We’ll unseat Wike at tribunal—APC

 Nyesom Wike

THE All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has said that despite the assumption of office of Governor Nyesom Wike, it was confident that he would be removed by the election petition tribunal.

Wike won on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party during the April 2015 elections.

The state chairman of the APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya, in a statement made available to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, said Wike was unjustly declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He advised the governor not to embark on any long term project, adding that he (Wike) has a short time to stay in office.

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The state APC chairman also advised the governor not to change the curtains and furniture in the Government House, because he has ‘a very short time’ to stay in power.

He pointed out that the blood of APC members spilled during the elections in the state would never be in vain.

“Mr. Wike was unjustly declared winner by the state INEC, which never hides its connivance with Rivers PDP.

“He does not have the legitimate mandate of the good people of Rivers State to act as their governor. We remain confident that the Election Petition Tribunal will do the needful and sack him accordingly in view of the materials submitted to them, in view of the immorality associated with his occupation of the Government House and in view of the outcry of the people of Rivers State that he does not have their mandate to serve as their governor.

“As we wait to reclaim the mandate of the Rivers State people, which was wickedly seized by INEC in their desperation to impose Wike as the governor of Rivers State, we wish to state that we will not allow the blood of our members spilled to be in vain.

“We owe them and their families the duty to ensure that a God-fearing governor in the person of Dr. Dakuku Peterside is duly installed in the Government House based on the mandate of the good Rivers State people,” Ikanya said in the statement.

He, however, appealed to the people of the state to endure whatever hardship that may come from Wike’s administration, pending the restoration of the mandate they gave to the party’s candidate.

In a reaction, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Felix Obuah, told Sunday PUNCH that Wike’s victory would stand, maintaining that the mandate was given to him by the people.

Obuah, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Jerry Needam, pointed out that the earlier APC realised that Rivers is a PDP state, the better for it.

Describing Wike’s victory at the poll as sacrosanct, he urged the APC to stop weeping over the last election.

On the call that Wike should not try to change the furniture in the Government House, Obuah explained that there was no furniture to change adding that the Government House had already been vandalised by the former governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and his cohorts.

“I want to ask; what furniture is the APC talking about? Former governors, Peter Odili and Celestine Omehia, left golden doors in the office of the governor but these are all gone. They have been taken away by Amaechi and his cohorts.

“They have used APC brooms to sweep away the property in Government House, which is now an eyesore,” Obuah added.

Similarly, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, who is the media aide to Wike, explained that the APC in the state should stop sounding as if the election petitions tribunal belonged to it.

Nwakaudu, who spoke in a telephone interview with Sunday PUNCH, insisted that Wike’s victory would stand because the mandate was given to him by the people.

“We are not surprised by the ranting of the APC in the state. Is the tribunal their personal property? They should stop sounding as if the tribunal is theirs.”

Ethiopia's ruling party sweeps elections

 The EPRDF and its allies have so far won all of 442 seats declared amid claims that opponents' supporters were harassed.

Ethiopia's ruling party and its allies have won a landslide victory in the country's parliamentary elections, based on preliminary results from the weekend polls, the country's electoral board has said.
In results announced by the board on Wednesday, the EPRDF and its allies have so far won all of 442 seats declared, leaving the opposition empty-handed.

The results of voting in the remaining 105 seats are yet to be announced.
The election was marred by allegations by the EPRDF's political opponents that their supporters were harassed.

The charges of abuse were dismissed by Hailemariam Desalegn, the prime minister and leader of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which has been in power for almost 25 years.
The party was widely expected to sweep the vote.

It was not an election, it was an organised armed robbery. Merera Gudina, chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress

The electoral board said turnout exceeded 90 percent.

Lines could be seen forming in front of polling stations on Sunday in what appeared to be a relatively high turn-out. More than 36.8 million voters had registered for the elections, a 26 per cent increase compared to 2010.
Most of the voters interviewed by Al Jazeera indicated they had voted for the ruling party.
But voters also reported that on Sunday afternoon, ruling party members were conducting door-to-door campaigns to ensure voters attended.

"In my area, the EPRDF supporters went from house to house. They knew if you had voted or not," said a voter who refused to give his name.

The lead-up to the elections was marred by allegations by the leading opposition parties over intimidation of opposition members as well as obstruction of the campaigning and voter registration process.
MEDREK and the Blue Party, the two leading opposition parties running, both reported irregularities on the day of voting, including obstruction of opposition party observers to enter polling stations.

"It was not an election, it was an organised armed robbery," Merera Gudina, chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress, who ran under MEDREK's ticket, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday evening.

Documenting violations
Gudina reported that out of 71 ballot boxes in a constituency in Ambo, an area known for anti-government protests, MEDREK party observers were only able to sign off on 20.

Gudina said on Tuesday that the party was in the process of documenting violations, but that no complaints had been filed with the electoral board so far.
"This time around we are fed up. Last time we hired lawyers, but the election board said we didn't have any evidence," Gudina, who accuses the electoral board of political bias, told Al Jazeera.

Talk to Al Jazeera: Hailemariam Desalegn

In its preliminary report, the African Union's election observation mission said on Tuesday that the elections were "calm, peaceful and credible," but reaffirmed several concerns raised by opposition parties.

In one of five polling stations visited, AU observers noted campaigning inside polling stations, further stating that officials failed to demonstrate the ballot boxes were empty before voting began.
The EPRDF has governed since it overthrew the Derg regime in 1991 and currently controls all but one seat in parliament.
Although 58 political parties contested the vote, most were said to be weak or allied with the ruling party.
The ruling party has been credited with double-digit economic growth over the past five years, but critics say there has been little progress in creating an open political environment necessary for elections.

"The 2015 general election has been successfully completed, with high participation of our citizens who committed themselves to the development of democracy," said Merga Bekana, the chairman of Ethiopia's electoral board.
The final results will be announced on June 22.

