PDP presidential candidate to emerge at November Convention

(NIGERIA) THE Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2015 presidential election would emerge November, three months to the election.

Preparatory to the November convention, the party would second week of September conduct a Special National Convention to ratify the appointment of Alhaji Adamu Muazu who took over from Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as PDP National Chairman, January 20, 2014.

It will be recalled that Muazu’s appointment was endorsed by the 64th National Executive Committee, NEC meeting at Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat.

Adamu Muazu

The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, who presided over the election of Mr. Mu’azu, quoted section 47 (6) of the party’s constitution which empowers NEC to elect a new official to fill vacancy created by the resignation of an elected official. The motion for the nomination of Muazu  was moved by the Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, and was seconded by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor  Ndoma – Egba.

Consequently, the new PDP national chairman  was elected and was presented to party leadership, but he would require a Special National convention to endorse his candidacy before he could sign very vital documents of the party especially presenting candidates for election to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In preparation for the November Convention where the presidential candidate of PDP would emerge, it then became imperative to organise a convention first in September to give Muazu’s emergence, the needed Constitutional recognition.

According to PDP’s constitution, Chapter 33(10), ” A special National Convention may be convened at any time at the instance of the National Executive Committee or if requested for by two- third of all State Congresses and the Special National Convention shall meet to discuss only special matters which shall be specified in the notice summoning the Convention.”

It would be recalled the the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has fixed  February 14, 2015 as date for the presidential election.

A breakdown of the timetable of activities for the elections as contained in a document signed by INEC’s Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu,  presidential primaries of the various parties should be held between October 2 and December 11 while campaigns for the election will commence November 16, even as the dates are in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

According to INEC, primary elections to fill positions within political parties ahead of 2015 general election will begin October 2 and end December 11, 2014, even as this includes resolution of disputes arising from the primaries.

Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on November 16, 2014 while campaigns for governorship and state houses of assembly will start on November 30, 2014.

According to INEC, campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections would end on February 12, 2015 while those of governorship and state houses of assembly would stop on February 26, 2015 and February 28, 2015 for the governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

It will also be recalled that ahead of April, 2011 Presidential election, the PDP conducted its primary election, January 13 where President Goodluck won and became the party’s presidential candidate. (Vanguard)

Kaduna attack: I don’t expect much from the investigation —Buhari

(NIGERIA) Former Head of State and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has expressed pessimism over ongoing investigations into the recent attack on his life saying he does not expect anything from the process.

He said this, among other issues, in an interview with a leading Hausa newspaper, Rariya in Abuja.

Buhari and damaged jeep by suspected boko haram

The former military ruler, who gave an insight into how the APC’s presidential candidate will emerge for the 2015 general elections, appealed to the opposition parties to join forces to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Commenting on how far investigations have gone into the Kaduna attack, Buhari said, “you are asking me of progress. Have you forgotten that over 200 girls are missing for over three months now and nothing has happened? Ok.

I know I’m a former Head of State and I decided to be in politics of opposition. Imagine your daughter being among the missing girls. So to come and talk to me about a near-death situation while over 200 children are still missing is insensitive. I do not expect anything to come out of the investigation into the attack on me, honestly.”

While commenting on the Boko Haram insurgency and the inability of the Federal Government to deal with the insurgents, the APC leader said “the problem is, as I have said in a few places, I have been in this struggle in Nigeria since 1966 when a certain group decided to wipe out our military and political leadership which led to counter-coups, which led to civil war, and which led to all sorts of unsettling instability in the society. I have been in it all and to boot, I too have been detained for more than three years.

I tried to develop the capacity to bounce back and to appeal to people, especially the elite to be serious, to participate in politics so that credible people can be representatives and leaders in the country. That’s why I am in it. The National Assembly voted a year ago (or is it 18 months ago?) on the death of NEPA (may its soul rest in peace) after billions of dollars had been spent.

What do we have now in terms of electricity? Nothing. In pension funds, in petroleum industry, it’s the same situation…and no single person is being prosecuted. What will you think of this government?”

On whether or not he would contest the presidential elections in 2015, Buhari said “well I have to say that I am a loyal party member. Yes I have my own rights and so on, but being part of the merger, and the merger is not a political accident.

I participated in the presidential elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011, so for me to participate in the merger process is not an accident. I realised that my experience in partisan politics from April 2002 to now is the only way I think of in confronting this amorphous ruling party, the PDP.”

He, however, said that the way forward for our country is for the opposition parties that have representations in the state legislatures and in the centre to come together and face the PDP.

Unless that is done, we cannot stop the bad system. I have said it often that I am a converted democrat since 1991 when the Soviet Union, an empire of the 20th century, collapsed without a shot fired. People panicked, left nuclear sites, missile sites and now there are 18 or 19 republics. That was when I came to the conclusion that the democratic system of government is the best (Vanguard)

Ebola: ADB donates $210m to Nigeria, three others

(NIGERIA) The African Development Bank Group has announced a grant of $60 million to Nigeria and three other West African countries to fight the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.

