Taraba Guber Re-run : Women Groups Threaten to Protest Nude

Adedayo Akinwale in  Abuja

Ahead of the April 25th re-run election in Taraba State, groups under the aegis of The Ladies of Grace and Agape Sisters have threatened to mobilise hundreds of thousands of Nigerian women to protest nude if any official behaved funny.

The Coordinator of the groups, Ms. Jane Onuh disclosed this on Friday while addressing a press conference in Abuja, alleging that there were noticeable series of intimidations  exhibited by the opponent of Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan, which they said included  men, military, police as well as suspected electoral officials.

Onuh stated that the women would have remained quiet and neutral but for their disadvantaged background and the clamour to sustain the goals set for Nigerian women in the post Beijing conference over two decades ago.

Her words, "We dare warn of adverse consequences should the establishment or otherwise known as Taraba Cabal insist on intimidating a female contestant in the Taraba guber race.

"For the avoidance of doubt, we will mobilise hundreds of thousands of Nigerian women to protest nude on April 25th if any official behave funny.  We will be exposing the cabals and their cohorts who are still living in the stone age that the position of woman, no matter how eminently qualified, still resides in her kitchen".

The women urged all the agencies to remain neutral during the re-run election, while also calling on Taraba women to ignore all kinds of intimidation and come out enmasse to vote for their own.

Marching Over Blood to the Throne

As a reporter, I have covered elections in Nigeria since 1992. I have, over the years, come to understand the psychology of Nigerian politicians: how many of them will prefer to discredit an election simply because it did not favour them. I am also aware of the several tactics politicians use to undermine electoral process for their own selfish ends.

In the March 28 and April 11 elections, two states stood out in perpetration of unbridled electoral fraud. The states are Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

As they say, long before the snake gave birth, everybody knew it will bear ‘a long child’. In Rivers, the sign that all will not go smoothly had been strong and glaring. It had worn the tag of a flash point state by all predictions. The pre-election incidents of violence only increased in tempo, frequency and sophistication during the election. In almost all cases, the victims of the attacks were either members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the party’s secretariat.

Too many times, the APC secretariats in some LGAs were bombed and their campaign rallies attacked, sometimes with the police wringing their hands in questionable helplessness.

If the election in Rivers was a straight fight between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC members were regularly being attacked, it is logical to conclude that the aggressors are the PDP members.

During the presidential and National Assembly elections, the scale of violence visited on the electorate was most disturbing. Several corpses lay on the streets during and after the elections. Blood of voters flowed. Too many gun shots were fired at voters. There was so much commotion. At Boro, Khana police station (in Ogoni area) some persons were seen (on camera) thumb printing ballot papers for the PDP. Two days after the March 28 election, hundreds of hijacked ballot papers were still found around that police station. Was the police station one of the polling booths? The picture and story of this electoral fraud trended on the internet for days.

At Omokwu and many other places in the state, people were just being killed like Christmas chicken. The violence was simply overbearing. The APC said over 54 of its members were killed even before the governorship election in Rivers.

During the governorship and State House of Assembly poll, the level of violence was simply taken a few notches higher. Police vehicles, INEC offices, private homes were burnt, just as several people were also killed with brute and mindless ease. Election materials were hijacked by hired thugs in many places.

Without mincing words, it was like the last battle the PDP was determined to fight in the state.
The undertone of the attacks seemed to have been “let’s first get the victory by hook or crook, and then we sort out the legal battle later”. The desperation was criminal!

Aided with federal might and arsenal, the normal electoral process was overwhelmed by the naked thuggery that was unleashed on the people. Policemen who were not willing to play along were quickly sent out of the state with presidential fiat. AIG Tunde Ogunsakin  has his tales to tell.

I have read three reports by the EU observers, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other local observers, and they all condemned the electoral rape that took place in Rivers, calling for the cancellation.  

At the end of the day, figures, it seemed, were simply awarded in most places and the PDP has long rolled out the drums celebrating it’s self-awarded victory, claiming that the election went so well.

Few days ago, Hon Chibudom Nwuche,  (former Deputy Speaker) who until very recently was a chieftain of the PDP in Rivers has also condemned the criminal violence that governed that election in the state saying election did not really take place in the real sense of the word.

The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Tonye Princewill has also cried blue murder about the election.
Pray, what does the EU, or the CSOs or Nwuche or Princewill etc., all have against Nyesom Wike and his PDP as to discredit the election? Is that the only state where PDP won? Can they all be biased against Wike and his PDP?

It is a similar abridgement of the voting right of the people in Akwa Ibom where voting materials were not distributed to many PUs, but at the end of the day, fabulous figures were recorded against such PUs where voting did not even take place.
This narrative of violence and underhand ability is quite in sync with the character portrait of the dramatis personae involved in these cases.

Several foreign and local observers have said thugs in Police uniforms hijacked polling materials in many places. It is crime of the highest order to appropriate the electoral right of the people, as it happened in Akwa Ibom as well. And typical with such politicians, they have organized carnivals to celebrate their victory.

But they must be told that they are operating in the mode of the old order. Electoral crimes must no more go unpunished. And the era where people march through human blood to sit on governance thrones, is over. Enough is enough!

Elections: INEC Urges Aggrieved Parties to go to Court

Chief Jerry Chukwueke; Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha and  President-elect, Gen. Muhammud Buhari during a visit to Imo State...recently                                       

•  Issues Uba, Ekwunife, Oduah and others with Certificate of Return

Charles Onyekamuo in Awka 
       
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked candidates of parties who failed in the March 28 and April 11 general elections to proceed to the election tribunal when constituted to table their grievances instead of peddling unfounded rumours or working themselves up because they didn’t win.

The INEC National Commissioner for Anambra, Imo, and Abia states, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku gave the advice in Awka, the Anambra State capital yesterday while issuing certificates of Return to National Assembly winners in the state. He said the commission had no powers under the law to cancel an already declared result.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Edwin Nwatalari had earlier said that a lot of stories had been flying about, especially in the social media since the conduct of the election some of which said that the INEC was either writing fresh results or cancelling some areas or cheating, adding that none of them was true and that the elections were conducted in accordance with the electoral guidelines.

“I don’t have power to alter any result that had been declared. The social media is awash with stories that I altered results. Assuming a mistake was made somewhere, it is only the Tribunal that has powers to look at it. I don’t have such powers.

  “Virtually everybody in this state has called me since these stories began making the rounds.
“It is only God that has not called me. Those who are dissatisfied with the outcome should please go to the Tribunal. The only thing we obey is a valid court order,” he said.

