Jonathan Vows To Ensure Free And Fair Elections In February

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed his
administration’s commitment to a free and fair election,
vowing not to tolerate violence of any form.
“Decisive action will be taken against any individuals or
groups who attempt to disrupt the public peace before,
during or after the 2015 elections,” the president said
on a New Year message yesterday.
“The elections are very important for us as a country.
Their successful conclusion will further strengthen our
democratic institutions and place our beloved country
even more firmly in the comity of truly democratic
nations.
“Given the challenges that have characterized some
previous electoral contests in our country, the eyes of
the world will certainly be on the conduct and outcome
of our fifth post-military rule general elections.
“I reassure all Nigerians and the international
community of our firm commitment to free, fair and
credible elections. My commitment to free elections and
one man, one vote remains unwavering.
“Our administration has worked hard in previous
elections to prepare all key stakeholders, including the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
security agencies and the electorate optimally, to
ensure a progressively improved electoral process in
the country under my watch. We will continue to do so
for the coming elections.
To ensure the smooth running of its conduct of the
February elections, Jonathan said the government will
adequately fund INEC, while ensuring its continued
independence.
“We will continue to provide adequate funding to INEC
and maintain the commission’s independence and
isolate it from any form of interference or meddling in
its day-to-day affairs. This shall continue to guarantee
its impartiality and ability to conduct more credible and
acceptable elections.
“National security agencies will also be given all
necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure
that the elections are peaceful and violence-free.
“I am optimistic that with the cooperation of all law-
abiding citizens of the country, our commitment to have
a peaceful and violence-free election will be actualised.
He also urged politicians in the country to discourage
divisions, violence and hate.
“I will like to say this, once again, to my fellow
politicians and political leaders. None of our political
ambitions is worth the blood of any of our countrymen,
women and children.
“The improvement of their lives and living conditions
ought to be our primary motive and the driving force of
our quest for political power and leadership positions.
“Let us not promote sectionalism, disunity, intolerance,
hate, falsehood or the malicious abuse of political
opponents.
“Whatever we feel or seek, we must have a nation and
a people before we can dream of political ambitions.
Let us put the nation and the people first.
“Let us all conduct our electoral campaigns with the
highest possible decorum and civility towards political
opponents. Let us give INEC the fullest possible support
and cooperation it requires to conduct credible and
violence-free elections in 2015.
Electoral violence
“After the 2011 general elections, some unpatriotic
elements embarked on an orgy of violence, resulting in
the destruction of lives and property. That will not be
allowed to happen this time around.
“This government will act decisively against anyone
who disrupts the public peace, before, during or after
the 2015 general elections.
“All Nigerians, of voting age, are free to vote based on
their convictions. It is our duty to defend and protect
that basic right, and let no one be in doubt, we will,” the
president said.
He however promised that the elections will not distract
him from his duties.
Jonathan wished Nigerians a happy and prosperous
2015, urging them to enter the new year with renewed
hope, patriotism and zeal to serve their fatherland.

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Shocking Video Of APC’s Presidential Candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari TellingHis Supporters To Kill People If He Loses

