DASUKIGATE:SDP Absorbs Falae of Wrong Doing

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) made the declaration in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abdul Isiaq, on Sunday in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria.

The party said that the 100 million Naira that was received by Mr Falae from Mr Tony Anenih, was meant for the SDP/PDP Electoral Alliance project.

They also explained that the money was shared to all the 36 state chapters of the party in the build-up to the 2015 elections.

The party maintained that “neither the SDP nor Mr Falae was aware that the money came from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, through Chief Anenih and meant for arms purchase”

The SDP stressed that “the SDP as well as many Nigerians were aware that the PDP had a fund raising event prior to the election where billions of naira was donated”.

They said that the party was also conscious of the fact that the PDP had ruled Nigeria for 16 years and expected that they capable of funding their part of the electoral alliance.

The statement emphasised that neither the SDP nor Chief Olu Falae had anything to do with the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal.

According to the statement, “SDP was approached by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, for electoral alliance for the re-election of the former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”

The statement also stated that Mr Falae, being the National Chairman of SDP, summoned the National Executive Committee of the party to a well-attended meeting to consider the PDP’s proposal of Electoral Alliance for the re-election bid of former President Jonathan since SDP did not field a presidential candidate of its own.

Clamp-down mission: Jafaru Isa’s Release Vindicates Us– PDP…Says EFCC Compromised

In a statement release by Barr. Victor Kwon, National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), said the release of the associate of President Muhammadu Buhari and APC chieftain, Brig. General Jafaru Isa (retired) by the EFCC barely eight hours after arrest while its spokesman Chief Olisa Metuh remains detained and without being charged to court since last Tuesday, vindicates its position that this Federal Government is not fighting corruption but on a clamp-down mission on PDP leaders.

He said the party spokesman, who was arrested without invitation by the anti graft agency has remained incarcerated since Tuesday while the APC chieftain who even disregarded the commission’s invitation and had to be arrested was quickly released after the EFCC boss meeting at the Presidential villa.

 Barr Victor Kwon on Sunday said there can be no clearer indication that the APC-led administration is on a man-hunt against PDP leaders, and that it has a personal grudge against Chief Metuh, ostensibly for his stance as opposition spokesman, particularly his recent exchange with the government and the APC over their dictatorial activities.

The party queried the action of the EFCC in freeing Brig. General Jafaru Isa, eight hours after his arrest last Wednesday night while Chief Metuh is still being detained even when the two are being investigated over same allegation of receiving funds from the office of the National Security Adviser.

“The release of Jafaru Isa, a known associate of the President and chieftain of the APC eight hours after his arrest while our spokesman remains in detention even when the two are being investigated over same allegation, clearly shows that the President Buhari-led APC government is not fighting corruption but using the much hyped crusade as a cover to persecute PDP leaders and decimate the opposition, a project the EFCC has clearly yielded itself as a willing tool.

“We have information of the marching order from the Presidency for the immediate release of the President’s associate and that his issue is one of the major part reasons for the repeated visits of the EFCC Chairman to the Presidential villa within the period of his arrest. Of course, there is nothing hidden under the sun.

“We ask, how can the EFCC now explain to the world that it is not corrupt and teleguided by the Federal Government to persecute PDP leaders? What happened to the illegal holding charge upon which it has detained the PDP spokesman beyond the limit stipulated by section 35(5a) of the constitution and in violation of his guaranteed personal liberty under the law?

“Are there now two separate sets of laws; one for PDP leaders and perceived foes of the President Buhari-led government which allows them to be detained beyond constitutional limits without being charged to court and another set, for associates of the President associates and APC leaders, which guarantees them a slap in the back and immunity from investigation and prosecution, and if arrested, an immediate release?

“Is it really true that the fund Jafaru Isa was alleged to have received from the former NSA was traced near the corridors of those who today bestride power in the country? Furthermore, can the Federal Government and the APC now in all honesty face the world and announce that this administration is indeed waging war against corruption?

