"APC Will Win Majority Seats In 2015Elections"

The interim national publicity secretary of the All Progressive
Congress (APC), Alh. Lai Mohammed, in this interview with newsmen,
declares that the recently registered APC will not only field
candidates for all elective offices in the 2015 general elections, but
will win majority of the seats in the elections.
What are the chances of APC in the 2015 elections?
APC has a date with history and our leaders must bend backwards. I
have been quite impressed with the level ofachievements so far,
because nobody gave this thing a chance. They thought it will unravel
at the level of finding a common name. They thought the logo was going
to divide it. I believe a lot ofsacrifices have gone into this by all
themerging parties. That is why it amuses me when people tag us as an
Islamist party.
The 2015 elections will not be about one party replacing the other or
about one president being replaced with another. 2015 elections will
be whether Nigeria will continue to stay as one country. It will be
where about how do we avert imminent civil war again. That is why the
leaders of the APC must be able to make the ultimatesacrifice to
rescue Nigeria.
But I can assure you that the APC will not only field candidates for
all elective offices in the 2015 elections but will win the majority
of seats in the elections.
What do you think is the solution tothe insurgency in some parts of thecountry?
In Nigeria today, there is a low burningwar. The entire North-east is
like it is not part of Nigeria. The insecurity in the North-West is
palpable. Why the ACN has restrained itself from making further
comments on the Boko Haram insurgency is because of the PDP and
others' mischief to label us an Islamist party. That is completely
untrue. But aslong as we are unable to address the root causes of Boko
Haram, for so long will the solution elude us.
We are not saying that there might notbe religious overtones in the
issue of Boko Haram, bad governance, corruption and hardship have
created a fertile market for Boko Haram. The time bomb that is waiting
to explode is youth unemployment and this mightbe more dangerous than
any other form of ailment that we have seen so far. If we don't tackle
this, nobody will be secure in Nigeria. Therefore, the goal of any
government is to ensure that they are able to calm the restiveness of
our youths.
There are insinuations that Gen. Babangida and former Vice President,
Atiku Abubakar, are jostling for APC Board of Trustees chair. What is
your take on this?
The Nigerian rumour mill is the most active in the world and it amuses
me when some stories make page one or headlines of newspapers. A party
which is yet to be given its certificate of registration; a party
which is yet to have permanent offices; a party yet to have its
convention at which ward, local and state officials would be elected,
a party that has not even got the guidelines for primaries election
within and outside the party, how can that party all of a sudden now
start talking about board of trustees (BoT).
I think the alleged jostling by General Ibrahim Babangida, Abubakar
Atiku andothers for the BoT chair of the APC is a figment of the
rumour peddlers' imagination. The people you have mentioned so far, am
not aware that they have indicated to join the APC. Where will the
issue of fighting for the chairmanship of the BoT come from?
What is the position of your party on the Rivers State crisis?
What is happening in Rivers state should be seen as not a local
matter. Even in a war, war starts on a very insignificant
misunderstanding. But what is happening in Rivers state is worrisome
in many respects, because it is clearly not manufactured in Rivers.It
is manufactured in Abuja. It is a proxywar between the president on
one hand and the governor of Rivers on theother. And it has much to do
with the perceived impression of the president that Amaechi would be a
stumbling block not just to the PDP, but his own ambition to run a
second term.
Now what is the genesis of the Rivers state problem? It started with
the perceived role of Ameachi in his position as chairman of the
Governors Forum as being too confrontational and as if he is behaving
as a unionist, but Amaechi's defense was that he wasspeaking on behalf
of his colleagues asgovernors. Issues such as the Sovereign Wealth
Fund or the excess crude account or issue that border on federalism,
Amaechi became the mouthpiece of the governors to advance their
position against what they saw as the overbearing influence of the
centre. But the presidency and the PDP saw that as being
confrontational, so that earned him a bad name in their book.The
unending internal crisis in the PDPwhich has pitched the governors
against the chairman of the party is again a sore point in the
presidency because the governors as a block wereunhappy when former
governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola was removed as the secretary of the PDP;
they were unhappy also with the treatment Governor Muritala Nyako of
Adamawa state was getting. So they asked Amaechi to speak out their
minds which he did. That again, in was counted against him.
The disputed oil wells between Bayelsa and Rivers states, when Amaechi
suddenly discovered that the funds accruing from this disputed well
which was put in suspense account, had now been credited to the
Bayelsa state government. Of course, he naturally got upset it and he
led the delegation of the elite in the state to go and complain to the
president. Again, didn't endear him to the president. Overall, there
is the issue of no love-lost between Amaechi and thepresident's wife,
who also happens to be from Rivers state.
On many occasions, there have been reports of his being snubbed by the
first Lady. Matters came to a head during the Governors Forum
elections. The presidency was very unhappy and uncomfortable and
mounted a campaign against Amaechi's second coming. Despite the shared
numbers of the PDP controlling 23 governors, when elections were held,
Amaechi came top and the president did not behave statesmanly.
If the president had immediately issued a letter of congratulations to
Amaechi, that would have probably given the image of a statesman, but
hewent the other way by recognizing theJang's faction; that means he
does believe in majority rule, he does not believe in the rule of law.
I think the humiliation that the president suffered from the governors
forum that is now spiraling into what ishappening in Rivers. We must
be honest the role the police has played in this matter is
condemnable. When you have a police commissioner who says the problem
in my state is the governor, then you know that he must have had some
assurances from somewhere else. When we in the Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN) said put all the problems on the doorsteps on the
president, this is what we were saying.