This video will send chills down your spine
how can someone be this callous to utter
such a Dangerous command to his devoted
followers?
Many have vindicated General Buhari from
The post election violence which took place
in 2011 where over a thousand people
where killed many of them youth corpers
well this video proves otherwise and points
fingers directly at Buhari as the Major
Instigator of all the bloodsheds. At a
campaign rally in minna Buhari is caught
on camera telling his supporters in the
hausa
dialect to Kill who ever tries to stop them I
Think with this Campaigning with other
languages should be Banned in Nigeria
because someone might Just be Going
around Nigeria Campaigning in the name
of “Presidency” not knowing he could be
passing out messages which instigates
hatred of his opponents into the hearts of
his supporters or just simply plotting
another bloody Civil war in broad daylight,
We all know majority of Buhari’s
supporters are all Nothern Stark Muslim
illiterates who can die for him, Well even
though they cannot understand English
then i think they should learn Pigin
English, We have heard so many
controversial statements some which
openly instigates violence have been
attributed to Gen Buhari
checkout A List of some..
In 2001 at a seminar in Kaduna, northern
Nigeria, General Muhammad Buhari had
this to say:
“I will continue to show openly and inside
me the total commitment to the Sharia
movement that is sweeping all over
Nigeria, Buhari said, quoted in
press reports.
The infamous “i will make Nigeria
ungovernable” At the height of the Sharia
debate during the Obasanjo administration,
Buhari declared that Muslims should vote
only for fellow Muslims. This was
politically suicidal for a man seeking
national office. He became an advocate for
implementation of Sharia all over Nigeria.
With the Boko Haram insurgency in the
north, Buhari played to the Northern
gallery yet again, calling the Jonathan
government “the biggest Boko Haram.”
Wole Olaniyi was a fly in the wall at a
meeting in Kano Government House
designed to persuade PDP rebel governor,
Rabiu Kwankwaso, to decamp to the APC.
Assuming that only Northerners were
present, Buhari declared the Boko Haram
was a “strategic plan” by the government
of Goodluck Jonathan to “destroy the
North.” When Jonathan declared a state of
emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa
states, Buhari still saw this with Northern
goggles, insinuating that the President is
waging war on the North.
He protested to the Oyo State governor, in
the context of a dispute between Fulani
herdsmen and indigenous farmers in the
state, that your people are killing
my people.
This turned out to be unfounded and
perhaps the reverse.
Many of his devoted followers have since
debunked all of them claiming he never
said such things and that we provide A
Video Proof of him uttering any of the
statements now we have finally laid our
hands on one and i know that instead of
them to go and give it to A Professional to
authenticate it they will just decide to
ignore it then sit at the comfort of their
homes yelling “Photoshop” “Photoshop”
hoping that their utterance of the
statement “Photoshop” like “Abracadabra”
will magically change the Authenticity of
the video, Well i have taking out time to
investigate, a friend of mine who is very
good at photoshop confirmed that the
above voice in the video is authentic and
was not doctored or added into the video
so i then went on to ask another of my
friend who is a Linguistic and he helped
me translate what the voice was saying in
that Video and it 100% Corresponds to the
subtitle.
Download Video HERE

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Prophecies for the year 2015 for Nigeria and the World by Pastor E.A Adeboye

Welcome to 2015! Pastor Enoch Adeboye
made some Prophecies concerning nigeria
and the world. While stressing that he
won’t say anything about the outcomes of
the election, he goes ahead to say that;
One thing… Daddy says by the end of the
year, many will say “All is well, that ends
well”….
Below are other Prophecies by the man of
God for the World at large.
1. Daddy says scientific and medical
breakthroughs will be many, particularly
in the areas of lack of sleep, dreams, and
brain disorders.
2. Daddy says Ebola will dry out
3. Daddy says all over the world,
insurgency will be considerably weakened.
4. Father asks us to pray against massive
calamities.
5. Daddy asks us to pray against massive
earthquakes, strong hurricanes and
typhoons.

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Despite Security Challenges, Mark Assures Nigerians Of ‘Light At The End Of The Tunnel’

Senate President David Mark has urged the citizens not
to despair, saying “there will be light at the end of the
tunnel”.
The senate president also expressed the confidence
that the nation’s socio-political and economic problems
in the last one year would give way to better days in the
New Year.
Mark spoke in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press
Secretary, Paul Mumeh.
The statement read in part: “There is no doubt that the
situation, especially insecurity, is challenging. We
cannot pretend that all is well with us. But we are a
nation of good faith in one God. When it seems
impossible, God will make it possible.
“This trying time is only, but a phase in our match to
greatness. With cooperation, dedication, honesty and
patriotism on the part of all of us, we shall surely
triumph.
“All that is required”, Mark insisted, “is for all citizens;
both the government and the governed to see our
challenges as a collective problem facing all of us and
not only to a part.
He noted that there was no problem too difficult for the
nation to surmount, “if we come together in one accord
to confront the menace.

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Nigeria Will Be More Peaceful If Buhari Wins Presidential Election, APC Senatorial Aspirant Claims

Nigeria will be a more peaceful place if Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari wins the presidential election in
February.
This is according to the All Progressives Congress
(APC) senatorial candidate for Edo North, Francis
Alimikhena, who spoke at the home town of Governor
Adams Oshiomhole in Iyamu, during the end of the year
celebration also described Oshiomhole as a servant
who has dedicated his life to the service of mankind.
Alimikhena said that the people of Edo State would not
have tasted the dividends of democracy if Oshiomhole
had not emerged as governor.
He expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for
their support and encouragement for the governor. The
senatorial aspirant also wished Nigerians a happy new
year.
Urging the people to continue supporting the APC, he
noted that “Nigeria has a long way to go in order to
redeem our lost ground and APC is the vehicle that will
take us on this rescue mission.”
If voted into the Senate, Alumikhena promised the
people of Edo North of effective representation with the
provision of water, good health facilities, good schools,
job creation through micro-credit scheme and skill
acquisition centre.