Senators-Elect for Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Andy Uba, Anambra Central, Hon. (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife,  and Anambra North, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah were all issued with certificates of Return. They all won on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Also issued with certificates of Return were nine House of Representatives members-Elect.
They included Mr. Peter Madubueze (Anambra East/West Federal Constituency, Hon. Emeka Idu (Onitsha North/South), Hon. Anayo Nebe (Awka North /South, Hon. Eucharia Azodo (Aguata Federal Constituency) Chuchu Onyema (Ogbaru),  Obinna Chidoka (Idemili North/South), Emeka Anohu (Ihiala), Hon. Chris Azubogu (Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo, while Dr. Emeka Eze for Njikoka /Anaocha/Dunukofia Federal Constituency was not available to collect his.

The certificate of Return for Orumba North/South was not issued to the supposed winner because it was learnt that it was being challenged in court.

Senator Andy Uba who spoke on behalf of all of them enjoined losers to sheath their swords because it was not time for fight. Rather he said that both the winners and losers should join hands together to move the state forward.

As Gov Uduaghan Prepares to Sign Out

Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan

with  Eddy Odivwri

In 41 days, Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan will be referred to as former governor of Delta State. And he will go down in record as the third elected executive governor of the state.

His has been a chequered stretch of governance in the state. Both his ascension to the throne, the period of governance and his stepping down from office have been full of histrionics.
There is a refrain in a favourite Christian hymn (Fading Away Like the Stars of the Morning) which says… “Let us remember, Let us remember,  what they have done...”

He came with a trinity of programmes: Peace and Security, Infrastructure Development and Human Capital Development. Somehow, the entire  business of governance got compressed into these three broad portfolios.
And so, eight years after, it is appropriate to examine how well the governor has discharged his self-appointed tasks to the people of Delta State.

This piece, for the sake of space and time constraint may not be able to dig out, in details, the performance record on the three prisms of Uduaghan’s governance. But enough to say that on the issue of  Peace and Security, his administration, strove from day one to the last, to deliberately make efforts to promote peace and security. It is remarkable to note that his administration actually inherited a state steeped in all kinds of violence, skirmishes and general disquiet. Having been in government, eight years before becoming governor, Uduaghan was sufficiently familiar with the issues that had plagued the state. Indeed, his predecessor, James Ibori had spent his first one week in office shuttling between warring communities in the state.

Uduaghan had presided over many peace initiative meetings and knew deeply the issues and contentions. Yes, a couple of times, the level of disquiet spilled out of control, especially when the malaise of kidnapping hit the state and other parts of the country (which indeed claimed my own father), it will be right to say the Uduaghan years in office helped to contain the incendiary tendencies in the state.
His ability to manage the delicate complexities associated with a state that approximates mini Nigeria, with its many ethnic groupings, is a tribute to his capacity to manage people.

Perhaps his greatest disposition to peace is the sacrifice of his senatorial ambition in the state.
Although many believed he was harassed out of the senatorial race by the Ijaw mafia led by the trio of President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief E. K Clarke, and Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo),  Udugahan had explained that he elected to step down from the race so that there will be peace. He followed peace with so much commitment. He said the security reports reaching him had indicated that there will be plenty of trouble in the state if he went ahead with the contest. In his place, James Manager, an Ijaw, and who had been in the senate for over 12 uneventful years was returned, even though he had remained bland and inarticulate in the senate chambers over the years. No thanks to Ijaw conspiracy.

Although the governor won the peace, he seemingly lost his groove, as he had changed his operational pattern, by becoming far more taciturn and socially disenchanted, ever since the events leading to his dropping his senatorial ambition.
Uduaghan never trifled with the concerns of safety and security. That explains the huge support his administration gave law enforcement agencies in wracking down the incidents of violent crimes in the state.

Perhaps one other area his administration strove to leave a mark is in job creation. More than four times, his administration embarked on near mass recruitment of unemployed persons in the state. The civil service has helped to absorb quite a number of hitherto unemployed youths, even though a large number remains yet unemployed. It is not just a national malaise, but a global one.
One way however Uduaghan would have achieved more in this regard is to drive high the plan to establish the Warri Industrial Park which he launched in 2007/2008.

It was one veritable programme that would have radically transformed the fortunes and economy of the state. Apart from opening up a wide gamut of opportunities for the private sector to bloom and operate, the very idea of Industrial park, needless to say, would have literally mopped up all, almost, the idle youths loafing around the towns and cities of the state. It remains a vex point that the project failed or put differently, that it has remained inchoate, especially as some good funds had been allegedly allotted to commence the building of the park. It is sad that the project, laudable as it was, merely got “trapped” in the system.

However, his human capital development rating got a boost with the well-celebrated micro-credit scheme. It was a scheme that was well co-ordinated as it provided a start-up capital base to thousands of people(largely women) who ran their small-scale businesses across the state. For the huge success it recorded, the governor won several awards from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other institutions.

But the point must be made about the loan-recovery efforts. I am not aware if the loans have been or being paid back. Or were they not loans in the proper sense of the word?

Although the Asaba International Airport remains a signature project of the Uduaghan administration, even though it was inherited from his predecessor, and not exactly completed yet;  not many people are satisfied with the infrastructure development in the state.

Two major road networks: the Asaba--Ughelli highway and the Koko road dualisation network, remain uncompleted, despite the fact that they had been conceived almost the same time the governor assumed office. It is difficult to understand why the two roads, especially remained uncompleted, but some believe that the Uduaghan administration was rather “too cool” with contractors, hence they were hardly in a hurry to get done with their contracts.

The big plans of establishing Koko EPZ for instance, seemingly died at conception, perhaps because of Federal Government bureaucracy. His administration however tried to recast Warri city in a new mould of a modern city, what with the introduction of the metro  BRT bus service, just as major roads enjoyed asphalt overlay.
Street lightings improved greatly  even in villages, especially the Asaba-Onitsha expressway lighting scheme powered by dozens of generators.

Although some will write it off as normal, the fact that he was almost always on the same page with labour meant that he was paying his state’s workers well and promptly.
His devotion to education was also evident in his drive toward improved quality delivery in the sector. His model schools, though not enough, provided the taste of preferred standard.

The overhead bridge projects at Warri and Asaba are remarkable responses to   the growing vehicular traffic in the state.
Although some good efforts were directed at cleaning up the state, it still remains largely a dirty state bereft of a deliberate effort to promote greenery, even as Gov Uduaghan was an avid supporter and promoter of environmental preservation. He became a cheer leader in Climate Change campaigns.

However one other area that the Uduaghan administration achieved so much is in the health sector.  Aside the huge attention paid to establishing the University of Abraka Teaching Hospital in Oghara, the free maternity service to women as well as free medi-care to senior citizens are programmes that not only saved lots of lives, but also provided enormous financial reliefs to beneficiaries. Perhaps as a medical doctor himself, Uduaghan, right from his days as Commissioner for Health, had  placed premium prize on the health of the people.

