Alison-Madueke Denies Seeking Asylum anywhere…

Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said she is not seeking asylum in any part of the world, as claimed by her traducers.

Madueke, who spoke tonight through the Group Public Affairs General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, denied ever contemplating relocating from Nigeria.

JSD reported Sahara Reporters publication that the minister had been denied asylum by six countries where she had so far applied but did not mention the countries involved. CITY PEOPLE NEWS

Alison-Madueke also denied six countries had turned down her asylum request

Again, it was Sahara Reporters (also published by JSD) published a blockbuster report they got from Business Council for Africa (BCA) claiming that Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been denied asylum by six countries where she had so far applied. The report claims she’s looking for a country to run to before Gen. Buhari takes over as president because she’s scared she might be probed or jailed.

But reacting this evening, Alison-Madueke, through the Group Public Affairs GM of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said there’s absolutely nothing of such happening. She said she has no intentions of either seeking asylum anywhere in the world or even relocating from Nigeria.

CITY PEOPLE NEWS

MUST READ: BUHARI IS MOTIVATED TO MAKE NIGERIA GREAT AGAIN!

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari speaks about Boko Haram, transition committee, assets declaration, PDP chieftains’ defection to APC, among others, in this interview with newsmen in his Daura residence. Excerpts:

Since your victory at the polls two weeks ago, a lot of PDP chieftains across the country have been flocking into your party, the APC. How do you intend to manage this?
I think that is mainly a question for the party. I wish Chief John Oyegun was here to answer you because we have a system. Just because I am the presidential candidate and the President- elect, I don’t think the system has allowed me to usurp the power of the party executives. But in multi-party democratic systems, fundamentally, it is the number that matters for the people. But for the party, what matters is the ability to manage the number so that the majority will have its way and there will be justice. No matter what the remnants from the PDP is, by May 29, I assure you or I assure them through you that there will be justice in APC.

The APC is about cleaning the system, but right now, we have a lot of people who are accused of polluting the system moving into the APC. Don’t you think they will also pollute the APC?
For those that are coming into the APC, I have no fear because we have our party structure. That you were a party chairman or a minister before you joined the APC, we’ll appreciate the fact that you remain relevant in your immediate locality. But when it comes to the centre, there is some equality in the way the government will handle you. If we win majority of members of the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly in the states, it means that it is with the agreement of their constituencies that the federal government has the power that it has. If the federal government is insisting on accountability and being responsible, even if they go back to their constituencies, there is nothing they can do about the decision of the government. We are banking on that. 
I will give you an example of my state, Katsina. In 2011, the CPC won all the senatorial seats and 13 out of the 15 House of Representatives seats but they lost the governorship. Who did the election? Did people from space come for the election? That is the bad thing about lack of cohesion in a party. Leadership at all levels must work in concert. Otherwise, what Katsina State suffered, any state or the centre can suffer same. Those chief executives, from local government to states, will be encouraged to work together. 

So, for those that are coming in, I hope they will accept that they are coming to join those who succeeded and they should cooperate with them. They can’t come and say that because they were once ministers under PDP, they will join APC and become ministers the following month. I don’t think that will be acceptable even by the constituents. 

In composing your cabinet, what are those criteria you will be using in selecting those Nigerians that will work with you?
It is a difficult time for Nigerians as you all know. I have said it in the past that in the last 16 years, Nigeria has never realised the amount of revenue it received. A barrel of crude oil rose to about 140 dollars and has crashed to about 50 dollars during these 16 years. We know some big companies that employed lots of Nigerians and gave them training facilities like the Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Shipping Line. Even the Nigeria Railway is managing to be on paper, with some refurbished engines moving from Lagos to Ibadan and a few other places. If you go to their stations all over the country, you will realise that they are in a terrible shape. The important thing in a country with a huge population of youths with more than 60 percent of them under the age of 30 who are unemployed, is for these institutions to give jobs and training to Nigerians. It is very disappointing that the PDP government virtually failed to use those resources to make sure that the economy continues to grow in a sustainable way. I think the worst thing is the lack of accountability and the terrible budgetary system. Imagine that over 90 percent of Nigeria’s budget is on recurrent. How can you sustain development in a developing country like Nigeria with only about 10 percent of your income? Things just have to change. There must be more money available for infrastructure, for investment in getting the factories back, employment and getting goods and services for the population. I think the sins of PDP will be coming out for several years to come. 