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Sambo’s Comment About Lagos Display Of Ignorance, Says Fashola *Agbaje Not A Threat

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday
said the remark by Vice President Namadi Sambo that
people were leaving Lagos in droves because of high
taxation is a mark of ignorance and diabolical on his
part.
Fashola, who stated this at the end-of-year media
briefing held at the Ikeja House, Lagos, said he
sincerely believes that Mr. Sambo was misquoted or the
utterance could be a reflection of the quality of people
the country parades as its leaders.
“That statement is a very serious display of ignorance
if it was true that the vice president said so. How do
you then justify the perception that people are leaving
Lagos? Is the VAT being collected from Lagos reducing
compared to other states? Is the air traffic into Lagos
reducing? Or have you a significant reduction in traffic
in Lagos? More hotels are being built in Lagos,
companies are licensing and operating in Lagos.
“Displaced people from other parts of Nigeria are
moving into Lagos; has the workers’ demand in Lagos
reduced? Has the demand for hospital services
reduced?
“So, it is a very grave statement to make. That is why I
say may be he was misquoted because that is the
chairman of the Nigerian Economic Council. So, if he
misunderstands what is happening in the commercial
and economic nerve centre of the country, it may be a
very revealing index to their understanding of the
country’s economy.
“It may also confirm to you some of the things you
heard from the president that he receives all sorts of
contradictory advice and may be this is part of it. It is a
very dangerous statement to make; it is either an
ignorant statement or diabolical, and either ways, it is
not good because it tells you then why the economy is
not functioning if the chairman of the economic council
does not know anything about people and number. The
economy is always about people”, he said.
The governor, who reeled out the achievements of his
administration in different sectors, said the All
Progressives Congress (APC) had delivered dividends of
democracy to Lagosians.
On the fears expressed in some quarters that the
candidacy of Jimi Agbaje as the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) governorship candidate is a threat to APC
in the state, Fashola said, “He is not a threat to us.
Let’s go and check the result of the 2011 election.
“He got three percent of the votes cast. Even his party,
we have defeated PDP in all elections done since 1999.
Our candidate, Akinwumi Ambode is going to defeat
Agbaje with your support. This is not the place to
experiment; one needs a lot of experience to achieve
what we have done in Lagos.
“When you look at what their party has done with the
country, for instance, there are missing funds, non-
functioning rail, epileptic power supply and others, do
you want that to happen in Lagos?”
On PVC and electoral process, he said the real head of
INEC should be a statistician and not a professor and
academician or others as currently obtains.
“It is not about theory; it is about practical. People who
should also do this job should be those who have
managed distribution activities in the country. It is not a
judicial work but logistics”, he added.

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Read Full Text of President Jonathan’s New Year Broadcast

