BlackBox Nigeria

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed that Morocco will not host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and has now been disqualified from the competition.

Morocco had requested that the Afcon be postponed until 2016 due to fears over the spread of Ebola, but Caf recently rejected this possibility.

The country has now opted to pull out of hosting the finals, and Caf has announced that as a result they have been expelled from playing altogether.

"The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football has taken note of the response of the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco in a letter dated 8 November 2014 requesting the postponement of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015," a statement read on Caf's official website.

"This response clearly indicates that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation reiterated its refusal to hold the competition on the dates indicated (January 17-February 8, 2015). Therefore, having firmly and unanimously notified on 3 November its decision to keep the competition on the dates indicated, the Executive Committee confirmed that the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2015 will not take place in Morocco.

"The Executive Committee took note of receipt by 10 November, 2014 of some applications of national associations confirming their desire to host the 2015 competition on the dates agreed. These applications are currently under review, and the Executive Committee will finalise the selection of the successful National Association shortly and confirm the place and date of the draw of the final tournament at the same time.

"Following the refusal of the Moroccan party, the Executive Committee has decided that the national team of Morocco is automatically disqualified and will not take part in the 30th edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015."

The Africa Cup of Nations is due to kick off on 17 January and run until 8 February.

Goal

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THE five-man shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014 has been revealed.

Title holder Yaya Toure has been nominated for the sixth consecutive year, along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Yacine Brahimi, Vincent Enyeama and Gervinho.

The winner will be decided by fans of African football, who have until 18:00 GMT on Monday, 24 November to vote for their choice.
The winner will be announced on Monday, 1 December.‎

Four of the nominees played at this summer's World Cup in Brazil, where for the first time in the tournament's history two African sides made it out of the group phase.

Goalkeeper Enyeama played in the last 16 of the tournament with Nigeria, while Brahimi reached the same stage with Algeria. Enyeama, 32, went into the event off the back of an outstanding campaign for French club Lille – he kept 21 clean sheets for them last season.

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho has also been exceptional. The Roma player has been a revelation in Italy since leaving English Premier League side Arsenal, scoring 10 goals in 39 games for the Serie A side. He and his compatriot Toure did not make it out of their group in Brazil, but on a personal note both have enjoyed impressive seasons.

Midfielder Toure helped guide Manchester City to their second Premier League title in three years. He also won the Capital One Cup.

Although striker Aubameyang did not play at Brazil 2014 – because Gabon did not qualify – he makes the shortlist for the second year in a row thanks to his club form.

The 25-year-old has settled in his second season with German side Borussia Dortmund and his improvement has been particularly noticeable in the Champions League, where he has already scored three times in the current campaign.

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Mr. Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, popularly called BOG is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State. 

In a recent interview he disclosed that he would do and supersede the achievements of the former Governor of Lagos state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande if given the chance to govern the state in the forth coming election.

In his words he said, "If Alhaji Jakande was able to achieve 20,000 housing units in four years, 30 years ago, you have to agree that today, 30 years later with the several technological advancements in the construction industry would have made it possible to achieve at least double of that within the same period of time.  Now I say to you that I will achieve ten times of that within the same period of time and I am saying this because of my knowledge and cognate experience of the construction industry. Not only that I can achieve that, but also at much cheaper than the current administration is offering".‎

BOG who has been campaigning with the #LagosReloaded slogan is an Estate management and IT expert.

‎Whatever happened to music and the millions therein?

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As President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan officially declares his interest in re-election today, activities around the Nations capital of Abuja has been grounded over what residents are describing as "a needless hardship".

At the moment, majority of Abuja residents are seen trekking long distances from their abodes to their various places of work due to the restriction placed on vehicular movements by the police.
Our correspondent who visited the Nyanya area of the city where major middle and low income earners stay observed that people in their overwhelming majority are walking on the roads leading to their various offices.

Majority of Abuja residents are further seen walking the 20km journey from Nyanya to AYA in Asokoro. A frustrated resident lamented to BlackBox Nigeria that "it is quite pathetic that a so called democratic government would make people go through this kind of suffering simply because he wants to declared his intention to run."

