Ivorian Goverment Rewards Elephants With Houses And Cars @Richard

Ivory Coast’s football team has been rewarded with millions of dollars in prizes by the country’s government for winning the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara is giving each member of the 23-man squad a house worth $52,000 (£34,000) and the same amount in cash, the government says.

The team beat Ghana’s Black Stars 9-8 on penalties in the tournament’s final in Equatorial Guinea.

There were also six-figure rewards for the Ivorian Football Federation and the team’s technical staff – in total the government has shelled out more than $3m (£2m) in celebration of the victory.

It wasn’t a total loss for Ghana’s team, despite their penalty defeat. Each player is being given $25,000 (£16,000) by the team’s sponsor, the state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), a figure that the country’s sports minister thinks is a little low.

Mahama Ayariga says the bottle-throwing endured by players during their semi-final victory over Equatorial Guinea in Malabo means they deserve their reward.

“For those who think that GNPC rewarding the boys with $25,000 is too generous, I wish they were in the stadium” in Malabo, he’s quoted as saying in Nigeria’s Daily Post.

“Then they will know whether $25,000 is worth that kind of experience. I don’t even think it is enough.”

I Will Pull Down Lekki/Epe Toll Gate if I’m elected —AGBAJE @Richard

Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has promised to pull down the Lekki/Epe toll gates, if elected next governor of the state.

According to the PDP governorship hopeful, the arrangements behind the project lack transparency and sustainability.

Agbaje, who made the promise at a peaceful protest, tagged March for freedom, organised by Freedom Group in Lekki, Lagos State, also said that BRT and Lagos light rail projects were collapsing because the arrangements on ground were not sustainable.

He said: “I am here to show solidarity with you on the issue of the toll plaza for which you are marching today and assure you that when we get into office, these toll gates will come down; I will demolish all of them.

“The public/private partnership, PPP, arrangement behind this project is not transparent. Look at the BRT and Lagos light rail projects, they are collapsing because the PPP arrangements they have on ground are not sustainable.

“The light rail which was supposed to have been ready since 2012, is grounded and this is because of vested interests of a few people. The PPP arrangements are skewed to favour only a few people, so for me, I am in solidarity with you and a vote for us is a vote for freedom, a vote to bring down the toll plazas.”

In the same vein, coordinator of the march, Gabriel Odu: said: “This march is all about freedom, freedom from tolls, freedom from oppression and freedom from god-fatherism.

“We are saying that no more tolls on this road. We want a government that will come in and free us from this and we have seen it in the person of Jimi Agbaje. This is a direct call for freedom for the good people of Lagos.

“The March for Freedom chose the Lekki Toll Plaza as the focal point as it is a symbol of oppressive governance. The toll is nothing short of exploitation of defenceless citizens by those who simply feel they can get away with it.”

A resident who spoke on the issue said: “This is a peaceful way of expressing our grievances over the imposition of toll fees on Lagosians.

“What we are saying is that enough is enough. We are tired of being exploited. Even as we speak, they are planning on erecting two more toll gates. This is unfair and oppressive and we are saying enough is enough

Buhari’s Aim Is To Destroy The North —Gov Lamido @Richard

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has expressed disgust over what he described as the level of threat some northerners were facing for not supporting the presidential ambition of the former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, warning that the type of siege mentality being inflicted on the people was the beginning of the failure of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, at the polls.

“The fear of Buhari is the beginning of leadership failure; therefore Nigerians and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government must stand up to its mandate,” he said.

Lamido, who spoke during the party’s presidential campaign in the state, however, warned that the siege mentality under which the people were currently experiencing in the north because of Buhari would backfire.

According to Lamido, any northerner who is not supporting Buhari was being threatened an seen as an infidel.

Apart from northerners, Vanguard investigations also revealed that most residents, who wear caps depicting them as natives of some southern parts of the country were being molested by street urchins as “infidels.”

Lamido said he would not be perturbed by any intimidation or name callings because of his support for PDP because he was a democrat and would continue to promote the truth.

Describing Buhari as the only individual decorating the APC as a party, Lamido said the greatest mistake Nigerians would make “is to give their mandate to an individual who does not believe in democracy.”

He then faulted the APC for lack of political ideology just as he observed that the party did not have a strong team that can liberate Nigeria from its current political and economic problems.