Dear Great People of our nation,
1. I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the New
Year today. As we mark the beginning of this New Year,
2015, a new nation is being born.  A new nation is being
born because of the foundations we have all laid, working
together for the good and progress of our dear fatherland.
2.        I join you all in thanking God Almighty who has
brought us this far, for continually bestowing His Grace
upon us and for guiding our great nation safely through all
the challenges of the past year.
3.        This year, as in the year past, I reaffirm my
commitment to work to ensure a secure future for our dear
country and the generations yet unborn.
4.        Last year, we celebrated our hundredth year of
nationhood. The year brought us further progress,
challenges and fresh opportunities.
5.        We have contended with the normal challenges of
nation-building and the unusual challenges of terrorism.
6.        But we have continued to vigorously confront those
who seek to destroy the bonds of unity that hold us
together.
7. On this first day of the New Year, I want to pay
special tribute to the gallant officers, men and women of our
Armed Forces and other security agencies who have been in
the forefront of the war against terrorism and violent
extremism in our country and sub-region.
8.        I also commend all Nigerians who have remained
vigilant and cooperative with our security agencies in the
fight against the common enemy.
9.        We are re-equipping and re-positioning our armed
forces to enhance their capacity to win the ongoing war
against terror and insurgency.
10. Regrettably, terrorists have unleashed much pain and
agony on our land. They have made widows of our mothers
and sisters and orphans of our children. They have shut
down businesses, desecrated places of worship and brought
untold hardship to both men and women. They have
violated the culture and peaceful way of life in our country,
which took generations to build.
11.     They have destroyed countless schools and displaced
people from their communities, driving them into exile.
12. I want to assure you that the terrorists will not get
away with their atrocities: they will not win; they will be
routed. As President, I feel the pain of all affected
communities and families. I hear their cries and share their
sorrow and pain.
13. We will not forget; we will not look the other way. We
have done a lot of painstaking planning and work to resolve
the current security challenge. We will bring justice to the
savage terrorists known as Boko Haram. They will be
defeated.
14. That is the solemn commitment I make today as
President of the Federal Republic, and Commander-in-Chief
of our Armed Forces.
15. By the Special Grace of God, the Federal Government,
under my leadership, has continued, in the past four years
to lead our country forward, even under the most trying
circumstances.
16. The progress we have made in priority areas bears us
testimony.
17. Amongst other achievements, we have rehabilitated
and expanded our rail transportation network, successfully
privatized power generation and distribution, significantly
reformed and increased local participation in our oil and gas
industry, and improved nationwide access to potable water
from 57% in 2010, to 70% at present.
18. We have also made significant progress in improving
access to primary, secondary and tertiary education by
building and equipping more schools, including special
Almajiri schools, and establishing additional universities to
ensure that each state of the nation now has at least one
Federal University.
19. Our national economy maintained a steady growth
rate of close to seven per cent in the past four years and
millions of fresh employment opportunities were created for
our people as a direct consequence.
20.  Recently, we launched the Youth Employment in
Agriculture Programme (YEAP) and the $100 million dollars
Government and Donor Fund for Agriculture Finance in
Nigeria (FAFIN) to fast-track the positive transformation of
our agricultural sector.
21. The Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme
(YEAP) targets 750, 000 market-oriented young agricultural
producers while the $100 million dollars Fund is to provide
affordable long-term financing to support the development
of small and medium agribusinesses in the country.
22. This is in addition to a N50 billion Farm Mechanization
Support Fund set up by the Central Bank to establish 1,200
agricultural equipment-hiring enterprises.
23. Both funds will become fully operational this year.
Policies and programmes such as these to boost
agricultural production remain topmost on the agenda of
this administration.
24. Being very conscious of the inherent perils of our over-
reliance on income from crude oil exports for national
development, we have focused on accelerating the
diversification of our economy.
25. The non-oil Sector which has grown by an average of
8% in the last few years, is now a major driver of growth in
our economy.
26. The 2015 national budget, which is now before the
National Assembly, is targeted at deepening our efforts at
becoming a non-oil economy.
27. The budget also includes measures to ensure that the
downturn in the price of oil does not affect our development
plans and our national economy too adversely. We are
adjusting our financial processes to safeguard our
economy. We are also taking steps to ensure that the poor
and the low and medium income earners do not bear the
brunt.
28.  In 2015, this administration will continue to lay the
foundation for a vibrant economy that attracts significant
Foreign Direct Investment and promotes policies that ensure
economic stability.
29. We will ensure stability in the value of the Naira by
striving to take away speculative behaviours that cause
market exchange pressures.
30.  We will continue to build and maintain a healthy
external reserves position and strengthen fiscal buffers. We
will ensure the Naira remains strong, and gives foreign
investors the clarity and certainty that they need, to guide
future investment decisions.
31. We will continue to improve our payment systems and
