Arrest me if you can, Buhari dares Jonathan!

The presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to arrest him if he can.

Buhari spoke against the backdrop of the call by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, that the CPC candidate be arrested over the recent post-election violence in some Northern states.

Oritsejafor, while addressing newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of General Buhari and all identified cohorts before they plunge the nation into another civil war. Speaking through his spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, Buhari said Oritsejafor’s comment, calling for his arrest, was reckless and bound to heat up the polity.

Odumakin said: “General Buhari is in Daura. So, let Jonathan go and arrest him. One of his contractors has asked him to arrest Buhari. He is in Daura now. So, let him go and arrest him.”(Odumakin)
He said men like Oritsejafor were supposed to make statements that would calm frayed nerves, “but unfortunately, it can’t be hidden that the CAN leadership under Oritsejafor had become an extension of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it is unfortunate that he is partisan to this extreme.

“It is unfortunate and it is a shame and it is a betrayal of his calling to be dragging the entire body of Christ into partisan politics,” Buhari said.

Buhari noted that it was not a hidden fact that Oritsejafor has always been a friend of Aso Rock and if you have watched his activities since he became CAN president, his activities have been more at Aso Rock and the government houses across the country rather than within the body of Christ. While urging Nigerians to ignore Oritsejafor, Buhari said his statement is not different from that of the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Haliru Bello, adding that Oritsejafor should be ignored like any other PDP chieftain.

He also said his comment on Oritsejafor had nothing to do with the body of Christ, saying we are separating Oritsejafor, his person from the body of Christ.

“We have no issue with the body of Christ in Nigeria, but the PDP contractors like him who have taken over the leadership of that respected organization, are using the body of Christ to further their personal interest and not the interests of the body of Christ in Nigeria.

“And it will be good for him to read what his Bible says about the false accuser of the brethren. That is the role he is playing now; false accuser of the brethren because what he is doing is making false accusation and seeking the persecution of Buhari based on political contract and not on any fact.” He added: “Men like Oritsejafor are profiting from the rot in Nigeria today and since he became the president of CAN, there is no one word he has spoken against corruption in Nigeria.

“He has never issued a word against the rot in Nigeria and it is now that the lickers of Nigeria have regained their control with open electoral robbery, that he is now coming out to ask for the persecution of the victory of electoral robbery. “This clearly shows that people like him are part of the rot in Nigeria and they want to sustain this unjust system which they are benefitting from at the expense of the people they claim to serve.

“And more importantly, there is no evidence to give, leaking General Buhari with any political violence. He has condemned it, he has berated the rioters and on two occasions (2003,2007) when he was rigged out of elections, he went to court for 54 months. That is not the attitude of a man, who believes in violence and Ayo Oritsejafor has never condemned the rape of democracy in Nigeria. He has never condemned the stealing of votes. So, his selective sense of justice baffles all because this selective integrity is bundling.” 

While saying that the CAN president should be asked if that was his Easter message to the nation, Buhari said he hoped Oritsejafor would provide the chain on his neck to hang him when he is arrested. Commenting on Oritsejafor’s demand in a telephone interview with Daily Sun, immediate past President of the CAN, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, said Oritsejafor did not consult him on the statement.

“The only thing I can say is that he did not consult me on that. He did not consult me on that statement. I don’t really know why he said it. So, you should ask him.

“What I do believe, though, is that if  the President said he has set up a judicial commission of enquiry, then, I imagine anyone who has any information that will be useful for the commission to present them, hoping that this time, they are serious. “As you know, we have had so many of such commissions, which have come out with nothing. Nigerians have no confidence in those commissions anymore.

“Well, as for the statement of CAN president, I am afraid. You should ask the CAN president. I am sure he is in a position to defend whatever he has said. All I am saying is that I was not consulted on the statement. I have nothing to say,” the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja said.

 -Sun

INEC In Crucial Meeting On How To Ease Gov. Ohakim Out.

Ikedi Ohakim

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is holding an emergency meeting over the Imo state election.  The Commission said it will make its position on the gubernatorial election there public as soon as the meeting is concluded.

The principal item on the agenda of the crucial meeting, which commenced at 5:00 PM Nigerian time, is the "inconclusive" gubernatorial election. As SaharaReporters revealed on Tuesday, the day of the election, the unpopular incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim, was thoroughly defeated by the APGA candidate, Rochas Okorocha, but unscrupulous INEC officials helped him boost his votes in the Okigwe area.
Despite that illegal intrusion, Mr. Ohakim still lost.