Source: Al Jazeera And Reuters

Ethiopian fossils suggest 'Lucy' species had company, study says

 An undated photo provided by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History shows a cast of an upper jaw fragments and teeth of "Australopithecus deyiremeda". (AP)

A recent fossil find is more evidence that the well-known “Lucy” species was not alone in the region now known as Ethiopia, a new study suggests.

A lower jaw, along with jaw fragments and teeth, dated at between 3.3 million to 3.5 million years old, were found in the Afar region of northern Ethiopia four years ago.

The discovery shows that a second human ancestor lived in about the same area and time frame a Lucy’s species, researchers said.

However, not everyone agrees with that notion.

The journal Nature released a paper Wednesday announcing the new find and assigned it to a species they dubbed Australopithecus deyiremeda. In the Afar language the second name means “close relative,” referring to its apparent relationship to later members of the evolutionary tree.

Yohannes Haile-Selassie of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, who led the discovery team, says nobody knows just how it’s related to our own branch of the family tree.

Previously, fossilized foot bones found in 2009 near the new discovery site had indicated the presence of a second species. But those bones were not assigned to any species, and it is still unclear whether they belong to the newly identified species, Haile-Selassie said. If they don't, that would indicate yet another species from the same time and region as Lucy's species, Australopithecus afarensis.

Bernard Wood of George Washington University said the discovery provides “compelling evidence” that a second creature lived in the vicinity of Lucy’s species at the same time. Wood wonders how they shared the landscape.
"These fossils certainly create an agenda for a lot of interesting research that's going to be done in the next decade," Wood said.

As evidence that the new fossils represent a previously unknown species, the researchers cite specific anatomical differences with known fossils. But Tim White, a University of California, Berkeley, expert in human evolution, was unimpressed.
He said he thinks the fossils actually come from Lucy's species.

"Anatomical variation within a biological species is normal," he said in an email to The Associated Press.

"That's why so many announcements of this sort are quickly overturned."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Buhari G-wagon

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President buhari Inspects the Guards on Parade.. in this G-wagon... #DemocracyDay #Nigeria2015

Abuja agog for Buhari

 Muhammadu Buhari

Global attention shifts to the world’s most populous black nation on the planet, Nigeria, where the country’s fifth democratically elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, will be inaugurated on Friday (today).

Contrary to speculations, indications emerged on Thursday that the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, will attend the historic occasion which would mark the first time a sitting president would hand over power to a victorious challenger.

The event expected to be witnessed by many world leaders will take place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the nation’s hilly capital city.

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As of the last count, no fewer than 20 world leaders have flown into the country in readiness to attend the ceremony.

Activities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, peaked on Thursday as Presidents and representatives from many countries landed at the facility and were subsequently driven to their various hotels.

The PUNCH learnt that Jonathan, whose administration had earlier expressed the wish to hand over power to Buhari a day before the May 29 official date, has decided to attend the event in demonstration of his sportsmanship.

It was gathered that the outgoing President would fly the flagship of the presidential fleet codenamed “Nigerian Air Force 001” or “Eagle One” in an official capacity as President for the last time today.

After the inauguration, the aircraft will fly Jonathan to the Port Harcourt Airport, Rivers State, from where he is expected to be flown in a helicopter to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, en route a homeward journey in a convoy of cars to Otuoke, his hometown.

Speculations were rife that Jonathan might shun the inauguration ceremony owing to the acrimony that greeted the election.

But a top Presidency official, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that Jonathan would attend the event.

He said if Jonathan failed to attend the event, he might end up portraying himself as a bad loser despite the fact that he conceded defeat to Buhari shortly after the election.

The official, however, expressed the hope that the leaders of the All Progressives Congress would prevail on their supporters not to do anything to humiliate the outgoing President at the event.

The official said, “Immediately after the inauguration, the outgoing President will travel to his state on Air Force 001 for the last time.

“As a former President, any of the smaller aircraft in the presidential fleet can be made available to him on request, but not the 001. The only reason why he can fly that aircraft again is either if he becomes the President again or if he is to accompany a sitting President on a trip.”

Jonathan out, Buhari in

Jonathan is leaving office after a five-year stint as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Jonathan, who became the President in May 2010 following the death of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, finished the one year remaining in his former boss’ administration and went ahead to contest the 2011 presidential election which he won.

He contested the March 28 presidential election but his re-election bid was thwarted by Nigerians who chose Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

Jonathan and his handlers believe that as he is bowing out of office, he is leaving a legacy that is unparalleled in the nation’s history.

The government’s programmes were centered on what he called Agenda for National Transformation.

His administration prided itself as having succeeded in the areas of electoral reform, revamping of the railway system, remodelling of airports, privatisation of power sector, agriculture, and rule of law, among others.

Critics of Jonathan are, however, of the opinion that his administration aided corruption and impunity.

This has fuelled the calls on Buhari to probe the outgoing administration, especially the oil sector, where the allegation of missing funds was rife.

Buhari will be taking his Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office today before Nigerians and friends of the nation with a burden to run his government differently in accordance with his party’s “change” mantra.

10 world leaders arrive for inauguration

It was learnt that before 5pm on Thursday, the aircraft of over 10 African countries had touched down at the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Our correspondent gathered that the two recently inaugurated lounges for pilots and international protocol officers located close to the international wing of the airport, were beehives of activities as some guests were received at the new facilities.

Officials at the NAIA stated that the Presidents of the different nations were sighted at the presidential wing of the airport while countries, whose Heads of State could not show up, sent representatives.

The flags of the visiting countries were displayed on the airplanes.

“Some of the countries whose Presidents or representatives are now in Nigeria include Mali, Sudan, South Africa, Namibia, Chad, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Senegal, the Gambia and Guinea,” an official of NAIA said.

The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, was sighted at the airport, according to our source, who added that the advance teams of France and the United States were on the ground as of the time of filing this report.

The official stated that the flight of the US government was scheduled to land around 3am on Friday.