Nigeria’s Amalgamation a celebration of slavery, bad history – Braithwaite

BY DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA-Former Presidential candidate of the defunct Nigeria Advance
Party (NAP) Dr. Tunji Braithwaite on Tuesday, faulted the planned
centenary anniversary of Nigeria's amalgamation by the presidency in
2014, describing it as a celebration of slavery and bad history.
The Human Rights Activist and lawyer who wondered why despite the
myriad of problems confronting the country, coupled with the level of
poverty, the Federal government still plans to celebrate the Centenary
anniversary of the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, lamented that the
deplorable state of infrastructure in the country and the precarious
security situation are enough reason to halt the celebration.
Dr. Tunji Braithwaite
Speaking as guest Lecturer at the 2013Jesus Carnival, 37th Diocesan
Anniversary and 170th Year of Christianity in Egbaland in Abeokuta,
the Ogun State Capital ,Dr. Braithwaite said the celebration was a
disgrace to the present generation of Nigerians.
He however, suggested that the president should celebrate the
''founding-fathers' birth of Nigerian that over the years had
blossomed into a strong, cohesive and socio/political vibrant force in
the comity of nations.
''Instead of clinking glasses of champagne celebrating and venerating
a bad history of enslavement, this generation, should use the occasion
of its centenary to finally destroy its last inglorious relics and
simultaneously birth a modern and progressive nation.
''The Die is cast!. Thee issue is not about 2015 elections or who
becomes president or governor in 2015, there are a whole lot of
fundamental and foundational matters to be urgently addressed before
2015''.
"The current generation would themselves surely, hopefully in an
orderly but firm manner, resolve this core issue of their own
destiny,'' he said.
He however, warned Jonathan to be wary of the serious implication of
insecurity saying, the on-going revolution in Egypt is a classical
lesson to Nigerian leaders that any charade and fraudulent elections
contrived "will-nilly" is no guarantee of security of tenure of office
for any unfit or insensitive government."The monster of king
corruption and impunity in this country at every level of civil
administration has exposed thetenuous and fragile foundation of
Nigeria's brand of democracy to the danger, it portends for the
people.
"The reality today of the amalgamation is that both in legal and
political context, the amalgamation bond expires in 2014 by effusion
of time, unless the people concerned, now voluntarily agree its terms
and or modify them.
"The single evil corruption has done to us manifests on cultism,
examination malpractices among many others and it now appears as
nothing is a taboo in Nigeria anymore. We prayed and worked for
democracy but what type of democracy do we have now, do the people's
votes count? Are we getting the benefits of the abundance natural
resources God gave us?.
"If you go to government offices, you will see huge generating sets
but what about the poor who can't afford it?, adding "If you know the
huge amount this country generates, the question you will ask yourself
is why should Nigerians suffer?", Braithwaite said.
END.