The President of the bank, Donald Kaberuka, and the World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Sambo, on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding sealing a $60 million bank grant to strengthen West Africa’s public health systems in response to the Ebola crisis.

Ebola

In a statement issued on Wednesday on the bank’s website, the funds, which will be implemented by the WHO, will be used to help recruit and train health workers, purchase equipment and medicine, and ensure that the necessary logistics are in place at the local level to provide emergency health services to Ebola patients.

As of Monday, 2,615 cases of Ebola have been recorded since March, resulting in 1,427 deaths in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

“The Ebola crisis has shown the weakness of our health systems. When we have vanquished Ebola, there will be other challenges, and we must be better prepared. This concerns us all: Ebola has no passport; it respects no borders,” Kaberuka said.

According to the AfDB president, the outbreak is a dynamic epidemic and that the bank will spend a further sum of $150 million to fight the EVD.

He said, “This is why – on top of this work with the WHO – the AfDB will invest an additional $150 million to assist its regional member governments through budget support operations in order to pay health workers, equip health centres, and create jobs. In the long term we want to tackle the root causes of the epidemic and strengthen health systems in Africa, because it threatens the economic situation of countries.

“According to recent estimates, these countries may lose 1.5% of GDP due to this epidemic. Even if the WHO has not imposed any travel restrictions, private airlines have banned international travel to and from the affected countries, impacting tourism and trade.”

Speaking on the signed MoU, the WHO regional director for Africa described the virus outbreak as a bitter reminder to Nigerian and other African governments to improve on their public health system.

Sambo said, “The ongoing Ebola Virus Disease outbreak is a bitter reminder to all African Governments and partners on the need to strengthen health infrastructure capacities in order to cope with disasters and epidemics. This MoU will cover the immediate response needs as well as help to strengthen the health systems capacity .

Since April, the AfDB has disbursed $3 million to support regional Ebola response efforts. It has also made four emergency assistance grants of $ 1 million each to the governments of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. (PUNCH)

(BREAKING NEWS) Enugu Deputy Governor impeached

The Enugu State House of Assembly today impeached the deputy governor of the state, Sunday Onyebuchi.

The Deputy Governor’s impeachment followed his indictment by a seven-man panel of inquiry, which investigated allegations levelled against him by members of the State House of Assembly.

The panel, in its report, held that Onyebuchi was guilty of the allegations brought against him.

“The allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, by the Enugu State House of Assembly have been proved,” the panel stated.

Sunday Onyebuchi

Boko Haram Extends Territorial Grab in Adamawa, Captures Madagali TownTe

The dreaded Boko Haram sect has made further efforts by extending its territorial grab by taking over Madagali town of Adamawa state.

Terrorists

Residents of the affected area   said   that despite the dust to dawn curfew slammed by the state government, the insurgents defied   this and moved freely without any remorse.

Madagali town is close  to Gwoza town which is also located at the borders between Adamawa,and Borno state

Residents say that the insurgents have instructed them to defy the curfew and continue    their normal business without fear of attack.

Presence of Nigerian soldiers in Cameroon a tactic -DHQ

The Nigerian Army today explained that the Nigerian troops crossed over to the Cameroonian side of the border during the battle with the insurgents while making a tactical manouver.

A statement on official website of the Nigeria military, defenceinfo.mil.ng, stated that the Nigerian troops had to submit their weapons to the Cameroonian authorities to show that they were not on any offensive against the country in line with standard practice.

Nigerian Troops

It was added that the troops were on their way to Nigeria after the matter was sorted out by the authorities of both countries.

The statement added that it was wrong to describe the presence of the soldiers in Cameroon as defection in view of discussions between the military leaderships of Nigeria and Cameroon and contacts made with the soldiers about their safety.

It said, “The Nigerian troops that were found in Cameroon was as a result of a sustained battle between the troops and the terrorists around the borders with Cameroon which saw the Nigerian troops charging through the borders in a tactical manoeuvre.

“Eventually they found themselves on Cameroonian soil. Being allies the normal protocol of managing such incident demanded that the troops submit their weapons in order to assure the friendly country that they were not on a hostile mission.

“Following necessary discussions between Nigerian and Cameroonian military authorities, the issues have been sorted out. Subsequently, the troops are on their way back to join their unit in Nigeria.

“The reference to the incidence as a defection is therefore not appropriate considering the discussion between the two countries’ military leadership and the series of contacts with the soldiers who have confirmed that they are safe.”

The statement added that troops encountered a group of insurgents who were attempting to enter the country through Gamboru Ngala in a gun battle and were still in pursuit of them.

“Meanwhile, troops are repelling a group of terrorists who are trying to enter the country through Gamborou Ngala. A group of them who fizzled into the town are being pursued,” it added.