Police uncover bomb factory in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command said yesterday it has uncovered a bomb-making factory at the Rafin Guza area of Kaduna metropolis where already manufactured explosives and other weapons were recovered. These weapons were believed to have been used in the plethora of violence that had attended the recent elections conducted in the state and neighbouring ones.

Conducting newsmen round the residential house where a bomb exploded on Saturday night in Kaduna, killing one person and injuring three others, the Police Commissioner in charge of election duties in Kaduna State, Haruna John said eight persons have been arrested, three of whom were critically injured during the blast which he said occurred at about 6.00pm on Saturday.

In a similar development, the interim Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Ammama John Abakasanga yesterday paraded 68 suspects arrested in Bauchi North Senatorial Zone in connection with the raping and killing of some female National Youth service Corps members who were on electoral duty as INEC ad hoc staff. Also paraded were looters and arsonists who looted and burnt people’s houses, shops, and churches following the announcement of the results Presidential Election held last Saturday.

Police Commissioner Haruna John in Kaduna disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim has constituted a high-powered investigation team which will soon arrive in Kaduna to investigate the various bomb explosions in the state and other parts of the country in recent times with a view to bringing the culprits and their sponsors to book.

Man Arrested With 5,000 Voter Cards, Computer

A man was arrested, on Thursday, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State after being found with about 5,000 voter cards and an electronic device.

Zakari Acha, believed to be a student, was arrested by some members of Agwara community and, then handed over to the police in the area.

The suspect was subsequently transferred with the exhibits to Kontagora Police Station.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Richard Oguche, who confirmed the development, said that the device found with the suspect was not a Direct Data Capture (DDC) machine, as earlier claimed, but a laptop belonging to the personal assistant of the member representing Agwara-Borgu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

According to Oguche, the police had been unable to operate the computer because its owner was yet to be contacted to provide the password.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state, Umar Shuaibu, accused a certain political party of being behind the development, saying the aim was to rig Tuesday’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the matter and unmask those behind the act.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

Jonathan, Mark, governors preach peace at Easter

President Goodluck Jonathan, governors, politicians and Christian leaders yesterday called on Nigerians to embrace peaceful co-existence in the spirit of Easter. They spoke in their Easter messages to the nation. Jonathan said Easter offers ample opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on renewal and sacrifice.
He said the lessons of peace, love, selflessness and sacrifice for the common good must be imbibed by all Nigerians for national progress. Jonathan appealed to Nigerians to forsake hate and violence.
He tasked Christian and Muslim leaders to preach harmony, peace and co-existence for the good of all.
The Senate President, Senator David Mark, urged Nigerians not to allow partisan politics and other considerations undermine sanctity of the nation’s unity and cohesiveness.
Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said: “In all we do, no matter the short or long term interest, we must put Nigeria first and should not do anything to undermine the corporate existence of the country”.
He implored Christians to use the period of Easter to pray against negative tendencies likely to affect the peace and unity of Nigeria.
He described the post-election violence that engulfed some parts of Northern state as senseless and needless.
“Life is sacrosanct. Life is precious. None of us can make life, we do not need to kill each other to live or achieve our ambitions. Let’s change our attitudes, let’s love one another and build our nation,” he said.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, urged Christians to embody the virtues of sacrifice, tolerance and love in their relationship with fellow Nigerians.
Abubakar reminded Christians that till the point of death, Jesus Christ showed love and compassion to all those he encountered including the robber who had the privilege of sharing the stakes with him.

The letter that killed ACN/CPC alliance

The refusal of Tunde Bakare, the vice presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), to sign a postdated letter of resignation, has been largely blamed for the collapse of the alliance talks between the CPC and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). NEXT has obtained an exclusive copy of the contentious letter. Had Mr Bakare signed the letter, dated June 7, 2011, the clergyman would have been under compulsion to step down as vice president after eight days in the post if his party had won the last presidential election.

In an arrangement that would have made Mr Bakare the briefest occupier of the vice presidential office in Nigeria's history, a nominee of the ACN would have succeeded the clergyman, in line with the terms of the alliance agreement.

But while the presidential candidate of the CPC, Muhammadu Buhari, and other chieftains of his party were satisfied with the letter, according to a source close to the talks, Mr Bakare refused to sign the letter despite entreaties from Mr Buhari, other party chiefs, and the ACN delegation to the talks. Some unnamed northern elders were also said to have "begged" Mr Bakare to sign the letter in the interest of the nation and democracy.

The one-page message, written under the letterhead of the CPC, was entitled ‘Resignation from Office as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria', and addressed to the "President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," whom the party believed would be Mr Buhari, its presidential candidate.

The letter read, "I have to this end appreciated the need for me to promote the desired national interest which by my principles override any other individual interest to make a supreme sacrifice of resigning my position as the Vice President of Nigeria to allow for the accommodation of the broader alliance that I strongly believe is required to move our country forward."

Bakare writes his own letter

But the CPC vice presidential candidate spurned the letter, preferring to write a different one which the ACN delegation believed would have given him room to renege on the terms of the alliance deal. The other signed letter written by Mr Bakare, also exclusively obtained by NEXT, was dated April 13, 2011 and addressed to Mr Buhari.

In it, Mr Bakare told his principal that "if at any time during the course of our joint efforts to move our country forward to the promised land, you consider it necessary for me to step down as the Vice President, please feel free at your sole and absolute discretion to accept this unilateral offer of resignation from me to that effect."

The source stated that the ACN refused this letter.

"They said it did not demonstrate enough willingness by Mr Bakare to vacate office," the source said. "They said the letter leaves everything to the discretion of Mr Buhari and wondered why Pastor Bakare simply refused to resign."