Our source said, “Other countries whose Presidents or representatives also arrived Abuja airport on Thursday included Togo, Angola, Lesotho, France, Ghana, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. More are still coming, going by the manifest that we have.”

Obama sends Kerry, Olajuwon

The United States President Barrack Obama has detailed the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, including basketball icon and Olympic Gold medallist, Hakeem Olajuwon, to the inauguration. Other members of the delegation are the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, and the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Also in the delegation are Commander, U.S. Africa Command, General David Rodriguez, and the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council, Grant Harris.

Court dismisses bid to stop Buhari’s inauguration

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed an application seeking to stop the inauguration.

A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, had on Tuesday filed a suit as well as an ex parte application seeking an interim injunction restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from inaugurating Buhari on Friday.

The application was adjourned till Thursday for hearing following the failure of the representative of the plaintiff or its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, to show up in court on Wednesday when the application was initially fixed for hearing.

After hearing the plaintiff’s lawyer on Thursday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

He held that the urgency which the application was predicated on was self-induced because the election in which Buhari emerged as president had held about two months before the suit was filed.

Justice Ahmed held, “The presidential election in which the 1st defendant (Buhari) emerged winner took place on March 28, 2015; today is May 28. It is now two months the election took place. Now, I sincerely ask, how can a court grant an interim injunction on the issue?”

“Where was the plaintiff/applicant before and after the election? Is it that the applicant did not know about the presidential election of March 28 or what?

“The inauguration of the 1st defendant will be held tomorrow (Friday) and the applicant is talking about urgency.

“This motion ex parte is a clear case of self induced urgency. Therefore this application is devoid of merit and accordingly dismissed.”

The judge subsequently adjourned the suit till June 24.

Buhari’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had earlier asked the court to hear the application but the request was rejected.

The court agreed with the plaintiff’s lawyer’s submission that Order 26 rule 9 of the Federal High Court forbade him from being heard in such an application filed as an ex parte.

Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, are the 1st to the 3rd respondents in the suit respectively.

The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining the CJN from inaugurating in the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, May 29.

The suit also seeks an order nullifying the Certificate of Return issued to Buhari by INEC.

The plaintiff hinged the suit on the allegation that Buhari did not qualify to contest the presidential election on the grounds that he gave a false information about his academic qualification to INEC.

Between January and February 2015 there were about 10 cases instituted by various plaintiffs challenging Buhari’s eligibility to stand for the polls on the grounds of his academic qualification controversy. But after he won, the cases were withdrawn.

In the fresh suit filed by its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, the group alleged that Buhari did not meet the qualification enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to stand for the March 28, 2015 presidential election.

The plaintiff is seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the CJN “or any person acting in his capacity” from swearing in Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any other date thereof pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

Police assure of security

The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians and foreign dignitaries of adequate security for the inauguration.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in a telephone interview on Thursday, explained that the police had deployed an anti-bomb squad as well as thousands of riot and conventional policemen nationwide.

According to him, operatives had been dispatched to various strategic parts of Abuja, including vulnerable areas, hotels and shopping plazas to ensure a hitch-free transition.

He said, “Our men are on the ground nationwide to ensure a successful inauguration programme in Abuja and the states. The different squads and units have been deployed and we want to assure Nigerians and our international guests that adequate manpower has been deployed and the security of everyone is guaranteed.”

When asked to give the number of personnel that would be on duty for the inauguration, Ojukwu declined, saying he could not do that for strategic security reason.

“I can’t give you the number of personnel that we have deployed, but I can tell you that adequate manpower had been deployed nationwide to protect lives and property and to ensure a smooth inauguration ceremony,” the spokesman stated.

NSCDC deploys 55,000 operatives

In a related development, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps said it had deployed 5,000 officials in the Federal Capital Territory and 50,000 others across the states.

The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Okeh, told our correspondent that sniffer dogs and surveillance vehicles would be on duty throughout the period of the inauguration.

He said, “We are deploying 55,000 personnel nationwide as well as sniffer dogs and other units. Five thousand operatives would be on duty in the FCT while the rest would work in the states in collaboration with our sister agencies.”

Abuja hotels

Meanwhile, the major hotels in Abuja have been playing host to foreign dignitaries and diplomats who are billed to attend the inauguration.

Foreign visitors including journalists from different countries were seen checking into the Transcorp Hilton and Sheraton hotels on Thursday.

As part of measures to make the visitors comfortable, the Transcorp hotel had reserved two lifts for VIPs.

Respect rule of law, Mark tells Buhari

Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday, urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to adhere strictly to the rule of law and respect human rights while discharging his constitutional responsibilities.

He specifically appealed to him to “do the needful for citizens and anchor his actions on adherence to rule of law, respect for human rights, freedom of expression, equity and justice.”

The senate president said he anticipated an egalitarian society under the new government where all citizens would be safe and protected to live and carry out their legitimate duties without fear of molestation or harassment in any part of Nigeria.

Mark, who stated this in his goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of Democracy Day celebration, also said, “All hands must be on deck as everyone plays his or her role to ensure that our democracy endures.”

Jonathan presents handover notes, says I’ve done my best

L-R: Outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan and incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari, when Jonathan presented the handover notes to Buhari in Abuja

Outgoing Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday took a critical assessment of his administration in the last four years and returned a verdict that he had done his best for the country.

He said his administration had impacted positively on key aspects of national life for the benefit of the citizens.

Jonathan said this in his remarks shortly before presenting his handover notes to the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The event, which was held inside the Council Chambers and witnessed by the All Progressives Congress’ chiefs, took place shortly after Jonathan conducted Buhari round the seat of power.

Vice President Namadi Sambo had also similarly conducted the Vice President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, round his wing of the villa.

Jonathan presented an executive summary of his handover notes and a copy of the report of the National Conference to Buhari.

He expressed the hope that the notes would give the incoming administration an idea of his administration’s mission statement and the commitment of his government for the past five years.

He however said the report of the National Conference was more important to him than the handover notes because it was compiled by Nigerians.