Islamic law sanctions marriage based on maturity not age – Ahmad Sani

By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- SENATOR Ahmad Rufai Sani, ANPP, Zamfara West Wednesday said
that under the Islamic law, a girl was considered ripe for marriage
based on her physical and mental maturity and not necessarily age,
just as he stressedthat situations could arise where a very big girl
was ready for marriage at age 14, 15, 16 as obtained in other
countries.
According to him, the 1999 Constitutiondoes not in any way provide for
any specific age when a girl could be married, but was quick to add
that the same constitution stipulates that any girl aspiring to be
married must attain a full age.
Speaking Wednesday in an interview on the 'Kakaaki' aired programme by
the African Independent Television (AIT), Senator Ahmad Sani who
denied backing the child marriages during theclause by clause voting
on the report of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu led Constitution review,
said insinuations that he supported child marriage during the exercise
were untrue, misleading and however attributed that entire criticisms
to what he termed, the handiwork of mischief-makers.
According to him, the constitutional provision in the 1999
Constitution was in consonance with the Islamic law which states that
for a girl to be married, she must have attained the age of maturity
and puberty, adding, "What is the criteria for defining maturity or
otherwise of a girl?
''The Nigerian constitution didn't say 18 years. There is no
definition in the Nigerian constitution; any woman whois married is of
age. You see in Islamic law, once a girl reaches the age of puberty
and she is matured she is of full age and she is ready for marriage.
Senator Ahmed Yerima
"And once she is married, she is of full age. And that is why the
constitution recognises Islamic law and made that provision. So if you
say you are going to remove that provision, you are going against and
counter to Islamic law.
"So under Sharia law, any country that practices Sharia, age is not a
defining factor for marriage.''
Commenting on international conventions that pegged the age at which a
girl can be married at 18 and towhich Nigeria was a signatory, the
former governor of Zamfara State noted that such international
conventions were inferior to the constitutional provisions of the
affected country, adding that once a convention was in conflict with
the constitution of any country, the constitution naturally must
prevail.
Substantiating his argument, the lawmaker explained that the United
Kingdom which is a signatory to the same convention, an age limit of
16 to be eligible to engage in sexual intercourse.
"Today as I am talking to you now let me tell you the consent for
girls to have sex is 13 and 14. In Spain it is 13. They all signed
these conventions. Theconventions are not anything to go by once your
constitution makes provisions.
"Under sharia law, you have to be physically and maturely developed.
So if she (a girl) is not the age of 18, Islam does not accept child
marriage as you define it. Child marriage is a girl that is not
matured, has not reached the age of puberty, she is a minor and it is
not age. You can have a very big girl who is ready for marriage at age
14, 15, 16 just as is obtained in other countries. Maturity is defined
by her physical appearance, by when a girl starts menstruation for
example, she ismatured.''
Senator Sani who also said that under Islamic law, a widow has the
right to inherit the property of her late husband no matter her age,
declared that "in fact, there is a formula (written); you see as far
as Islamic law is concerned Islam has a code of conduct. It has every
provision.''
The Senator who gave an example of his first wife who was 16 years
when they got married her at the age of 16 and his second wife, an