An INEC official told SaharaReporters that but for pressures from the Goodluck Jonathan government which had helped prolong the crisis in Imo, INEC would have declared Rochas Okorocha winner by now as it was clear that Ohakim had lost.


Imo is of critical interest to Mr. Jonathan, who is a personal friend of Mr. Ohakim.  Campaigning there on February 23, he told the people, “For us to succeed, we at the centre will work with you and we know that you will vote for Ohakim because I need him.   I need to work with somebody like him to make sure that these good things will come to Imo State.”

Today, an INEC source told us that an election rerun would likely take place in one local government area—Ngor Mpala LGA—in order to finally conclude the Imo state logjam. An election they hope will legitimize results from Oguta LGA and Ohaji/Egbeema LGA.

SaharaReporters has further learned that President Jonathan and Ohakim want elections to be redone in three local governments that would hand Ohakim a winning advantage by rigging particular in Oguta LGA area.

Meanwhile, there is palpable tension in Owerri as citizens there await the outcome of INEC's decision which is expected to follow the meeting in progress.  If the issue is not resolved, a constitutional crisis will emerge, as it would mean that the Imo state election was not conducted or resolved 30 days before handing over on May 29 2011.  That is a scenario that would help Jonathan take over the state and then fertilize the ground for the PDP to overcome the current resistance in the state.

Soft Landing For Ohakim: INEC To Hold Supplementary Imo Election May 6.

Ikedi Ohakim

As the result of the gubernatorial election in Imo State hangs in the balance, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has emerged from today’s emergency meeting with a decision to hold a supplementary election in selected areas of the state next Friday.  Only yesterday, the Commission categorized the election as “inconclusive.”

SaharaReporters had previously reported the defeat of the unpopular Ikedi Ohakim of the People’s Democratic Party by APGA’s Rochas Okorocha despite help from some INEC officials to boost Ohakim’s ballots in the Okigwe area.

Hours ago, SaharaReporters reported on this evening’s crucial meeting.  An INEC source had informed us of a possible supplementary election to be held in four Local Government Areas: Ngor-Okpalla, Mbaitoli, Oguta and Egbema. 

Following its meeting, INEC confirmed our report, adding only Orji Ward in Owerri North Local Government Area.

Announcing the supplementary vote, Abdullahi A. Kaugama, the Secretary of INEC, said the Commission was urging all stakeholders “to ensure the highest level of integrity and good conduct.”

Now, Atiku’s camp ready to work with Jonathan...congratulates him, Others

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his recent election as President.

The former Vice President also congratulated all elected state governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and members of the state Houses of Assembly in particular those of his own party, the PDP.

He said that with the successful conclusion of this year's general elections, all elected leaders and fellow countrymen should get to work in earnest to deliver the much-needed democratic dividends to Nigerians.

In a statement issued by his Media Office in Abuja on his behalf, the former Vice President urged President Jonathan to use the opportunity of his election to unite the country behind him, which he described as the immediate challenge of the President-elect.

In view of the unfortunate and misguided post-election violence that greeted the election in certain parts of the country, Atiku advised President Jonathan to begin an urgent healing process in the entire country and also within his own Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family.

He noted that with the challenges of improving the quality of life of Nigerians, the President has a duty to heal deep divisions and wounded feelings, which may be needless distractions to the challenges of governance that lies ahead.

According to Atiku, the future and unity of a nation should be uppermost in the mind of every statesman.

While extending his hands of fellowship to President Jonathan, the former Vice President advised him to carry every section of the country along regardless of how they may have voted during the elections.

He explained that partisan politics ends with the election of leaders and that the next challenge should focus on how to uplift the welfare of Nigerians.

“It is no longer news that President Jonathan and our camp differed on matters of principle. But let no one be in doubt about our resolve to work together with him in the arduous task of economic development and nation building,” Atiku said.

He, however, restated that all those who may have any reservations with the outcome of the elections should avail themselves with  laid down judicial processes in seeking for recourse and not to resort to acts that may be inimical to national unity and stability.

Ballot box snatcher dies in action.

By Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji

The attempt by a middle-aged man who was a son of a politician in Ogun State to snatch ballot box during Tuesday's governorship and state assembly elections in Ogun State, has caused him his life, it was gathered yesterday.

The deceased, identified as Segun Adebisi, was alleged to have stormed a polling booth in Oloka in Afon town area of Imeko-Afon local government area in the company of his politician father, and attempted to snatch the ballot box while voting was ongoing.

However, an alarm was raised by the voters which attracted soldiers assigned to the vicinity, who immediately raced to the scene. As soon as the suspect sighted the oncoming soldiers, he immediately jumped unto his motorcycle to escape.