Do we expect to see you put in place a government of National Unity?
Again, you want me to encroach into the party’s main power. Even if I, as President-elect wants to form a broad based government, I think that the executives of the party will have some influence on that decision. So, for me to maintain a good rapport with the leadership of my party, I want to keep your question in abeyance until further notice.

Prof Attahiru Jega has said he will not accept renewal of his tenure. Talking about building institutions, what do you intend to do to ensure that the successes so far recorded are sustained and improved upon?
Prof Jega knows exactly what to do. He has already said that he was not going to accept a renewal of his tenure in June. I believe that he has learnt enough and will submit comprehensive hand over notes, some of which he seems to have written. At the last National Council of States meeting, he submitted a document of INEC activities right from the last general election from 2011 to date with attachment, showing the personnel trained, acquisition of election materials, the distributions, security among others. And I don’t think that such report can be faulted. In fact, INEC was forced to accept the six weeks extension by the office of the National Security Adviser. Luckily, those six weeks were accommodated within the constitutional time limit within which election must hold. The law says election must hold 30 days before 29th of May. So, INEC did not have much trouble agreeing to the six weeks extension. As people say, it has come to pass.

There is speculation that wide spread looting is going on at the moment, following the fall of PDP. What do you intend to do to check this problem?
I will like to work within the system because we believe in it. I have just told you about three governors and the battle they have with law enforcement agents in their states. We discussed and advised them to try and document these things so that it can be taken before the court and we will make sure that we register the cooperation of the court so that people who work against the law are prosecuted, especially those who have lost their immunity, and those who think they have immunity because this is the best way to stabilize the system. People must not benefit from being lawless. You can’t be in a position by virtue of the constitution, subvert the constitution and continue to enjoy the privileges offered by the constitution. I don’t think that will be acceptable by the APC. So, whether you are in the opposition or in government, you have to behave yourself. I think that is the way we can make progress.

You introduced the War Against Indiscipline as military leader. Several years later, one of the biggest problem in Nigeria today is indiscipline. How do you intend to handle this? 
I will mention how it came about. When we had our first Supreme Council meeting and governors were appointed, in my office, it was only me and the late Tunde Idiagbon. We discussed and agreed that the main problem of Nigeria was indiscipline. If we can get majority of Nigerians to accept, whichever level they are, we will make a lot of progress. I could recall that I advised that we should go to the Ministry of Information because there are a lot of people with first degree, masters and Ph.D who are sociologists and criminologists who are just warming their seats. They should get together and come up with a programme that will last for years and not just for six months and fizzle out. That was how we came about War Against Indiscipline. It was very well thought out. It was a military system. In democracy, people want a lot of freedom, but if they see the restraint in advanced democracies, in Europe and America, they will realise that discipline is forced on people. There are things that, no matter how much you want to do them, you can’t do them. I think that we have suffered enough as a people and I think that people are more prepared to behave themselves now. 

About two years ago, I made some remarks in Hausa and people felt because now, some senior civil servants who are directors either at the state or federal level can’t educate four children because the level of education has gone down so much. Those that can afford will rather send their children to Ghana or Sudan and those who can afford it more send theirs to America and Europe because the educational system in Nigeria has virtually collapsed. Therefore, we feel that by voting APC into power, Nigerians are placing confidence in us. On security, economy especially unemployment and corruption, I believe that Nigerians will give us the understanding to make sure that we get our priorities correct. Education is going to be very important because when you educate the people, you solve half of your problems because there is a level that an educated person will not accept. But when people are sentenced to illiteracy, when they are exposed to all manner of social vices using ethnicity and religion so that people don’t move forward, they fight themselves.