“If you remove Gen. Buhari from APC, most of other members that rally behind him in the party lack sincere commitment and focus that Nigeria requires at this present time,” he added.

Buhari Is A Traitor – Arewa Youths

Arewa Youths slammed the former Military Head of State and the Presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari over his threat of a bloody revolution if 2015 election did not go his way. The youths in a statement described General Buhari’s outbursts as misguided, treasonable and uncalled for.

According to the group, Nigerians must ensure that the threat of General Buhari of imminent bloodletting does not see the light of the day as such will not only bring disunity, but has the tendency of producing numerous widows and orphans.

In a statement signed by the group’s President, Abdulkareem Tijani, the group while calling on Nigerians to shun Buhari’s call for violence and embrace peace and unity, said, ‘’Buhari’s recent statement that in 2015, violence that will follow the election will make the 2011 violence a child’s play, is uncalled for, misguided and treasonable.

“Buhari by the statement he made before the election in 2011 precipitated the violence that followed the 2011 presidential election and till now Nigeria has not recovered from the same.

‘’We call on all Nigerians irrespective of their states and religious back ground to see Buhari for what he truly is.. We hereby call on Nigerians to shun Buhari’s call for violence and embrace peace and unity.”

Also, the National Council for Peace and Unity stressed the need for leaders to control their anger and sentiments at all times especially at difficult periods like what Nigeria is going through at the moment.

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Engr. Muhammed Abba-Gana, said that there was the need for Nigerians to put heads together to ensure speedy and happy resolution of all crises particularly that of insecurity so that we move on to bring progress and prosperity to our people.

According to Abba-Gana, the National Council for Peace and Unity will be setting up a peace and security committee that will be holding public hearings in major geographical zones in Nigeria starting with Lagos.

According to the statement, “Instead of Nigerians to vent their anger on the pages of newspapers or on fellow Nigerians, the committee shall provide a platform where people can discuss their grievances and it shall be documented. Nigerians are tired of losing their friends and loved ones as a result of violence. The number of orphans and widows in the northern part of Nigeria is on the increase. We must say no to disunity.”

(Sex Talk) 45-58 Women can still enjoy sex in menopause @tj_shetade

 

Apart from the menstrual flow that stops when a woman reaches menopause, one other thing that goes out of the window for most women during this period is their libido.

According to physicians, one of the most common complaints they get from their post-menopausal patients is a decreased desire to have sex.

They say that between one-half and three-quarters of women age 45 to 58 reports a significant drop in sex drive once they stop menstruating.

Consultant gynaecologist, Dr. James Onore, says that a major reason why women often lose interest in sex after menopause, which is the permanent end of menstruation, is reduced hormonal secretion.

Onore explains that once a woman stops menstruating, the rate at which her body produces the female hormone, estrogen, decreases at a significant rate, making sex less enjoyable for her.

“There are two main causes for libido flameout. One has to do with estrogen, and the other, testosterone. Loss of estrogen can affect your mood, but this in itself will not necessarily depress your libido, though the physiological side effects can make vaginal sex so painful as to render it virtually impossible or at least undesirable.

“When estrogen loses its decades-long influence after menopause, the vagina narrows, and the skin in the genital area gets thinner and less moist and loses its elasticity, leading to the number one complaint of women in this age range: which is sex hurts.”

Onore adds that along with the loss of estrogen, women stop secreting testosterone from their ovaries, which diminishes their ability to become aroused and sometimes affecting their ability to reach orgasm.

While few women will barely notice these changes, for others, the symptoms could alter their life. While it’s no picnic for anyone, libido loss can be particularly distressing for married women in long-term relationships who have enjoyed a good sex life and have now lost interest, much to their – and their partner’s – chagrin and surprise.

Consultant Gyneacologist, Dr. Olaremi Adeniji, says no woman should succumb to these signs, as loss of libido in women could encourage their spouses to cheat, which may lead to the end of the marriage in many cases.

Adeniji notes that rather than accept fate, post-menopausal women must look for other ways to tackle the challenges headlong.

He warns that should they fail to do so, they may suffer chronic depression and mood swings, not to mention a broken marriage.

“Vaginal sex is going to be more tedious after menopause for any woman, because the woman is not well lubricated and cannot be easily penetrated.

