Step down for Buhari, Catholic priest tells Jonathan

Renowned Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to abandon his re-election bid so that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) can emerge the winner of the presidential election next month.
Mbaka, who heads the popular Catholic Adoration Centre in Enugu, said this in his New Year sermon titled “From Good luck to Bad luck,” while addressing thousands of parishioners on Thursday.
He urged all well-meaning Nigerians to vote for Buhari on February 14.
According to the cleric, Jonathan has disappointed Nigerians and cannot deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
Mbaka subsequently knelt down in front of the altar, cried and asked God to give Nigeria a good leader and not Jonathan. He used the opportunity to beg Nigerians to vote wisely in the forthcoming elections.
He said, “I love President Goodluck Jonathan and I used to be his ardent fan, but I want good for my people and that’s why I want Nigerians to vote out Goodluck Jonathan and vote General Muhammad Buhari. I don’t care if Buhari is a Muslim and from the North; all I care about is that Buhari can save Nigeria.”

PDP woos Atiku, Kwakwanso, others

The Peoples Democratic Party has said that it is wooing former members of the party, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso, who defected to the All Progressives Congress to return to the party before the next general elections.

The PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, who stated this on Friday at a press conference in Ile-Ife, said the party had begun moves to bring back the former members.

He said, “The PDP has begun moves to bring back some of our former chieftains who are now in the APC. The PDP reconciliation committee set up by the National Working Committee will meet with all former members for the purpose of bringing them back before the next general elections.”

Jega Cries Out:FG yet to approve N75bn INEC budget

Six weeks to this year’s general elections, the Federal Government has yet to appropriate the remaining N75bn out of the N120bn budgeted for the conduct of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
This, according to social commentators, lawyers, and other concerned stakeholders is already hampering the INEC’s preparations for the much awaited elections.
Ashiwaju.org gathered that INEC had estimated that it would need N120bn to prepare for the elections, but only N45bn was appropriated by the Budget Office of the Federation in 2014 budget, leaving a shortfall of N75bn.
The House of Representatives had recently raised concerns over the general elections, saying that adequate funding and security would determine the credibility of the polls.
The House Committee on Electoral Matters said it had resolved to summon the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to brief the lawmakers on the preparedness of the commission to conduct the poll.

Our New Year Hopes, Dreams Shall not Fall with Falling Oil Prices - Obiano

The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has assured Ndi Anambra that their hopes and dreams for a prosperous year shall not fall with the falling price of oil in the international market.

Delivering his New Year Message to the people titled “Stretching to a New Height of Excellence,” Governor Obiano observed that “the future of any society lies in its capacity to look beyond the darkness and doubts of today and see a glimmer of hope in the shadows of tomorrow.”

According to him, though many experts have predicted a tough year for Nigeria in the face of plummeting oil prices, such forecasts would never dampen the aspirations of Ndi Anambra adding that “with our enormous human and material resources, we shall not surrender our ambitions to dwindling oil prices in the international markets. We shall draw on history and our past accomplishments to stretch the scope of our vision and expand the boundaries of our possibilities.”

Obiano’s Wife Showers First Baby of the Year in Anambra with Gifts

The wife of the governor of Anambra State Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano has described the birth of the first baby girl in Anambra State in the New Year as a good omen for the people of the state.

Chief Mrs Obiano who showered the new born who was delivered at 12am on New Year’s Eve with assorted gifts also observed that women bear good tidings which according to her are an indication of a positive outlook for the state and the people in the New Year.  Mrs. Obiano made the observation when she visited the new born on January 1, 2015 at Basic Health Centre, Court Road Onitsha, Anambra State.

Jonathan To Inaugurate Campaign Team

President Goodluck Jonathan will inaugurate his campaign team on Monday in Abuja, ahead of the February 14 election.
A release by the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Rufai Alkali, a professor, on Thursday said the inauguration will take place at the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] presidential campaign office at Legacy House, in the Maitama District of Abuja by 2p.m.
According to the release, the Chairman of the Board of trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, has been appointed the national campaign adviser, while a former National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali, will serve as the Director-General of the campaign organisation.
A former minister, Tunde Adeniran, will serve as deputy director general of the campaign’s head office, while the duo of Special Duties Minister, Kabiru Turaki and ex-Anambra governor, Peter Obi, will serve as Deputy Directors-General for north and south respectively.

End Of Year Prophecies By Ijabla Raymond

Every night on New Year's Eve day, Nigerian Christians throng to churches in their millions to pray and listen to prophecies that they believe will guide their lives in the new year. This has become a culture and a way of life. Needless to add that offerings and donation are almost always collected during these church services.
Almost every other Pentecostal church leader produces an end-of-year prophecy. Sometimes, the prophecies contradict one another, causing one to wonder how the same God can say contradictory things to different pastors and prophets.

Uduaghan emerges Silverbird's Man of the Year

The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has emerged the Man of the Year of the Silverbird Group.
The emergence of Uduaghan was announced on January 1 by the Silver Bird Group.
Part of the consideration for his emergence was his sterling performance in health signposted by the free medical care for children and the elderly as well as the free maternal care for pregnant women.
There is also the micro-credit scheme where over 111,000 Deltans have been empowered to set up their own businesses.
According to press release issued by the Silverbird Group, owners of Silverbird Television and Rhythm FM, Uduaghan’s massive investment in infrastructure and his success at restoring and sustaining peace and security in the state won the admiration of Nigerians who voted for him.
The award was decided through popular vote open to all Nigerians and is the latest in the critical appraisal of Uduaghan’s administration by the media.
The award comes on the heels of others he won in the final weeks of 2014.
They were

Update: Oge Okoye snatched ex-husband from Nkiru Slyvanus

A few days ago, news broke that Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus, is allegdly  involved in husband snatching of her fellow nolltwood actress Oge Okoye that led to series of criticism in the media..
The reports further claimed that the pair had concluded plans to get married.
We reached out to the management of all the parties involved, but so far, none of them has responded to our inquiries
However, a family source from Nkiru’s camp who knew about the whole affair, shed some light on the story to Ashiwaju.org .
Our source, who pleaded anonymity  said: “It is funny how the media is blaming Nkiru when it is actually a complicated affair. Oge and Nkiru used to be close friends, they met Stanley at the same time in Enugu in 2006.  Nkiru and Stanley fell in love and Oge the back stabber, knew this yet somehow she sheepishly let Stanley impregnate her. Nkiru was hurt but she let go of the love of her life for a friend, she didn’t want her to be put to shame and mocked for having a child out of wedlock. So, Oge Okoye and Stanley Duru moved to Amsterdam and got married.”

California Woman Accuses President Jonathan’s Aide, Reno Omokri, Of "Wendell Simlin" Identity Theft

A California woman, Deborah Campbell, disclosed that she has reported President Goodluck Jonathan’s social media aide, Reno Omokri, for identity theft. Ms. Campbell alleged that Mr. Omokri used her son’s name to engage in forgery.
In telephone calls as well as emails to Ashiwaju.org Ms. Campbell said she was determined to clear her son’s name and get Mr. Omokri punished. She said she was appalled that Mr. Omokri used her son’s name, Wendell Simlin, to create a Facebook page. Ms. Campbell added that the president’s aide proceeded to use her son’s identity to create a fake document that sought to link Nigeria’s former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to terrorism.