“Can the EFCC explain what has happened to several petitions by Nigerians on corruption issues against many APC leaders including those who as former governor looted funds belonging to their state? Are they now under immunity for the fact that they are in the APC and that most of the funds they looted where used to finance APC’s Presidential campaign?

“While we reiterate our support for any effort aimed eradicating corruption in our nation we stand our ground in demanding that the fight must be holistic, credible, within the limits provided by the laws irrespective of political affiliations.

“The PDP therefore restates its demand that the EFCC immediately releases its spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh or charge him to court if they have any case against him. His continued detention without being charged to court is only indicative of the fact that the commission has not been able convince itself of enough evidence of guilt and is now lending itself as a willing instrument of persecution against Chief Metuh.

“The public will recall that the PDP is not given to frivolous claims as evidenced in many instances including our alert last year of a meeting between the Presidency, the then newly appointed INEC Chairman and top security officers just before the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.

“Finally, we state with every sense of responsibility that now that it is clear, with the release of Jafaru Isa eight hours after his arrest, that the continued detention of our spokesman is politically motivated, this party can no longer guarantee that it can rein in its members and supporters who have been exercising restrain since this particular arrest by the EFCC.

Nigeria belongs to all of us and the laws are made for all of us and must be applied on its values and spirit without political considerations.

Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party Wins Bayelsa Governorship Election

Mr Seriake Dickson has been declared winner of the Bayelsa State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Dickson polled 134,998 votes to emerge winner of the election. Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timipre Sylva, scored 86,852 votes to place second.

“Henry Dickson Seriake, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected. This is signed by the returning officer dated this 10th day of January 2016,” the Returning Officer said.

INEC had revised its guidelines for the re-run of the governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The Commission said all the parties had given their consent to the revised guidelines, which it believes would help to fast-track the exercise on Saturday, January 9.

According to the new document, accreditation and voting will go on simultaneously.

After taking results from four local government areas where governorship re-run election was held in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the collation of the final results in the early hours of Sunday between 12:00am and 2:00am local time.

After the results from Ogbia were announced the electoral body said it would take a break and reconvene in the morning by 11:00am.

In the declared results, the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 448 votes in Yenagoa LGA while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 839.

In Brass LGA, APC had 1,679 and the PDP got 5. In Sagbama LGA, APC scored 119 , PDP, 180 while APC had 139 in Ogbia LGA with PDP polling 1,290 votes.

On resumption, it was declared that in Ekeremor Local Government Area, the PDP polled a total of 2,695 votes, while the APC recorded 257 votes.

In Nembe, the PDP had 1,160 votes while the APC polled 1, 400 votes.

The result for Southern Ijaw was finally announced on Sunday evening around 7:00PM local time. The PDP scored a total of 23,081 votes, while APC scored 10,216.

The collation officer also reported that elections did not take place in Kolana Ward 17 because voting materials arrived very late and had to be returned.

“Severe Militant Activities”

The INEC had declared the Bayelsa election inconclusive after it rescheduled the governorship election in Southern Ijaw for January 9.

Professor Mustapha Leki announced the rescheduled election at the headquarters of INEC in Yenagoa, the capital of the State.

He said the INEC experienced major disturbances and challenges in a number of places, especially the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

“These were occasioned as a result of severe militant activities. As a result of this development and working in conjunction with security agencies, our first concern is to take steps to stabilise the situation to ensure the safety of electoral officials and the security of materials,” he told reporters.

After INEC rescheduled the election, the major candidates – the incumbent Governor, Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timipre Sylva – expressed displeasure with the circumstance that led to the cancellation of election in the area.

While the incumbent governor said he had set up a judicial commission of enquiry to examine the alleged violence and thuggery during the governorship election, the APC candidate said the action of the election umpire was a rape on democracy that had denied the people of Bayelsa the right to choose their leaders.

Paul Scholes launched a fresh attack on Louis van Gaal's Manchester United

                                                             Photo: GETTY IMAGES

                          Paul Scholes has once again criticised Van Gaal's style of football 

Former Manchester United midfielder says he would be depressed playing under Louis van Gaal following their unimpressive FA Cup win over Sheffield United and claimed the players looked "bored"

Scholes has been critical of United's style of play under the Dutchman before and pulled no punches on Saturday after the 1-0 victory over Sheffield United.

