Sunday, February 15, 2015
RUQOYA'S Reverie: The SideChick Story...the 'Sarewagbas and the Companions'
A sidechick can be defined as someone who is supposedly dating a guy, or someone that can be said to be second fiddle in a relationship where the dude obviously has another babe.
A friend of my walks up to me and says 'I think my boyfriend has a sidechick'. I stared at her and asked "what makes you think you are not the sidechick!"
She got angry and walked away. Seriously did I say anything wrong?
Some of you out there consider yourself as the main chick! What makes you think you are? I think its time you know that there are even different categories of sidechicks...
There is (1)Sarewagba sidechick: You see these ones are just there for the fun, nothing more. They just come around when the *broda needs to oil is tool. If you are the main chick you don't need to be scared of these ones, they would fade off as time goes.
(2)The companion sidechick: Now if you have been taken to his family house and you are always on hs BB,IG,whatsapp,FB as display picture and he has introduced you to his friend you mite be calledd a main chick, but if he has a *companion sidechick, am sorry to say this but your legs are shaking as the main chick. You see this category of sidechicks are always there for the guy to run back to anytime you mess up. She is the one he tells everything, she is the one that knows even what you don't know about him. She is the one who has no other guy in her life except for your guy and he is aware. She is the one who accepts him when you ridicule him...she is the one who caters for him when you don't. He would never exchange chats,texts etc with the *sarewagba sidechick but you will see constant chats of him and the companion sidechick all the time.
He knows everything about her. Whenever you as mainchick annoys him he won't call you for as long as possible because she would be there keeping his company and he would never feel your absence. She is the type of sidechick that has been around him with four/five different mainchicks. And she is going nowhere because she hopes on someday becoming the *Mainchick.....
RUQOYA's Reverie is a cognition of Tosin Bamishigbin
...share your thoughts below
Civil Groups Protest Against INEC Gagging, Wants NSA Sacked..."say NO to electoral violence
The coalition also demanded that the Chief of Defence Staff (CODS), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff should be relieved of their positions for stating they could not provide security for the general elections, which should have held yesterday.
Representative of the CSOs, Barrister Solomon Dalong, made the demands during a rally in Abuja by the pro-democratic movement.
Members of the movement protested from the unity fountain to the federal secretariat with inscriptions such as: "No more postponement, one man one vote"; "No to interim government"; "INEC must be independent"; "Power belongs to the people through democracy" and "No repeat of June 12," among others.
Police and Department for State Security (DSS) operatives provided security for the protesters.
They alleged that the NSA had connived with the service chiefs by usurping the powers of the National Security Council and President Goodluck Jonathan whose responsibility was to protect lives and property.
Dalong said: "We condemn in strong terms the action of the NSA and the service chiefs. We find their threat not to provide security to INEC for the conduct of the elections as a blackmail and indeed a coup against an institution of Nigeria and the Nigerian people.
"The NSA does not have the constitutional mandate to advise INEC on security matters and it is not in his purview to guarantee the security of the nation."
They protested that the elections should have been rescheduled only in the 14 local councils affected by terrorism, adding that the military may not guarantee security in the March and April polls.
The CSOs cautioned against further postponement of the elections.
They said Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Atahiru Jega, should be retained while Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and Card Readers should be made available to eligible voters.
The Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Ms Hassan Idayat, said government should ensure the elections, saying the shift has affected the economy and Nigerians.
Ambode Promises Not To Increase School Fees, Taxes...says "I am not a mental patient"
Ambode gave the assurance during an interactive session organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Civil Societies in the state held recently at Airport Hotel, Ikeja.
He said, "No cause for alarm. I will not increase tax and school fees. I was once involved in tax refund for people in the state, it will be unfair to increase tax after voting for me. I will also not increase school fees.
"I'm very much interested in the progress of workers in Lagos and will create the enabling environment to make workers and pensioners more comfortable."
