The Newspaper Proprietors
Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has insisted that the forthcoming general
elections must hold as rescheduled and must be free, fair and credible.
The elections had been earlier fixed for February 14 and 28 but were rescheduled for March 28 and April 11, respectively.
This position was contained in a communique issued at the end an extra-ordinary meeting the association yesterday in Abuja. NPAN, according to the communique signed by its president, Nduka Obaigbena, arrived at the position after exhaustive deliberations and a review of the political situation in the country.
“The general election must hold on March 28 and April 11 as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”, it said, adding that “the election must produce an outcome and Nigerians must rally around whoever emerges the winner.”
The communique stated further that the elections are for and by the Nigerian people and they must be free, fair and held in such a way that they will deepen the nation’s democracy such that, at the end of the electoral process, Nigeria will be the winner. It described the prevalent do-or-die attitude to politicking as “unnecessary, unhelpful and unhealthy” to the nation’s democracy, and, therefore, called on Nigerians, especially political leaders across the nation, to eschew every form of violence before, during and after the election.
Our job is almost completed in North-East – Service Chiefs
The chief of army staff, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah, said yesterday that for the 2015 elections to hold in the North-East areas recently recovered by the military from insurgents, the structures of government and governance have to be reinstated in the areas.
The army chief also hinted that the country’s military had no information at the moment regarding the whereabouts of the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State. Lt-Gen Minimah stated this after President Goodluck Jonathan had held a closed-door meeting with the service chiefs, heads of security agencies in the country and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, at the presidential villa, Abuja.
When Jega came out of the meeting, which had started at about 11:45pm, he refused to tell journalists why he was invited to Aso Rock. When confronted by journalists to speak on the outcome of the meeting, the INEC boss, who was hurrying out of the place at about 2:42pm, simply said, “I believe it went well”.
LEADERSHIP gathered, however, that Jega attended the meeting to brief the president and the security chiefs on the level preparedness of the commission for the 2015 elections billed to commence on Saturday, March 28.
The security chiefs were also said to have briefed President Jonathan on how prepared they were to guarantee the safety of life, property and election materials during and after the polls.
The army boss, Minimah, told State House correspondents after the meeting that the council reviewed preparations in the North East zone, particularly in the last three weeks, and renewed its confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces. He, however, remarked that for the 2015 elections to hold in areas of the zone recently recovered by military forces, the structures of civilian governance have to be reinstated in the areas.
The army chief, who was responding to questions on the forthcoming elections, said: “You know Yobe and Adamawa states have been liberated completely, and we look forward to the reinstatement of structures of government and governance.
“I am also sure you know that in Borno State, out of the 27 local governments, we have three local governments remaining – Abadam, Kalabaldi and Gwoza – and we are optimistic that with time we will liberate those local governments.
“INEC is still there; INEC has to reassess the situation and evaluate; because the areas have been liberated, but I can also tell you that not all structures of governance have been reinstated, and they will need to be reinstated so that citizens can go back to their areas; it is then, I think, they can execute their rights as voters.” Asked how soon it would take to restore the structures of government in the areas, Minimah said, “I don’t know”.
When asked whether the military will conclude operations in the North East before the March 28 date for the polls, the army chief said: “War is war. It is our wish (to conclude the mission) and we pray God gives that to us, but war is war; war sometimes is not fought on some platforms or permutations.”
On the whereabouts of the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, Minimah said, “No news for now. In all the liberated areas we have, we have also made enquiries but the truth is when the terrorists are running away, they also run with their families.
“And those we have come in contact have not made any comments suggesting that Chibok girls were there and taken away. But we are optimistic that as it becomes closer, the territory is becoming elusive to them; we will get further details on that.” Also in attendance at the meeting are Vice President Namadi Sambo; secretary to the government of the federation, Anyim Pius Ayim; chief of staff to the president, General Jones Arogbofa (retd), national security adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki; attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Adoke; minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, and his counterparts in police affairs, Jelil Adesiyan, and interior, Abba Moro. Others include chief of defence staff, Alex Badeh; chief of air staff, Air Vice Marshall Adeola Amosu; chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; inspector-general of police Suleiman Abba, as well as the heads of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Why I won’t debate with Jonathan – Buhari
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammudu Buhari (retd) has shed more light on why he will not debate with his main opponent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the debate being organized by the Nigerian Debate Group this month.