He said if the report was implemented, most of the grey areas of national development would be resolved.

Jonathan said, “There is another document that I will hand over to you. To me, this is more important than the handover notes. The handover notes are the activities of an administration, they show where we started, where we are going; in some of the cases you will follow, in other cases you may take other angle.

“But this is a document that was compiled by Nigerians, the report of the National Conference 2014. We gathered almost 500 Nigerians from all walks of life, they were not influenced by government in any way.

“Most of the recommendations here, if they are followed, most of the grey areas even in our politics will be smoothened out.

“Most of the areas where people complain bitterly: corruption and others, this document deals with them. Some people here were members of that great body of about 500 eggheads.

“We were unable to implement the report because of the shortness of time. We have sent a copy to the National Assembly but it is a document that we are very hopeful your government will look into and give it the attention it requires.”

In assessing his administration’s performance, Jonathan said he had impacted positively on national life.

While admitting that challenges still abound, he expressed the conviction that they were surmountable.

He said as he handed over the reins of government, he believed that the nation is secure with its democracy stable and a bright future.

He added, “Our administration has done its best to intervene robustly and impact positively on key aspects of our national life.

“There is no doubt that challenges still abound, but they are surmountable and overwhelming national transformation remains realisable with continuity, commitment and consistency.

“Nigeria is blessed with citizens that will always remain faithful, firmly committed to national unity, accelerated political, social and economic development.

“As we hand over the reins of government, I believe that our nation is secure, our democracy is stable and the future is bright.

“Let us work together and with greater resolve, continue to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.”

He had earlier listed his administration’s achievements to include the success recorded against Boko Haram lately, the eradication of the Ebola Virus Disease, improved revenue mobilisation, agriculture, power sector privatisation, massive road construction, railways and aviation, anti-corruption fight, education, sports and foreign policy.

Jonathan recalled that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System introduced by his administration had succeeded in weeding out 60,450 ghost workers in 359 out of 425 Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He said the exercise had yielded N185.4bn in savings to the Federal Government.

Buhari, in his short remarks, said he would not be able to make any strong statement until after reading and digesting the handover notes.

He however commended Jonathan for conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election, saying his decision changed the course of Nigeria’s political history.

He said the President could have made things difficult if he had wanted to do so.

He expressed delight that rather than taking any action that would be at the expense of the lives of Nigerians, Jonathan took the path of honour.

Buhari said, “What I will say is that since the telephone call you made (to me), you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history.

“For that, you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi-party democracy system and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.

“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.

“If you had attempted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of the lives of poor Nigerians; but you chose the path of honour and may God help all of us. Thank you very much, Your Excellency.”

Court bars NDLEA from unlawful extradition of Kashamu

Buruji Kashamu

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday restrained security agencies in Nigeria from unlawfully arresting and forcibly transporting the senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, to the United States to stand trial for alleged drug-trafficking offences.

Justice Okon Abang, in a judgment on Wednesday, also ordered the unfettered swearing-in of Kashamu as a senator with all the attached privileges since his victory in the March 28, 2015 election had not been upturned.

The judge declared as illegal any attempt to abduct or forcibly transport Kashamu to the US to stand trial in relation to drug-trafficking allegations from which he had been exonerated by two British courts.

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Abang also granted Kashamu’s prayer that having earlier obtained the judgment of a Nigerian court on January 6, 2014, barring his arrest and extradition to the US, and the judgment having not been set aside, the respondents could not arrest and extradited him to the US.

Kashamu had instituted the fundamental rights enforcement action in April alleging that there was a plot by his political opponents, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to use Nigerian security agencies to abduct and forcibly transport him to the US to stand trial before Judge Norgle.

He sought a declaration of the court that the move amounted to a violation of his rights to personal liberty, freedom of association and freedom of movement as protected by sections 35, 40 and 41 of the constitution.

The respondents in the suit are the Inspector General of Police; the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Director General, Department of State Service; the Interpol National Central Bureau; and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly; the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission; Nigeria Customs Services; the Nigeria Immigration Service; and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Abang, in his judgment, held that Kashamu had reasonable cause of action and dismissed the objection of all the respondents that the suit was merely speculative.

The court in upholding Kashamu’s claims, said he had shown enough cause to be apprehensive that the respondents had plans to abduct him.

“The entire claims of the applicant are within the ambit of Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution.

“If the applicant is abducted, kidnapped and taken to the US by force, without the respondents complying with the Extradition Act, it means that he is taken away without his consent and that would constitute a breach of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in sections 35 and 40 of the 1999 constitution. This is so, whether or not the conspiracy is a criminal offence,” Abang held.

The judge dismissed the argument that the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, was not a juristic person and could not be sued. The court equally awarded N10,000 as cost against Giade.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA had indicated its readiness to abide by the order of court asking it to withdraw the more than 50 armed operatives it drafted   to Kashamu’s Lagos home since Saturday, May 23, 2014.

The agency made the promise in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Wednesday.

It, however, failed to specify when its operatives would vacate Kashamu’s house.

As of 12pm on Wednesday when one of our correspondents visited Kashamu’s residence, the gun-wielding NDLEA officials were still there.

Some men of the agency were also seen lying on mats under the shade of a tree in front of the house.

Oladipo Omotosho Street, where the house is located and other adjoining streets were condoned off.

Amaechi, Jang, others to shun new govs’ inauguration

Rotimi Amaechi; Jonah Jang

Two days to the expiration of their tenure, some governors have jetted out of the country, thereby refusing to personally hand over power to their successors.

They include Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema.

Also, some governors, who did not travel out, have decided to shun the inauguration ceremonies of their successors.

Preparations for the inauguration of the nation’s 4th Republic intensified on Wednesday with Nigeria and the international community gearing up for the ceremony.

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The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to be inaugurated as the country’s Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces while governors are expected to be inaugurated in their respective states.

Lamido left Nigeria last week after handing over to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdu Babura.