Reacting to the several text messages and rumors making the rounds on his medical fitness, Ambode said, "We have been receiving text messages and rumors are making the rounds that the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive People's Congress, APC, is a psychiatric patient and that he is not fit to govern Lagos. It has also gone virile in the social media. That is what they (PDP) know how to do best, they did the same with our Presidential candidate. No matter the mudsligging, we will not be detered as a party and we are not going to vilify anybody. We are interested in issues that affect our people. I want to assure all Lagosians that I am able, capable to take Lagos to the next level."
World Fastest Man, Usain Bolt Set To Retire...is he taking on football?
According to the Daily Mail, an online news portal, the Jamaican 28-year-old decided on Feb. 14 to retire in 2017 after the World Championships, in spite of his former promise to retire after the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The news portal then confirmed that Bolt will end his illustrious career on the same track where he retained the Olympic 100m and 200m titles he won in bursting to the top of his sport at the 2008 Beijing Games.
It said that Bolt sought to add to his total of eight world gold medals at this summer's World Championships in Beijing.
"The initial plan was to sign off after Rio, but my sponsor asked me to go on for another year, to 2017 and London.
"I'll be doing one event, the 100. I've already discussed it with my coach. I can concentrate on that, and on retiring on a winning note,'' it quoted bolt saying.
The news portal also said Bolt also indicated he had not ruled out improving his world 100m record of 9.58secs, set in winning his first world title in Berlin in 2009.
"If everything goes well this season, anything is possible; if I can get myself into good shape, it should be wonderful this season.
"I remember when I won in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics, people were saying Tyson Gay wasn't there.
"So for me the World Championship the following year when I won, when everyone was there, that was good,'' it quoted the Olympic champion.
Over 20 Bayelsa Women Burnt To Death After Visiting First Lady, Patience Jonathan
According to reports, the accident occurred at Ahoada, in Rivers State and involved a Toyota Sienna car, a jeep and a bus with an inscription of Peoples Democratic Party Women Initiative.
According to a security source, all the occupants of the bus perished except for a woman who managed to escape.
The source said, "The affected women were travelling in the bus which went up in flames. They were burnt to ashes. Only one of the women was rescued."
The women were said to have paid a two-day a solidarity visit to the first lady in Okirika.
The Bayelsa State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr. Vincent Jack also confirmed the accident.
He, however, said only nine persons were burnt to death, two died without been burnt while many others who sustained injuries were rushed to Madonna clinic in the area.
According to him, the accident occurred when the tyre of the Toyota Sienna burst and rammed into the bus carrying the women, the jeep then also rammed into the bus in confusion, a situation which led to the bus going up in flames.
Ahead of General Buhari's Monday Visit, Borno Declares Public Holiday
The Secretary to the State Government Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda stated this in a statement issued to newsmen, saying the gesture was to enable residents of the state welcome Buhari to the state for the presidential rally.
"The Borno Government has declared Monday as a work- free -day.The declaration is to enable the people of the state welcome the APC Presidential Candidate General Muhammadu Buhari who will arrive Maiduguri on a campaign visit on Monday," he said.
Jidda urged the party supporters to come out enmasse to welcome the visitor.
"Gov. Kashim Shettima has enjoin all Borno residents to come out enmasse and line up the streets to welcome the peoples' general," the statement further added.
Gory Image! Imo State Commissioner Murdered In Cold Blood
Olamide Opens Up On His Female Celebrity Crush...see who he mentioned
He made this known during a tweetchat with Award winning presenter Kimani Adekeye using the hashtag #KimaniOffAir.
Olamide who refered to ID Cabasa as 'Our Daddy' also noted that he met his genius beat maker Pheelz through Mr Cabasa.
When asked on the tweetchat the one job he can never do, the rapper said 'Abosi and Eke (gossiping)' because it's to tasking for him
He also revealed that his Female celebrity crush is veteran Yoruba actress Iya Rainbow.
The tweetchat which made its debut with Olamide Adedeji is a weekly chat with individuals from all industries who has something worthwhile to say.
