I can't promise my government will find missing Chibok girls, but I’ll do all possible - Buhari

Nigeria’s President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to do all possible to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok in Borno State, by Boko Haram militants, a year ago.

The girls were seized April 14, 2014 from their dormitories as they prepared for exams.

The current federal government has failed to rescue them, and has been widely criticised for not doing enough, until recently, to tackle Boko Haram.

In a statement marking the girls’ one year in captivity, Mr. Buhari said his government will act differently.

But he warned that the new approach must begin with “honesty”, in admitting that the girls’ whereabouts are unknown, and that as much as he wishes to, he cannot promise his government can find them.

Still, he assured “every parent, family member and friend of the children that my Government will do everything in its power to bring them home”.

Read the full statement below:

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari: Statement on the first anniversary of the kidnap by Boko Haram of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok

“Today we remember the kidnapping of 276 girls from a school in Chibok one year ago. This crime has rightly caused outrage both in Nigeria and across the world.

“Today is a time to reflect on the pain and suffering of the victims, their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers, and that of the whole Nigerian Nation, are with you today.

“I want to assure all of them, and particularly the parents, that when my new Administration takes office at the end of May, we will do everything we can to defeat Boko Haram. We will act differently from the Government we replace: we hear the anguish of our citizens and intend to respond accordingly.

“This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them. But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my Government will do everything in its power to bring them home.

“What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that starting on the first day of my Administration Boko Haram will know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas.

““Boko Haram” means “Western Education is Sinful”. When they are defeated militarily, as they will be, we will ensure our citizens in the affected areas have improved educational opportunities as a direct counterbalance to Boko Haram’s twisted ideology. In particular we will educate ever more young girls ensuring they are empowered as citizens of Nigeria.

“Let us use this anniversary to remind each other that the attack on Chibok was an attack on the dreams and aspirations of our young people.

“We stand united in our pledge to resist terror in Nigeria– not just through military means but also through the power of opportunity and the hope of a better future for all”.

Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2015/04/i-cant-promise-my-government-will-find.html?m=1

Oyo: Folarin, PDP candidate removes transformer donated to community

Source:
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/politics/51849-oyo-folarin-pdp-candidate-removes-transformer-donated-to-community



It was a shock find for the Sabo community in Ibadan, Oyo State capital in the early hours of Sunday as they woke up in the morning only to see a Transformer donated to the community few days ago by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, being carted away by some aides of the former Senate Leader.

The PDP governorship candidate who came fourth in the Oyo State Gubernatorial election had reportedly conceded defeat on Saturday night apparently having seen the signals that the incoming polls result did not favour him.
However, the alarm raised by members of the Sabo community on sighting those removing the Transformer in the early hours of Sunday did not move the perpetrators who eventually removed the transformer to an unknown place.
Members of the Sabo community instantly stormed the palace of the Sarkin Hausawa, Alhaji Ahmed Dahiru Zungeru where they expressed their worry, a development which compelled the Sarki to wade into the matter by calling on Folarin’s political associate within the community, Alhaji Bashiru Maiborno, for clarification.
Daily Trust gathered that it was at this stage that Baiborno spiritedly made moves to effect the return of the transformer to Sabo community, but he was rebuffed as the Sabo community vowed not to take back the transformer from Senator Folarin.
Efforts by our correspondent to get Senator Folarin’s personal reaction on the development was futile as he could not be reached.
Maiborno however insisted that the transformer was removed with a view to keeping it in a safer place. “Senator Folarin is a man of his words,” Maiborno told inquisitive journalists.

PDP governorship candidate Wike leads in Rivers governorship poll

The results  so far collated at the  Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Rivers State office in Port Harcourt, shows that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won in 15 local government areas out of the 17 councils so far released for the governorship poll.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has so far  won in two local government areas.

The remaining results are expected from the rescheduled polls on Sunday, which took place in Abua Odua, ward 1,  Asari Toru ward 13, Bonny ward 13, Degema wards 11,12,13, Emohua ward 4, and Obio/Akpor wards 15 and 16.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidates of three political parties in Rivers State have called for the cancellation of the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The candidates are Dr  Dakuku Peterside of the APC; Charles Harry, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Rev. Minaibim Harry, Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Nyesom Wike

The APGA candidate, Charles Harry, who spoke on behalf of the others, called on INEC to cancel the election because it was marred by irregularities.

Harry said thugs allegedly made away with election materials and fired gun shots to scare voters, in order to manipulate the election results.

“In Buguma, headquarter of Asari-Toru Local Government, there was no accreditation because there were no election materials in place.