strengthen risk-based supervision mechanism for Nigerian
banks to ensure overall health and stability of the banking
system.
32. We are introducing a broad spectrum of financial
instruments to boost sector-specific enterprise areas in
agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
(MSMEs), manufacturing, and oil and gas to enhance our
aggregate supply capacity, reduce poverty, promote job
creation and increase the general well-being of our people.
33. These efforts and other measures being spearheaded
by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, are
geared to ensure a secure future for Nigeria and create a
much more prosperous country, where people live more
peaceful and fulfilled lives.
Fellow countrymen and women,
34. As we enter an election year, I assure you that our
administration will remain fully focused on providing good
governance and the delivery of better public services to our
people.
35. The coming campaigns and elections will not distract
us from our ongoing work to significantly improve the living
conditions of our people. And I urge all tiers of government
not to be distracted as well.
36. The elections are very important for us as a country.
Their successful conclusion will further strengthen our
democratic institutions and place our beloved country even
more firmly in the comity of truly democratic nations.
37. Given the challenges that have characterized some
previous electoral contests in our country, the eyes of the
world will certainly be on the conduct and outcome of our
fifth post-military rule general elections.
38.  I reassure all Nigerians and the international community
of our firm commitment to free, fair and credible elections.
My commitment to free elections and one man, one vote
remains unwavering.
39. Our administration has worked hard in previous
elections to prepare all key stakeholders including the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security
agencies and the electorate optimally, to ensure a
progressively improved electoral process in the country
under my watch. We will continue to do so for the coming
elections.
40.  We will continue to provide adequate funding to INEC
and maintain the Commission’s independence and isolate it
from any form of interference or meddling in its day-to-day
affairs.  This shall continue to guarantee its impartiality and
ability to conduct more credible and acceptable elections.
41. National security agencies will also be given all
necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the
elections are peaceful and violence-free. The Nigeria Police
has already established an Elections Security Planning and
Monitoring Unit.
42. I am optimistic that with the cooperation of all law-
abiding citizens of the country, our commitment to have a
peaceful and violence-free election will be actualized.
43. I will like to say this, once again, to my fellow
politicians and political leaders. None of our political
ambitions is worth the blood of any of our countrymen,
women and children. The improvement of their lives and
living conditions ought to be our primary motive and the
driving force of our quest for political power and leadership
positions.
44. Let us not promote sectionalism, disunity, intolerance,
hate, falsehood or the malicious abuse of political
opponents. Whatever we feel or seek, we must have a
nation and a people before we can dream of political
ambitions. Let us put the nation and the people first.
45. Let us all conduct our electoral campaigns with the
highest possible decorum and civility towards political
opponents. Let us give INEC the fullest possible support and
cooperation it requires to conduct credible and violence-free
elections in 2015.
46. After the 2011 general elections, some
unpatriotic elements embarked on an orgy of violence,
resulting in the destruction of lives and property. That will
not be allowed to happen this time around. This government
will act decisively against anyone who disrupts the public
peace, before, during or after the 2015 general elections.
47. All Nigerians, of voting age, are free to vote based on
their convictions. It is our duty to defend and protect that
basic right, and let no one be in doubt, we will.
48.  Fellow Nigerians, I urge all of you to enter the New Year
with renewed zeal and patriotism, to serve our fatherland
with love, honesty, faithfulness and hope for a greater
tomorrow.
49. As I have always maintained, none of the challenges
before us is insurmountable. We must come together as a
people and work with single-minded unity of purpose to
overcome them.
50.  Nigeria is a key country in Africa. We must work
together to maintain our strategic position and collaborate
with others to move the continent forward. I call for peace in
Africa and an end to all conflicts in our continent. I urge all
Africans to promote democracy in their respective countries
to ensure faster development of the continent and faster
economic and political integration.
51. We will continue to pray and offer hands of fellowship
and assistance to our fellow Africans suffering from the
Ebola Virus Disease. I urge all Nigerians to show
compassion and contribute in whatever way we can to help
our African brothers and sisters.
52. As we go into this New Year, I salute the indomitable
and resilient spirit of our people in Nigeria and wherever
they are in the world. Our spirit of enterprise and the
doggedness to succeed amongst all odds has been our
strength.
53. With our collective prayers and efforts, we will grow our
economy and our people will become wealthier. Government
will continue with programmes deliberately designed to
create more jobs for our youth, to enable them contribute
more to the growth and development of our nation.
54. Let us continue our march to the future, towards the
attainment of our collective vision of a strong, united,
prosperous and harmonious nation – a secure nation for us
and for our coming generations.
55. I wish you all a happy and fulfilling 2015.
56. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
57. Happy New Year, Nigeria!
58.   I thank you all.