“However, she could remedy the situation by talking it out with her spouse before he starts thinking she desires him less or he feels she’s is just being stiff.

“The man may see it as a reason to have extra-marital affairs, which will expose both of them to sexually transmitted diseases and infections, and also cause tension or a break in the relationship.”

If you are above 47 and you have been asking yourself, ‘what happened to my sex drive?’ the answer is right in front of you, but don’t give up. Like the doctors have said, there are many ways you can enjoy sex after menopause, based on the following therapies…

Vaginal estrogens

Local vaginal estrogens are safe and easy to use and have been on the market for more than 30 years. After just a few weeks of using it, experts say, the woman will become more comfortable and feel more receptive to sex.

Local estrogen comes in three different forms: a cream that needs to be applied every few days; tiny pills that are inserted vaginally every few days; and a ring that releases a very low level of estrogen and can be left inside the vagina for three months at a time. The ring’s main drawback is that it may be difficult for the patient to insert or remove it. While some have no problem doing it at home, others prefer to have the physician do it.

Exercise regularly

Physician-author, Christiane Northrup, says one of the smartest things a woman can do as she transits to menopause and afterward is to get regular physical activity. Instead of looking back mournfully, she should use this state to redefine herself with positive thoughts and love, exploring what brings her pleasure, and revive (not retire) her sex life.

That includes aerobic exercise for her heart and weight-bearing exercise for her bones – both of which may help ward off weight gain and provide mood boost.

Other expert treatments on offer to help women cope better with menopausal symptoms include low-dose birth control pills, anti-depressants, blood pressure drugs, or other medications to help with hot flashes.

Your doctor may also have lifestyle tips about adjusting your diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.

Threat Of Violence: You Will Commit Suicide, Sambo Tells Buhari @Richard

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, has warned the APC presidential candidate, retired Maj.-Gen.Muhammadu Buhari, to be careful before he commits suicide by planning to plonge Nigeria into war.

The vice president said his warning was against the backdrop of the statements credited to former tyrant leader.

Sambo urged Buhari act like a states man, adding that any attempt by Buhari and his supporters to cause trouble in the country will be resisted.

According to him, the APC should allow President Jonathan to continue to adopt “a more scientific and modern” warfare in tackling the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“I want to seize this opportunity to draw our attention to a publication not too long ago, credited presidential candidate, retired Maj-Gen. Buhari, that there would be crisis if he loses the 2015 Presidential election to President Goodluck Jonathan.

　

“I want to ask you a question, a retired 73-year-old General – can he run? No!

“Okay, let’s assume that he can run; how many metres can he run before he falls? The training of a General that retired in 1985 is it the same training that can address a modern war? No!

“Now we are fighting war with drones, with new ideas that our President, a PhD holder, a scientist that is using (his knowledge) to address the security issues of this country.

He described the statement as a suicidal proposal, asking “will he (Buhari) go with a suicidal proposal?”

The vice-president urged the electorate to support President Goodluck Jonathan, saying Jonathan is the answer to the nation’s security and the answer to its development.

Sambo reassured that the PDP-led administration would continue to do its best in addressing the nation’s security challenges across the country.

“All these Dams will be provided with hydro-electricity power and an irrigation scheme, with which we are developing economic corridors in Adamawa state.

“In addition to that, in the transport sector, I have good news for you. Mr President has approved the dredging of River Benue.Very soon, we will have a river port and ships and boats from different parts of the world will be here in Yola.’’

Sambo then urged the electorate in the state to ensure that they obtain their PVCs to enable them to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and all other PDP candidates in the Feb. 14 and 28 general elections.

In his remarks, a chieftain of the PDP and a former Minister, Sen. Jubril Aminu, said Adamawa people had resolved to vote for Jonathana/Sambo ticket as well as other PDP candidates in the state during the February elections.(NAN)

I will Hand Over if I lose–Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that he will not hesitate to hand over if he loses the forth-coming Presidential Election. President Jonathan gave the assurance at the media chat in Abuja, he dismissed the insinuation in some quarters that he would not hand over to the winner of the election, come May 29.

　

He stated that those making the allusion in the media, particularly the social media, were not being fair to him. “In 2011, I said that I will conduct a free and fair elections and if I lose I will happily go home and it should be recorded. “As of that time no African sitting president had lost an election, but within this period a number of African sitting Presidents had lost elections.