It was gathered that the suspect, in his bid to evade arrest, sped off but was given a hot chase by the soldiers. Unfortunately, he lost control and fell off the motorcycle, hitting his head on the tarred road.

He was said to have lost consciousness immediately, bleeding profusely with severe injuries, leading to his death on the spot. His remains have since been deposited in the morgue, while his family is now in mourning mood.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Command public relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations into the matter would still continue. "It is true; the suspect is identified as Segun Adebisi," he said.

UK Police Insist Attah Has Case To Answer; SR Offers Former Gov. London Plane Ticket.

Victor Attah

As the Ibori trial gets set to start in London, the Metropolitan Police have also vowed to track down a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Obong Attah, to answer charges of stealing V-Mobile shares.

London Metropolitan Police officers told SaharaReporters today they are actively seeking the former governor for prosecution.  Mr. Attah had claimed in a report in The Guardian (Nigeria) a few days ago that the Metropolitan Police did not indict him.


The Metropolitan Police told us Mr. Attah knows better, and urged him to visit the UK if he is confident he is not under indictment.  Others being sought along with former Governor Attah include David Edevbie, a former Principal Secretary to Umaru Yar'Adua; Love Ojakovo, a former Commissioner of Finance to Ibori; and Henry Imashekka, a business associate of Ibori’s.

In an effort to bridge the gap between Mr. Attah’s claims and the position of the UK Police, SaharaReporters hereby offers the former Governor a Business Class return place ticket to London on any day of his choosing within May 2011; a trip that will enable him to demonstrate to the world his honour and credibility over the V-Mobile shares.

EFCC probes corrupt govs ahead of May 29.

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday stormed the various states of the federation to wrap up investigations into corruption against serving governors and state officials ahead of May 29 when they will hand over and lose immunity against prosecution.

A reliable source within the commission informed The Guardian that 15 teams were constituted by the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, to carry out the assignment, especially in states where government officials had earlier been invited by the commission. The mandate, according to him, is to investigate officials who are believed to have used state funds for elections.

“Operatives were despatched to the states to wrap up investigations and compile case diaries against officials believed to have dipped their hands into state funds especially to prosecute elections,” he said, adding that the EFCC operatives were given a deadline of completing their assignments ahead of the May 29 handover date when some of the governors would have lost their immunity.

“Some states where their chief executives are likely to face EFCC operatives are those where some of their officials had already been invited, interrogated or being prosecuted now for graft charges,” he said.

The teams, according to him, were constituted about three weeks ago to gather sufficient evidence in states where the EFCC had been investigating fraud allegations against some governors and their officials. The teams left Abuja yesterday.

However, the commission’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said he was not sure whether any team travelled to states for investigations but hinted at EFCC’s interest in prosecutions after the elections.   “What I am sure of now is that the commission is set to increase the tempo of its activities now that the elections are over,” he said.

Delta State Election Stalemate As Uduaghan Cook Up Numbers From Warri.

Emmanuel Udughan surrounde by bodyguards

The final results of the Delta state gubernatorial election is attracting mass demonstrations in Asaba with soldiers beating up protesters on Agbor highway as they approached Asaba, the state capital.

As at the time of filing this report, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) had won convincingly in 12 local government areas while the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had also claimed victory in 13 LGAs.


However, results emanating from Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West local government areas show that the PDP had seriously manipulated the figures as over 200,000 votes suddenly popped up to raise the sagging numbers of Emmanuel Uduaghan, the current governor in the state.

INEC officials in collusion with the state governors might declare Uduaghan the winner but voters in the state determined to stop Mr. Uduaghan's corrupt regime has began mobilizing to protest the results. Citizen reporters across  the state said tension has enveloped the state as INEC is set to rig in Uduaghan again.

Political Games In Oyo State: INEC Refuses To Declare ACN Winner.

Gov. Alao Akala

The returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is playing dangerous games with the final results of the Oyo state gubernatorial elections after it was discovered that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, may have won the contest by some 30,000 votes that are yet to be declared.

The results were earlier held by the results from Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun area in the state where the incumbent, Governor Alao-Akala, delayed release of voter figures with the aim of using his stronghold to counter the final figures but he eventually caved in and INEC officials were forced to declare the results when figures of real results were made available by polling agents in the area. The results were released on the official webpage of Radio Nigeria in Ibadan before the Returning Officer, acting out Alao-Akala's script, refused to release further results. of Ibadan South West Local Government area where the ACN candidate polled 25,701 ahead of Mr. Akala.