His foray in sports is also remarkable, as the state did extremely well in winning laurels in national and international sporting competitions.
Beside every other virtue he has, many acknowledge that Uduaghan has a great listening habit. He listens a lot, sometimes to the vain and even profane, but he sifts through what he hears, albeit in a calm demeanour. He is an establishmentarian, never wanting to upset a status quo. No doubt, this nature has defined his political camp and operations. He is deft in his political calculations, wherein he moves as swiftly and silently as light.

Although a few doubt if one of his strengths is in forgiving those who ruffled him, many others (including yours sincerely) believe that he is  a burnished Baptist, suffused with a good heart that shows kindness and mercy to the needy and the  less privileged. I recall that in August 2009, he had suddenly stopped his convoy at the Effurun round about and adopted one of the young boys hawking petty items by the roadside. He transformed the life and fortune of that boy and his family.  All things considered, Uduaghan will pass for a great leader, one who kept his circle of friends in good and not-so-good times. He surely has his place in history as we wish him a great and peaceful life after service.

British Airways Provides Passengers Top Tips for Long Haul Family Travel

TThere’s something magical about flying when you’re a child – being awed by the size of the aircraft, the anticipation as you fasten your seatbelt, the thrill of takeoff and the wonder of looking down at the clouds.

Usually, it’s not quite as fun an experience for parents. Airports can be stressful places at the best of times and particularly so when escorting one or more easily distracted children, while juggling bags and passports and negotiating urgent appeals to use the bathroom.

Onboard the aircraft, there’s the inevitable debate about who sits where and the need to keep an eye on an insatiably curious child intent on heading off for some exploring while you wrestle your bag into the overhead compartment.

Even when you’ve settled in your seat and answered a seemingly endless barrage of excited questions, you sometimes aren’t able to relax. Your duties as maître d’ and entertainments officer usually preclude anything other than snatching a bite or two of an inevitably cold meal and pretty much rule out following the plot of anything longer than a cartoon.

But Kola Olayinka, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager West Africa, who has being flying with his family and children since they were babies, says that by being pro-active, you can reduce a lot of the stress that can accompany long haul family travel.

“You need to consider the children even before you make your reservations, even if they are a bit older because everyone can act up when they’re out of their comfort zone. For example, when you’re booking connecting flights, factor in an additional 30 minutes per child to the minimum connection time.”

He also suggests trying to book the entire trip on one airline or its alliance partners as this makes life much easier if there are any delays or connection problems. “If you need a baby seat or bassinet, book it when you make your reservation as these are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Make sure all your paperwork is in order. If you travel frequently, your passport will be up to date, but it’s worth checking the children’s are too. Also find out if the country you’re leaving or visiting require any additional paperwork for children.

“To take some of the stress out of the airport experience, do as much as you can before you arrive at the check-in desk. You can pre-empt some queuing and any arguments about who sits where by requesting your seats using the Manage My Booking function on ba.com 24 hours before the flight departs.

If you want to be absolutely sure of getting the seats you want, you can secure these earlier for a small charge.
“You can also check-in on ba.com and print your boarding pass out at home. If you’re travelling with teenagers and they really want to be cool they can get a mobile boarding pass sent to their smartphone using the ba app.” Even if you have checked in online and already have your boarding passes, Olayinka suggests that it’s wise to leave more time than you normally would if you’re flying with the family.
“Rushing through an airport is not conducive to a stress-free journey for anyone.”

“Above all, keep a careful eye on your children in the airport so they don’t wander off. Make sure that if you do get separated from young children, whoever finds them can get in touch with you. You can write your mobile number on their boarding cards etc.

When the flight starts boarding, take advantage of the priority boarding procedures for parents with children. This means you aren’t juggling the luggage and children while other passengers are trying to board and you have some time to get settled and relax. If you’re using a small folding pushchair you can take it right to the door of the aircraft at most airports.

“Another hint is to ask your travel agent or use Manage my Booking to pre-book children’s meals. These are specially prepared to be interesting and filling, but importantly are packed with the things children love to eat.

“Boredom is, of course, one of the biggest threats to a fantastic family flight. Onboard British Airways offers dedicated in-flight entertainment channels for children and teens, but remember you’ll also be spending time at airports. It’s a good idea to download their favourite game to your phone or mobile device or to pack some familiar, small, lightweight toys or books in their hand baggage. The trick is, in an unfamiliar environment, to provide them with something they know and like.”

British Airways Provides Passengers Top Tips for Long Haul Family Travel

TThere’s something magical about flying when you’re a child – being awed by the size of the aircraft, the anticipation as you fasten your seatbelt, the thrill of takeoff and the wonder of looking down at the clouds.

Usually, it’s not quite as fun an experience for parents. Airports can be stressful places at the best of times and particularly so when escorting one or more easily distracted children, while juggling bags and passports and negotiating urgent appeals to use the bathroom.

Onboard the aircraft, there’s the inevitable debate about who sits where and the need to keep an eye on an insatiably curious child intent on heading off for some exploring while you wrestle your bag into the overhead compartment.

Even when you’ve settled in your seat and answered a seemingly endless barrage of excited questions, you sometimes aren’t able to relax. Your duties as maître d’ and entertainments officer usually preclude anything other than snatching a bite or two of an inevitably cold meal and pretty much rule out following the plot of anything longer than a cartoon.

But Kola Olayinka, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager West Africa, who has being flying with his family and children since they were babies, says that by being pro-active, you can reduce a lot of the stress that can accompany long haul family travel.

“You need to consider the children even before you make your reservations, even if they are a bit older because everyone can act up when they’re out of their comfort zone. For example, when you’re booking connecting flights, factor in an additional 30 minutes per child to the minimum connection time.”

He also suggests trying to book the entire trip on one airline or its alliance partners as this makes life much easier if there are any delays or connection problems. “If you need a baby seat or bassinet, book it when you make your reservation as these are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Make sure all your paperwork is in order. If you travel frequently, your passport will be up to date, but it’s worth checking the children’s are too. Also find out if the country you’re leaving or visiting require any additional paperwork for children.

“To take some of the stress out of the airport experience, do as much as you can before you arrive at the check-in desk. You can pre-empt some queuing and any arguments about who sits where by requesting your seats using the Manage My Booking function on ba.com 24 hours before the flight departs.