Buhari declared that there was nothing to debate on, as the PDP-led government had failed Nigerians woefully.
He made this comment in Abuja at a meeting with members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Replying to a question on whether he has changed his mind about not attending the debate, he said: “You have asked a very provocative question; like I said there is nothing to debate with the PDP. I give you an example: when INEC submitted a report on the (postponed) February 14 elections to the national security council meeting – that they (INEC) were ready for the election after achieving 60 per cent voter card distribution, the security chiefs told Jega that they could not guarantee security.”
Buhari explained that he invited the media owners and practitioners to thank them for the role they have played in advancing the country’s democracy thus far, and especially for being a platform through which Nigerians cry out for ‘change’. The former head of state whose regime was noted for zero tolerance for press freedom said he would turn a new leaf and ensure media freedom, if elected. Acknowledging the role he played as a former military ruler whose regime promulgated Decree No 4 of 1984, General Buhari pledged that as he had become a converted democrat, he would not toy with press freedom again.
“Many of you are aware of the role we played as a military ruler in the promulgation of Decree 4 of 1984.Though I cannot change the past, military rule brought it about; now as a converted democrat, and having subjected myself to democratic elections, when eventually elected, I will ensure that media freedom is not compromised. “Nigerian media will be free under an APC-led government and I will ensure that the Nigerian Constitution is upheld”, Buhari stated. He pleaded with the media to use their various outlets to stop the hate speeches that have crept into the electoral process which, he noted, could heat up the polity.
The APC flag bearer also thanked the media for the role they had played so far in shaping issues and discourse as elections gradually approach and urged the media not to relent in their watchdog role.
At the parley held at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, top media owners, including the founder of LEADERSHIP Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah; the publishers of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka Pemu; Daily Trust Newspaper, Kabiru Yusuf, and ThisDay Newspaper, Nduka Obiagbena, were all in attendance.
APC chieftains at the parley were the party’s national chairman, Chief John Oyegun, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Those criticizing Nigeria’s military are reckless
President Goodluck Jonathan has described leaders and other critics who have taken it as a duty to rope the military into the country’s politics and electioneering activities as being reckless.
He noted that he feels bad anytime he listens to people making insulting remarks about the armed forces, adding that the military must be appreciated by all Nigerians and insulated from politics.
The president stated this when he received a cheque of N1 million from one Mr Dotun Oyetunde in support of the nation’s armed forces at a meeting of the Security Council presided over by him.
Speaking before the council went into a closed-door session, Jonathan noted that countries that Nigeria fashioned its democracy after did not behave in that manner. He said, “We must continue to commend men of the Nigerian armed forces. A nation must honour men of its armed forces. All the nations that we emulate and build our democracy after do not insult their military.
“They must be appreciated and insulated from politics. I feel bad when leaders rope military into our day-to-day political activities. That is reckless. These men stay in the rain while we are under roofs; they stay awake for us to sleep well.” The president added, however, that he was not unmindful of the support the military was currently receiving from Nigerians and commended youth groups that had been holding demonstrations in support of the troops. Asking Nigerians to take a leaf from those who had been making donations in cash and kind to the troops, he said such assistance could be channelled through the chief of defence staff, National Security Adviser (NSA) or the minister of defence.
On his part, Oyetunde, the donor, who said he and his wife were touched by the plight of troops in the hands of members of the Boko Haram sect, expressed surprise that everybody seemed to be criticising the military.
The chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the military had received various donations such as drugs and food items, among others. He said when he received Oyetunde’s offer, he discussed with the national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), who suggested that the donor be brought to personally present the cheque to the president during the meeting.