The situation has created tension in Ibadan metropolis as supporters of Governor Akala and those of his opponents are celebrating the "victory" of their candidates.  Security sources told SaharaReporters that the non-release of the results was deliberately being done in order to provoke a crisis that would lead to the total cancellation of results or precipitate the imposition of a state of emergency in the state.  To further create confusion, the Nigerian Tribune and the state radio, BCOS Oyo, have repeatedly announced that Alao-Akala won the election.


The INEC returning officer has requested protection from the General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army (GOC) 2 Division in Ibadan  before further declaration of elections results.

Results so far released by INEC show that ACN's Ajimobi has polled 373,472, while the PDP's Akala has 367,839.

President Jonathan assures improved poll in 2015.

By Samuel Oyadongha

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that the 2015 general elections would be improved upon so as to avert a repeat of the crisis that followed the 2011 presidential poll in which lives were lost.

Dr. Jonathan in an interview with newsmen shortly after casting his vote at his Otazi play ground polling unit, Otuoke in the Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State noted with sadness that the crisis that rocked some parts of the country after the presidential poll is capable of bringing about major division in the country.

The President who stressed the need for all Nigerians to work towards a united and virile country added that resorting to violence would not help solve the myriad of problems confronting the country.

Dr. Jonathan who was accompanied to the polling unit by his wife and aged mother thanked Nigerians for their commitment to sustain the nation fledgling democracy.

He also commended the ad-hoc staff of INEC and the youth corps members, some of whom paid the supreme price in the course of service to their fatherland.

On the call for the declaration of a state of emergency in Kaduna and Bauchi states, he said it was something that should not be rushed into assuring that government is monitoring the situation in the two states.

Below is the excerpt of the interview

On his assessment of the poll
President Jonathan: First and foremost, let me thank all Nigerians for their commitment to sustain democracy in this country. It is not easy to pull out people. This is the third day, although the other one was aborted that people travelled to various places and come out in their numbers to queue up to vote. We are happy that at least we are evolving as a nation just like other modern nations. The culture of people snatching ballot boxes is gradually fading away.

So I thank Nigerians for this commitment. When people come out to vote and queue up in a particular polling unit, if you are not there with the materials, of course it will be cancelled. So we are making sure that at least, our elections are done just like other developed nations. Secondly, I have to thank the ad-hoc staff of INEC, the youth corps members, some of them lost their lives during the presidential election and most of them refused to participate.

But across the country, some of them still showed commitment in serving their nation even though their colleagues paid the supreme price. I am quite happy that today we are voting for those who will be our governors and those who will be at state parliament. In Bayelsa state it is easier for us because the governorship election will take place next year.

So, we are only electing members of the state house of assembly. From all indications, so, far the election has been peaceful. I believe it will be so in many constituencies. A country as big as Nigeria, there may be one or two cases… on the overall I am pleased because all the places I have been monitoring with my aides, on the average, we are quite comfortable that we can actually do election in this country.

What I promise Nigerians, just as I promised a free and fair election as an acting governor, is that the 2015 election will be better than this one because we are going to improve on the standard of one nation and make sure that what happened after presidential election don’t happen again.

Such things can bring a major division in this country. God has brought us together as one nation. The problem that we all face as politicians is how to manage the economy of this country. How do we create jobs? How do we ward off poverty? And how to provide basic infrastructure. It is not for us to carry guns and bombs and kill. But am sure Nigerians are realizing that all of us have roles to play.

On the call for state of emergency for Kaduna and Bauchi
Elections have been fixed there on Thursday. Let us observe what will happen there first before the state of emergency. State of emergency sometimes people don’t even understand. I got to know that by law if you declare state of emergency the governor is supposed not to leave.

That is what my attorney-general told me. We will find out. There are reasons why people are saying that there should be state of emergency. You can declare state of emergency on the whole country but that is when certain circumstance create an environment that governance become extremely difficult. You want to militaralise the whole political development while every money goes for security.

If you declare state of emergency in any state, invariably what you are saying is that there is nothing like development in that state. It is not the best. There are may be two reasons why people are talking about state of emergency.

It is either the security situation is still so bad or alternatively if by 24th of this month we are unable to conduct election in any state then by law you cannot conduct elections again until after inauguration because you need 30 days. In that case you have no choice than to declare state of emergency even if there is peace.

But as a President you cannot just rush to declare state of emergency. If you declare state of emergency for six months or even if it is three months, these are three months of stagnation. We cannot just rush. That is why we deferred elections for Kaduna and Bauchi to Thursday.

Let us see what happens across the country. Let us also study the situation in Kaduna and Bauchi and let us see if we move more security personnel into these states whether we can do the elections or not. If we cannot, we can consider state of emergency.