If you want to be absolutely sure of getting the seats you want, you can secure these earlier for a small charge.
“You can also check-in on ba.com and print your boarding pass out at home. If you’re travelling with teenagers and they really want to be cool they can get a mobile boarding pass sent to their smartphone using the ba app.” Even if you have checked in online and already have your boarding passes, Olayinka suggests that it’s wise to leave more time than you normally would if you’re flying with the family.
“Rushing through an airport is not conducive to a stress-free journey for anyone.”

“Above all, keep a careful eye on your children in the airport so they don’t wander off. Make sure that if you do get separated from young children, whoever finds them can get in touch with you. You can write your mobile number on their boarding cards etc.

When the flight starts boarding, take advantage of the priority boarding procedures for parents with children. This means you aren’t juggling the luggage and children while other passengers are trying to board and you have some time to get settled and relax. If you’re using a small folding pushchair you can take it right to the door of the aircraft at most airports.

“Another hint is to ask your travel agent or use Manage my Booking to pre-book children’s meals. These are specially prepared to be interesting and filling, but importantly are packed with the things children love to eat.

“Boredom is, of course, one of the biggest threats to a fantastic family flight. Onboard British Airways offers dedicated in-flight entertainment channels for children and teens, but remember you’ll also be spending time at airports. It’s a good idea to download their favourite game to your phone or mobile device or to pack some familiar, small, lightweight toys or books in their hand baggage. The trick is, in an unfamiliar environment, to provide them with something they know and like.”

British Airways Provides Passengers Top Tips for Long Haul Family Travel

TThere’s something magical about flying when you’re a child – being awed by the size of the aircraft, the anticipation as you fasten your seatbelt, the thrill of takeoff and the wonder of looking down at the clouds.

Usually, it’s not quite as fun an experience for parents. Airports can be stressful places at the best of times and particularly so when escorting one or more easily distracted children, while juggling bags and passports and negotiating urgent appeals to use the bathroom.

Onboard the aircraft, there’s the inevitable debate about who sits where and the need to keep an eye on an insatiably curious child intent on heading off for some exploring while you wrestle your bag into the overhead compartment.

Even when you’ve settled in your seat and answered a seemingly endless barrage of excited questions, you sometimes aren’t able to relax. Your duties as maître d’ and entertainments officer usually preclude anything other than snatching a bite or two of an inevitably cold meal and pretty much rule out following the plot of anything longer than a cartoon.

But Kola Olayinka, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager West Africa, who has being flying with his family and children since they were babies, says that by being pro-active, you can reduce a lot of the stress that can accompany long haul family travel.

“You need to consider the children even before you make your reservations, even if they are a bit older because everyone can act up when they’re out of their comfort zone. For example, when you’re booking connecting flights, factor in an additional 30 minutes per child to the minimum connection time.”

He also suggests trying to book the entire trip on one airline or its alliance partners as this makes life much easier if there are any delays or connection problems. “If you need a baby seat or bassinet, book it when you make your reservation as these are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Make sure all your paperwork is in order. If you travel frequently, your passport will be up to date, but it’s worth checking the children’s are too. Also find out if the country you’re leaving or visiting require any additional paperwork for children.

“To take some of the stress out of the airport experience, do as much as you can before you arrive at the check-in desk. You can pre-empt some queuing and any arguments about who sits where by requesting your seats using the Manage My Booking function on ba.com 24 hours before the flight departs.

If you want to be absolutely sure of getting the seats you want, you can secure these earlier for a small charge.
“You can also check-in on ba.com and print your boarding pass out at home. If you’re travelling with teenagers and they really want to be cool they can get a mobile boarding pass sent to their smartphone using the ba app.” Even if you have checked in online and already have your boarding passes, Olayinka suggests that it’s wise to leave more time than you normally would if you’re flying with the family.
“Rushing through an airport is not conducive to a stress-free journey for anyone.”

“Above all, keep a careful eye on your children in the airport so they don’t wander off. Make sure that if you do get separated from young children, whoever finds them can get in touch with you. You can write your mobile number on their boarding cards etc.

When the flight starts boarding, take advantage of the priority boarding procedures for parents with children. This means you aren’t juggling the luggage and children while other passengers are trying to board and you have some time to get settled and relax. If you’re using a small folding pushchair you can take it right to the door of the aircraft at most airports.

“Another hint is to ask your travel agent or use Manage my Booking to pre-book children’s meals. These are specially prepared to be interesting and filling, but importantly are packed with the things children love to eat.

“Boredom is, of course, one of the biggest threats to a fantastic family flight. Onboard British Airways offers dedicated in-flight entertainment channels for children and teens, but remember you’ll also be spending time at airports. It’s a good idea to download their favourite game to your phone or mobile device or to pack some familiar, small, lightweight toys or books in their hand baggage. The trick is, in an unfamiliar environment, to provide them with something they know and like.”

Air France’s New Cabins Take off to Guangzhou

Air France continues to roll out its new cabins on board its Boeing 777, at the heart of its long-haul fleet. Since the 31st of March 2015, customers can fly to Guangzhou on board a Boeing 777-200 equipped with the new Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

This summer, Air France is offering 14 weekly flights to Guangzhou on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, including seven frequencies operated on a code-share basis with its partner China Southern Airlines.

The gradual entry into service of the equipped Boeing aircraft enables Air France to serve this destination with the new cabins three times a week as from 31 March 2015 and up to seven times a week during the 2015 summer season.

The new Air France travel cabins are already available on flights to New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Jakarta, Shanghai, Sao Paulo and Dubai and it will soon be available on the African network. 
Customers going to any of these destinations from Lagos can now enjoy the new cabin and its features on their connecting flights from Paris CDG.

Why We Hate MultiChoice So Much

MultiChoice 

Eyitayo Akingbade
As a DStv subscriber in Nigeria, I have followed the uproar over the MultiChoice price increase with keen interest. I am curious to see how it will end, and more importantly, if I will continue to pay the previous subscription rate. As a consumer, I naturally welcome reduced rates everywhere possible. Who doesn’t?

In all of this though, the vehemence with which the uproar has gone on suggests to me that it is orchestrated.
The court injunction ordering MultiChoice to revert to its old rates was celebrated the way barbarians did when they beheaded rivals in those battles of yore. It has left with the feeling that there is actually a hatred for MultiChoice and I have been compelled to locate the sources of irritation with the company. Why, I have asked myself, is there this amount of ill-will towards MultiChoice? A few of the obvious reasons are listed here. Are they justified? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

The market leader is never loved: The market leader in most industries is perceived as strong and powerful. Most often, it is viewed as a bully.