During your campaigns, you promised to declare your asset if elected. Will you still go ahead with that?
I made a statement which has not been correctly captured by the media. I said that our generation, from Murtala, the late Murtala, made sure that those who had appointments must declare their assets and this was later articulated in the constitution. It is up to government to make sure that those who borrow money to build a house and end up with another house somewhere else with 50 bedrooms and 20 living rooms should explain to Nigerians how they got the money. I could recall that I declared my assets three times. First was when I got my first political appointment as governor of old Borno State; secondly, when I was leaving government to go to the United States War College. I declared my assets then because I was closing my political chapter then technically. I could recall that General Jemibewon was the Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army then. I had to declare my asset, deposit it there to be taken to court before I was allowed to proceed to the United States for my course. The third was when I became Head of State. From General Obasanjo down till now, those of us that were in the Supreme Military Council, Council of States, Executive Council and even those who were permanent secretaries, at the time we got our appointments, the courts were made to produce our declarations. So, all these noise about people getting rich and nobody is saying anything about it; why can’t you prick the conscience of the existing government or are some of you part of the cover up? 

There have been reports that you promised to end Boko Haram within two months, but your media team reacted saying you never said so. We want you to use this opportunity to clarify on that?
I think I am too experienced in internal security to give two months deadline on Boko Haram. I don’t think I would have made that mistake because I tried to look at some of my experiences even when I was in uniform with the rebels from Chad when I was GOC in Jos and with Maitatsine. So, for me to say that when I come into office, I will get rid of Boko Haram in two months, I don’t think I would have made that mistake. I didn’t. As I mentioned in several occasions, we, that have at one time or the other worn Nigeria military uniform, felt terribly embarrassed that for six years the Nigerian military couldn’t bring order to 14 local governments out of 774 local governments in the country after Burma, Zaire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Dafur where Nigerian military earned respect internationally for their performances. To fail to secure 14 out of 774 local governments, I still can’t reconcile myself with that disgrace. We will try and work with our neighbours, such as Chad, Cameroon and Niger who are fighting Boko Haram for us. Look at Chad helping Nigeria or Niger or Cameroon. This nation has been humiliated by PDP. Nigeria has been humiliated by PDP. God willing, with our experiences, we will quickly marshal support and we are asking Boko Haram to pack and go.

When will the Transition Committee be put in place?
We have started discussing about it. Personally, I will make sure it is not too big because if it is big, they will start thinking of how to influence the choice of ministers either for themselves or those they want to be ministers. But my hope and idea is to get knowledgeable and experienced technocrats that are really patriotic to study the handing over notes by ministries and make recommendations. I want them to be completely detached people who are patriotic Nigerians, and who are knowledgeable and experienced. If we get majority of politicians involved, it will lead to a lot of row and we may end up with inconclusive recommendations which will not be very helpful in our condition. When I get it ready and before it is published, I will show it to the leadership of my party and the terms of reference as well as the time limit and the result of their work, we will quickly study before the inauguration so that before we are sworn in, we’d get into action.

DAILY TRUST

#NigeriaDecides: Elections Most Credible/Most corrupt; “simply staggering” amount spent by APC and PDP according to BCA report.

In the Business Council for Africa (BCA) March/April 2015 publication just-released, it noted that the elections were “the most credible in Nigeria’s history”, it also said they could not be called the most incorruptible.

On the contrary, it referred to them as the worst because of the amount of money that the PDP so freely and openly spent on trying to secure the re-election of Mr. Jonathan.

“The stories and reports from throughout the 36 States of the amount of money distributed by the PDP to elders, rulers, church leaders, unions and youth leaders amongst others in an endeavour to favour the voters towards the PDP has backfired badly,” the report said. 

BCA said that if the 2011 elections were considered bad, the 2015 elections will undoubtedly go down as the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history, certainly since 1999, as the amount of money being distributed as bribes primarily by the PDP so very openly would readily confirm.

It reported that since November when campaigning began, President Jonathan and General Buhari during their travels made no fewer than 109 promises of what they intend to achieve if given the mandate in the presidential election.