Our correspondent also gathered that similar outcries is being made by residents of areas like Gwagwalada, Maraba and Lokogoma. The Urban Mass transport vehicles popularly called 'El Rufai buses' have also left several commuters stranded as heavy military presence is seen across the capital city.

It was further gathered that the civil service has also been shut down for the day as government officials has been directed to head to the campaign Eagle square declaration ground.

In all these, President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign posters can be see everywhere in the city.

An Army checkpoin at Kugbo

Thousands of workers, students etc are seen walking long distances due to restriction of vehicular movement

Stand still for vehicle owners

Stranded commuters

Nyanya to AYA (over 20km journey)

A GEJ supporter walking from Nyanya to the Eagle square campaign grounds

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All Progressives Congress, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has listed the ground rules for all 13 aspirants for the governorship ticket of the party in Lagos State.


At a meeting with the aspirants alongside major party stakeholders in attendance Sunday night, Tinubu called for fair play from them even as he assured of a level playing ground in the contest to succeed outgoing governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

The aspirants present at the meeting included Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Supo Sashore, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Dr. Femi Hamzat among others.
Party stakeholders present at the meeting hosted by Tinubu at his Bourdillion, Ikoyi Lagos residence included former acting national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, state chairman of the party, Chief Henry Ajomale among others.
Tinubu who presided at the meeting, it was learnt, told the aspirants he was not personally involved with any of the candidates as has been previously reported even as he assured them of a level playing ground.

The meeting with aspirants is in the wake of what is being promised as a major challenge to Tinubu's political dominance of the state from within and outside the party. A number of stakeholders have protested the alleged endorsement by major party officials.
The meeting lasted from 8.30 p.m. till about 10.00 pm, a source revealed.
"Asiwaju assured the aspirants that there will be primaries and that it would be open and transparent as he assured the aspirants to apply fair play in their campaigns," the source revealed.
The APC leader also got a commitment from the aspirants to ensure that whoever loses does not rock the boat and that they should all back whoever emerges as candidate of the party.
Another source disclosed: "Our leaders advised us to take things easy. They promised to be fair to all of us. He (Tinubu) made it clear that there is no plan for consensus candidate."
"But they asked us to work ahead of primaries. In fact, they all insisted on primaries and no suggestion of consensus candidate came up. Tinubu implored that whoever loses should take it in the spirit of sportsmanship, with the assurance that all will be given a level playing field."

Following the Sunday night meeting, Tinubu had another meeting with only the aspirants yesterday during which he was understood to have reiterated the issues canvassed on Sunday night.‎

Vanguard

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Ahead of the Presidential reelection declaration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today, the Nigerian Police Force has announced that movement around major areas in Abuja would be restricted.

The Police in a statement signed by its Public relations officer, CP EMMANUEL OJUKWU disclosed that vehicular movement would be restricted around all roads leading to the Eagle square ground where the President would be declaring his interest.


See Police Press statement below...

DIVERSION OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WITHIN AND AROUND CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ABUJA.
This is to alert the public of a major event taking place at Eagle Square Abuja tomorrow Tuesday, 11th November, 2014. Members of the public are advised to use alternative routes, as vehicular traffic will be diverted from most of the roads leading in and out of Eagle Square Central Business District, Abuja between 0500am and 0800pm of Tuesday, 11th November, 2014.
The Nigeria Police Force regrets any inconvenience the diversion of vehicular movements within the area may cause members of the public, as this is one of the proactive security measures put in place to avoid break down of law and order in the area and Abuja at large.
Ag.CP EMMANUEL OJUKWU, psc
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,ABUJA. 

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Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and many Lagos residents, yesterday, protested shoddy distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In their thousands, the protesters stormed the Birrel Avenue, Yaba, office of the commission and later the Alausa, Ikeja, office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, to register their complaints. They got to INEC's office at about 9 am and Fashola's office around 1pm. They displayed various placards with indicting inscriptions against INEC.

Some of the placards read: "The electoral body is hoarding the PVCs to disenfranchise residents in 2015 elections!" "We Lagosians detest rigging, give us our PVCs!" "Lagosians reaffirm one man, one woman, one vote, give us our PVCs, period!" "Jega, be warned, don't act FG's script in Lagos'!" "We beg una to give us our cards!" "The totality of Agege Youth, women and men are demanding an extension for PVC collection!" "INEC, Agege demands more time for our PVC collection!" "Enough of your show of shame INEC, we need our PVC!"