‘’Elsewhere, the disenfranchisement of Rivers people was taken to a level unprecedented  in the history of electioneering in the state. There was intimidation, harassment and outright manipulation of the electoral process,” he said.

Harry said they were aware that some arrests were made by the police of those allegedly compromising the election.

Mr Dakuku Peterside of the APC, said the election was characterized by widespread violence that made it impossible for the people to come out to vote.

He urged INEC to cancel the election and fix a new date for a re-run.
In her reaction, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Mrs Gesila Khan, said elections were successfully held in the state.

She said the commission had cancelled elections in nine wards and ordered a re-run where it was established that no election took place.

Meanwhile,  African Centre for Leadership Strategies and Development has  called for  thecancellation of the exercise.

Humphrey Bekaren, who briefed newsmen in Port Harcourt, said as observers, they were dissatisfied with the elections, stressing that it was characterized by rigging,  violence and manipulations.
According to him, no voting took place in some centres they visited in Port Harcourt.

“We request all lovers of democracy to join us in calling for outright cancellation of the phoney elections,” he said.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/wike-leads-in-rivers-governorship-poll/

Elections: Confirmed results: PDP in early lead in Ebonyi

Results of Ebonyi Governorship election as presented by collation officers to INEC in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital.

1. OHOAZARA LGA

APC.    – 364
APGA.  – 92
LP.       – 2307
PDP.     – 32,402

2.  EZZA SOUTH

APC.   – 2135
APGA. – 186
LP.      – 8,457
PDP.    – 18,095

3.  IVO LGA

APC.  –  346
APGA –  229
LP.     –  6497
PDP.   –  11,729

5.  EBONYI LGA

APC.  – 1249
APGA – 621
LP.     – 12431
PDP.  –  14,229

6.  AFIKPO NORTH

APC. –  446
APGA – 289
LP.     – 9406
PDP.   – 15,519

7.   AFiKPO SOUTH

APC.  –  307
APGA – 267
LP.     – 3456
PDP.   – 28,380

8.    ABAKALIKI

APC.  –  1255
APGA –  804
LP.     –  16,670
PDP.  –   18,779

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/confirmed-results-pdp-in-early-lead-in-ebonyi/

Elections: Confirmed results: El Rufai in clear lead in Kaduna

Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Change, APC, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, is maintaining a clear, if not embarrassing lead over his main rival – incubent Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Election results from 15 of the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Kaduna States are:

Giwa
APC: 48,248
PDP: 14197

Igabi
APC: 88,361
PDP: 20,180

Ikara
APC: 37,521
PDP: 16,836

Kaduna South
APC: 120,535
PDP 15,665

Chikun
APC: 36,920
PDP: 27,248

Jema’ah
APC: 39,760
PDP: 45,272

Kaduna North
APC: 106,915
PDP: 12,465

Kagarko
APC: 24,846
PDP: 15,413

Kajuru
APC: 18,522
PDP: 21,296

Kaura
APC: 37,521
PDP: 16,836

Kubau
APC: 53,934
PDP: 14,034

Makarfi
APC: 37,759,
PDP: 11,084

Sabon Gari
APC: 61,107
PDP: 12,504
Soba
APC: 55,836
PDP: 12,743

Chikun
APC: 36,920
PDP: 27,248

Total
APC : 864, 693 votes
PDP 293,201 votes

Mallam El Rufai  of the APC scored 864,693 votes over Alh. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of the PDP, who scored 293,201 votes.

Meanwhile, Chief Returning Officer for Kaduna State gubernatorial election, Professor Jafar Kaura has announced a short break around 12 noon, as the results from the remaining 8 LGAs are being awaited.

As the remaining results are being awaited, Kaduna  is breathless, with most of the streets deserted in anticipation of the wild, “violent” jubilation that visited the victory of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, as President-Elect under the APC penultimate week. Scores were killed  in self-caused  accidents and many more secured injuries in many northern areas of the state from weird jubilation over the victory.

But, it would seem as if government is determined to reduced that kind of jubilation, as ferocious looking, armed police and military personnel were seen manning many of the likely hot areas of Kaduna town.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/confirmed-results-el-rufai-in-clear-lead-in-kaduna/

PHOTO: Popular Nollywood Actor seen sharing money during election

Popular Nollywood actor seen sharing money during the governorship election in Lagos State.

Photo: Security men on election duty sleeping

The two security officer from the Nigeria Police Force to the left and the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps to the right were seen sleeping at a polling unit in Rivers State during the governorship election.