Egyptian, who was 14 when he married her, said, "It isnot the age as
far as Islamic law is concerned, it is the maturity and age ofpuberty.
These issues are all matters of faith. As I said, some people are
talking out of ignorance or out of sheer mischief. I am a Muslim and
Nigeria is a multi-religious society. That is why our constitution
makes ample provision for Sharia law, common law and for customary
law.
"So we are expected to live together, appreciate the differences we
have and understand ourselves. I should respect the views, aspirations
and feelings of Christians and the Christian is expected to respect my
own religious faith. If I believe in something and this is the
doctrine of Islam, I mean a non-Muslim should not bother to find out
why I should believein that.
"Recently, I saw in Al Jazeera that the present Pope said gays should
be allowed freedom in society, whatever it means but the Chairman
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said he was going to march to
the Senate if weapprove gay marriage. So these are matters of
interpretations."In Islamic law, we don't have problemof
interpretation, we have a written law and from the inception of this
law every item is clearly defined.
"So in Nigeria today, what is lacking is people do not understand
their laws. Some people thought that Senator Yerima decided to
introduce new things into the constitution, not knowing that this item
is in the constitution. Those who put it there were very sensitive on
the issues of our faith – as Muslims and they respect our feelings and
aspirations of Muslims.
''If you remove the definition of full age, you remove the woman. Like
I said if a Moslem woman marries somebody who is not a Nigerian and
you want her to live with him, with his own family with the children
they have in his own country and you want her to be a citizen of his
country and the country does not accept dual citizenship and she is
not a kid and youdo not make that provision for women;married women
what does she do?
"She should wait in Nigeria until she is 18, even though she is
married? So it isnot even the issue of marriage, not theage of
marriage but people are changing the debate to be talking about the
marriage of minors.
"Islamic law does not accept for the marriage of a girl that is not
matured, agirl that is not of age. This is where we have problem.
Islamic law does not recognise age. We recognise maturity and puberty
and you can see this from the physical appearance of the girl.
Maturity of mind, maturity of body, maturity of size, everything put
together. It is not because of age.
"When I was looking at the UK law theyput the age of consent for a
girl to have sex or boyfriends at 16; for a homosexual they started
with 21, they reduced it to 18, now they are reducing it to 16.
My argument is that somebody who is not a Muslim would not appreciate
what is Islamic law. In Islamic law, we don't use our sense to say
well this is what we have to do. We are all guided by what our creator
has said we must do. As far as we Muslims are concerned,we have no
option, no choice.
"The Child Rights Act based on the Second schedule, Part 1, Section 61
is unconstitutional in relation to Islamic law and customary law. An
Igbo woman who marries based on tradition and culture cannot be
prosecuted under the Child Rights Act because the constitution
specifically said the National Assembly can make laws for the
formation and annulment of marriages excluding marriages under Islamic
law and customary law because Islamic law has some specific rules and
regulations.
"The Child Rights Act affects only those who conduct their marriages
under common law in Nigeria today. The right is valid, it is
constitutionally enacted but it affects only when you go and conduct
your marriage in the church.''