Imo Gubernatorial Election: State Under Siege As Ohakim Plans To Manipulate Figures From Okigwe.

Governor Ikedim Ohakim

With Rochas Okorocha, the governorship candidate of the All People’s Grand Alliance (APGA) leading comfortably in yesterday’s polls, embattled Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo has put the state under siege, using police and the army to harass and intimidate opponents in a bid to steal the election.

Early results emerging from yesterday's gubernatorial elections in the state show that Ohakim is in the process of losing the election, but voters as well as political activists across the state are apprehensive that the results from the governor’s Okigwe area were being held back to enable Mr. Ohakim to manipulate the final voters tally.

At the time of this report, several sources in the state revealed that Ohakim’s magic numbers had started rolling in. In one local government in Mbano, Mr. Ohakim has cooked up 28,000 votes for himself, allocating his APGA opponent 1,000.

“This is part of the governor’s desperate effort to catch up with the APGA vote tally,” said one source.

SaharaReporters was able to establish with a top INEC official as well as a security source in Imo State that Mr. Rochas Okorocha was currently leading in 11 local government areas in the state with 139,930 votes while Governor Ohakim of the PDP had polled 80,247.

“Our fear is that Ohakim will bribe some unscrupulous INEC people to announce jumbo figures for him in the remaining local government areas where results are yet to come from INEC,” said a prominent indigene of the state who resides in Owerri and Abuja.

“The governor tried to impose a curfew on the state yesterday, but was resisted,” said another source, adding that there was “a genuine fear since last night that Ohakim is looking for ways to balance up the votes or possibly tilt victory to his side.”


The election in Imo State is one of the most nationally watched governorship elections in Nigeria as voters in the state seemed determined to oust Mr. Ohakim whose tenure has been marked by widespread fraud, money laundering and repression of Imo indigenes critical of his rule. He has been known to slap a Catholic priest, to personally flog a critic, Ikenna Samuel, and to order the beating of a hapless woman in Lagos who was slow in moving out of the way of the governor’s convoy.

Mr. Ohakim was a well-known financial scam artist and common fraudster before former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State and disgraced former INEC chairman, Maurice Iwu, conspired to impose him in 2007 as Imo governor. Two years ago, Governor Ohakim broke with Mr. Kalu and his PPA and declared membership in the ruling PDP. He has enjoyed the sponsorship of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which is one of the reasons Imo indigenes want him removed. Mr. Obasanjo is despised nationally and in the southeast in particular for his ruinous policies as president.  

Mr. Ohakim’s strategy for forcing a re-run or stealing the governorship election conforms to a trend used by many corrupt politicians in the ruling party to retain their position through crooked means. The strategy is to wait until a clear picture emerges about the trend of votes and then to inflate the figures of the unannounced results to “magically” emerge victorious.

Ohakim’s hugely inflated numbers from Mbano local government area are seen as the opening salvo in his wider strategy to thwart the will of the electorate in Imo.

“Having failed woefully in yesterday’s election, Chief Ohakim is doing everything to find the numbers to force a tie,” said an observer of the Imo elections. He added that the INEC officials colluding with Ohakim were giving a bad name to the electoral body as well as its chairman, Attahiru Jega.

SaharaReporters has learnt that make-up elections are likely to be organized tomorrow in Ngor Okpala and Ohaji/Egbema where INEC had earlier cancelled the results on account of violence. A spokesman for the Action Congress of Nigeria in Imo said his party suspected that the re-run elections could be manipulated to hand illegitimate victory to Mr. Ohakim “who has been roundly rejected by the people of Imo State.”

Jonathan won presidential election – Tinubu.

BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday said President Goodluck Jonathan won the April 16 presidential election.

Tinubu, who is also a leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, noted that until his party said otherwise, the presidential poll could be described as free and fair.

Speaking at Unit 047, Ward 3 where he cast his vote during the governorship/House of Assembly election, Tinubu, however, said the electoral reform initiated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was on course but still needed a review.

According to him, after the general elections, there will be a need to review the electoral reform in order to make amends where necessary.

He said, “A democrat sincerely must be ready to accept the result of a free and fair election at any time, in order to deserve the joy of victory at any given time, that is my principle, that is what I believe.

“Our party is yet to review the entire general elections, collate necessary data and do a verification test, we are still in election mood, I have accepted the result of the presidential election for now, until my party calls a meeting.”

Condemning the spate of violence which rocked some parts of the North last week, the former governor said, “I am not indifferent to the sanctity of human life, leadership altercation can’t bring back lost lives, we should examine the causes of the problem while government should provide adequate compensation, though nothing can buy back the lives of the dead youth corps members. We need to restore hope in the system.