The elections had been earlier fixed for February 14 and 28 but were rescheduled for March 28 and April 11, respectively.
This position was contained in a communique issued at the end an extra-ordinary meeting the association yesterday in Abuja. NPAN, according to the communique signed by its president, Nduka Obaigbena, arrived at the position after exhaustive deliberations and a review of the political situation in the country.
“The general election must hold on March 28 and April 11 as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”, it said, adding that “the election must produce an outcome and Nigerians must rally around whoever emerges the winner.”
The communique stated further that the elections are for and by the Nigerian people and they must be free, fair and held in such a way that they will deepen the nation’s democracy such that, at the end of the electoral process, Nigeria will be the winner. It described the prevalent do-or-die attitude to politicking as “unnecessary, unhelpful and unhealthy” to the nation’s democracy, and, therefore, called on Nigerians, especially political leaders across the nation, to eschew every form of violence before, during and after the election.
Our job is almost completed in North-East – Service Chiefs
The chief of army staff, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah, said yesterday that for the 2015 elections to hold in the North-East areas recently recovered by the military from insurgents, the structures of government and governance have to be reinstated in the areas.
The army chief also hinted that the country’s military had no information at the moment regarding the whereabouts of the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State. Lt-Gen Minimah stated this after President Goodluck Jonathan had held a closed-door meeting with the service chiefs, heads of security agencies in the country and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, at the presidential villa, Abuja.
When Jega came out of the meeting, which had started at about 11:45pm, he refused to tell journalists why he was invited to Aso Rock. When confronted by journalists to speak on the outcome of the meeting, the INEC boss, who was hurrying out of the place at about 2:42pm, simply said, “I believe it went well”.
LEADERSHIP gathered, however, that Jega attended the meeting to brief the president and the security chiefs on the level preparedness of the commission for the 2015 elections billed to commence on Saturday, March 28.
The security chiefs were also said to have briefed President Jonathan on how prepared they were to guarantee the safety of life, property and election materials during and after the polls.
The army boss, Minimah, told State House correspondents after the meeting that the council reviewed preparations in the North East zone, particularly in the last three weeks, and renewed its confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces. He, however, remarked that for the 2015 elections to hold in areas of the zone recently recovered by military forces, the structures of civilian governance have to be reinstated in the areas.
The army chief, who was responding to questions on the forthcoming elections, said: “You know Yobe and Adamawa states have been liberated completely, and we look forward to the reinstatement of structures of government and governance.
“I am also sure you know that in Borno State, out of the 27 local governments, we have three local governments remaining – Abadam, Kalabaldi and Gwoza – and we are optimistic that with time we will liberate those local governments.
“INEC is still there; INEC has to reassess the situation and evaluate; because the areas have been liberated, but I can also tell you that not all structures of governance have been reinstated, and they will need to be reinstated so that citizens can go back to their areas; it is then, I think, they can execute their rights as voters.” Asked how soon it would take to restore the structures of government in the areas, Minimah said, “I don’t know”.
When asked whether the military will conclude operations in the North East before the March 28 date for the polls, the army chief said: “War is war. It is our wish (to conclude the mission) and we pray God gives that to us, but war is war; war sometimes is not fought on some platforms or permutations.”
On the whereabouts of the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, Minimah said, “No news for now. In all the liberated areas we have, we have also made enquiries but the truth is when the terrorists are running away, they also run with their families.
“And those we have come in contact have not made any comments suggesting that Chibok girls were there and taken away. But we are optimistic that as it becomes closer, the territory is becoming elusive to them; we will get further details on that.” Also in attendance at the meeting are Vice President Namadi Sambo; secretary to the government of the federation, Anyim Pius Ayim; chief of staff to the president, General Jones Arogbofa (retd), national security adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki; attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Adoke; minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, and his counterparts in police affairs, Jelil Adesiyan, and interior, Abba Moro. Others include chief of defence staff, Alex Badeh; chief of air staff, Air Vice Marshall Adeola Amosu; chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; inspector-general of police Suleiman Abba, as well as the heads of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Why I won’t debate with Jonathan – Buhari
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammudu Buhari (retd) has shed more light on why he will not debate with his main opponent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the debate being organized by the Nigerian Debate Group this month.
