Encomium
- BUHARI’S ELIGIBILITY SUITS ADJOURNED TILL APRIL 22 AND 23 … Anxiety over Saturday, March 28 Presidential election has been doused following the adjournment of the suits challenging General Muhammadu Buhari’s eligibility on account of not presenting his O’Levels Cambridge certificate to Independent National Electoral Commission. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of Federal High Court Abuja, today (Wednesday, March 25) adjourned the suits till Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23, 2015. Yesterday (Tuesday, March 24), Justice Ademola heard all those seeking to be joined – Ebunolu Adegboruwa, Chukwuma Ochu, Sanusi Musa and Ahmed Maitarki. Chukwuma Okafor had filed the suit on January 26, 2015, seeking to disqualify General Buhari (73) for not attaching the certificate to INEC form CF001. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) represented the plaintiff. Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) appeared for Buhari and All Progressives Congress respectively. The elections on Saturday, March 28 is mainly between incumbent, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (58) of Peoples Democratic Party and General Buhari of APC.
- DON’T HAND OVER TO MILITARY – OBASANJO WARNS… Former Head of State and President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday (Tuesday, March 24) warned President Goodluck Jonathan from handing over reins of government to the military. Chief Obasanjo (78) was addressing Mrs. Aishat Buhari, wife of All Progressives Congress’ flag bearer in Saturday, March 28 Presidential election, and scores of women who visited him at home in Abeokuta (Ogun state). The ex-military leader (1976 – 1979) and president (1999 – 2007) announced that military rule won’t be accommodated by the comity of nations. That only a democratically elected government in Africa’s model country and its most populous should be encouraged. Obasanjo, erstwhile Peoples Democratic Party leader, has sympathy for APC.
- CBN GOVERNOR ADMONISHES – DON’T TRANSACT BUSINESS IN DOLLARS IN NIGERIA, IT’S ILLEGAL… Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele (54) yesterday ( Tuesday, March 24) admonished all those fond of transacting business in dollars in Nigeria to stop or risk prosecution. Following the persistent fall in the value of the naira against the dollar (now N230/$1) and dwindling foreign reserves ($30.01 billion on March 20), Emefiele, at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee’s two-day meeting in Abuja, warned landlords and schools and other businesses to stop demanding dollars instead of naira. The MPC’s 11 members retained the monetary policy rate at 13%, bank cash reserve requirement at 20% and public sector deposit at 75%. Emefiele, CBN’s 11th Governor, expressed optimism about the economy, assuring that a more positive picture will emerge after the elections.
- PATIENCE JONATHAN CRIES, ‘BUHARI PLANNING TO BUILD PRISONS… The ever entertaining First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan (58) is spreading the tale that All Progressives Congress’ presidential candidate in the Saturday, March 28 election, General Muhammadu Buhari and his party are plotting to build prisons. At a rally organised by the women’s wing of Peoples Democratic Party in Akure (Ondo state) yesterday ( Tuesday, March 24), Dame Patience reiterated that her husband (President Goodluck Jonathan) built Almajiri schools, empowered women, allocated 35% positions to them (and will increase their slots to 45% when re-elected), and brought down maternal mortality by 50%. That her husband deserves a second term on account of his laudable feats. She described APC as a party of liars whose stock in trade is propaganda.
- BOKO HARAM KIDNAPS 400 WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN DAMASAK, BORNO… Four hundred women and children are reportedly in agony after being abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Damasak (Borno state) on Tuesday, March 24, 2015. Witnesses claimed that over 500 ladies and children were seized, with about 50 killed by the terrorists. The survivors were ferried to an unknown destination. Meanwhile, there is no official confirmation about the abduction. Damasak was earlier this month recaptured by Chadian and Nigerien troops.
in Features