File photo: President Goodluck Jonathan addressing the
Nation at The State House in Abuja

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UPDATE On Missing AirAsia Flight – The Bodies of Passengers spotted floating in sea (Photos)

New reports suggest that, teams
searching for the missing AirAsia flight
8501 have found upto six dead bodies,
luggage, a plane door and an emergency
slide floating in the water off the
coast of Borneo Island.
Indonesian officials coming off a helicopter
said they spotted a numerous bodies over
40 floating in the water..
Images shown on Indonesian television
showed at least one bloated corpse floating
in the water, causing many of victims’
relatives – who were watching live reports
at crisis-centre at
Juanda International Airport in Surabaya –
to burst into tears, and at least one woman
to collapse in grief. Navy spokesman
Manahan Simorangkir confirmed the
discovery to TVOne, saying several victims
were found.  So sad but unlike the missing Malaysian
flight, atleast the families will have closure.

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POLITCS: Timetable and Schedule of activities for 2015 general election

See the INEC Timetable for the 2015
General Elections below:

Source: Premium Times.

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See what the mother of the transgender teen who killed herself wrote on Facebook

17 year old Leelah (Josh) Alcorn committed suicide on
Sunday December 28th by walking in front of a tractor
trailer and left a suicide note before he died. But when her
mum reacted to her death on Facebook, she wrote
something that many folks in the gay/transgender world
are very upset about. First the mother said she was 16
when Leelah wrote she was 17. Carla called her Joshua
instead of the name she'd given herself, Leelah and she
also refused to acknowledge that Leelah had committed
suicide instead she wrote that she was hit by a trailer.
Meaning that she still doesn't accept who Leelah was as a
person even after she committed suicide. After the
backlash, Carla deleted the post and removed herself from
Facebook. Leelah Alcorn blamed his suicide on his Christian parents

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Two Germans killed in Nigeria

Two German Nationals have been shot dead in Nigeria.
According to German newspaper, Ostsee Zeitung, the two
nationals, both male aged 34 and 20 were working as
engineers at Julius Berger and were shot dead last
Saturday December 27th while riding on a motorbike in
Abuja.
Confirming the incident to AFP, a foreign affairs official said
“Unfortunately we can confirm that two German nationals
were killed in Nigeria last weekend".

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2015 Elections: Dokubi-Asari Calls Northerners Ungrateful Parasites Again

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force
(NDPSF) Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari has again called
northern politicians ungrateful parasites who have not
appreciated the south and especially the Niger-Delta for
providing oil which has been the main stay of the
country’s economy over the past four decades.
Asari said this in reaction to recent comments by the
Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido that
President Goodluck Jonathan’s supporters such as
Asari and Chief Edwin Clarke were making statements
capable of throwing the country into turmoil.
In his reaction, Asari told Vanguard over the phone that
the north was bleeding over their loss of political power.
He therefore advised the zone to take its mind off the
mentality of “born to rule”, saying they would continue
to meet stiff resistance from the south.
“The president will win. There is no other option. If they
contest they are wasting their time. He who pays the
piper will dictate the tune. We own them. We are
feeding them. They are parasites. A beggar has no
choice. In all religions, in Islam, every where, if you are
a beggar, you will respect the one who gives to you.
They are beggars and parasites,” Asari said.

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Why We Have Not Reclaimed All Towns Captured By Boko Haram – Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army has been criticized in several
quarters for allegedly being lackadaisical in its fight
against insurgency in Nigeria’s north east. The army
however said on Wednesday that the need to reduce
collateral damage had delayed the recapture of some
towns seized by Boko Haram.
Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, the Director, Army Public
Relations gave the explanation while responding to
questions from journalists.
“We are not interested in collateral damage,” he said.
“The Nigeria Army is very careful about collateral
damage, to that extent our operations are carefully
planned to make sure that collateral damage is reduced
to the barest minimum.
“If certain areas have not been recaptured it is because
the Nigerian army is giving such areas very careful
plans, the plans are ongoing.
“At the right time you will see the outcome; we will not
tell you, of course, before hand, of what we intend to
do; but you will see the outcome,” Laleye said.
He however said Nigerians will be pleased at the end of
the operations going on to dislodge the terrorists, such
that collateral damage is reduced to the barest
minimum.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to restate its determination
to bring this counter insurgency and counter terrorism
operations to a speedy and decisive end.
“Equally, the Nigerian Army seizes this opportunity to
reassure Nigerians of its preparedness to support
relevant agencies in the successful conduct of the 2015
general elections,’’ he said.

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Jonathan To Address Nigerians On New Year’s Day

President Goodluck Jonathan will in Thursday
broadcast his New Year day message to the nation at
7a.m.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser
to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben
Abati, the broadcast would be transmitted on the
network services of the Nigerian Television Authority
(NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria
(FRCN).
Other media houses can broadcast the message live, by
linking up with the NTA, the statement adds.