Buhari declared that there was nothing to debate on, as the PDP-led government had failed Nigerians woefully.
He made this comment in Abuja at a meeting with members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Replying to a question on whether he has changed his mind about not attending the debate, he said: “You have asked a very provocative question; like I said there is nothing to debate with the PDP. I give you an example: when INEC submitted a report on the (postponed) February 14 elections to the national security council meeting – that they (INEC) were ready for the election after achieving 60 per cent voter card distribution, the security chiefs told Jega that they could not guarantee security.”
Buhari explained that he invited the media owners and practitioners to thank them for the role they have played in advancing the country’s democracy thus far, and especially for being a platform through which Nigerians cry out for ‘change’. The former head of state whose regime was noted for zero tolerance for press freedom said he would turn a new leaf and ensure media freedom, if elected. Acknowledging the role he played as a former military ruler whose regime promulgated Decree No 4 of 1984, General Buhari pledged that as he had become a converted democrat, he would not toy with press freedom again.
“Many of you are aware of the role we played as a military ruler in the promulgation of Decree 4 of 1984.Though I cannot change the past, military rule brought it about; now as a converted democrat, and having subjected myself to democratic elections, when eventually elected, I will ensure that media freedom is not compromised. “Nigerian media will be free under an APC-led government and I will ensure that the Nigerian Constitution is upheld”, Buhari stated. He pleaded with the media to use their various outlets to stop the hate speeches that have crept into the electoral process which, he noted, could heat up the polity.
The APC flag bearer also thanked the media for the role they had played so far in shaping issues and discourse as elections gradually approach and urged the media not to relent in their watchdog role.
At the parley held at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, top media owners, including the founder of LEADERSHIP Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah; the publishers of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka Pemu; Daily Trust Newspaper, Kabiru Yusuf, and ThisDay Newspaper, Nduka Obiagbena, were all in attendance.
APC chieftains at the parley were the party’s national chairman, Chief John Oyegun, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Those criticizing Nigeria’s military are reckless
President Goodluck Jonathan has described leaders and other critics who have taken it as a duty to rope the military into the country’s politics and electioneering activities as being reckless.
He noted that he feels bad anytime he listens to people making insulting remarks about the armed forces, adding that the military must be appreciated by all Nigerians and insulated from politics.
The president stated this when he received a cheque of N1 million from one Mr Dotun Oyetunde in support of the nation’s armed forces at a meeting of the Security Council presided over by him.
Speaking before the council went into a closed-door session, Jonathan noted that countries that Nigeria fashioned its democracy after did not behave in that manner. He said, “We must continue to commend men of the Nigerian armed forces. A nation must honour men of its armed forces. All the nations that we emulate and build our democracy after do not insult their military.
“They must be appreciated and insulated from politics. I feel bad when leaders rope military into our day-to-day political activities. That is reckless. These men stay in the rain while we are under roofs; they stay awake for us to sleep well.” The president added, however, that he was not unmindful of the support the military was currently receiving from Nigerians and commended youth groups that had been holding demonstrations in support of the troops. Asking Nigerians to take a leaf from those who had been making donations in cash and kind to the troops, he said such assistance could be channelled through the chief of defence staff, National Security Adviser (NSA) or the minister of defence.
On his part, Oyetunde, the donor, who said he and his wife were touched by the plight of troops in the hands of members of the Boko Haram sect, expressed surprise that everybody seemed to be criticising the military.
The chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the military had received various donations such as drugs and food items, among others. He said when he received Oyetunde’s offer, he discussed with the national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), who suggested that the donor be brought to personally present the cheque to the president during the meeting.
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