactly is holding Mark if not the fear the fear of the unknown?

PDP Thugs Unleash Terror On APC Registration in Rivers State

The APC in Rivers State cried out that there were plans to attack its members during the party's registration exercise but the police failed to take their words serious for reasons best known to them.

The fast-growing opposition party notes with sadness the implementation of plot by Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI), the political machinery of Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike and some PDP agents to unleash mayhem and disrupt APC’s membership registration exercise which started in all the 4,442 political Units across the State.
"When we first got intelligence reports on the planned attacks, we initially did not attach much importance to it, but we were proved wrong when some of our registration officers and innocent citizens of Rivers State who turned up to be registered by APC as the exercise took off today were attacked by thugs hired by PDP and GDI. 

Asari-Dokubo is a thug – El-Rufa

The Interim Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Nasir El-Rufai, on Saturday referred to ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo as a thug, saying there was no basis for comparing both of them.

El-Rufai said this during an interview with Sahara TV, while responding to a question on his 15-hour interrogation by the State Security Service.

When the one-time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory was asked if the name of Asari-Dokubo came up during the interrogation, he said no, and stressed that he could not have mentioned Asari-Dokubo’s name because their personalities were not comparable.