It towers above all other competitors. Everyone, especially competing brands, love to hate the market leader.   This hatred stems from the perception that it is a monopoly and has grabbed all the advantages for itself. As MultiChoice was the first of its kind in the Nigeria market, it has first arrival advantage and has made quite a name for itself. It cornered the juiciest sport and entertainment content, which is the major driver of pay-TV. It also brought in two of the biggest reality shows: Idols West Africa and Big Brother Africa (both of which I am no fan of).

2. High Expectations From A Company You Have Come To Rely On: I don’t know about you, but sometimes the constant calls and text messages from companies trying to sell me a product, or in the case of MultiChoice, reminding me to pay my subscription, really irritate me. It is true that I don’t always remember when my subscription is due and even when I see that intrusive flashing envelope, I experience fear, knowing that a fresh subscription is due any day. Even at that, I simply press escape and hide the annoying reminder.

Sometimes, I get the phone call or text message reminding me of my due date, which although even more intrusive than the envelope on the top left corner of my TV screen, eventually prompts me to pay. That being said, I get even more annoyed when I don’t get the call that normally reminds me and my service goes off. At that moment, I never recall that just the day before, I had ranted about their intrusive style.

Someone shared a similar experience with me recently. His subscription expired and he scooted to the DStv office, hoping to renew as soon as possible. He got there at about 7:30pm, expecting the office to still be open to customers. He found it had closed and he all but lost it.

His mother-in-law was visiting and he desperately needed DStv to keep her entertained. This reliance on their service is what really upsets us. We love to hate them, but rely so much on their content. I feel his pain and although I know that they encourage customers to employ their self-service options and other payment platforms, I simply never remember to use them. They could do some more in terms of further educating their customers on the convenience of these self-help options.

3. Remaining Afloat: I suppose another reason MultiChoice is so hated is because it has dared to remain afloat. Who doesn’t trawl the papers and social media for details when there is a rumour that a corporate giant is in danger of collapsing? Things like this bring great, often malicious pleasure at the trouble of the successful. This brings to mind General Motors’ Chapter 11 Reorganisation in 2009. General Motors actually filed for bankruptcy and the world watched with rapt attention, expecting the very worst. It got a bail out in billions of dollars from the US government. It eventually regained profitability and resumed full operations, but not after its competitors had seized a sizeable chunk of the market.

A similar scenario was the emergence of HiTv and the perceived shift in the balance of power from MultiChoice to HiTv, when the latter won the rights to broadcast the Barclays Premier League. There was great jubilation at the time. This precious commodity had been snatched from MultiChoice, a huge cause for celebration, indeed. Feeding our obsessions became that much more affordable. Alas, the celebration was shortlived, as all too soon, HiTv went under. We were so pained as we had been backing the underdog in this fight. Why? Because we were paying less to watch football. Imagine the disappointment when the rights were re-won by MultiChoice. This made us even more suspicious of MultiChoice, as we assumed it had done something sinister to wrest the rights from the competitor.
Hopefully, those who ran HiTV will someday tell us why they failed when we were solidly rooting for their success. But I suspect they failed because they failed to charge appropriately for the service they were providing. Anyway, I digress.

4. Repetition of movies: This one really irks and I know I am not alone in this! Despite the number of movies that are produced annually, I find that I still see the same movie repeated more than once within a week. The explanation is that it is a universal programming strategy to ensure that there are more viewing opportunities for the movie. This means if I miss the movie in the morning, I can catch it at another time and on another day. I will not deny that there have been times when this strategy has worked to my advantage. Those are the times I caught the end of a movie that I had been hoping to watch and then wished it could be shown again the next day. That being said, just how many movies are produced annually? If a new movie is shown every hour or two, every single day, we might run out of entertainment by mid- year. And that is assuming we have absolutely nothing else to do but watch movies all day long.

5. The Pay-Per-View Myth: I lived in the United States for a few years before coming back to settle in Nigeria. It was while I was in the States that I first encountered pay per view. As a young Nigerian just getting to the US, I expected to be able to catch all the big boxing fights via satellite television, as I had been doing at home. That was not to be. I waited and kept scanning the first time around, then I called to confirm, and very patiently, a representative calmly told me I had to subscribe separately for that. After telling me how much it would cost, she concluded by providing the various payment platforms available to me. I immediately did the exchange rate math in my head. What I came up with was cripplingly expensive! I’d  rather pay a subscription and get all the matches inclusive of that subscription than having to pay a huge sum on top of my monthly subscription to get one match every single time. The pay-per-view model is one I’d rather do without.

Pay-per-view is not exactly pay-as- you-watch. It is a model used in the broadcast of high-ticket, one-off events. It is not a model that delivers a cheap television buffet from which you take what you want and leave out what you don’t. It is actually far more expensive.
6. The origins of the company: The fact that MultiChoice Nigeria owes its origins to a South African group of companies has also not added to its likeability. Why the hatred for fellow Africans anyway? MultiChoice Nigeria is no more South African than Coca-Cola is American or Airtel Nigeria is Indian or Startimes Nigeria is Chinese. Coscharis Nigeria, well, is German.

From my observation, companies establish operations in other countries and continents to remain ahead of the competition in their countries of origin, and also to improve profitability. They enter into a market because they see potential. They enter a market, knowing there could be risks, and a lot of times they enter knowing they could break even or get their calculations all wrong and flop drastically. It has never been about exploitation, but business.

These companies also tailor-make business models that are operable in the countries they have entered into. A good example is Diageo, which also has Guinness Nigeria to manage the beer brands; or Coca-Cola International, which has stakes in the Nigerian Bottling Company. However, the NBC runs its own business model and not Coca-Cola International’s.

Even when companies perceived to be South African or American or Italian enter into a market, they partner (often equally) with local shareholders. This facilitates acceptance. There is no way a South African business model can work in Nigeria. It is a Nigerian market, with its unique people, needs and peculiarities.
Akingbade, a tax administrator, lives in Lagos

Drop in Oil Prices, Opportunity for Subsidy Reform, Says IMF

Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

Ndubuisi Francis and Funke Olaode in Washington DC

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday stated that the current drop in oil prices offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria and seven other oil-producing countries in Africa to implement politically difficult oil subsidy reforms.

IMF’s Director for African Development, Antoinette Sayeh who made the submissions at a press conference in Washington DC, United States of America at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, added that in the short run, dealing with oil shock should be the priority.

Removal of oil subsidy in Nigeria and other African countries has been a very sensitive and controversial issue.

The IMF said although the eight African oil exporting countries would be hard hit with generally limited fiscal and external pressure, they are expected to undertake significant fiscal adjustment, which will ultimately dent their growth outlook.

“Faced with a massive shock and with limited buffers, oil exporters will have no choice but to undertake fiscal adjustment. Spending cuts should be directed, to the extent, to non-priority recurrent spending, but significant cuts in public spending cuts in public investment are unavoidable.