“But, I said that I wanted to create history to be the first African President that will lose election. But, let the world know that the election was a free and fair. “Then, I just concluded the late President’s tenure; I was just a President for about a year, acting for some months then.

“But, I said that I will be happy to go home. That this nation is more important than any human being and I still maintain. “Anybody who wants to hold this office of the president or any office at all and feels that he is more important than the nation, then, he is not quite right.

“So, if as of that time I said that I was ready to conduct a free and fair election and if I lose I will go not to talk about now that Nigerians had given me the opportunity to be here for four full years. “So if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, I will inaugurate a new government.
There is no way I say if I lose I will not hand over.”

The President said a lot of misinformation was being circulated in the social media about the 2015 elections and urged Nigerians to shun such propaganda for the progress of the country. He reassured Nigerians and the international community that the 2015 general elections would be conducted as planned by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

On the ongoing fight against Boko Haram, the President disclosed that the joint multi-national force, including the Nigerian military had intensified efforts to liberate all areas captured by the insurgents. He said the Nigerian Army had taken delivery of new military hardware that would help it in its crusade against the insurgents. He also expressed the hope that with the renewed fight against the militants, the Chibok girls might soon be rescued

Over My Dead Body Would Buhari Rule Over Yorubaland — Gani Adams

 

OTUNBA Gani Adams is the National Coordinator of the Odua People’s Congress, OPC. In this interview, Adams explains why leaders of South West zone are divided over the choice of presidential candidates to support in the forthcoming elections.

He also bares his mind on the postponement of the general elections among other issues. Excerpts:

By Dapo Akinrefon

How will you react to the INEC’s shift of the elections dates by six weeks?

Well, the shift in dates is as a result of necessities for cogent reasons such as the issues of security and adequate logistics for the exercise. Let me explain these by reminding you of the fact that the shared Permanent Voters’ Card (PVCs) was just 66 per cent while the remaining 34 per cent were still to be given out and that is about 24 million eligible Nigerians. I was so sad with the way the opposition handled the development. I just can’t imagine how comfortable they are that about 24 million Nigerians were to be disenfranchised; as a matter of fact, I won’t even be comfortable with 10,000 Nigerians not to talk of 24 million.

Secondly, the security chiefs declared they couldn’t guarantee security of INEC’s ad-hoc staff. How then will any sane person push for the exercise without the support of security chiefs? For these two cogent reasons, I don’t see us going for free, fair and credible elections. We still have more than three months for the handover of government; there is no need for them to be too anxious more than the umpire.

Moreover, we have 27 political parties and 17 of them have declared that the election should be postponed and eight insisted that it be held, in as much as 17 has indicated interest in the shifting, it simply means majority of Nigerians have spoken.

Security challenges

The opposition has always been hiding behind security issue to condemn Jonathan, now the president wanted to tackle security challenges before the election, the opposition is again shouting foul. What they are criticizing Jonathan for is what the gentleman wanted to face in six weeks. Come to think of it, with or without the necessary amend, he has insisted on May 29 as handover date.

But some people alleged that President Jonathan is working towards interim government, what is your view of this?

Jonathan cannot propose an interim government and at the end of the day be the head of such arrangement, such move won’t be in the interest of Jonathan.

Culled from Vanguard

You ‘re Just A Common Criminal, Fani Kayode Tells Jega @Richard

Director, Media and Publicity of President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode has alleged that Jega held meetings with leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Dubai, United Arab Emirate and other cities of the world to perfect what he described as the Commission’s wanton conspiracy against 23 million eligible voters, he however urged the INEC boss to be honourable, transparent as well as publish accurate information on the state of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs across the country.

Fani- Kayode further alleged that Jega was not telling Nigerians the truth, requesting that he should intimate Nigerians on how many PVCs were in the country, and also break down it state by state. When the others would arrive from China and how he plans to distribute them before elections.

Fani Kayode further said that “Pieces of information at our disposal have shown that Jega has had meetings with APC stalwarts in Dubai and other cities in the world to perfect this wanton conspiracy against 23 million eligible voters. Besides, we have information that the PVCs that Nigerians are scrambling for are not in Nigeria and will not arrive before the elections. These PVCs are still in China and Prof Jega has strategically delayed their arrival to suit his electioneering permutations.