My govt beyond blackmail – Orji

ABUJA—Governor Theodore of Abia State has said that his government
wasbeyond blackmail following what he described as politically
motivated criticisms by the opposition, which finds it difficult to
believe the pace of development in the state.
In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Public
Communication, Mr. Ben Onyechere, said: "We will remain resolute and
undaunted in our determination to uplift the status of the state by
changing the land marks of underdevelopment for which it was hitherto
known.
"This habitual peddlers of falsehood have lost touch with reality
based on their previous assumption that Abia political space was their
private estate.There is no need to continually engage in sing songs
over the achievements of the Governor Orji's administration because we
owe this sworn enemies of Abia State no apologies or explanation.
"The contraction by one detractor that his village is not developed by
government is the dream of failure on behalf of his sponsor, who
reigned for eight years in Abia.
"The sponsors of this hired funeral criers, whose major grouse is the
loss of political power to the people of Abia, have refused to
understand why the majority of Abia people have continued to embrace
and support the trend of fortune that is currently bequeathed to the
state by the Orji's administration.
"This mischief is nothing but an attempt to divert the attention of
economic crime agencies over the squander and conversion of Abia funds
for their private enterprises in the past."

Soludo joins APGA, declares bid for Anambra guber

BY ENYIM ENYIM
ONITSHA—Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the February 6, 2010
gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo,
Wednesday, declared his intention to run for the November 16
governorship poll in the state.
Soludo made the declaration after formally picking APGA membership
card from his Isuama ward at a meeting with the ward's executive.
He had on July 17, 2013 resigned his membership of the PDP on grounds
that the party did not represent what he needed in actualising his
dream and vision in politics with regards to the welfare of the people
of Anambra and Nigeria in general.
The resignation letter, addressed to the national chairman of the
PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, titled: "Letter of resignation as a member
of PDP" read: "This is to convey my resignation as a member of the
Peoples Democratic Party with effect from July 17, 2013″.
"Let me use this opportunity to thank the party for the opportunity
given to me to serve it in some capacity.
"This resignation is without prejudice to the possibility of future
collaboration with the party in any areas of common interest
designed toadvance the course of nation building."
Soludo, who said he had to dump PDP after due consultation with his
family, Anambra elders and stakeholders from January 2, this year till
the date he resigned, said he was joining the governorship race on the
platform of APGA to ensure continuity of governance in Anambra State,
after Governor Peter Obi must have left office.
" There is an overwhelming demand by our people, by the people of
Anambra for me to remain engaged in the political process.
"There is an overwhelming demand byAnambra people that I should run
for the office of governor for continuity and transformation. We need
to consolidate on the gains of the eight years that Obi ruled the
state," he said.
He said when he joined the PDP to contest the February 2010
governorship election, people, especially his friends, told him he
was the best candidate but was in the wrong party.
He added:m "So, while I was consulting, I was told to join a good
party and today, I have joined that good party, APGA.
" I am not joining APGA simply as a vehicle to contest the
governorship but because I want to breathe it and drink it.
"I believe in the essence, aim and objective of the party. I have come
to the conclusion that APGA is the only party that will move Nigeria
to the next level. APGA in its constitution, agrees with the Beijing
Declaration of an affirmation for women, other parties parrot it ".
Soludo said his joining the race was not a do or die affair, saying "I
can only offer myself to the members of APGA tosay that I am willing
to contest the election but the final decision is for the party."