Don Jazzy, PSquare Hit SA For Collabo Video Shoot...see behind the scene photos
More Photos From Damilola Adegbite's Valentine Wedding To Ghanian Beau
Correct! Man Propose To Girlfriend With A Helicopter
Denrele's Golden Tribute To Late Pop Star, Goldie
It will be recalled that Denrele broke the news of his Goldie's death shortly after she returned from a trip to the USA on the 14th of February, 2013.
Today makes it 2 years since she passed away.
Read Denrele's poem below..
Gone……but where? I can't call you on the phone,
I can't knock on your door,
No matter how loud I scream, you can't respond.
I held your hand as you took your last agonizing breath,
You fought with your heart and your soul, You fought for me and defended me on countless occasions, but you lost….we lost.
My kids will never know you;
how funny you were, how generous you were,
how there was nothing that could stop you from giving me anything I was seeking and wanted (how you always knew what I was thinking still shocks me)…except this.
You won't be able to see me walk down the aisle, You won't see me work up my hustle and take up that job upgrade we always spoke about, You won't comfort me as life pushes me down.
Where are you ooooo???
I want to hug you and tell you I love you Again,
I want to sit and have olives (You loved them, I hated them but cos of you…I'l eat an entire sack) and sip white wine with the crazy gang catching up on every-every,
I want to laugh and smile the way only you could make me!
I miss you like crazy…..GOLDIE!!!!!
I just wish I could find you, somewhere out there to let you know!
A thousand times we needed you, A thousand times we cried for you.
If love alone could have saved you, you would never have died.
A heart of pure gold stopped beating,
Two twinkling eyes closed to rest.
GOD broke our hearts to prove he only took the best.
Never a day goes by that you are not in my heart and in my soul.
Busted! Toyin Aimakhu Buys Self Car, Claims Its Valentine Gift From Broke Hubby
The couple who were on the verge of divorce recently and have swept their discord under the rug are 'tensioning' other celebrities with their marriage as many felt Niyi was trying to just proved his undying love for his wife.
Toyin who took to instagram to share the good news, disclosed she's still in shock as she didn't see the red Toyota car gift coming. She uploaded the picture of the vehicle and captioned it with, "I cant help this I'm so happy @adeniyijohnson thanks alot…I'm super happy I'm crying @adeniyijohnson this is jst too much I'm still in shock @toyinniyi_fansite"
Some fans have however taken swipes at her with some alleging she bought the vehicle herself as her husband can't afford it. Some have further questioned what Niyi drives.
Val Haram! Why Muslims Shouldn't Celebrate Valentine
Anwar Abbas, Head of Education at the semi-official Indonesian Council of Muslim Scholars, said the sale of condoms in bags of chocolates gift raised concerns.
"Valentine's Day is not compatible with our nation's culture and religious tenets.
"This culture will destroy the morality of the young generation,'' Abbas warned.
He said that the council was concerned about reports that some shops had been selling chocolate packaged together with condoms ahead of Valentine's Day.
The media reports said that the reports sparked outrage among conservative Muslims and prompted local authorities in Central Java to raid stores and confiscate the items.
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, but Islamic observance is relatively moderate.
Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a holiday observed on February 14 each year.
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Photos: Buhari, Fashola Celebrates Valentine At 'Love FeBuhari Dinner'
Nigeria Now Engages South African Mercenaries To Battle Boko Haram As SA Authorities Kicks
The problem however is that they may not be here legally: they are mercenaries as South Africa's defence minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has said stating that they should be arrested and returned to the country. "There are consequences when somebody leaves the country and provides any form of military assistance that is not part of the government's deployment," Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Mapisa-Nqakula added that the police and prosecuting authority should make examples of the group by charging them under the regulation on Foreign Military Assistance Act. She also said no South African National Defence Force member was deployed to Nigeria and her country had not received an official request for assistance or weapons.