They sang several solidarity and anti-INEC songs, vowing that they would never allow election to be rigged in the state.
The protesters, under the aegis of Activists for Good Governance, AGG, The Nucleus Group, TNG, consisted of party members from the 20 local councils and 37 local council development areas.

At the INEC office, there was tight security as scores of armed policemen ensured that the protest did not degenerate into violence.
Speaking on behalf of the AGG, Comrade Declan Ihekaire said Nigerians were afraid that INEC is planning to rig next year's elections, especially in states controlled by the APC, which informed the hoarding of the PVCs.
"2015 is here already and any attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians will mark the beginning of action. What we see is that INEC is short of staff and you are already being nicknamed as trying to rig the election next year," he told the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Lagos State, Dr Adekunle Ademola.
"INEC must ensure the PVCs get to the people and they should not attempt to rig the election. Those in power know that there will be protest votes in 2015 and that is why they are trying to rig the election," he added.

Spokesperson of TNG, Comrade Olusola Odubiro called on INEC to extend the exercise by two weeks so that all Lagosians would get their PVCs.
Responding, Dr. Ogunmola admitted that the body had been encountering problems in the distribution of PVCs in Lagos but assured that at the end of the exercise, every Lagosian duly registered will get his or her PVC.
"Our intention is to ensure all registered voters in Lagos State get their PVCs before the 2015 elections. There have been hiccups; we are only distributing materials given to us," he admitted.

Data for some polling units no longer exist
Ogunmola continued: "The reason why you cannot find INEC officials at some polling units was that the data for those units no longer exist. We will be taking our machines to those polling units to re-register the residents, and two machines have been allocated for those units."

'Unclaimed PVCs will be transferred to council INEC offices'
After the exercise , he said, "residents are expected to visit the councils to collect their PVCs. The beauty of the arrangement is we will be following the process up with the Continuous Voter Registration. For those who didn't see their name on the list, they should re-register when the voters registration starts."

Voting in 2015 election
For next year's election, Ogunmola said: "Anyone whose fingerprints does not correspond with what is on his PVC will not be counted. What we are doing is because of the political class. We want to ensure that we block all loopholes, and that was why it has taken the commission this long to provide the cards."

Why we couldn't retain 6.2 million register for Lagos
"If we retain the number we captured in 2011, residents will get to their polling units and will not be able to find their names. It amounts to disenfranchising them. That was why we have decided to inform them earlier. When we started the registration in 2010, there were some hiccups and some of them didn't revisit the polling units for ratification when we announced that they should go revisit the polling units."

Fashola appeals to protesters
Responding, Governor Babatunde Fashola who led the members of the State Executive Council to address the protesting residents, expressed disappointment with INEC's handling of the PVC distribution exercise.
While also calling for extension of the exercise in view of the population of Lagos State, he said: "If our sizes are different why don't we have different cloths? When they spend certain days in states that are not as populated as Lagos, why should they spend same days with Lagos which is more populated?"
"Why should INEC keep deceiving us? What if INEC is the one running our banks? What if INEC is the one producing Coca-cola and Guinness and other popular consumables,? We wouldn't have had them in the market again What is difficult in the distribution of the PVCs?"
He wondered why it is becoming increasingly difficult for the nation's electoral umpire to do the necessary things by ensuring all Nigerians are not disenfranchised.
CTCE kicks

Speaking in like manner, a pro-democracy pressure group, the Centre for Transparent and Credible Election (CTCE) berated the INEC and described its handling of the exercise in Lagos as "shoddy and untidy."
The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Wale Adeyemi complained that, "the exercise is fraught with a lot of irregularities such as duplication of names, missing names, misspelt names, inadequate materials as well as muddling up of identities."
Against this background, the organization therefore called on the INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega, to put his house in order so as not to create the impression that he is out to disenfranchise Lagos voters.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that it will be difficult for the Gunners, or any other side in the division, to stop Chelsea from running away with the Premier League title this season.

