PDP accused of voting N180bn for lost grounds

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party has been accused of budgeting N5bn each for the 36 states of the federation in desperate moves to recover lost grounds and win the rescheduled general elections slated for March 28 and April 11, 2014.

But the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisah Metuh, denied the allegation.

A source close to the All Progressives Congress, who did not want his name mentioned, told one of our correspondents that the PDP was desperate to win the elections at all cost thus resorting to mobilising the huge fund to “tidy up every conceivable loophole.”

Nigerien, Nigerian armies row over ‘coward claim’

The Nigerian military has accused Niger’s Defence Ministry of aiding Boko Haram activities in the country by supplying the terror group with mercenaries.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, Nigeria’s Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, described soldiers from the neighbouring country as looters who collaborate with terrorists “as a way of surviving the poverty in their country.”

The military spokesperson was reacting to a comment credited to Niger’s Defence Ministry, suggesting that Nigeria’s troops are cowards.

In one of the tweets, Olukolade said, “Welcome our friends from Niger. No way for your infamous looting here. How the poor country compensates its soldiers and claim they don’t run. Our soldiers have been defending our people and nation’s wealth from mercenaries supplied to Boko Haram by those who boast that they don’t run.”

Obasanjo backs Buhari over certificate

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that at the time General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) joined the military, nobody in the Nigerian Army could have been admitted without a qualification equivalent to a school certificate.

Obasanjo was fielding questions during an event to promote his book ‘My Watch’ in London during the week, when he revealed that Buhari joined the military four years after him.

In a video of the event on Youtube, transcribed by our correspondent, he said, “When I joined the Army in the 1950s, I needed to have a Cambridge certificate or West African School Certificate or GCE with a minimum of six subjects to be able to join the military at the time.

Promises galore in Ogun gov candidates’ debate

The Ogun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria organised a debate for the state governorship candidates on Wednesday, SAMUEL AWOYINFA, was there

Many residents thronged the expansive auditorium of the African Church Solution camp, Sam Ewang Estate, Abeokuta, during the week to witness the interactive forum/public debate organised for the governorship candidates in Ogun State who are contesting in the rescheduled general elections next month. The debate took off at exactly 11.36am.

The governorship candidates are: Gboyega Isiaka (Peoples Democratic Party), Akin Odunsi (Social Democratic Party), Pastor Benjamin Onafadeji (National Conscience Party), Prof. Femi Bamgbose (All Progressives Grand Alliance) and Revd Olufolabi Adebayo (KOWA Party).

Stealing same as corruption, lawyers tell Jonathan

Some lawyers have cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan to stop differentiating between the acts of stealing and corruption.

The President had during the 8th presidential media chat on Wednesday maintained that there was a difference between the two acts. This came several months after he first made a similar statement.

“If somebody is a thief, he is a thief. We should not use the word ‘corruption’ to cover a case of stealing. Thieves should be called thieves,” the President had said.