“Where feasible, exchange rate flexibility will also be important, to preserve scarce external reserves. The drop in oil prices also provides a unique opportunity to advance politically difficult energy subsidy reforms across the region,” Sayeh said.

But she noted that Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic outlook remained favourable, pointing out that the region is set to register another year of solid performance

However, she regretted that security-related risks, including those posed by Boko Haram and Al Shabab had recently posed risks to the positive outlook.

“Indeed, the region’s economy is expected to expand at four and half per cent in 2015, and will continue being one of the fastest growing region’s in the world- in fact, second only to emerging and developing Asia.

“That said, the economic expansion this year will be at the lower end range experienced in the recent years. This mainly reflects the impact of the sharp decline of the oil and commodity prices that we have witnessed over the last six months. However, as always for a region with so much diversity, the effect of this shock will be highly heterogeneous across the region,” she said.

Although she observed that Nigeria and the other seven other oil producers on the continent would be hard hit, she said much of the rest of the region’s near-term prospects remained quite positive.

According to her, most countries stand to benefit from lower oil prices, adding that for some of them, this positive effect will be partly offset by the decline in oil prices of some of the non-oil commodities they export.

“Overall, growth in oil importers, in particular, low-income countries should remain solid, driven by investment in infrastructure and strong consumption.

Sayeh, however, pointed out that a notable exception to this favourable picture among oil importers was South Africa, “where growth remains lack luster, held back by continuing problems in electricity sector.”

She pointed out that in addition, the Ebola scourge, although abating, continues to exact a heavy economic and social toll on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

On whether the IMF could provide the kind of financial support to countries threatened by insecurity as was the case with Ebola-affected nations, Sayeh said such a possibility was fluid.

According to her, with dwindling revenue and deficit budget profiles, such countries needed some kind of support from other countries to mitigate the financial impact of fighting insurgency.

AU Charges Africans to Unite against Xenophobia in S'Africa

President of Ghana, John Mahama

   *No country has monopoly of violence, TUC warns
Damilola Oyedele and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The representative of Nigeria in the African Union (AU), and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council’s 2nd Permanent General Assembly, Dr. Tunji Asaolu has called on African countries to unite against the xenophobic violence currently going on in South Africa.

Also, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Friday condemned the attacks in South Africa. In a statement by its Chair, President of Ghana, John Mahama, the ECOWAS heads called on the South African government to act quickly to stop the wave of attacks across the country.

These calls came as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) also condemned the attacks in strong words, pointing out that no country has monopoly of violence. It also called on the government of Nigeria to evacuate her citizens from South Africa to stem the attacks.

Asaolu who also doubles as the Chairperson, Social Affairs and Health cluster committee of the AU, in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday in Abuja described the violence in South Africa as unfortunate and that it should be seriously discouraged.

He equally called on the South African government do all within its ability to stop the violence and protect all foreigners in the country.
Asaolu noted that other African countries must rise to support the South African government at this time, adding that this was not the time to condemn any government but should be given necessary support to ensure that the government overcomes the crisis and to stop it spreading to other African countries.

He stated: "African countries must unite to ensure that there will be no repeat of 2008 scenario, where about 62 people were killed. We understand what the government is going through now and we express our sympathy.

"But we want to encourage the government to ensure adequate protection of all foreigners in the country. Also, the countries should prevail on their citizens to forestall reprisal attack," Asaolu noted.

According to BBC, at least five foreigners, including a 14-year-old boy, had been killed in attacks in South Africa's coastal city of Durban since last week. Some foreign-owned shops in the main city Johannesburg have shut amid fears that the violence could spread.

Zimbabwe has also condemned the attacks, blamed on locals who accuse foreigners of taking their jobs. Tens of thousands of foreigners, mostly from other African states and Asia, have moved to South Africa since white-minority rule ended in 1994.

TUC President General, Bobboi Kaigama and Secretary General Musa Lawal said: “We wish to bring to the notice of South Africans that no man or country has monopoly of violence. In as much as we wouldn’t want to repay evil with evil, we should not be pushed to the wall.”

TUC lamented that South African companies operating in Nigeria remained anti-labour in their operations as several efforts made to unionise staff of MTN, DSTV and others had been to no avail.

It added that such practice could not be allowed in South Africa as some Nigerian investors who tried to invest there returned because of strict labour laws.

"Nigeria is a country that accommodates all and sundry including South Africans and today, we see this rare opportunity being grossly abused by the likes of South Africa. They own several multi -billion dollar investments on our soils yet, we co-exist despite all odds. The same people will come here to dehumanise Nigerians? Not anymore. This must stop! This sacrifice is becoming too grave to bear and over-stretched all to ensure peaceful co-existence," the statement read.

TUC lamented that those involved in the attacks had forgotten how Nigeria and other countries rallied to help stop apartheid, describing it as a demonstration of shortness of memory. It called on the Jacob Zuma-led government to live up to its responsibilities by taking all necessary steps to stop the dastardly act of stealing, killing in the current unrest which is spreading to other cities.

"We demand that the government investigate and punish those involved in accordance with the provisions of the law of the land.

"The fact that the very people whose nation sacrificed to help South Africans fight, repel and defeat apartheid will today be considered aliens and hacked to death in such barbaric manners," the statement read.
Brand South Africa condemns violence…

Brand South Africa on Friday joined the rest of the country in condemning the acts of violence against some foreign nationals residing in some of the nine provinces of South Africa.

“We assure all our partners in the continent that South Africa stands firmly against all intolerances such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism. As such, security forces are hard at work around the clock to protect vulnerable communities in the country.

“The country remains true to its founding ethos that any problems or issues of concern by South African citizens must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue. Brand South Africa assures our partners that South Africans are generally not xenophobic; this is attested to by the high number of foreign nationals who have been successfully integrated into communities all over our country, in towns, cities and villages.

“Preliminary work done towards resolving this current challenge indicates that the root causes are socio-economic issues that have been raised and are being attended to by all South African role players,” said Brand South Africa in a statement signed by its Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Alice Puoane.

It added: “Brand South Africa expresses its sincere sympathies to the regrettable loss of lives and injuries suffered during this unfortunate occurrence. We are one Africa bound by many areas of commonalities and our spirit of Ubuntu (humanity - I am because you are) will prevail even under the trying circumstances.”

We now Generate 5,500 Megawatts of Power, Says FG

Professor Chinedu Nebo

•  Laments N1.5bn lost yearly to vandalism

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja
   
The federal government on Friday said it has met 5,500 megawatts in power generation.
It equally disclosed that N1.5bn was lost yearly to vandalism.