“President Jonathan’s campaign continued to hinge on his party’s Transformation Agenda and the achievements of his Government in the last 4 years, particularly in the agricultural sector, job creation and the empowerment of women,” the report said.  In that regard, it credited Jonathan as having achieved a great deal during his tenure.

It said it was however Jonathan’s failures – rampant corruption, insecurity, inability to eliminate the Boko Haram insurgency, failure in such sectors as the economy, and power in particular, and the overall feeling that he was ruled rather than led – that have cost him his re-election bid.

The report also stated that in the 2015 elections, up to 250 Nigerians lost their lives, describing that deplorable record as speaking volumes for the control achieved by the Police at the campaign rallies by the two main candidates.

It described the cost of the campaigns of the two main parties as “simply staggering”, noting that by the first week of March, Buhari had spent some N332.58 billion as compared to the expenditure of President Jonathan which amounted to N1.05 trillion.

“This is without taking into account the cost of other expenses for such items as campaign rallies, where the PDP has spent N1.06 billion against Muhammadu Buhari’s APC’s N595.08 million, and clearly demonstrates the desperate lengths that the PDP have gone to in order to try and secure the re-election of President Jonathan.”

SAHARA REPORTERS

 

Six Countries Turn Down Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke’s Asylum Request…

No fewer than six countries have already refused to grant an asylum request by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke (pictured above), the Business Council for Africa (BCA) said in its just-released monthly report, noting that about US$ 1 trillion is the latest estimated figure of the looting of the Nigerian treasury between 1960 and 2005 alone.

The report, dated March 2015, focused extensively on Nigeria’s general elections.  It said the notorious Minister, whose impunity is known to have been closely-protected by President Goodluck Jonathan, will be coming under the microscope for the first time in her Ministerial career.

“Given her reputation, it comes as no surprise to learn that 6 countries have already refused to grant her asylum to live in their countries as she now wishes to leave Nigeria at the earliest possible opportunity,” it said.

BCA recalled President-elect Muhammadu Buhari lamenting that the rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption, one where stealing is not corruption but a way of life, and that his administration will pursue all public offices and individuals who are believed to be guilty of corruption.

It observed that despite an earlier promise, it is now understood that Buhari’s anti-corruption fishing net will include Ministers currently serving under President Goodluck Jonathan.  Alison-Madueke’s departure from Nigeria is likely to be followed by several other PDP elders, party members and supporters as well as some former Government officials, as Buhari’s anti-corruption drive will be far-reaching.

“It will be very interesting to learn in the coming months exactly how far back in Nigeria’s history his administration will go in the pursuance of those who have robbed Nigeria of US$ 1 trillion, which is the latest estimated figure of theft from the Nigerian treasury between the period 1960-2005.

Given that President Jonathan’s administration is considered the most corrupt of any of its predecessors, that figure is going to be considerably magnified, but whether the new President will wish to pursue former Heads of State is a matter of interest and considerable debate to Nigerian observers. It is this subject that is primarily responsible for Buhari’s success in winning the election as well as his campaign promises to eradicate Boko Haram, revive the economy and rebuild Nigeria to make its position as the number one country in Africa.

SAHARA REPORTERS

Supreme Court dismisses case against Fayose…

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has dismissed the suit by the All Progressives Congress, challenging the eligibility of Governor Ayodele Fayose to contest the 21 June, 2014 election in the state.

The court ruled that Fayose’s impeachment in 2006 was not enough to unseat him as the elected governor.

PM NEWS

From A(bia) – Z(amfara): All the governors-elect and their parties…

The Nigerian governorship elections have come and mostly gone, apart from a few states where results are still inconclusive due to one issue or the other.

With what has come in so far, the APC now has 21 states in the bag, while the PDP has 11 states. Results from three states – Imo, taraba and Abia – are inconclusive while APGA has one state.

So who are the incoming or old governors and which parties control which state. We’ve got that covered below:

– Abia: This is one of the few states with an inconclusive election. It is a battle royale between the PDP’s Okezie Ikpeazu and APGA’s Alex Otti. Abia’s Resident Electoral Commissioner shocked the world when she cancelled results from some local government areas where the elections were marred by irregularities and fraud, but later decided to allow the results stand.

