No time limit for returning Chibok girls alive – Nigerian Presidency

The Nigerian presidency has dismissed concerns over the prolonged abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, saying the government has no time limit to return the long-suffering teenagers alive to their families.
The message, delivered Monday by a presidential spokesperson, appeared to imply that the government is taking its time to rescue the girls who have been in Boko Haram captivity for nearly nine months.
The girls were kidnapped on April 14 by the extremist group, which has recently seized territories in Nigeria and is pushing for the creation of an Islamic State.
The Nigerian government has in the past ruled out the use of force for the rescue of the girls.
Attempts at negotiations have also failed, the biggest being a ceasefire the government said it agreed with Boko Haram in October, which turned out false.

Senator Chukwumerije debunks death rumour

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, on Monday faulted the recent rumour of his death, saying he is so much alive.In a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Azuikpe Ogbonna, the Senator said the rumour was the handiwork of “a few ungodly and irresponsible individuals.”An initial report said that after Chukwukerije lost the bid to return to the Senate in 2015 in the primaries that held last week, he slumped.
But reacting, Chukwumerije said, “It has come to our notice that a few ungodly and irresponsible individuals are sponsoring the rumoured demise or incapacitation of our amiable, admirable, adorable and highly responsible Senator.

Jonathan dodges National Assembly Again, sends Okonjo-Iweala to present 2015 budget

At a time of intense tension between Nigeria’s executive and legislative arms of government, President Goodluck Jonathan confirmed Tuesday he will not be presenting the 2015 budget proposal personally to the National Assembly, in a move that appears aimed at avoiding a possible backlash from lawmakers.

Mr. Jonathan has mandated finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to do the presentation on his behalf.

EXCLUSIVE: Arunma Oteh’s SEC, NNPC, top list of agencies stealing billions of federal revenues – Govt. Report

As the Nigerian government struggles to raise more money to cushion the impact of a crashing oil price, a federal regulator has confirmed how billions of naira that should have been paid to state coffers as internally generated revenues were hidden or diverted by government agencies.
Leading the pack of offenders, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission said, are the state-run oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC.
The two agencies, and many others, either lied about how much they generated, or how much was due to the government, according to exclusive details obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.
The extent of the fraud was so extensive and well worked out that agencies of government deliberately supplied contradictory information to different regulatory bodies — the finance ministry, Accountant General’s office, and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission – to mislead the government, and make it appear they were fulfilling their fiscal responsibilities.

11 Reps defect from PDP, APC, others

Ten members of the House of Representatives defected from their various parties on Tuesday.

This was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, at its plenary meeting.

Four members defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC), five members moved from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and one female lawmaker, who moved PDP to People’s Democratic Movement, PDM.
The only female lawmaker who defected was Aisha Dahiru, representing Adamawa state.

Thierry Henry Quits Active Football

Former Arsenal striker, Thierry Henry, has announced his decision to retire from professional football with immediate effect.
The 37-year-old football legend recently decided to leave New York Red Bulls, but had yet to make a final decision on his future, .
Henry has now made it clear that he will no longer continue his playing career and will start working as a pundit with Sky Sports instead.

Over 150 Boko Haram Militants Killed In Cameroon

Cameroonian soldiers may have killed over 150 persons suspected to be Boko Haram militants in the northern part of the country,
The men were reportedly killed during an attack in Amchide, an area near the Nigerian border, at about 8:30pm on Thursday night, according to a top security source.
The source disclosed that the militants attacked the defence and security forces in their hundreds, but met their Waterloo.

VP SLOT: MIMIKO DARES APC ON SOUTH-WEST VOTES

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Tuesday said whether the All Progressives Congress picks its presidential candidate’s running mate from the South West or not, the zone would vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 elections.
He said the forthcoming presidential elections would be about real issues and not about the propaganda being spread by members of the opposition party.
The governor spoke with State House correspondents shortly after attending a function at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

4 Nigerian Officials Who Can Guarantee The Success Of The 2015 Elections By Dr. Wumi Akintide

Dr. Wumi Akintide
We The People” as defined by the 8th wonder of the world, the American Constitution can be taken for granted as the most culpable for the failure of Democracy anywhere around the world. When Chinese trooped out in their millions at the Tiananmen Square to protest the negative effects of Communism and Human Rights violations in their country, the Chinese leadership across the board, despite their public denial, definitely took notice that something had to change in China if Communism and their regime were to survive.

Why We Trek – By Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky

At the grand Arba’een commemoration in Zaria on Saturday, Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky says, the Arab’een trek has historical antecedent and religious precedence in Islam.

The fortieth day (Arba’een) commemoration after the martyrdom of Imam Husain is commemorated annually by the Islamic Movement, following a symbolic trek by millions of people from across the country.