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FG to sponsor 100 first class graduates abroad

Kano—MINISTER of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau,
has said the Federal Government is set to sponsor 100 first
class graduates for further studies abroad.
He spoke on Sunday in Kano during a media interaction and
an awards ceremony.
Shekarau said the100 first class materials would be
sponsored under the Special Presidential Scholarship
Programme.
According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan has
instructed the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to
select the best graduates and secure admissions for them
to study up to doctorate level in universities abroad.
“President Jonathan instructed that best students should be
screened all over the country irrespective of their locations
for scholarships outside the country,” he said.
Shekarau said the first batch had been screened and would
soon leave the country to study in the best 25 universities in
the world.
The minister said as part of the government’s effort to
provide Nigerians qualitative education some university
lecturers had been sponsored for various training locally
and abroad.
“The lecturers will study both within and outside Nigeria
under the Tertiary Educational Trust Fund (TETFund).
Source: Vanguard

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Bishop Oyedepo--6m Christians Worldwide Are Members Of The Winners’ Chapel

About six million out of the 2.18 billion Christians in the
world are members of the Living Faith Church, also
known as the Winners Chapel, according to the
President of the Church, Bishop David Oyedepo. The members are spread across 147 nations in the
world, he said on Saturday at a breakfast meeting with
members of Omu-Aran Government Secondary School
Old Boys Association (OGSSOBA), which held at the
Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara, Vanguard
reports.
Oyedepo, who is the Chancellor of Landmark and
Covenant Universities and also a member of OGSSOBA,
advised members of old boys association to rededicate
themselves to arresting the infrastructure decay in all
colleges and institutions across the length and breadth
of the country.
According to him, the task of improving infrastructure in
schools cannot be left to the government alone.
“No amount is too small or too big toward the growth,
progress and development of the schools,” he said.
The newly elected president of the association, Segun
Adeniyi described Oyedepo as a living legend of the
Nigeria’s education sector.
He said that Oyedepo remained a role model to both the
current and old students of Government Secondary
School in Omu-Aran.
Adeniyi appealed to all members of the association to
identify with the aspiration of the school in order to
make it a model among its peers

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Tension Over Fake GEJ Twitter Profile

fake Twitter profile of President Goodluck Jonathan
has caused confusion among Nigerians on who has the
largest followers on the social media platform between
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a presidential candidate of
the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President
Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Both Buhari, who was a former Head of State, and
incumbent President Jonathan are the two major
candidates to contest for the 2015 presidential elections
in Nigeria.
Only today, 27 December, 2014, Saharareporters.com
released a story with the headline ‘Just 4 Days:
Buhari’s Twitter Followers Already Over Half Of
Jonathan’s Twitter Account Created 4 Years Ago’.
But upon investigation, it was revealed that the Twitter
profile in question, @JGoodlucktweets, though pro-
Jonathan, is not the Twitter profile of the President
neither is it listed on any of the President’s official
platforms.
In fact, one of the President’s aides had given an
interview to a national daily in 2013 explaining why the
President is not on Twitter.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan is verified on Facebook
where he has a following of almost 2 million followers.
It was gathered that the President has the second
largest following of any President after US President,
Barrack Obama and he regularly engages with
Nigerians through that medium.
It would be recalled that in 2010, CNN called Jonathan
the ‘Facebook President’.

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Little Girl Bullied For Being ‘Ugly ’ Grows Up To Become A Beauty Queen ( BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS )

23-year-old Shelley-Marie Summer was an object mockery
in high school as her classmates would bully her due to her
severe eczema, which had demeaned her confidence on
social platform, even as her skin clears up in subsequent
years.

She grew out of her complexity after her boyfriend Dean,
made her realize how beautiful she was and encouraged
her to contest for the 2014 Miss Black Country beauty
pageant, which she won.
According to Shellie-Marie, her victimization experience
started back in her elementary school but grew worse when
she got into high school, ‘In primary school it wasn’t as bad
as you’re only children, but at high school the bullying got
much worse. People would try and get away from me like I
was contagious.
“We had to wear long-sleeved shirts so during the summer,
I was always going to see the school nurse to put my
eczema cream on and cool down.”
She added that her small stature and laced skin made her
an easy target for bullies.
She has had the last laugh after winning the beauty
pageant at the regional competition as well as competing in
Miss England.
“It was completely mad. I was sitting on a throne with this
big crown on and my family was staring at me in
amazement. I was extremely happy to have won it,” she
said.
“It feels amazing to show the bullies what I could achieve,
despite all their cruelty”.
Shelley-Marie’s victory has not only improved her self
esteem, but it has also given her a new sense of direction
in life as she aims to become a motivational speaker.
‘In the future I’d like to go into schools and talk about
bullying and self-esteem. I want to urge victims to speak up
and not suffer in silence like I did,’ she stated.

