January 26, 2015

Page 1

NIGERIA DECIDES

Newspaper of the Year •Jonathan seeks prayers at Winners •APC to PDP: let’s dwell on issues •Ahmed, Ajibola battle for Kwara •Bamidele: I want to be part of change •Polls shift is ‘coup’•Ambode to complete Lagos-Badagry Expressway AND MORE ON •PDP members stoned President in Bauchi, says Yuguda •PAGES 2-7,17&59 •Buhari’s school principal ‘not dead’•’APC didn’t offer ticket to Ladoja’

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3107 MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: TROUBLE WITH THE ECONOMY, BY SOLUDO P2 FASHOLA: PETROL PRICE & ECONOMY P2

U.S. to Jonathan, Buhari: Feb. elections must go on

•President Jonathan (right) recieving Mr. Kerry …yesterday.

•Gen. Buhari with Mr. Kerry…yesterday

PHOTOS: NAN

Kerry talks tough against violence May 29 handover sacrosanct, says President

N

EXT month’s elections must go on as scheduled, the United States (U.S.) said yesterday. There have been unpopular suggestions of a shift in some circles, with the tacit support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The position of the U.S was conveyed in Lagos yesterday by Secretary of State John Kerry after separate meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the top contenders in the February 14 presidential

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

By Wale Ajetunmobi

election. National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) gave the clearest hint yet of the interest of the Federal Government in shifting the elections when he declared at a lecture in Chatham House in London last Thursday that there was nothing wrong in postponing the polls to enable eligible Nigerians collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The statement has attracted outrage from many Nigerians, who likened it to a coup against the Constitution. The All Progressives Con-

It is imperative these elections happen on time and as scheduled and must be improvements over past elections gress (APC) condemned the “advice”, saying it is a ploy to enable the ruling party regain its breath. But the PDP has not said anything on it. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has, however, said a change in date is not contemplated by the agency.

Yesterday, Kerry declared: “It is imperative these elections happen on time and as scheduled and must be improvements over past elections.” He added: “They must set a new standard for this democracy. That means, Nigerians must not only reject violence, they have to actually promote peace.”

Kerry met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Marina, Lagos before meeting with General Buhari at the U.S. Consulate House in Ikoyi. Gen. Buhari was accompanied by APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Campaign Director and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. The delegation arrived at the venue at about 2.41pm and immediately went into the closed door session, which lasted about two hours.

Kerry also cautioned against violence. He said any politician who organised a widespread “systematic violence” against civilian population will be held accountable, including placing them on diplomatic sanction. A source said Buhari told Kerry that the APC was against violence, adding that unruly behaviours occurred in PDP states. He said: “I came here today to deliver a very simple message and I have met Continued on page 4

Troops halt Boko Haram’s advance on Maiduguri

STORY ON PAGE 4

Commander, others injured as sect seizes Monguno

•APC TO FAYOSE: EXPLAIN HOW YOU SPENT N2B ECOLOGICAL FUND P7


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