Fani- Kayode however said that the PDP would not call for Jega’s resignation for now because “he might decide to confess and until then, we know what to do.”

Asked to substantiate his allegation that Jega held meeting with APC leaders, he said ” We were not the first to make the allegation about nocturnal meetings in Dubai. The South East Elders Forum had done so in the past. But we have evidence. If you look at what we said, you know we have the evidence. Look at Lagos, two senior members of INEC were suspended because they were stopping non indigines from collecting their PVCs. Before we make these allegations, we know what he is doing; we want him to respond to us and if we hear him, we know what else to do.

“Our Campaign Organisation would want Professor Jega to answer the following questions: Why are the PVC collection rates in the North Central, South-South, South West and South East much lower with the highest being 57%? Is it because these geopolitical zones may be pro-Jonathan?

“Why does the North West zone which includes Katsina (Buhari’s home state) have the highest collection rate of 80%?
How come the North East also has 75% collection rate when, in fact, three states in this zone-Adamawa, Borno and Yobe- have been under the attack of Boko Haram insurgents, a development that has led to the displacement of many residents? Did the Internally Displaced Persons come back there to collect their PVCs?

“Why is it that North Central zone, which includes states like Plateau and Benue that traditionally vote PDP, has a collection rate of 48% when North East and North West have between 75 and 80% collection rates?

“INEC would have us believe that as far back as January 2014, the PVC distribution would be done in phases. Phase 1, according to the Commission, commenced May 2014 in 10 states– Taraba, Gombe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa.

“Phase 2 – Yobe, Bauchi (North East) Jigawa, Sokoto (North West), the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara (North Central), Anambra, Ebonyi (South East), Ondo, Oyo (South West), Delta and Cross River (South South).

“Phase 3 – kicked off in November and involved 13 states– Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, and Plateau.

“Can Jega explain to Nigerians how Kano, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna and Katsina, which were slated for Phase 3 and actually kicked off in November 2014, have achieved a 75-80% PVC collection rate whilst many states slated for Phases 1 and 2 and even some others in Phase 3 are still in the 40-50% collection rate range?

“Can Prof Jega show Nigerians proof that the Chinese company printing the PVCs has been paid in full by disclosing the total contract sum and the amount paid to date? Can Prof Jega show proof of arrival or expected date of arrival of all PVCs for the elections? Can Prof Jega tell Nigerians how he could have distributed 23 million PVCs within 5days to election if there hadn’t been a postponement?

Fani- Kayode further said that pieces of information were beginning to fall in, “Could this be why Prof Jega has refused to allow citizens use their temporary voter cards despite pleas from the National Assembly and well-meaning Nigerians? Does it make sense to disenfranchise 23 million citizens (a third of the eligible voters) because INEC says it wants to avoid rigging? The 2011 elections were adjudged the most transparent by Nigerians, the international community and the INEC chairman himself without the use of PVCs. So what has changed?

“Is this why APC leaders and members insist on non-postponement of the elections even when they know that 23 million Nigerians may not vote? Do they know something we do not know? Prof Jega said on National Television on 23rd of January 2015 that INEC is doing everything possible to ensure that before the end of January all the cards have been produced and made available. That deadline of end of January has come and gone and we still do not have the PVCs. Is he being sincere?

“We hereby challenge Prof Jega to be honourable and transparent. He should publish accurate information on the state of PVCs: how many PVCs are in the country? Where are they located state by state? When would the others arrive from China? How does he plan to distribute them before elections?

“Prof Jega should respond to these allegations of partisanship and ineptitude, and live up to his responsibilities as an independent election umpire. If he refuses to do so, we may end up losing confidence in him.

The Director, Media and Publicity of PDPPCO who stressed that there have been series of attack on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Campaign Organisation since the shift of dates of the polls, said, “This unfortunate development was sequel to the explanations given by the Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega for the Commission’s decision to postpone the elections. Professor Jega, at a press conference last Saturday, hinged the postponement on the security advice given by the National Security Adviser with respect to the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast zone of the country.

“Professor Jega deliberately failed to tell Nigerians the whole truth that underpinned the postponement, thus providing the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) a questionable platform to accuse us of complicity in the decision to postpone the elections. We must state here and again that the decision to postpone the elections was INEC’s since it is constitutionally saddled with that responsibility.