The governor, whose tenure expires on May 29, had before departing Nigeria for Saudi Arabia told newsmen last week Thursday that he was taking a well deserved rest.

At the conference, Lamido confirmed that he was leaving behind a debt of N2bn.

Putting the debt issue in perspective, the governor explained that of the N14bn debt in the name of the state, N12bn, which his administration used in the construction of the Dutse International Airport, was owed by the Federal Government.

Like Lamido, the outgoing Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, has jetted out of the country ahead of the inauguration.

The PUNCH gathered that Shema had last week Thursday left the state on an official trip to Abuja.

Further checks revealed that the governor had after performing the official inauguration of the state’s housing complex in Abuja, last weekend, left the shores of the country on Saturday night.

It was learnt that the Secretary to the State Government, Mukhtar Ibrahim, would represent Shema during the handover ceremonies slated to be held at the new multi-million naira Karkanda Stadium.

This is coming at a time when it is becoming clearer that some Peoples Democratic Party governors, who lost their states to the opposition All Progressives Congress, have concluded plans to avoid being physically present when their successors take over the reins of governance.

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that he will not be present at the swearing-in of his successor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

There had been speculations that Amaechi may not be present at Wike’s inauguration as a result of the controversy surrounding the presidential and governorship elections in the state.

But Amaechi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, explained that he would rather be at the swearing-in of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, in Abuja.

“Governor Amaechi at the inauguration ceremony of Wike? He (Amaechi) plans to attend the swearing-in of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari,” a text message sent to our correspondent by Iyofor read.

The Executive Assistant to the Plateau State Governor, Mr. Clinton Garuba, confirmed to one of our correspondents that his principal, Mr. Jonah Jang, is most likely not going to attend the handover ceremony.

Garuba explained that Jang was likely to heed the advice of his close aides to steer clear of the inauguration of his successor, Mr. Simon Lalong, on Friday.

Garuba explained that since there was no constitutional role assigned to the outgoing governor during such an occasion, “it will be unwise for him to be there.”

He revealed that the outgoing governor had already written a letter inviting Lalong to the Government House, Jos, to collect the handover notes on Thursday.

Garuba said, “Since it is the Chief Judge that swears in the governor, Jang has no role to play there. He is more or less going there as a spectator. So, we have advised him not to go but he has the discretion to heed to our advice or not.

“But he has written to the governor-elect to come to the Government House on Thursday, where he will hand over the notes to him officially.”

Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, who has not indicated any interest in leaving the shores of the country before Friday’s inauguration, said he would hand over the mantle of leadership to the incoming administration on Thursday – a day to the event – at the Makurdi Government House.

The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Cletus Akwaya, said that the state executive council took the decision after their last meeting today (Wednesday).

Akwaya said his principal had prepared the handover notes and was ready to hand over power to the incoming Governor Samuel Ortom.

The special adviser explained that Suswam had performed creditably well and deserved the commendation of the people of the state.

He, however, did not say whether or not Suswam would be present during the inauguration.

One of our correspondents gathered that civil servants in the state plan to boo Suswam should he attend the inauguration slated to take place on May, 29 at the IBB Square, Makurdi.

It was learnt that most civil servants in the state are unhappy with Suswam’s performance which they described as abysmal.

His administration is owing salary and pension arrears for four and six months respectively.

His Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu, said that he had no plans to leave the state before the handover date. Aliyu said he had concluded plans to hand over to Sani Bello – the winner of the just concluded governorship election in the state.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel Ebije, told our correspondent that he had not abandoned his duties as he was still holding council meetings a few days to the handover date.

Ebije said, “He is even inaugurating projects. He believes governance is all about service and not subterfuge. He has no reason to shun a ceremony which symbolises democratic transition of power.”

According to him, Aliyu has served meritoriously and he will leave office as a hero.

“You know he is not a coward and the people of Niger are not blind to what he has done. For those who have turned a blind eye to his achievements, we should be sympathetic to their plight,” the aide said.

Buhari’s inauguration: Tight security in Abuja

Police and soldiers have beefed up security in Abuja ahead of Friday’s inauguration of Buhari as the president of the country.

Armed policemen and soldiers on Wednesday started checking vehicles in areas such as the Airport Road, Apo Roundabout, Asokoro and AYA.

At the Eagle Square, where the inauguration of the President and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN), will take place, soldiers, who would parade on Friday, were seen practising.

There was heavy security at the square as people, including journalists, were not allowed in.

Also, as part of the preparations for the presidential inauguration, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered tight security at the Eagle Square.

He has also directed his personnel to scale up security at major hotels where important dignitaries and foreign guests would be lodged.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in Abuja, on Wednesday, said traffic on all roads around the Eagle Square would be diverted.

The statement added that major places within the Federal Capital Territory would be manned by security agents “as well as the mounting of Tactical Operation Points on all the roads leading into and out of FCT.”

The statement reads, “As part of preparations for a hitch-free presidential inauguration, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the diversion of traffic on all the roads around Eagle Square on Friday, May 29, 2015.”

Meanwhile, the various checkpoints mounted by armed soldiers, however, have been causing gridlock, especially in the evenings. The military checkpoints at Abuja City gate, Kubwa-Zuba Expressway and around Julius Berger Roundabout, Wuse, are sources of frustration to motorists.

Our correspondent observed that preparations for the inauguration are gathering momentum as a detachment of policemen, soldiers and naval officers daily rehearse for the ceremonial parade that will usher the nation into a new government.

Miniature flags that were mounted on street lights in different areas of the FCT had changed the face of the city, giving it a festive outlook.

The Bayelsa State Government will host President Goodluck Jonathan to a grand welcome reception on Friday and Saturday, investigation has revealed.

President Jonathan, who is handing over the reins of power to the incoming government of Buhari, lost his re-election bid in the March 28 presidential election.

Addressing journalists at a press conference on Wednesday evening at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Osueme Kikile, described Jonathan as a worthy son.

He described the outgoing President as a hero worthy of celebration by all.