This is just as President Goodluck Jonathan would soon commence inauguration of completed power projects across the country.

This disclosure was made at a joint press briefing by the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam at the end of the last meeting of the Board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Ltd, held at the vice presidential wing of the presidential villa.

The meeting was chaired by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
According to Nebo, Jonathan's administration had achieved minimum electricity generation capacity of 5,500 megawatts, despite unrelenting sabotage of oil and gas pipelines by vandals.

He noted that government was losing N120 million monthly and N1.5 billion yearly to repairs of vandalised pipelines.
Nebo stressed that deliberate vandalism of pipelines every two weeks resulted in the nation losing about 1,600 megawatts of electricity at a particular time.

The minister charged the incoming government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to step up security surveillance of the petroleum pipelines in the country, as well as consider the digitalisation of the surveillance system.

"Four power plants have been completed and will be commissioned in the next couple of weeks; Sapele is one of them, Ihobor is another one. And hopefully and by the grace of God, we intend to do the commissioning very soon so that Nigerians will enjoy even more, the benefits of what the current administration has done in the power sector.

"There are literally hundreds of other projects that need to be commissioned. So very soon we are going into commissioning exercise" Nebo said.

Suswam said "The board resolved to commission some of the numerous projects under the NIPP programme. Those projects are to be commissioned in the subsequent weeks."

Apart from the new power plants, he stressed that the government had completed more transmission lines, but would not be able to complete some sales transactions because of some complications in the bid process and inadequate gas supply.

The inability to seal the sale transactions deals, Suswam explained, were not due to fear of the unknown when a new government comes on board next month.

Managing Director of the NDPHC, James  Olotu, noted that the company's 2013-2014 statement of accounts was now ready for anyone or institution that wanted to know the financial status of NDPHC.

PDP's Failure to Keep One Term Agreement led to Defeat, Says Aliyu

Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu

Aisha Wakaso in Minna
   
Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has attributed the recent defeat of the People Democratic Party (PDP) at both the national and state elections to the party's failure to honour the single term agreement entered into and therefore saw defeat coming.

According to Aliyu who made this revelation when he spoke as a special guest of honour at the convocation lecture organised by the Federal University of Technology, Minna, yesterday said that the heavy defeat suffered by the party at the presidential polls did not come to many Nigerians, especially the PDP members as a surprise.

"Many of us saw it coming, when I reminded us that we had an agreement for one term, they nearly crucified me, and when I led the G7 Governors, they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left, and they later did what we asked them to do.

"I recall also that when APC came on board, I was the first person to say I was very happy that now we have a strong party to put PDP on its toes and many people were asking me that, are you really a member? Up to the last election, my accusation has always been that I was a supporter of APC and now you have seen the result”, he lamented.

He added that Nigerians wanted something different from what they had in the past 16 years, adding, "Nigerians wanted a change and Nigerians got the change. You will have many reasons; one, PDP has been around for 16 years and there is no way you will be around for 16 years and you will not make mistakes; so there are many reasons that will be put together and we will be able to understand and guide people as to next time, these are some of the things you need to do"

Aliyu disclosed that it was not only government officials that were corrupt, but corruption itself he said started from the home.
He argued that a junior civil servant with two wives and over twenty children also breed corruption because there was no way his salary could take care of those children.

In his remarks, the chairman of the Governing Council Prof. Ahmed Alkali said "Nigeria is at a crossroad in his fight against corruption because every Nigerian is corrupt in one way or the other.

"If Nigeria must fight corruption, we must all check ourselves to ensure that at all levels we kill corruption. Anything we do in excess is corruption".

IMF Tasks Nigeria on Fiscal Reforms, Subsidy

IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde

Ndubuisi Francis in Washington DC, USA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the federal government to adopt a stringent approach on public spending to ameliorate the adverse effects of plummeting oil price on the citizens.

Fiscal prudence and removal of all forms of subsidies often funded with public resources, the IMF noted, should be among options left for Nigeria and other oil exporting countries to overcome the threats posed by dwindling crude prices at the international market.

IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, who fielded questions at the on-going spring meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Washington DC, United State,  also noted that although the Nigerian government has been talking about economic diversification, the impact remained to be seen on the people and the economy as a whole,  urging the government to take more concrete steps to stem the vulnerability that could arise in the face of the falling oil prices.

Since mid-June of 2014, Nigeria and other Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have suffered an over 50 per cent loss in crude oil prices, thereby affecting budget implementation and other obligations.

In a bid to manage the development, the federal government late last year rolled out a cocktail of belt-tightening measures aimed at minimising the vulnerability arising from the attendant revenue losses from oil exports.

Such belt tightening measures include surcharges on some luxury consumption, reduction in overseas trainings by government officials, voluntary cut in National Assembly budget, salaries of President Goodluck Jonathan and other top government functionaries as well as State House budget.
About 70 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue is derived from sale of crude petroleum products.

Constitution: Senate Demands Return of Amendment Bill

President Goodluck Jonathan

•  To ascertain if bill was signed before presidential veto

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
 
The face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly over the president’s decision to veto the recent amendments to the 1999 Constitution assumed a new twist yesterday, when the Senate asked the president to return the original copy of the amendment bill.

The president had in a letter dated April 13, addressed to Senate President David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, announced his decision to reject the Constitution (Alteration) Bill 2015 because of perceived deliberate attempts by federal lawmakers to whittle down presidential powers.

After reading the letter on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Mark also announced the plan of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution led by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to hold a two-day retreat on the matter.

However, at yesterday's plenary, the Senate adopted a motion by Ekweremadu, mandating the Senate President to write a letter to the president, demanding the return of the original copy of the bill containing the amendments sent to him by the National Assembly.

A senator, who spoke with THISDAY in confidence after the plenary, said the Senate's decision to demand the original copy of the bill was spurred by the information at its disposal that the president had earlier signed the bill before he was prevailed upon to withdraw his assent.

The senator’s disclosure confirmed THISDAY's story yesterday that the president had reportedly signed the amendment bill before the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), prevailed on him to withdraw his assent.

The senator said the demand by the Senate for the letter was a move meant to ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of the information that the president had earlier signed the bill before changing his mind.

The senator also said his colleagues were convinced that the president opted to veto the bill as a vendetta, following the perception that some members of the National Assembly failed to support his re-election bid.

But while moving the motion yesterday, Ekweremadu said the review committee had resolved to make the demand because the president had said in his letter that he was returning the bill because of his observations on it, but failed to return the bill along with the letter.
Ekweremadu added that the non-availability of the bill had stalled progress in its two-day retreat, while placing emphasis on the desire of the committee to see the signature page.

“The president raised a number of objections with respect to the fourth alteration of our constitution. That letter was appropriately referred to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review.

