CNPP, others insist on polls NEWS Page 6
•Transition govt calls rejected
Newspaper of the Year
News Killers after me, Ekiti speaker cries P7 Sports Emenike to quit Fenerbache P24 Business No cash for Q4 2014 capital projects P56
•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper
VOL. 10, NO. 3088 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015
•www.thenationonlineng.net
TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
N150.00
•INSIDE: PDP BEGINS CAMPAIGN IN LAGOS TOMORROW P5 FALANA REPLIES BABANGIDA P9
Buhari: Jonathan must go MEND backs APC candidate Supporters shot on way to rally From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt
B
EFORE thousands of cheering party faithful and ordinary folks, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari yesterday opened his campaign, with a promise to tackle corruption, fight insecurity and revive the economy. The former Head of State declared the level of corruption as “intolerable”, adding that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration must go. Also yesterday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Gen. Buhari said: “We have reached a stage where change has to come. PDP must go. Enough is enough.” The campaign took off at the 40,000-seating capacity Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwuruta, near the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State. It was attended by over 100,000 people, who defied the scorching sun to join the singing, drumming and dancing. Bu the ceremony has a tinge of tragedy. As Gen. Buhari’s supporters were moving to the stadium from Asari-Toru (Kalabari) and Khana (Ogoni) Local Government Areas of Rivers State, thugs believed to be Continued on page 4
•Cross section of the crowd at the rally...yesterday
INEC closes presidential nomination
T
HE Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) yesterday closed submission of nomination forms for the presidential race. No party can replace its presidential candidate again, unless in case of death or withdrawal from the race. As at 6pm yesterday, only 11 candidates had returned their forms. Among them are President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu
?
WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?
From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
Buhari of the All Progressives Congress ( APC)— the top contenders. The two leading candidates will face nine others at the poll on February 14. The other candidates are: Ambrose Albert (Hope Democratic Party); Ganiyu Galadima( Allied Congress Party of Nigeria); Rafiu Salau ( Alliance for Democracy); Godson Okoye( United Democratic Party); Continued on page 4
•Gen. Buhari speaking at the rally...yesterday. With him are Prof. Osinbajo (left), Senator Ngige (second right) and Chief Odigie-Oyegun
Boko Haram: Northeast governors seek more troops STORY ON PAGE 3
Insurgency’ll soon be over, says Shettima Elections ‘must hold’
•POLITICS P15 •SPORTS P24 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •LIFE P43 •FOREIGN P59