APC reshapes the game

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
The formal collapse of the three legacyparties, Action Congress of
Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party, and Congress for Progressive
Change, CPC, into the All Progressives Congress, APC ushers anew era
of competitive politics in the polity.
"With the approval of our merger by INEC and the emergence of APC,
today marks the beginning of a new dawn forour country and her
long-suffering people," Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the hardworking and
consistent voice of the opposition said yesterday in his first outing
as the interim national publicity secretary of the All Progressives
Congress.
Yesterday was undoubtedly a watershed and it was not surprising that
once the news emerged of the registration of the new opposition party
that there was some sort of apprehension in the national secretariat
of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Of course the PDP had for long been preparing itself for such a
possibility and its leaders had in private and public occasions been
drummed.
Mr. Tony Okeke, still trying to assert himself as the acting national
publicitysecretary of the PDP rebuffed requests for verbal reaction to
the registration of the APC.
Mr. Okeke preferred a more cautious formal statement where his words
would be well tailored and not easily misinterpreted by reporters.
Buhari, CPC; Onu,ANPP; Okorocha, APGA and Tinubu, ACN
Even while welcoming the new political party, his response was laced
with punch. He dismissed the changed opposition brand as
inconsequential to the PDP's quest for political dominance saying that
Nigerians would continue to reject the new party's penchant for
propaganda irrespective of change of name.
The decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to
register the new party was undoubtedly spiked with much intrigue. Few
days after the legacy parties – All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP,
Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change,
CPC – gave notice of their intentions, other political associations
arose claiming to have forwarded letters of intent to INEC to be
registered with the same acronym as the APC.
It was a matter that dragged to the courts and is still in the courts.
However, the APC was undeterred and stuck to the scripts and put INEC
on the spot with its copious recitation of the laws on party merger.
It was thus not surprising that just after the end of the 30 day legal
latitude given the electoral management body to consider the
application for merger that the commission gave heed to the merger.
"On considering the application, the Commission found that the
applicant-parties have met all statutory requirements for the merger
and has accordingly granted their request. Consequently, the
Commission has approved the withdrawal of the individual certificates
of the applicant parties and the issuance of a single certificate to
the All Progressives Congress," INEC said in a press statement
yesterday.
The decision was immediately welcomed by a large section of the
political class and even the PDP which through Okeke gave its
congratulations.
But besides the welcome is the immediate issue of the effect of the
registration of the party on the polity.
Mr. Okeke was dismissive of any threat from the APC. His reasoning is
apparently based on the persisting insinuation that the marriage is
that of strange bed fellows.
The suggestion of the taciturn and deeply regimented Muhammadu Buhari
partnering with the politically loquacious but master political
dealer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is still a wonder for many.
Besides, the new party also has many suspicious characters whose
presence is bound to cause apprehension.
Many of the leaders of the APC it is suspected could deal with the PDP.
Such suspicion is especially latent in the leaders of the party that
came fromthe former ANPP.
It would be recalled that in the days leading to the commencement of
the merger talks that some of the leaders of the legacy ANPP, notably
Senator Modu Ali Sheriff and Ahmed Yerima were accused of trying to
sabotage thetalks.
Senators Sheriff and Yerima who struggled over the carcass of the once
vibrant ANPP it is suspected would be loath to play second fiddle to
Tinubu and Buhari in the new party. But so far, the two men have
carried on with the same focus as other APC leaders.
Many Nigerians who have not recovered from the shock of Senator Ahmed
Yerima's advocacy for child marriage would be amazed to find thatthe
former governor of Zamfara State is one of the leaders of the party.
Even worse are recent reports that named the former Zamfara governor
asone of the possible replacements of Vice-president Namadi Sambo on
the PDP presidential ticket in 2015.
The prospects of the party had in recent times been helped by the
persistent crises in the ruling PDP.However, expectations that many of
the disaffected leaders in the PDP would change alliance to the APC
are not forthcoming. Many of the people with problems in the PDP are
not bound to find some peace with APC members who they have had
historicalproblems with.
The new party is, however, promising not to disappoint the enthusiasm
of Nigerians for a change.
"We promise not to disappoint Nigerians who have reposed much
confidence in us. We say that contrary to the lies being peddled by
the naysayers, we are not seeking politicalpower for the sake of
getting it, but in order to use it to empower our people and allow
their long-nursed hopes anddreams to become a reality," Mohammed said
yesterday.
"And to those who have vowed to change their names if APC survives for
a year, we hope they will live up to their words,'' it said.

APC registration will bring vibrancy to politics – IBB

By Wole Mosadomi
Minna – Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has
describedthe formal registration of All Progressive Congress (APC) as
a new political party as a new development that will give room for
"vibrancy" intothe politics of the country especially 2015 elections.
Answering questions from journalists in his Hill Top Mansion, Minna
Thursday, the former military president said what is now left for
theelectorate is to make their choice andensure that their votes count
in the fort coming general elections in 2015.
"With the emergence of the new party, (APC), we will now see a
vibrantpolitical activity and what is left for the electorate and the
press is to ensure that the votes count and also allow the people to
make their choice," Gen. Babangida declared.
He said as an advocate and believer intwo party system, the time has
come for Nigerians to really shine their eyes and make the right
choice for the forthcoming elections.
"I have been and will continue to be astrong believer of two party
system and like the PDP itself said on the emergence of the APC, it is
a welcomedevelopment but that is not to say that other registered
political parties are dead but it is however clear that we now have
two strong parties in the country," he stressed.
Asked to comment on what he foresees for the country in 2015, Gen.
Babangida simply said, "I cannot predict the future and so I wait for
God."
On the lingering ASUU strike in the country, the former president said
from all indications, there is determination on the part of government
to settle the rift finally adding that ASUU is actually pursuing a
genuine course because it in the best interest of the country.
"They do have national interest at heart to be honest and fair to them
and I think they should not give up in negotiation with the government
butas much as possible, they should also make the public understand
the issueat stake," he advised.