Kikile said, “The fact that President Goodluck Jonathan (our hero) is returning home in good stead after administering the country for close to six years is worthy of celebration.

“The programme of his reception will begin on Friday 29. Jonathan will be received at the Government House helipad by Governor Seriake Dickson and other dignitaries.

“Thereafter, Jonathan will proceed to Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre for a grand reception. From Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Jonathan will proceed to his country home, Otuoke, where he will be hosted by his kinsmen.

“In the evening of Friday, he will be hosted at the Government Banquet Hall.”

The commissioner said that on Saturday, May 30, Jonathan would be the guest at an interdenominational service scheduled for St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Yenagoa.

He said in the course of the programme, there would be a slight restriction of movement.

Kikile, who said the restriction was for security reasons, urged the people of Bayelsa to bear the inconveniences the restriction might cause them.

He stated that the restriction would be along the road leading to the Banquet Hall of the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre and St. Peter’s Anglican Church.

The commissioner, who said the President would arrive the state by 3pm on Friday, said the restrictions would begin an hour before his arrival.

He dismissed insinuations that Jonathan might not come with his wife, Patience, saying there were no indications to that effect.

“There is no indication that the President is not coming with the First Lady. There is also no indication of any rift between Jonathan and his wife,” he said.

Don’t single me out for probe, Jonathan tells Buhari

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday advised the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, not to single out his administration in any probe he may want to carry out after his inauguration on Friday.

He said all those advising Buhari to probe his administration must also advise him to extend his probe beyond his regime or else, the probe will be seen as a witch-hunt.

Jonathan made his position known at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council which he presided over at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also said those calling for his administration’s probe should add that the probe should be extended to the way oil wells and fields were allocated in the past.

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A former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, had over the weekend joined the growing number of persons calling on Buhari to probe the Jonathan administration.

Jonathan said, “Some people are even calling for the probe of this government. I agree that in Nigeria, there are a number of things that we will probe; very many things.

“Even debts owed by states and this nation from 1960 up to this time. They are saying it is Jonathan’s administration that is owing all the debts.

“I believe that anybody calling for probe must ensure that these probes are extended beyond the Jonathan administration, otherwise to me, it will be a witch-hunt. If you are very sincere, then it is not just the Jonathan’s administration that should be probed.

“A number of things have gone wrong and we have done our best to fix them. The Attorney General is aware of the massive judgement debts, if we aggregate all of them, it is about $1bn. How did we come to this kind of huge judgement debts? These issues should be probed.

“How do you allocate our oil wells, oil fields, marginal wells and others? Do we follow our laws? All these should be probed. I believe all these and many more areas should be looked at.”

Jonathan said regardless of what critics might say about his administration, he and his team had done well under a difficult situation.

He advised those who criticise him to endeavour to compare his administration’s performance with those of the administrations before him on a sector-by-sector basis.

The President listed some of the daunting challenges faced by his administration to include the prolonged industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, terror attacks and the ongoing fuel scarcity.

Jonathan described the ongoing fuel scarcity as an act of sabotage.

The president claimed that those who felt they must bring his government to its knees were the ones behind the scarcity.

He wondered why marketers would choose to go on strike a few days to the end of his administration.

“Even this last fuel scarcity, to me one can clearly say it was an act of sabotage. This government has few days to go, that is definitely not the time you expect massive strikes, using marketers and unions. Unions asking for increase in salaries at a time oil prices have dropped and volumes have dropped,” he said.

The President made it clear that he had not dissolved his cabinet as all ministers were expected to attend the inauguration dinner on Thursday in their official capacity.

Earlier, the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, had thanked Jonathan for finding him worthy to be his running mate in 2011 and 2015. He said he did not at any time lobby the President for the position.

He promised to remain a member of the Jonathan family and his ambassador anywhere he found himself.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), said the administration had impacted on the lives of millions of Nigerians.

Petrol sells for N110 at depots

 Tankers loading petrol from depots in Apapa, Lagos are currently paying between N90 and N110 per litre instead of the N82 before the advent of the current scarcity of the product in the market.

This, according to market sources, is the reason behind the high prices for which the product is selling at filling stations across the country.

Since the National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers called off their strike, which was called to protest the debts owed their members by the petroleum product marketers, nearly all the filling stations have refused to sell petrol at the official pump price of N87 per litre.

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The product is currently being sold for between N150 and N200 per litre.

The Chairman, NUPENG, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, confirmed to our correspondent in a telephone interview that loading of products from the depots had been intensive since the strike was called off.

This, however, has not led to the normalisation of the price at the depots.

Korodo described the flow of product at the depots as seamless, saying, “For us now, loading is done 24 hours of the day. We are also doing overnight loading to ensure more products get to Nigerians.”

A marketer, who belongs to the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, however, said the supply of petrol “is not much currently.”

According to him, tankers are being attended to on a first-come-first-serve basis owing to the excess demand situation, which currently characterises downstream operations.

Commenting on the high prices for which the product is being sold at the depots, the source said, “It will be difficult to regulate the market now because we have an abnormal situation. Fixing the N82 per litre price for petrol at the depots is not feasible now. It will take some time before it will be business as usual.”

Marketers of petroleum products said on Tuesday that the current petrol supply challenge would continue throughout the week.

They also confirmed that loading of petrol had resumed across board with members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria and DAPPMA driving the exercise.

But they told our correspondent that because of the May 29 public holiday, the supply hitch was likely to prevail till next week because there would not be product loading on Friday and Saturday.

It was also gathered that Folawiyo, Capital Oil and Nipco were championing overnight loading of petrol at the Apapa depots.

Meanwhile, the leadership tussle rocking the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has aggravated the scarcity of refined petroleum products across the country, the National President of the body, Mr. Obasi Lawson, has said.

According to him, the association controls over 60 per cent of the retail outlets for refined petroleum products in the country, adding that the crisis had prevented most members of the group from having access to the products.

For about two weeks now, the country has witnessed severe scarcity of petroleum products, a development that has paralysed economic activities across the nation.