It is said the South African military experts are former soldiers of the SA Defence Force, the predecessor of the SA National Defence Force. According to a South African daily newspaper- Beeld, Nigeria, using back channels requested for the mercenaries who had been involved in conflicts in Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The South African Act of Military Assistance Abroad prevents its citizens from participating in wars in other countries, unless they are acting under the authority of the government in Pretoria. Some of the South Africans are involved in training Nigerian air force pilots and carrying out air strikes against the insurgents' position. According to a source on Saturday quoting the Nigerian military sources, they are also involved with ground troops. Corroborating, another security source confided that it is true South African pilots have trained and are still training Nigerian pilots who have so far recorded victories in recent operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states after they carried air raids in Boko Haram hideouts. "Nigeria has recently procured modern military hardware, including fighter jets and armoured vehicles. But some of the equipments are so sophisticated that both our ground troops and the Air Force cannot operate them without substantial training, which will take some time. This is basically what made the deployment of the South African experts inevitable, in view of the fact that Nigeria was running out of time and there was the urgent need to substantially address the Boko Haram problem. The top military hierarchy and the Federal Government are trying to revamp our image which is at a record low, especially going by unprecedented breakthroughs recorded by troops from neighbouring countries," the source said.
It was revealed that with the technical support of the South African pilots, the NAF successfully shelled some Boko Haram enclaves around Gulani and Gujba in Yobe State, the Damboa general area, including Alagarno, fringes of the notorious Sambisa Forest as well as parts of Maiduguri, Mafa, Dikwa in Borno State and around Michika in Adamawa State.
"The planes and the helicopters are ours, but South Africans are giving support and the ground troops normally complete operations," another source disclosed.
It was also reported that military experts, mostly from Eastern Europe, are among other foreign specialists assisting Nigerian troops.
Spokesman for the Defence Headquarters, Chris Olukolade has justified what amounts to outsourcing of the Boko Haram war. "It is well known that terrorism being an international and trans/cross border menace calls for the involvement of all well-meaning countries all over the world," he said.
America Believes President Jonathan Would Win Presidential Polls, Predicts Post Election Violence
A new report published and released by the US' Council on Foreign Relations and authored by Campbell, said the 2015 elections may "precipitate violence that could destabilise Nigeria."
The report noted that the US government was at a loss as its influence on the Nigerian government has waned over the years.
"The upcoming elections are a rematch of the 2011 elections between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan (a southern Christian) and Muhammadu Buhari (a northern Muslim and a former military chief). Tension between Washington and Abuja is higher than in 2011, largely over how to respond to the radical Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram, which is steadily gaining strength in northeast Nigeria," it said.
According to the report titled, 'Nigeria's 2015 Presidential Election: Contingency Planning Memorandum Update,' Jonathan will face a stiff competition from Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in the March 28 presidential poll.
"The APC is stronger than its predecessors (Action Congress of Nigeria and Congress for Progressives Change) and reflects a splintering of the political classes. The government's inability to defeat Boko Haram, the economic hardships brought on by falling oil prices, and a growing public perception that the Jonathan administration is weak have fueled support for the All Progressives Congress. Though the APC's voter base is in the North, it enjoys support all over the country, unlike the opposition in 2011," Campbell stated.
He, however, pointed out that Jonathan had significant advantages over Buhari. According to him, the President is "is at the centre of extensive patronage networks; he has access to the government's oil revenue; and he and his party largely control the election machinery and ballot-counting infrastructure."
Though the former US ambassador to Nigeria said would-be voters in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe were likely to cast their votes for Buhari and the APC, he tipped the incumbent President to win the poll.
"It is uncertain whether any provisions will be made for voters in the three northern states placed under a state of emergency because of Boko Haram, as well as the estimated one million people displaced by the insurgency. These displaced voters would likely support Buhari and the APC; their exclusion would benefit Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Thus despite the strength of the opposition, Jonathan remains the likely—but not certain—winner."
See How President Jonathan Spent His Valentine...this would touch you
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati shared the above beautiful photos from the event.
Police Saves The Day As APC, PDP Supporters Clash In Benue
The youths were said to have blocked the road to protest alleged burglary of APC's governorship campaign office located around Kastina-Ala street and destruction of its campaign materials.