So far, PDP candidate Okezie Ikpeazu is leading with 248,459 while APGA’s Dr Alex Otti has 165,406 votes. The election was declared inconclusive last night by Returning Officer Prof. Benjamin Ozumba who said there were 179,224 potential voters who were accredited but could not vote due to various reasons including violence. He said the number is higher than the difference between the leading candidate and the second placed candidate. Ikpeazu is leading Otti with 83,053 votes.

– Adamawa: Adamawa’s governor-elect is Sen. Jibrilla Bindow, who defeated Markus Gundiri of the SDP and Nuhu Ribadu of the PDP.

– Akwa Ibom: PDP’s Udom Emmanuel emerged winner in the South-South state. APC is crying foul however.

– Anambra: No governorship election was held in this state as Willie Obiano of APGA is expected to remain as governor until 2019 when another election is held.

– Bauchi: APC candidate in the election, Mohammed Abubakar defeated the PDP’s Mohammed Jatau to emerge winner and governor-elect.

– Bayelsa: Gov. Seriake Dickson of the PDP is no due to have his office contested for until next year. No governorship election was held in the tiny state.

– Benue: Former minister Samuel Ortom of the APC emerged winner in the Benue election.

– Borno: Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima of APC polled 649,913 to beat Gambo Lawan of  PDP who scored  34,771 votes.

– Cross River: Ben Ayade of the PDP defeated Odey Ochicha of the APC by almost 300,000 votes to emerge as governor-elect.

– Delta: PDP’s Ifeanyi Okowa is the governor-elect of the state, having floored perennial runner-up, Great Ogboru of the Labour Party and O’tega Emerhor of the APC.

– Ebonyi: In Ebonyi, deputy governor Dave Umahi of the PDP floored Edward Nkwegu of Labour Party to emerge as governor-elect

– Edo: No election was held in Edo, and Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of the APC is expected to remain governor until 2016.

– Ekiti: PDP’s Ayo Fayose only became governor last year and so no guber election held in that state.

– Enugu: PDP’s candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is the governor-elect

– Gombe: Governor of Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo of PDP survived the APC onslaught in the North to win re-election in the state.

– Imo: Even though Gov. Rochas Okorocha was ahead, the result of the Imo election was declared as inconclusive as the difference in votes between the governor and Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP was less than the number of invalid votes in the election. A supplementary poll will be conducted in some wards.

– Jigawa: Jigawa is another state which the PDP has lost. Its candidate and former chief of staff to the governor, Aminu Ibrahim Ringim lost to APC candidate Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar. Abubakar got 648,045 votes while Ringim got 479,447 votes.

– Kaduna: Mallam Nasir Elrufai (pictured above) of the APC trounced the incumbent governor Mukhtar Yero of PDP to emerge as governor-elect.

– Kano: Abdullahi Ganduje of APC, the current deputy governor will succeed his boss as governor next month. He defeated PDP’s candidate Salihu takai.

– Katsina: APC’s Bello Masari who is a former speaker of the house of representatives emerged as winner.

– Kebbi: Kebbi State Governor-elect is Senator Atiku Bagudu, who scored 477,376 votes to defeat PDP candidate Gen. Sarkin Bello, who scored 293,443 votes. Bagudu is a man who fingered in most of the fraud and money laundering which went on during the Sani Abacha era.

– Kogi: Governorship election did not hold in Kogi. Idris Wada of the PDP will remain as governor till next year.

– Kwara: Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of the APC was reelected as governor of Kwara.

– Lagos: APC’s Akinwunmi Ambode defeated Vhe PDP’s Jimi Agbaje to emerge winner and governor-elect of Lagos state.

– Nasarawa: Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura of the APC got 309,746 votes to retain his seat ahead of former Minister of Information Labaran Maku of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who polled 178,983 and PDP candidate Yusuf Agabi who polled 119,782.

– Niger: APC candidate Abubakar Sani Bello won in Niger State. He scored 593,702 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Umar Nasko with 239, 772 votes.