“We had slated to have a two-day retreat to consider the letter and advise the Senate appropriately. In the course of our sitting yesterday, we noticed that in the second to the last paragraph of that letter, the president said he was returning the bill with the letter.
“Unfortunately, the bill was not returned with the letter and we could not proceed because we would like to see the returned bill.

“The committee has asked me to raise this point, to request the President of the Senate, to ask the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to send back the original copy of the bill as sent to him, especially the signature page, to enable us proceed with our work especially since he had indicated in his own letter that the letter was accompanied by the bill.

“So, we would like to have the bill in its original form especially the signature page,” Ekweremadu said.
In his response, Mark promised to accede to the mandate of the Senate by promptly sending the letter to the president, bearing in mind the urgency involved.

“It is a personal explanation. So there will be no need to put it to debate. I think the important thing is that if the floor accepts that I send that letter, then I will write a letter to Mr. President to return the original copy of the bill to us.

“This was referred to your committee. So if that is the decision of the committee, then we have little or no option on the floor here.
“There is a bit of urgency on this. So, in writing the letter, we should have it at the earliest possible time. We cannot put a timeframe like within two days or three days. That would not be correct. The motion, as it is, is a correct motion without the timeframe,” Mark said.

Members of the House of Representatives, however, passed Jonathan’s letter to the Ad Hoc Committee on Review of the Constitution for further legislative action.

Presidential Poll: How Orubebe Plotted to Abduct Jega

Prof. Attahiru Jega,

Chuks Okocha with agency report
 
A report by the Reuters news agency has unravelled an alleged plot by some persons close to President Goodluck Jonathan to abduct the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral  commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Tuesday, March 31, to stop him from announcing the results of the presidential election and declaring Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as the winner of the poll.

According to Reuters, central to the plan were Jega's security detail and Godsday Orubebe, a former Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry.
Orubebe's role was to cause a disturbance at the collation centre as cover for the abduction of Jega.

Quoting pro-democracy advocates and an Abuja-based diplomat, the report said as Buhari closed in on Nigeria’s presidency, an aide to Jega sent a text message to an independent voting monitor, warning of an imminent threat to the electoral process.

The aide had unearthed a plot by supporters of Jonathan to disrupt the public announcement of the national election results and kidnap Jega in a bid to wreck the count.

Central to the plan, they said, were Jega's security detail and Orubebe, a former cabinet minister from Jonathan's Niger Delta, an area whose leaders feared a change of power would mean an end to the perks it enjoyed under Jonathan’s presidency.

Orubebe's role was to cause a disturbance at the headquarters of the commission as cover for the abduction of Jega.
Efforts by THISDAY to reach Orubebe to comment on the allegation hit a brick wall yesterday. After repeated phone calls and SMS, he responded by SMS, saying he was in a meeting.

INEC also declined to comment and turned down requests for an interview with Jega, whom Reuters was unable to reach independently.
However, Reuters found no evidence to suggest that Jonathan, who conceded defeat in the election, was involved. His spokesman and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), did not respond to requests for comment.

While the plot would likely not have changed the result, it could have unleashed fury among Buhari supporters in the north, where over 800 people were killed in rioting after his last election defeat in 2011.

But the plot’s failure enabled Nigeria to complete one of its few credible vote since independence in 1960.
According to Reuters, the plot to derail the election in its closing moments was pieced together from the text message, events on the ground and interviews with democracy advocates and diplomats in Abuja.

When he sent the SMS, the election official, whom the sources declined to name for his own protection, hoped the outside world would hear of the plot, the text of the message made clear.

“Fellow countrymen, Nigeria on Trial,” read the SMS sent on the morning of March 31 to Clement Nwankwo, head of the Situation Room, an Abuja-based coalition of human rights groups and democracy advocates, monitoring the polls.

“Plans are on storm (sic) the podium at the ICC Collation Centre and disrupt the process,” it continued, the official dropping words and letters in his haste.

“Nobody is sue [sic] what will happen. Please share this as widely as possible.”
At that moment, Jega was about to preside over the announcement of results, having announced results from 18 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) the day before, which had given Buhari an early lead.

As tallies from around the country showed Buhari on course for a win, unidentified PDP hard-liners started to panic, seeking ways of manipulating the count, Nwankwo and the diplomat said, citing political contacts in the Delta and Abuja.

Realising they could not engineer an outright win, PDP agents set about doctoring the tally at collation centres in pro-Jonathan areas to ensure Buhari failed to meet a requirement for 25 per cent in two thirds of the states, Nwankwo said, citing reports from election monitors on the ground.

A Reuters reporter witnessed and photographed one tally list in Port Harcourt with suspiciously similar totals for registered voters at polling stations: 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 450.
In another tally centre in the city, 17,594 valid votes were recorded out of a registered voter population of 11,757, the Reuters reporter said.

Foreign election observers also noted the peculiarities - and contacted diplomats in Abuja who called in international intervention.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and his British counterpart Philip Hammond - in Switzerland for talks on Iran - issued a tough statement saying vote counting “may be subject to deliberate political interference”.

But as Buhari's lead grew, some PDP supporters from the Delta, including Orubebe, decided on a final gamble: to create a disturbance in the collation hall and have thugs snatch Jega from the stage, according to Nwankwo and the Abuja-based diplomat.

What the group planned to do after the abduction is unclear, the diplomat and Nwankwo said, but the confusion could have triggered nationwide violence.

“It was a desperate thing, mostly by a group of people from the Niger Delta who were in the room,” Nwankwo said, describing events that unfolded publicly in the minutes after he received the SMS.

When Jega opened proceedings on the morning of March 31, Orubebe grabbed a microphone and launched into an 11-minute tirade accusing Jega of bias.

“Mr. Chairman, we have lost confidence in you,” he shouted, pushing away officials trying to make him surrender the microphone. “You are being very, very selective. You are partial,” he continued, surrounded by three or four supporters. “You are tribalistic. We cannot take it.”

Nigerians watched, aghast, on live television.
Meanwhile, Jega's security detail was approached by unidentified individuals telling them to stand down, according to Nwankwo and the diplomat. But the bodyguards refused.

“Some of the guards who had been guarding Jega for years demanded a written order,” Nwankwo said. “But it didn’t exist.”

Jega then rebuked Orubebe: “Let us not disrupt a process that has ended peacefully,” he said as Orubebe slumped in his chair.
“Mr. Orubebe, you are a former minister of the Federal Republic. You are a statesman in your own right. You should be careful about what you say or about what allegations you make,” he said.

Later, Orubebe congratulated Buhari on Twitter, expressing his “apologies to fellow Nigerians”.