As a result of the development, it was difficult for motorists to ply the route just as the PDP youths were said to have started mobilizing themselves to counter the protesters before the police quickly intervened to forestall possible escalation of the crisis.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP. Ezeani Ameachi, described what happened as the handiwork of miscreants who took advantage of destruction of APC's campaign billboards to disrupt traffic in the metropolis.
"What actually happened was the handiwork of some miscreants which we have not yet identified whose music they were playing. We can not say categorically that they belong to political parties until investigations are concluded," he said.
The Police spokesperson, however, confirmed the story but added that no building was touched in the process.
Amaechi disclosed that the police swung into action immediately they were alerted and the road block dismantled for motorists to make headways to their respective destinations.
He revealed further that some arrests were made at the scene of the incident and urged residents to go about their normal businesses without fear of harassment, warning trouble makers to desist from perpetrating violence or face the wrath of the law.
Reacting, Media Adviser to APC Governorship Campaign Organization, Tahav Agerzua, while reating to the development alleged that hoodlums attacked All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters and destroyed property at the Half Haven Hotel and the Ortom/Abounu campaign headquarters at Oracle Printing Press Limited, High Level, Makurdi.
Agerzua said that Ortom had written to the Commissioner of Police in the state, adding, "We believe that if the police and other security agencies do their work, those who embark on such provocative errands in order to precipitate crisis can be located and arrested because they are not farfetched."
Hmmmm! Retired Generals Warns Politicians Not To Allow Their Interest Leads To Military 'Take-Over'
Also a former military Governor of Oyo State, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), held the same opinion as the generals.
The military officers warned that such a situation would not augur well for the country's democracy.
Speaking recently, Useni said the unguarded utterances of politicians could spark confusion in the country, as well as trigger a military intervention.
Useni said, "The military won't go there on its own. It is the politicians that invite them. It is the politicians that cause trouble that allow the military to intervene. But if they behave properly, the voters behave; there will be no need for military intervention.
"Politicians only need to do the right thing so that the military would have no reason to come in at all. There is the need to caution politicians, especially those who are used to causing trouble. We are cautioning ourselves too,"
Similarly, Obene described the political tension in the country over the postponement of the general elections as dangerous.
The retired general asked politicians and political parties to stop dragging the military into partisan politics.
Obene said, "I've said it before; politicians are the worst enemies of democracy. When things don't go their way, they want to rock the boat and let the boat sink. They should leave the military alone.
"The military is not supposed to be partisan; as much as possible, let us insulate our military from this political jamboree."
In the same vein, Momah told one of our correspondents that the concern of the military should be how to defeat Boko Haram.
He said, "I am not happy with what is going on. We look forward to the situation not becoming worse than it is now, because Nigeria remains the hope of the black race and some of us are just talking out of patriotism to see how we can salvage what is left of Nigeria. At this moment in our lives, our concern should be on how to flush out Boko Haram from our territories. That should be our main focus."
While there have been repeated calls for foreign military assistance, Momah noted that the Nigerian military had to take the lead and step up its efforts in flushing out insurgents.
He said, "If we are hoping that outsiders will come and do it for us, from my military experience, it doesn't need to happen that way. Nigerians have to be in the forefront. They (foreigners) will only assist you when they come in. We shouldn't just assume that these foreign troops will come and do the work for us."
Another retired general, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also cautioned politicians against utterances that could heat up the polity.
He said, "We all know the implication of military rule on the polity. Military rule is becoming unfashionable and we should have no cause to be worried. Politicians only need to put their acts together for the unity of the country."
Col. Usman, in his reaction, said Nigerians would no longer accept military intervention again.
"Whatever anybody is planning, I think that nobody will take it (military intervention); the international community will not take it, ECOWAS will not take it, even Nigerians will not take it. Our African Union will not take it, so I don't know who will take it."
Usman said the postponement of the polls was not good for democracy.