Lawson said during a meeting of stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday that products meant for IPMAN members’ filling stations were diverted to the outlets of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria as a result of the lingering leadership crisis.

He said, “IPMAN is a major player in the downstream subsector of the oil and gas industry. We control over 60 per cent of the retail outlets across the country and we have over 10,000 members with over 30,000 petrol stations. What the masses suffered because of fuel scarcity was largely caused by the crisis in IPMAN.

“Before the crisis started in IPMAN, you will agree that there was no problem of fuel scarcity for about three years into the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“But the suffering started as a result of this crisis and this is because we control 60 per cent of the retail outlets. As a result of the crisis, we are not getting products as and when due; the products that were supposed to come to us were diverted to MOMAN and DAPMAN. And as of that time, most of our petrol stations were not selling.

“It is not that we are not getting the products, but we get them at exorbitant prices and we have to transport them ourselves. It wasn’t the fault of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, but it was because we were not united. They prefer giving products to MOMAN and DAPMAN that are united.”

Lawson, however, stated that the crisis had been resolved as a result due to the intervention of the Federal Government.

I was a motor park tout —Benue gov-elect

 Chief Samuel Ortom

The Benue State incoming Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, has described his experience as a motor park tout and his election as governor as a divine arrangement and the handiwork of God.

Ortom, who bared his mind to The PUNCH in an exclusive chat in Makurdi, said his elevation from grass to grace was due to hard work and his firm believe in God.

He said, “My journey from being a motor park tout to an elected governor is purely a divine arrangement. I cast my mind back to when I dropped out of school in Form 2 but I remained hardworking and I did not engage in crime to survive.

“One thing I know is that hard work pays and you must keep faith with God; power belongs to God and He alone gives it to whoever He will.”

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The former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment said he had dropped out of school in Form 2 due to lack of funds but this did not force him to engage in criminal activities to survive.

Ortom, however, noted that the selection process of the PDP delegates in the last party’s primary in the state was manipulated by the party leadership intentionally to thwart his ambition of becoming the next governor.

He said the party also frustrated the support of the Benue populace who supported him.

He said, “The process of selection of delegates in the last PDP governorship election was manipulated by the leadership of the party to thwart my ambition and frustrate the people who all supported me. But God vindicated me and blessed me, and now I am an elected governor.”

PDP: Dickson expels Jonathan’s loyalists

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday expelled nine of its members from the party over alleged anti-party activities in the last general elections.

The expulsion of the members, said to be President Goodluck Jonathan’s henchmen in the party, was allegedly orchestrated by Governor Seriake Dickson.

The decision for the expulsion was contained in a statement presented to journalists by the state acting chairman of the party, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, at its secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The affected members are Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, Mr. Nestor Binabo, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa and Mr. Chamberlain Kren Ikidi.

Others are Mr. Osomkime Blankson, Mr. Emmanuel Okponipre, Mr. Ebikapade Dibiya and Joyce Fouyowei.

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The expulsion came just as the ‘suspended’ Chairman of the party, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd.), accused Dickson of impunity.

He said the disciplinary committee set up by the state working committee and its leader was illegal, null and void.

Constitution amendment: S’Court asks Jonathan, NASS to settle before Wednesday

 Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed

The Supreme Court on Monday gave President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly till Wednesday to settle their disagreement over the process of amending the 1999 Constitution.

The seven-man panel of the apex court, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, asked the senior lawyers appearing in the matter to broker the settlement talk.

The court then adjourned till Wednesday for the report of the settlement.

The surprise twist came after the counsel for the plaintiff, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo 

Ojo (SAN), failed in his bid to change the plaintiff from the AGF to President Jonathan.

Ojo appeared with Duro Adeyele (SAN) for the plaintiff while Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) led three other SANs — Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, Yakubu Maikyau and Mrs. Victoria Awomolo — for the National Assembly.

Ojo had anchored the application filed on May 20, 2015 on the provisions of Order 3, Rules 1, 14 and 15 of the Supreme Court Rules and Order 17, Rules 1 and 2 as well as Order 9 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules.

As soon as he moved the motion, some members of the panel took turn to fault it on the grounds that Ojo ought to have filed an entirely fresh suit in the name of the President as the plaintiff, instead of filing an application for the substitution of the AGF.

The panel also maintained that since the AGF who was being sought to be substituted was believed to be a wrong plaintiff in the suit; he lacked the competence to file an application to bring in the competent plaintiff.

“You can’t build something on nothing and expect it to stand,” one member of the panel told Ojo.

The panel also maintained that there was no way the court could grant the second prayer in the application which sought an order amending all the processes in the suit to reflect the President as the new plaintiff.

The CJN explained that such an order could not be granted in view of the fact that the court lacked the power to amend the supporting affidavit which was one of the processes being referred to by Ojo.

Welcome to Rev4mation's world: Expectation weighs on Nigeria’s Buhari as he takes...

Welcome to Rev4mation's world: Expectation weighs on Nigeria’s Buhari as he takes...:   Buhari Muhammadu Buhari formally takes over as Nigeria’s president this week but his inauguration could not have come at a worse time...

Welcome to Rev4mation's world: Expectation weighs on Nigeria’s Buhari as he takes...

Welcome to Rev4mation's world: Expectation weighs on Nigeria’s Buhari as he takes...:   Buhari Muhammadu Buhari formally takes over as Nigeria’s president this week but his inauguration could not have come at a worse time...

Jonathan Commissions First Armed Forces Radio Station

 President Goodluck Jonathan in a group photograph after commissioning the Nigerian Army Radio Station at the Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO:  PHILIP OJISUA

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has charged Nigerians to support the patriotic Nigerians soldiers who have put their lives on the line as they battle insurgencies in the northeast.
He noted that unnecessary criticism of their operations in the line of duty has the potential of demoralising the soldiers and unduly popularising the insurgents.

The President, who spoke yesterday while commissioning the first Nigerian Armed Forces Radio Station at the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, noted that while it was right to criticise the military, just like any other national institution, such criticism should be constructive and must be in the national interest.