Jonathan suspends Interior minister

President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the Minister of Interior, Emmanuel Iheanacho.

Mr Iheanacho has been directed to hand over to his counterpart in the Ministry of Labour, Emeka Wogu, who will, in addition to his present portfolio, oversee that ministry.

This development may be connected with the protests in some parts of the country after Mr Jonathan was announced winner of the presidential polls. It may also be seen as the beginning of an imminent shakeup of his cabinet.

The Imo State born minister, a retired Navy Captain, was appointed substantive Minister of Interior on April 6, 2010, when Mr.Jonathan, as Acting President, announced his new cabinet

A statement by the spokesman to the president, Ima Niboro, said that the suspension comes "as a result of a number of lapses in the political leadership of the ministry traceable to his personal and official conduct. For now, his continued manning of the ministry is not in the interest of the nation."

Buhari: Tinubu Sold South West Votes to PDP, Jonathan

The controversy surrounding the failed alliance deal between General Muhammadu Buhari’s party and Bola Tinubu’s have just refused to go away. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) presidential candidate, Major General Buhari has accused former Lagos State Governor Bolaji Ahmed Tinubu of trading off the South West region to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the last Saturday’s Presidential election in a secret deal struck shortly before the poll. 

Buhari spoke through his spokesperson, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, alleging that Tinubu struck a deal with President Jonathan to deliver all the South Western states to the ruling PDP in the last presidential election. Though Buhari withheld details of the deal, he said Tinubu sealed the deal with Jonathan a few days before the presidential election. 

THEWILL has however reliably gathered that the founder of the ACN pushed to nominate candidates for the two most strategic positions in the Federal Executive Council–Offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Petroleum Resources. Bola Tinubu would also nominate Ministers for the slots allocated to other states in the South West, while he also sealed a deal that would see President Jonathan quash all investigations and allegations of corruption against him by the anti-graft agencies. In a phone chat with THEWILL on Monday, Buhari urged Tinubu “to stop hiding under false excuses after striking a deal with President Jonathan.

Jonathan to use private sector to drive economy, gets business community endorsement

President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday that he would use the private sector and Nigerians in the Diaspora to drive the nation’s economy in the next four years if given the mandate during Saturday presidential election.

Jonathan who spoke at a special breakfast meeting and endorsement by the business community, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, also gave his commitment to ending rice importation in the next four years.

He said “Any leader who wants to build this country must use people. I will use you and our sons and daughters in the Diaspora to develop this country so that the whole world will be proud of us.”

The President also maintained that he will focus on key sectors of the economy; such as road, rail transportation, stable power supply, job creation, education agriculture and security noted no investor would venture into Nigeria if the security of lives and property are not guaranteed

Foreign observers praise election conduct

Saturday’s National Assembly election has drawn rare praise from major international observer delegations including the Commonwealth and the American-led National Democratic Institute.

Ahead of the presidential and governorship election, both teams yesterday in Abuja separately issued formal preliminary verdicts on the April 9 parliamentary poll now acclaimed as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and well conducted.

“In our experience, the National Assembly elections generally took place in a peaceful and orderly manner. The required staff and stakeholders were present and the various stages of the electoral process on polling day broadly proceeded smoothly and transparently,” read a statement by Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana, who leads the Commonwealth mission.

The American NDI said in a statement, “In contrast to past elections in Nigeria, last Saturday’s National Assembly polls provided a real opportunity for citizens to exercise their right to vote.”

WikiLeaks cable: Politicians, military - not militants - behind most Nigeria oil thefts

Politicians and military leaders — not militants — are responsible for the majority of oil thefts in Nigeria's crude-rich southern delta, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable quoting a Nigerian official and released by WikiLeaks.

A member of a government panel on troubles in nation's Niger Delta implicated Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, a general whose brother became president, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as being the biggest forces behind the thefts, the cable claims. Those thefts also fuel arms sales to the restive region while causing environmental damage and cutting production in a nation crucial to U.S. oil supplies.

"It is in the interests of these people to make it appear that the Niger Delta problem is intractable," the Jan. 2009 cable quotes panel member Tony Uranta as saying. "As a result, they prop up the militants, including some who have an ideological basis for their actions."

Abubakar, who ran unsuccessfully this year as a presidential candidate in a ruling-party primary, denied the allegations Monday.

ACN recruits 5,000 volunteers in Ondo •To campaign for presidential election

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), on Monday intensified efforts to win the presidential election in Ondo State with the recruitment of 5,000 volunteers/canvassers to reach 50,000 houses across the state before Saturday’s election.

The coordinator of the Ribadu Campaign Organisation in the state, Bola Ilori, said at the training of the leaders of the canvassers in Akure that the party was poised to win the state.

According to him, the campaign organisation had already consulted the political parties that would not be fielding candidates for the presidential election in the country to support the Ribadu/Adeola ticket.

He said the result of last Saturday’s National Assembly election had shown that the ACN was a great player in the presidential game in the country.

He said, “We know that as things are now, the ACN has a good chance of emerging a major player in the presidential game and we have every opportunity if proper realignment is done. The report of the last election showed that ACN is not only popular in the South-West, it is also a party of the entire Nigeria, it has won outside of the southwest.

Police nab 3 suspected inter-state robbers

LAGOS - Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad, have arrested three suspected members of a notorious robbery gang that operate outside the state.

However, a suspected female member of the gang earlier arrested with a bag full of arms and ammunition, denied being a member of the gang .

Rather, she claimed that the weapons was handed to her by her boyfriend, whose identity she gave simply as Charles.

The 25-year-old lady, Mary Onwuka, was arrested at Agboju park two weeks ago while trying to board a bus to Koko, Delta State, where the gang reportedly planned to carry out a robbery operation