"A situation where the president and the military can arm-twist the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman to postpone the election is not good for us," he added.
Nothing Must Happen To Buhari -Obasanjo Warns President Jonathan...says GEJ is scared of being jailed by GMB
Add BBN on 2BAFB965
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan had a grand plan to scuttle the coming elections for fear that if General Muhammadu Buhari(retd) of All Progressives Congress succeeds him, Buhari would send him to jail.
He said this at his Hilltop presidential residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State while talking with journalists. He said he broke his promise not to talk till after the elections because the elections were postponed.
Obasanjo, who just returned from foreign trips, said, "I believe the President's fear is particularly motivated by whom he sees as his likely successor, that is, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. I believe people would have been telling him that Buhari is a hard man; he will fight corruption and he (Jonathan) may end up in jail if not in the grave. I think people would have told him that sort of thing and he is not the only one afraid of Buhari."
But Obasanjo said Buhari should have learnt his lessons and might not be contemplating sending people to jail to fight corruption.
"If he has not learnt his lessons, he would be probably the most unlearning human being. Now if he has learnt his lessons, he will know that you do not fight corruption by putting people in jail for 200 years. This was done by my predecessor in office, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. He recovered over $750m from Abacha's estate without putting anybody in jail and without harming or hurting anybody.
"When I took over, we recovered over $1.25bn from the same Abacha without hurting anybody and without harming anybody. What is rather unfortunate is the fact that our lawyer who is still alive, who was chasing this money all over the world, said to us that there was still well over $1bn to be recovered from the Abacha estate."
On the allegation that Jonathan had a grand plan to scuttle the coming polls, Obasanjo likened Jonathan to the former president of Cote d'lvoire, Laurent Gbagbo, who shifted election dates until he believed the odds were in his favour.
Obasanjo said, "President Jonathan has a grand plan to ensure that he wins the election by hook or crook and if he loses, he scuttles it and brings chaos and confusion in the whole country.
"It looks to me that the President is trying to play (Laurent) Gbagbo. Gbagbo was the former President of Cote d'Ivoire and Gbagbo made sure he postponed the election in his country until he was sure he would win and then allowed the election to take place. He got an inconclusive election in the first ballot and I believe this is the sort of thing Nigeria may fall into if I am right in what I observed as the grand plan.
"Then in the run-off, Gbagbo lost with 8 per cent behind (Alassane) Quattara and then refused to hand over. All reasonable persuasion and pleading was rebuffed by him and he unleashed horror in that country until nemesis caught up with him. I believe that we may be seeing the repeat of Gbabgo or what I called Gbagbo saga here in Nigeria, I hope not."
Obasanjo noted that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, must have been boxed to a corner by the powers that be, before announcing the postponement of the elections.
He recounted how world leaders confronted him over political developments in the country, saying, "I was away because I had a number of assignments abroad which took me to Morocco, Munich, Nairobi, London and New Delhi. Exactly a week today, when we were in Munich for what they called the Munich security conferences annual event, everyone in the security community was there.
"I refused to make any categorical statement on this issue because I wanted to come back home and learn what actually transpired and what was going on, and it turned out to be a forced decision on the INEC, because it was alleged that the security chiefs were unable to provide security and as a result, the Chairman of INEC had to postpone the elections, in accordance with the dictates of the so-called security chiefs.
"For me, that was a bad precedent for democracy in Nigeria. It meant it doesn't matter what preparation or lack of preparation any electoral body could make in Nigeria, the final decision on whether election will take place on the day scheduled for it lies in the domains of the security, it is a sad day for democracy in Nigeria."
He said he was worried that President Jonathan had said in his recent media chat that he knew nothing about the postponement of the elections.
"I want to believe that this was forced on them (security chiefs). I want to believe that whether it was forced on them or it was their initiative, it was bad, very bad. I hope we will never have a repeat performance of this in this country again.
"It was even made worse when the President in the media chat on the 11th of this month claimed not to have knowledge or not to have authorised it. I get worried, very worried that if the President of Nigeria is not in charge of security, maintenance of law and order and such a decision can be taken behind him, assuming that it is true, then the President must be reigning and not ruling."