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2015 Will Be A Turbulent Year – GEJ

The president, who spoke at the Christ Apostolic
Church, Area I, Durumi, Abuja where he joined other
worshippers for the last Sunday of the year service,
urged special prayers for politicians in the country,
whose utterances, he noted, was capable of setting
Nigeria ablaze.
“Next year is a tempting year for us. Election year in
Third World countries is always a turbulent year with all
kinds of predictions. I, however, believe that God who
brought us to this level will see us through,” Jonathan
said.
“All that I will request of you is to continue to pray for
us politicians, myself and other politicians from all
political parties, for God to guide us in our utterances
and what we do so that we will not sacrifice the lives of
Nigerians because of our ambitions.
“Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Pray to God to give us that wisdom and mind to make
sure we conduct ourselves in a way that will not set the
country ablaze because of our personal ambitions,” he
said.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential
candidate also said that people occupying public offices
are just privileged, as there are several Nigerians who
are also qualified. This, he believes, should make
leaders conduct themselves in the right manner.
“There are so many good Nigerians that can hold the
offices we are occupying or aspiring to occupy, it is by
privilege of God that we are here in positions to ask for
the mandates of Nigerians.
“None of us should begin to think that he is the best
person to be anywhere from state houses of assembly
to the Presidency. There are a thousand and one
Nigerians that are super qualified more than those
people who are even aspiring to occupy offices.
“Pray for us that God should give us the wisdom to
conduct ourselves in a manner that at the end of the
day, this country will triumph,” he said.
Jonathan, while speaking further, noted that leadership
is all about service. According to him, anyone who truly
wants to serve will not encourage killing of opponents,
as is becoming commonplace in our country.
“The development of Nigeria is what all of us want. If
every aspirant has the mind to develop the people, then
you do not need to kill or maim people to get there. You
do not need to kill the people you want to develop in
order to get to the office you want except if you are
aspiring for that office for a different reason.
“If the idea is to help the people, grow the economy and
make the people happy, you won’t want to kill, you
won’t want to maim or burn down houses, vehicles and
property,” the president said.

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After War: Cameroon kills 41 Boko Haram militants

I updated the war that occurred between the Boko Haram and the Cameroonian.  If you miss that,  read here.  After the war ended,  Cameroon’s army has killed at least 41 Islamist militants as
it fought off a wave of attacks along its border with Nigeria
in an escalation in the conflict, the government said.
The Information Minister, Issa Tchiroma, disclosed this in
Yaoundé on Monday.
Tchiroma said that the coordinated assaults on five towns
and villages showed a change in tactics by Nigerian Boko
Haram fighters, who have focused on hit-and-run raids on
individual settlements in the past.
“Boko Haram’s campaign to carve out an Islamist caliphate
has spread from its stronghold in Northeast Nigeria to
neighbouring Cameroon.
“Raising fears for an already unstable region also
threatened by Islamist militants in the Sahel,’’ he said.
He added that Cameroon has sent thousands of soldiers to
its Far North region to fight off the militants and said it
launched air attacks on the movement for the first time on
Sunday.
“Units of the Boko Haram group attacked Makari, Amchide,
Limani and Achigachia in a change of strategy which
consists of distracting Cameroonian troops on different
fronts.
“Making them more vulnerable in the face of the mobility
and unpredictability of their attacks,’’ Tchiroma said.
He said that no fewer than 34 militants were killed after the
army laid siege to a base used by the militants in Chogori
and seven others, and one soldier was killed near the town
of Waza.
Army spokesman, Lt.-Col. Didier Badjeck, told newsmen
that the Islamists briefly occupied an army camp in
Achigachia after a fierce fight, but withdrew after air
attacks.
“All the militants had now pulled back into Nigeria,’’ Badjeck
said.
Both Tchiroma and Badjeck said it was too early to give full
details of casualties.
Boko Haram has killed over 40 soldiers and recruited
hundreds of youths during raids in Cameroon’s Far North
region this year.
Source : Vanguard

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