United needed a stoppage-time Wayne Rooney penalty to overcome the League One side after producing another drab display that saw droves of home fans leave before the final whistle at Old Trafford.

Scholes said: "The players looked bored themselves. There's no spirit, there's nobody having a go at each other, there's no smiling, there's no entertainment. I think even Van Gaal on the bench looks bored, but he'll come out and say he's happy.

"It wasn't a great performance, will he [Van Gaal] be happy with it? I think he probably will be. I think that's the way he likes to play football."

Scholes added on BT Sport: "We haven't seen anything different now for the last six months, that's the way this team plays football and he'll be happy with the 1-0 win.

"We don't see anything else, and he constantly comes out and says he's happy with his team, he's happy with the way they've played. But they didn't create a chance, had to win a game against a League One side with a penalty in the 94th minute. In my eyes it's not good enough."

Former United midfielder Scholes feels there are too many "square pegs in round holes" in United's line-ups under Van Gaal, citing the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial as players who are not being utilised in their best positions.

But he also believes United's players also need to do more to help the situation themselves.

He said: "As players sometimes you have to lift the crowd, whether it's a tackle, whether it's a shot on goal. You need to make something happen as a footballer at this club.

"To just to go through the motions like they did, people need digging out sometimes, it just seems to be accepted.

"I'd be depressed [after that game]. It would take me two or three days to get over that performance.

"You've just seen 90 minutes of boring, defensive....I've tried to defend this team now for the last two or three weeks, it's getting more and more difficult to do it because every time you come to Old Trafford this is what you see; negative football.

"I see square pegs in round holes with players in the team. There's so many question marks over the team.

"The only thing I can say is I'm glad I don't have to go to Sheffield a week on Tuesday."

Scholes did not go as far as to suggest United need to get rid of Van Gaal, but believes a change in approach needs to be taken with regards to tactics.

He said: "[It's] time for a change in style of football, pass the ball to Wayne Rooney. I think he had 34 touches today in the whole game. This is Wayne Rooney, get the ball to your best players.

"I truly believe he [Van Gaal] will be happy with that performance, but I'm not and I don't think there's many fans here [who will be]. How can you possibly be happy with that against a League One team?"

The former England midfielder added: "I'd never call for a manager to be sacked. He's got some really good players there. His style of football is not suited to Manchester United's football, but he's going to argue that they've got through, they are fifth in the Premier League and only nine points off the top. And he has got a case for that, but I think fans would rather see a bit more excitement rather than be in those positions."

Owen Hargreaves, another former United midfielder, added: "The performance wasn't what they expected but they got the performance they needed.

"It was a really poor performance from Manchester United, lacking in attacking intent and Sheffield United were very unlucky not to get a replay.

"I think they'll all be disappointed, they only positive was the result. Only two shots on target, I think everyone will realise that's not good enough."

A mountain lion had teeth growing from forehead

                                                                                                             AP

The lion was legally shot dead by a hunter on 30 December.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says the teeth could be the remnants of a conjoined twin which died in the womb, or possibly a kind of tumour.

Biologists in the region have never seen anything like this particular deformity before, it says.

The lion was hunted after it attacked a dog near the town of Weston, Idaho. The dog survived, but a hunter set off in pursuit and killed the big cat a few hours later.

A conservation officer checked the lion's body, as required by law, and found the set of teeth, as well as what appeared to be a set of whiskers on the left side of the animal's forehead.

Mountain lions, a native species of big cat, are relatively common in Idaho. They are elusive animals which seldom come into contact with humans.

They are territorial and require large swathes of wilderness to thrive, according to the US National Wildlife Federation.

In winter, their prey species, such as deer and turkeys, move down from the mountains to escape colder temperatures, often gathering at the edges of villages or towns.

This can put predatory mountain lions into conflict with people, livestock and pets, says the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.