While puncturing a hole in the excuse of the Boko Haram insurgency as a reason for the postponement, Obasanjo said it remained to be seen how the war against Boko Haram which could not be won since 2009, could be won in six weeks.
Obasanjo also appealed to the two leading political parties, Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress not to heat up the polity.
He said, "I have offered some warnings but let me also offer some appeals and the appeals for me will be for President Goodluck Jonathan. I appeal to him not to do anything to destroy the fledgling democracy that we are enjoying, democracy is not a destination. It is a process and the more we strengthened the process of democracy, the institutions and the factors, the better it is for us."
In its reaction, the Presidency on Saturday said it was aware of a plot by Obasanjo and some unnamed persons within and outside the country to thwart the forthcoming general elections and foist an unconstitutional Interim National Government, which Obasanjo hopes to head, on the nation.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
Abati said, "We find the false claims and allegations reportedly made against President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in Abeokuta very odious and repugnant.
"As we have had cause to say before, it is most regrettable indeed that a man like Chief Obasanjo, who should know better, chooses to repeatedly, wantonly, and maliciously impugn the integrity of a sitting President of his country for the primary purpose of self-promotion.
"It is obvious from Chief Obasanjo's serial vituperations against President Jonathan who is doing his best to positively transform Nigeria for the benefit of all of its people that he has willfully chosen to close his eyes to the present administration's good works and intentions. For reasons best known to him, Chief Obasanjo has set his mind on regime change by fair or foul means.
"Otherwise, it would be completely senseless, irrational and out of place for Chief Obasanjo, who still claims to belong to the same party as the President, to accuse President Jonathan of plotting to win the rescheduled presidential elections by 'hook or crook' and planning to plunge the nation into crisis if he loses the election.
"For the record, President Jonathan has no such intention and will continue to give the greatest possible support to INEC and other relevant federal agencies to ensure that the rescheduled elections are successfully conducted.
"Chief Obasanjo's plot with others within and outside the country to thwart the general elections and foist an unconstitutional Interim National Government, which he hopes to head, on the nation is well known to us, but by the Grace of God Almighty, his odious plan to return to power through the backdoor will fail woefully."
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation said it was not true that Jonathan was planning to retain power at all cost.
Its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, said this in a statement.
He said, "It is sad and unfortunate that President Olusegun Obasanjo, a father of the nation and a man that we all revere and have immense respect for, could have misread the situation so badly.
"It is simply not true that President Goodluck Jonathan wishes to remain in power at all costs and the suggestion that he has a hidden agenda or that he somehow imposed his will on INEC by getting them to postpone the elections is baseless and absurd."
In a related development, Soyinka, in his letter titled, 'Under-reading violence', noted that the use of security operatives to intimidate the populace other than to protect them, is a "new low in the life of this nation," adding that it is a serious threat to the future of democracy in Nigeria.
"It bodes ill even for the postponed elections. Is the postponement truly to ensure enfranchisement for the entire electorate or to fine-tune a new strategy for the absolute and total cooption of the uniformed services?" Soyinka asked.
The Nobel laureate also flayed the deployment of soldiers to the Lagos house of a chieftain of the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The human rights activist reminded Jonathan of how security operatives allegedly prevented the then governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, "from exercising his civil rights."
Concluding his letter, Soyinka called on the President to lift the military siege on his political opponents before it is "too late."
In the same vein, Odimegwu who ran into trouble with Jonathan's government when he faulted the 2006 census, raised the alarm over the safety of Buhari, saying Jonathan, Nigerians should secure his safety to avoid a replication of what happened to the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, following the controversies which trailed the June 12, 1993 Presidential election.
Odimegwu, a former chairman of Nigerian Breweries Plc, in a blunt article entitled, 'The challenges before President Buhari' which he e-mailed to SUNDAY PUNCH in Abuja, advanced seven reasons why Buhari would be a better choice for Nigeria.