– Ogun: Ibikunle Amosun of the APC was reelected.

– Ondo: No election was held here as Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of the PDP still has some time left.

– Osun: Rauf Aregbesola of the APC was only reelected last year so no election was held in Osun.

– Oyo: APC candidate and incumbent governor, Abiola Ajimobi, won re-election as governor

– Plateau: Simon Lalong, a former speaker of the state assembly emerged as governor-elect. He polled 564,627 to defeat Senator Gyan Pwajok of the PDR, who scored 520,913 votes.

– Rivers: Nyesom Wike of PDP polled 1,029,102 votes to defeat Dakuku Peterside of the APC who scored 124,896 votes. LP candidate Tonye Princewill polled 10,142 votes.

– Sokoto: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal of the APC emerged as governor-elect in Sokoto.

– Taraba: INEC declared the governorship race as inconclusive as the number of cancelled votes – 127,125 – is more than the difference between the candidates of the PDP and APC. PDP’s Darius Dickson Ishaku won in nine local governments areas with 317,198 votes. Hajia Aisha Alhassan of the APC won six local government areas, scoring 262,386 votes. Elections would hold in some polling units to determine winner.

– Yobe: Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of the APC emerged winner with a total of 334, 847 votes to defeat Mr Adamu Maina Waziri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored a total of 179, 700 votes.

– Zamfara: Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari of APC won reelection with a total vote of 716,964, while his closest rival, who is also his father in-law, Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 201,938 votes.

THE SCOOP

Tunde Bakare’s Transition Committee Appointment is FALSE…

Pastor Tunde Bakare (pictured above)of the Later Rain Assembly has said he was not aware of any appointment to ‎head the Transition Committee of the President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari as reported by some newspapers on Monday.

Bakare ran as vice presidential candidate to Buhari in 2011 under the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

He denied the transition committee appointment through his spokesperson Mr Yinka Odumakin.

“This is news to Pastor Bakare also. He read it in This Day Newspaper as others did this morning,” Odumakin said.

He added that “mischief makers are at work as usual.”

The spokesperson of the Buhari campaign office Malam Garba Shehu also said he wasn’t aware of Bakare’s appointment when Daily Trust contacted him on Monday. 

In an interview in Daura, Buhari said the transition committee when put in place would comprise of patriotic and knowledgeable Nigerians.

The president-elect said the committee won’t be too big and will contain more technocrats than politicians. 

DAILY TRUST

#BringBackOurGirls – One Year Anniversary: BUHARI REMEMBERS CHIBOK GIRLS; He offers No guarantees, but I’ll do all possible.

Nigeria’s President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to do all possible to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok in Borno State, by Boko Haram militants, a year ago.

Read statement in full below:

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari: Statement on the first anniversary of the kidnap by Boko Haram of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok

“Today we remember the kidnapping of 276 girls from a school in Chibok one year ago. This crime has rightly caused outrage both in Nigeria and across the world.

“Today is a time to reflect on the pain and suffering of the victims, their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers, and that of the whole Nigerian Nation, are with you today.

“I want to assure all of them, and particularly the parents, that when my new Administration takes office at the end of May, we will do everything we can to defeat Boko Haram. We will act differently from the Government we replace: we hear the anguish of our citizens and intend to respond accordingly.

“This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them. But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my Government will do everything in its power to bring them home.

“What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that starting on the first day of my Administration Boko Haram will know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas.

““Boko Haram” means “Western Education is Sinful”. When they are defeated militarily, as they will be, we will ensure our citizens in the affected areas have improved educational opportunities as a direct counterbalance to Boko Haram’s twisted ideology. In particular we will educate ever more young girls ensuring they are empowered as citizens of Nigeria.

“Let us use this anniversary to remind each other that the attack on Chibok was an attack on the dreams and aspirations of our young people.

“We stand united in our pledge to resist terror in Nigeria– not just through military means but also through the power of opportunity and the hope of a better future for all”.

General Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR)

President-elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Daura, Katsina

Nigeria

13 April 2015.