President Jonathan's Acceptance Speech At PDP Convention

Protocols: 1.                Mr Chairman, our dear delegates, today is another great day in the history of our great Party; The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and indeed in the history of our great Nation.

2.                Nothing gives me greater joy, as leader of our party, than such an opportunity as presented today, for direct interaction with so many enthusiastic and dedicated fellow party members, and may I add, all proudly dressed in our party colours and regalia.

3.                It is also my pleasure to be here as a delegate today and I welcome whole heartedly all our delegates, party members and all Nigerians, from across the country and beyond; including those joining us by television and online, as we gather here in the Eagle Square, to reaffirm the noble democratic traditions and foundations, that bind us together.

BIANCA BLASTS IGBO POLITICIANS FOR ABANDONING APGA, OJUKWU

Widow of late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, yesterday lambasted Igbo politicians who used Ojukwu’s name to win elections only to abandon him and his party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA for selfish reason.
Speaking during the 3rd Memorial ceremony of her late husband at Ojukwu Memorial Convention Centre, Owerri, she pointed out that politicians in Igbo land only remember Ojukwu when seeking elective position using APGA platform, but when they ascend the political office, they abandon the party saying that Ojukwu is dead.

ZAKZAKY DEBUNKS GUMI’S ASSERTION, SAYS CLERIC LACKS CREDIBILITY

The leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky yesterday debunked claims advanced by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi who on Tuesday in a public letter said Zakzaky should seek repentance and stop misleading followers.
Zakzaky in his reply made available to newsmen in Kaduna said Gumi lacked credibility to decipher or question their Islamic practice instead should remain focus in his own devotion.
In the reply signed by his spokesman, Ibrahim Usman, Zakzaky said: “The choice of the time to write the letter gave Dr. Gumi a way, he was all out to attack Sheikh Zakzaky and the Arba’een symbolic trek currently taking place across the country. We are used to his constant attacks on Sheikh Zakzaky and Shi’a. This is not the first time Dr. Gumi is complaining that members of the Islamic Movement led by Sheikh Zakzaky are blocking public roads in the name of procession.

APC CONVENTION: TAMBUWAL URGES NIGERIANS TO VOTE OUT INCOMPETENT GOVERNMENT

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, in his goodwill message at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, urged Nigerians to vote out the present administration which, he said, had lost parts of the country to insurgency under its watch.
On the Boko Haram insurgency which is taking over many areas in the northern part of the country, he assured that APC “can and shall arrest the situation almost immediately it comes into office.
“I call on all Nigerians committed to democracy and national unity to vote out incompetent and malfunctional administration that we have in Abuja today. We are on a rescue mission because the experience in the past six years is very sour in our mouth.

Era of multiple voting over in Nigeria —INEC

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said, yesterday that the era of multiple registration and multiple voting was over in the country.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bayelsa State, Mr. Edwin Nwatalari, spoke in Yenagoa at the state Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Week.
Speaking on Towards a Credible 2015 General Elections,   Nwatalari, who was represented by Mr. Victor Agbonwanaten, Deputy Director, Voters Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison, said the voters register was now electronic driven to guard against electoral fraud.
Residents of Sebiotimo street, Agege, checking for their Permanent Voters Cards at  ward 5, Agage Local Government in, Lagos state,  yesterday [08-11-14]. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

*APC TICKET: Buhari, Atiku in tight race

The two main political parties in Nigeria on Wednesday ended the race to pick their presidential candidates for the February 2015 election.For the Peoples Democratic Party, its special convention and primary at the Eagle Square in Abuja were considered as a mere formality as President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier been okayed as a sole candidate by all its organs.The convention, according to a top PDP source in Abuja , “was merely held to ratify the President’s candidacy by delegates.”The situation was however different in the All Progressives Congress which as of Wednesday morning had Muhammadu Buhari, Abubakar Atiku, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda-Isaiah as presidential aspirants .Before the accreditation of 8,000 delegates to determine the fate of the aspirants ended 6pm at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, about 12 APC governors were said to have thrown their weight behind Buhari, a former head of state...

Two suicide bombers, 4 others die in Kano market blasts

SIX persons died yesterday while seven others were injured when two female suicide bombers blew up themselves at Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano less than two weeks after a similar incident happened at Kano Central Mosque which claimed more than 100 lives.
Kano State Police Commissioner, Mr Adenrele Shinaba, who confirmed the bomb attack said “the blast was a twin suicide bombings carried out by two young girls in hijab. They came by the market and asked to be directed to a public convenience. The bombs detonated, killing them and four others,”adding that at least seven others were injured and have been taken to the hospital.
According to an eyewitness, the suicide bombers were denied access when they asked to use the convenience which led to a serious argument that drew a large crowd.
Vanguard learnt that immediately a noticeable crowd gathered at the scene, one of the suicide bombers immediately detonated her bomb. The incident which triggered panic in the restive city compelled the authority to shut the textile market to forestall looting and also to enable the security agents comb the market.

Ex-militants threaten to attack oil installations in Delta

IRKED by what he described as the deliberate exclusion of members of his camp from documentation and integration into Phase Three of the amnesty programme, ex-militant leader, David Owhegbe, has issued a two- week ultimatum to the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, to correct the anomaly, failing which he will mobilise his men to attack oil installations in Delta State.

Addressing newsmen during a protest by members of his camp in Ughelli, Delta State, Owhegbe lamented that the time frame promised them “for our documentation and payment of stipend has long expired without any payment made to us.”

I DON’T WANT TO RULE, I WANT TO DEMOCRATICALLY GOVERN WITH YOUR HELP — BUHARI

Former Head of State and Presidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari has said Nigeria’s current “multiple crises” prompted his presidential ambition.
In a letter he addressed to the delegates at the APC convention, Wednesday, in Lagos, Buhari said that insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low.
He stated his ambition was not to fulfil selfish desires, pledging that he would evolve a new Nigeria where Christians and muslims would be secure and safe to practice their respective religions.
The letter read in parts: “We seek a new Nigeria. It starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard bearer for our progressive party, APC.
“Personal ambition does not drive me in this regard. I seek to be the next president of our beloved nation because I believe I have something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple crises. Insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low. Time is past due that we work together to lift Nigeria up. I am ready to lead Nigeria to its rightful future.

APC Governors Arrives and Converge For Buhari

Several All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have began to arrive at the APC Convention in Lagos. General Muhammadu Buhari is yet to arrive at the stadium.