According to him, Buhari is dreaded by many that have looted Nigeria dry, adding,"I am happy in this worthy company of free citizens of the world and institutions that endorses General Buhari and recommends him to all Nigerians."
He said, "It is imaginable, given the annulment of June 12 under unclear circumstances, that this six weeks delay can have more supporters than are known. President Jonathan himself can lose control as during the trying time of the 1993 election crisis. It is imaginable that some vested interests may not want both President Jonathan and General Buhari and may work alone or in cooperation with others to impose a contrived and orchestrated interim government that is now gaining traction.
"On coups or coup baits that are being mentioned, worsened also by giving security agencies more roles over election matters than necessary. The forces that aborted June 12 could still be alive. General Buhari in many ways reminds one of MKO. Nigerians must shine their eyes beyond the ordinary and the conventional. Things seem to me now like the more one looks, the less one sees."
He also warned that the Federal Government, as distinct from the ruling party, must take steps to secure the life of General Buhari "as these intrigues thicken.
"Nothing should happen to him. He may not be a saint. Even Mandela rightly said he was not. No one is. But he now personifies the new hope for Nigeria. Nigerians need him. Nigerians need change. What happened to Yar'Adua Senior, MKO and even Abacha must not happen to him."
APC Blast New Lagos Police Boss, Mbu Over Statement Made Against Civilians
It said the temperament, comportment, utterances and actions of Mbu, a very senior police officer, are capable of inciting mass killings, violence and anarchy.
Since his posting to the Zone 2 Command, the party said Mbu had acted improperly by barging through the Lekki Toll Plaza without paying toll and then ordering the arrest of policemen and workers at the Plaza.
"Is it not an irony that a man who is trained to enforce the law is the same who is breaking the law?
But that action, as bad as it was, pales into insignificance when compared to his most recent statement in which he was basically inciting the police against the citizenry and encouraging the killing of civilians. It is sheer irresponsibility for a senior policeman to say that for every policeman who is killed during the election, he will kill 20 civilians.
''Lest we are misunderstood, our party will never condone the killing of police personnel or of any law enforcement agent for whatever reason, just as we will not condone the killing of any innocent Nigerian. If a senior police officer does not know how to convey to his officers and men that they should protect themselves while also avoiding extrajudicial killing of any citizen, then the funds spent in training him have been wasted," APC said.
The party said such language as 'fire-for-fire', 'If one of my men is killed, I shall kill 20 of them' or 'you have the power to stop the Governor' is inappropriate, inciting and barbaric, especially under a democratic dispensation, and is most unbecoming of a senior law enforcement agent. It therefore said Mbu should be held solely responsible for any violence or killing of innocent citizens before, during and after the elections in the area under his command.
Nigerian Keke, Okada Riders Endorse President Jonathan In Lagos
The association declared that it remained the largest employer of labour in the country with nine million members.
National President of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Hassan, made this declaration during an open-air crusade in support of President Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential poll now scheduled to hold on March 28, 2015, attended by thousands of members from the 36 states of the Federation, including the FCT, Abuja.
Speaking on the occasion which took place at the Re- elect Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Office in Ikeja and attended by former minister, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, among other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the South West and Abuja, Alhaji Hassan said NACTOMORAS came to the decision to support Jonathan after a series of meetings.
"Your Excellency, we have the blessing of the Board of Trustees, National Executives and general members of our association in the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja (FCT) to re-endorse your candidature for the forthcoming presidential election," he said.
Speaking, former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Obanikoro, lauded the association, its leadership and members across the federation for identifying with a man like President Jonathan, who is from a humble background.
Obanikoro described Jonathan as a unifier and a detribilised Nigerian, just as he said Major- General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) belonged to the past and deserved not to lead Nigeria of the 21st Century.
"We have gone too far to reverse. Buhari belongs to the past, he does not deserve to lead," Obanikoro said, just as he pointed out that the former Head of State was now surrounded by people of questionable characters who meant no good for the country."