The establishment of the radio station, according to the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alexander Sabundu Badeh, was to correct inaccuracies of information emanating from the conventional news media within and outside the country about the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the north eastern part of the country.
He said because of the development, it was unanimously agreed that a Defence Radio Station should be established to disseminate true and accurate information about the Nigerian Armed Forces and its activities.
The President described the ceremony as a very special one that highlights the importance of communication of their activities to the wider society. “Today that you are launching your radio station will be a turning point; some of your operations will be properly covered and Nigerians will know.


If they know what you are doing and what you are passing through, they will remain grateful,” he said. “And I use this opportunity to call on all Nigerians both our senior citizens and our ordinary citizens to appreciate the commitment and the sacrifices of our armed forces. We wouldn’t have been sleeping if these people were not working.
I always feel a bit worried and at times angry when I read in the papers comments about our armed forces and the police.

“Ours is a society that sometimes doesn’t appreciate the commitment of individuals, suffering of individuals. These people fight and some times pay the supreme price, leaving widows and children.
Instead of commending and encouraging them, sometimes we criticise, ” he said. The CDS admitted that the media as a watchdog of the society plays a very important role in shaping public opinion for or against any activity of government and its agencies, including the conduct of military operations.  “This is invaluable in maintaining the morale of troops.

Therefore, a balanced and objective reportage of the military helps to shape public perception of the military as a highly professional and patriotic organization which deserves the encouragement and the support of all citizens,” he noted.

Burundian opposition leader murdered: residents

The leader of a small Burundian opposition party was on Saturday shot dead along with his bodyguard, residents said, the latest unrest in a country gripped by weeks of anti-government demonstrations.

Zedi Feruzi, the head of the Union for Peace and Development (UPD) was killed near his home in Bujumbura’s Ngagara district, according to an AFP reporter who saw the bloodied bodies of both Feruzi and a police bodyguard lying outside the house soon after the incident.

Expectation weighs on Nigeria’s Buhari as he takes over power

 Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari formally takes over as Nigeria’s president this week but his inauguration could not have come at a worse time, with the country reeling from a cash crunch and a crippling strike over fuel.

Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) party accused President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of sabotage for allegedly deliberately handing over the nation in its worst state since independence 55 years ago.
“No electricity, no fuel, workers are on strike, billions are owed to state and federal workers, $60 billion owed in national debt and the economy is virtually grounded,” APC spokesman Lai Mohammed said.

But across Nigeria, confidence is still high that Buhari, who headed a military government in the 1980s, will fix the mess.

“It’s not in dispute that the Jonathan government has messed up things,” said rice trader Mulikat Bello in the Agege area of Lagos, Nigeria’s financial capital.

“We know Buhari can do it. He has done it before. It’s the same way the (Shehu) Shagari administration destroyed the economy before Buhari’s coup of December 1983,” the 32-year-old added.

– To-do list –
Thirty years ago, Buhari’s 15-month military regime was characterised by a hardline crackdown against so-called “indiscipline” and corrupt practices, which sometimes crossed the line into abuse of power.

But he has said things will be different this time round, with decades of military rule abandoned since 1999 in favour of multi-party democracy, parliament and the constitution.
In February, the 72-year-old cautioned however that there was a need to “temper high expectations on the part of those who are expecting miracles to happen”.

But across the country many hope he can follow through on his election pledge of sweeping change to stop the rot in Africa’s most populous nation.
On a bus from Oshodi to Agbado in the Lagos suburbs, unemployed 27-year-old university accountancy graduate Solomon Abegunde said he expects the new administration to create jobs.
In Kano, northern Nigeria’s biggest city, private security guard Awwalu Maidawa, 41, wants an end to the Boko Haram insurgency which has claimed at least 15,000 lives since 2009.

Housewife Hajara Sani hopes for investment in education, with 10.5 million children out of school — the most in the world — and literacy levels low, particularly in the Muslim north.
Musa Mohammed, a 33-year-old auto mechanic, wants improved power supply, now at an all-time low of just 1,327 megawatts — below levels during Buhari’s last time in office.

Lagos beer distributor Abolaji Odumesi hopes to see Buhari tackle corruption in the oil sector, which accounts for 90 percent of foreign earnings but is dwindling due to falling global crude prices.
Elsewhere there are calls to diversify the economy, increase taxation to boost government coffers and tackle poverty that the APC says blights the lives of some 110 million of Nigeria’s more than 170 million people.
Almost everyone talks of corruption, which the austere Buhari believes has made the country a global laughing stock.

“I want him to maintain zero tolerance on corruption especially in the public service and ensure that whoever is found wanting faces the full wrath of the law,” said Maidawa.
– High hopes –
“One of the first things he (Buhari) has to do is assemble a competent strategic communications team to manage expectations,” said political commentator Chris Ngwodo.

“He has to be able to temper the level of expectation but without being a damp squib. It has to be skilfully managed.”
To be sure, Nigeria’s military has the upper hand against Boko Haram but there is still work to do to maintain the peace. On most other fronts, however, the incoming government has an uphill task.

To tackle the fuel crisis, Buhari, who once headed a government oil agency, has to convince fuel importers holding out for claimed government subsidy arrears by shutting depots, that they will be paid, said Ngwodo.
In the longer term, he needs to tackle “the absurdity of an oil-producing nation that imports fuel”, build domestic refineries and eliminate fuel subsidies that are open to corruption, he added.

“It’s a pity that Buhari has come at the wrong time,” said Debo Adeniran, of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders lobby group.

“The Jonathan government has mismanaged the economy with a lot of baggage too heavy for Buhari to carry.

“I still cannot fathom how the incoming administration is going to get the funds to implement its programmes.”
On the bus to Agbado, Abegunde is still confident. “To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.

“Buhari has no excuse to fail because we gave him our votes with the hope that he would turn things around… We cannot continue like this. Things have to change.”