“The Commission has done just that and it had at the press conference hinted that it was having challenges with the distribution and collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The Commission had claimed substantial readiness for the general elections despite that as at 5th February 2015, the total number of PVCs collected was 45, 829, 808, representing 66.58% of the total number of registered voters.

“We had immediately commended the INEC on the grounds that the postponement would enable the 23 million eligible voters who had not collected their PVCs to do so before the new dates announced for the elections.
But we have now realised how Professor Jega had disingenuously presented the reasons for the postponement of the elections at the press conference, making it look as if the problem was mainly security. We would like to say that the major issue that informed INEC’s decision was the deliberate attempt by the Commission to disenfranchise over 23 million eligible voters who are yet to collect their PVCs.

“The matter is that INEC has failed in its responsibility to produce and distribute PVCs to about 34 percent of registered voters who would require the cards to vote in the elections. This brings us to the issue of statistics of PVC distribution and collection, which we believe Professor Jega, as a person, acting in concert with some forces of retrogression, is playing games with.

“We express our concerns today that Jega may have decided to aid the APC to rig the forthcoming elections through the manipulation of the production, distribution and collection of PVCs such that emerging trends have consistently shown calculated attempts to deprive parts of the country that would traditionally vote for President Jonathan of their PVCs whilst the parts of the country that would traditionally vote for the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, are already armed with their PVCs.
The PVC collection statistics for states and geo-political zones before the postponement of the elections as tabulated below would buttress Professor Jega’s contrived grand conspiratorial alliance with the APC to fraudulently secure victory in the elections.

“All Nigerians, who are 18 years and above, have a constitutional right and duty to vote. Prof Jega should not rewrite our constitution on the back of his inequitable distribution of PVCs. President Jonathan has reformed the electoral process to make each vote count; we therefore urge all Nigerians to insist on collecting their PVCs. We must not be deterred or intimidated by the antics of INEC. We must expose this show of shame in addition to other logistical lapses which could have led to the disenfranchisement of millions of Nigerian voters and major irregularities if the election had proceeded as earlier planned. ”

According to Fani- Kayode, as at February 4, 2015, Number of Registered Voters , Number of Cards Collected by Voters were as follows:

ABIA
1,396,162
1,073,799
76.91
2
ADAMAWA
1,559,012
1,073,799
80.68
3
AKWA-IBOM
1,680,759
1,328,714
79.05
4
ANAMBRA
1,963,173
1,222,002
62.25
5
BAUCHI
2,054,125
1,745,441
84.97
6
BAYELSA
610,373
386,125
63.26
7
BENUE
2,015,452
1,132,187
56.18
8
BORNO
1,934,079
1,320,667
68.28
9
CROSS RIVER
1,175,623
859,690
73.13
10
DELTA
2,275,264
1,556,476
68.41
11
EBONYI
1,074,273
714,351
66.50
12
EDO
1,779,738
1,062,370
59.69
13
EKITI
732,021
496,536
67.83
14
ENUGU
1,429,221
761,185
53.26
15
FCT
881,472
464,769
52.73
16
GOMBE
1,120,023
873,698
78.00
17
IMO
1,803,030
949,921
50.23
18
JIGAWA
1,831,276
1,460,620
79.76
19
KADUNA
3,407,222
2,976,628
87.36
20
KANO
4,975,701
3,190,417
64.11
21
KATSINA
2,827,943
2,245,303
79.40
22
KEBBI
1,470,648
1,232,357
83.80
23
KOGI
1,350,883
773,197
57.24
24
KWARA
1,142,267
738,594
64.66
25
LAGOS
5,905,852
2,267,039
38.39
26
NASARAWA
1,242,667
959,068
77.18
27
NIGER
2,014,317
1,250,379
62.07
28
OGUN
1,829,534
666,752
36.44
29
ONDO
1,524,655
824,715
54.09
30
OSUN
1,407,107
995,562
70.75
31
OYO
2,415,566
1,206,425
49.94
32
PLATEAU
2,001,825
1,169,942
58.44
33
RIVERS
2,537,590
1,899,041
74.84
34
SOKOTO
1,611,929
1,310,003
81.27
35
TARABA
1,340,652
1,079,383
80.51
36
YOBE
1,099,970
824,401
74.95
37
ZAMFARA
1,495,717
1,045,855
69.92