"Nobody can keep the pace with Chelsea right now. If they maintain this rate, they'll finish with 100 points, nobody can touch them," he declared."

Asked if title favorites Chelsea has pulled too far ahead of his team, Wenger said: "We just lost a game that we should not have lost. We have to live in a realistic world, in football you have to win the games you can win and today was one. If you want to challenge for the Premier League, you have to be a bit more realistic."

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Disappointed by the refusal of the United States to help Nigeria procure military weapons to combat Boko Haram, the federal government has now openly expressed its dissatisfaction with the American government decision, arguing that the Americans were letting Nigeria down at her hour of need, Empowered Newswire reports.

Speaking Monday while receiving a delegation of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Professor Ade Adefuye said both the Nigerian people and the government feel abandoned by America.
According to Mr. Adefuye "I am sad to inform you that the Nigerian leadership: military and political, and even the general populace, are not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States' support for us in our struggle against terrorists."

Continuing, the Nigerian envoy stated that "we find it difficult to understand how and why in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly".
Reviewing the situation further, Mr. Adefuye said that at first, Nigeria had problems with the manner in which intelligence was being shared, adding that even though the U.S. Government claims that the problem has been addressed, "it is still there".

Categorically, Mr. Adefuye stated that "the U.S. Government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria's request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time on the basis of the allegations that Nigeria's defence forces have been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when captured or arrested."

Indeed the US government had equally explained that it would not be selling military weapons to Nigeria due to human rights allegations against the Nigerian military.
But Mr. Adefuye, in his meeting with the Council on Foreign Relations, dismissed such allegations.
Mr. Adefuye noted that Nigeria and the United States have had a long standing and healthy relationship reinforced by existing economic and geo-political realities. However he said in recent times "Nigeria has had reasons to complain about the style, nature and manner with which some United States' policies are implemented with particular reference to terrorism in Nigeria."
He said the United States was the first to respond to Nigeria's call for support in its battle against terrorists and has remained a major pillar of support in the struggle against the terrorists.
But he said it is a sad commentary that right now inspite of the U.S. presence and help in Nigeria Boko Haram is becoming more deadly.

Alleging that the US might have been reacting upon claims from the opposition media with sympathy for opposition parties, Adefuye insisted that the allegations could not be substantiated as many of the allegations were meant to "embarrass the government of President Goodluck Jonathan."
Professor Adefuye further emphasised that allegations of human rights violation are based on rumours, hearsays and exaggerated accounts of clashes between the Nigerian forces and Boko Haram fighters.

He cited an example of an incident that happened in Baga in 2013, when human rights groups and the opposition press reported that based on pictures taken from satellite, over 1600 houses were destroyed in a village that has less than 600 houses.
Besides, Mr. Adefuye stated regarding the video reports of human rights violations involving attacks on women and children purported to have been carried out by Nigerian soldiers in Boko Haram affected areas that those activities were carried out by Boko Haram members wearing stolen Nigerian army uniforms.

He explained that disguise and subterfuge are standard practices of insurgent groups; and that the Chibok abduction of our school girls by Boko Haram succeeded because the girls thought that they were being carried to safety by soldiers of the Nigerian army.
The Nigerian Ambassador said opinions on human rights violations by Nigerian defence forces are biased and are not subjected to the necessary verification.
He went on to say that the Boko Haram issue is becoming heavily politicized especially with the approach of the general elections in 2015. Opposition media, he said, provide half-truths, exaggerated accounts which are then aired by the foreign media, forming the basis of reports sent to the capitals of Western nations.
He, therefore, implored the embassies of western nations based in Nigeria to check and re-check their facts, and not use half-truths and rumours as the basis of their reports and recommendations to their capitals.

He argued that the alleged violations are unfortunately the basis of U.S.' refusal to sell necessary lethal equipment to Nigeria in order to fight Boko Haram.
The Nigerian ambassador then implored the Council on Foreign Affairs to put pressure on the US State Department and the US Department of Defence to re-examine the basis of their refusal to sell equipment to Nigeria, insisting that Boko Haram threatens Nigeria's corporate existence and territorial integrity.
"A stable and secure Nigeria is an invaluable asset to America," Mr. Adefuye said.
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