Total
68,833,476
45,098,876
65.81

SOUTH WEST

S/No.
States
Number of Registered Voters
Number of Cards Collected by Voters
Remarks
1
OGUN
1,829,534
666,752
36.44
2
ONDO
1,524,655
824,715
54.09
3
OSUN
1,407,107
995,562
70.75
4
OYO
2,415,566
1,206,425
49.94
5
LAGOS
5,905,852
2,267,039
38.39
6
EKITI
732,021
496,536
67.83

TOTAL
13,814,735
6,457,029

SOUTH SOUTH

S/No.
States
Number of Registered Voters
Number of Cards Collected by Voters
Remarks
1
CROSS RIVER
1,175,623
859,690
73.13
2
DELTA
2,275,264
1,556,476
68.41
3
EDO
1,779,738
1,062,370
59.69
4
RIVERS
2,537,590
1,899,041
74.84
5
AKWA-IBOM
1,680,759
1,328,714
79.05
6
BAYELSA
610,373
386,125
63.26

TOTAL
10,059,347
6,822,416

SOUTH EAST

S/No.
States
Number of Registered Voters
Number of Cards Collected by Voters
Remarks
1
ABIA
1,396,162
1,073,799
76.91
2
ANAMBRA
1,963,173
1,222,002
62.25
3
IMO
1,803,030
949,921
50.23
4
EBONYI
1,074,273
714,351
66.50
5
ENUGU
1,429,221
761,185
53.26

TOTAL
7,665,859
4,721,258

NORTH WEST

S/No.
States
Number of Registered Voters
Number of Cards Collected by Voters
Remarks
1
KADUNA
3,407,222
2,976,628
87.36
2
KANO
4,975,701
3,190,417
64.11
3
KATSINA
2,827,943
2,245,303
79.40
4
KEBBI
1,470,648
1,232,357
83.80
5
SOKOTO
1,611,929
1,310,003
81.27
6
ZAMFARA
1,495,717
1,045,855
69.92
7
JIGAWA
1,831,276
1,460,620
79.76

TOTAL
17,620,472
13,461,183

NORTH EAST

S/No.
States
Number of Registered Voters
Number of Cards Collected by Voters
Remarks
1
TARABA
1,340,652
1,079,383
80.51
2
YOBE
1,099,970
824,401
74.95
3
ADAMAWA
1,559,012
1,073,799
80.68
4
BORNO
1,934,079
1,320,667
68.28
5
GOMBE
1,120,023
873,698
78.00
6
BAUCHI
2,054,125
1,745,441
84.97

TOTAL
9,107,861
6,917,389

NORTH CENTRAL

S/No.
States
Number of Registered Voters
Number of Cards Collected by Voters
Remarks
1
KOGI
1,350,883
773,197
57.24
2
KWARA
1,142,267
738,594
64.66
3
BENUE
2,015,452
1,132,187
56.18
4
PLATEAU
2,001,825
1,169,942
58.44
5
NASARAWA
1,242,667
959,068
77.18
6
NIGER
2,014,317
1,250,379
62.07

TOTAL
9,767,411
6,023,367

We won’t compromise Nigeria’s security — Military @Richard

The Nigeria military has reacted to various accusations against the Armed Forces, especially as it concerns the forthcoming elections, stating that “it recognizes the fact that the nation’s larger interest and her security is sacrosanct and beyond any political expediency or ulterior consideration.

　

According to the military authorities, “no excuse will be acceptable for any act of commission or omission that tend to compromise the law or the electoral process as well as decent conduct or judgment on the part of any service personnel, while discharging duties related to elections in any part of the country.”

Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said: “The Defence Headquarters has noted the palpable tension being generated in certain quarters with regards to the roles of the Nigerian military in the ongoing political activities.

“It has become necessary to reassure all citizens that the Armed Forces remains committed to its duty in working to ensure the sustenance of peace, law, order and stability, during and after the forthcoming elections.

“It is also important to reassure Nigerians that the military will remain professional, apolitical and non-partisan in all operations or activities related to this crucial exercise.

“The Armed Forces is conscious of the fact that apart from its primary constitutional role of defending the country from external aggression and internal insurrection, it also has the responsibility of providing support in aid of civil authority such as the need to provide complementary security arrangement to protect our electoral process.”