Atiku distances self from pro-Ribadu photograph, messages

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dissociated himself from a purported photograph of him canvassing for votes for Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the PDP governorship candidate in Adamawa.

The denial is contained in a statement issued by Atiku’s Deputy Head of Media, Mr Paul Ibe, on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the circulation of a photograph showing Atiku carrying a banner asking for votes for Ribadu was a fraud done out of malice.

Shell denies shutting down operations over presidential polls result

The Management of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has denied reports that it shut down its flow stations in Bayelsa owing to fears of attack by aggrieved militants.

The SPDC's spokesperson, Mr Joseph Obari, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the operations of the oil firm were running but declined further details.

``Our operations are continuing and we will not comment on security issues.”

The reports had alleged that the oil firm acted to forestall attacks by militants aggrieved by Jonathan’s loss in the March 28, 2015 presidential polls.

Why women more attracted to men with huge genitals – Study

Previous studies on women’s preferences for male genital size have been mixed, and even though it is the men who typically worry about the size of their own genitals, it is not unusual for women to prefer large-size male genitalia, even if it is up to a point.

But scientists have always argued that the old studies relied on questionnaires, which they say may not always provide honest answers.

However, it is now scientifically proven that size does, indeed, matter significantly because women tend to be more attracted to men with large genitals.

A new study by Australian researchers found that while the average woman rates the average man with large genitals more attractive, large genitals also give tall men a bigger attractiveness boost than shorter men.

AUDIO: What Jonathan told Buhari in historic concession phone call

The audio file of the historic conversation between President Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, during which the former conceded defeat in Saturday’s presidential election, has been made public.

With presidential election results from all but one of Nigeria’s 36 states counted, and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, clearly in unassailable lead, President Jonathan had telephoned Mr. Buhari to concede defeat.

President Jonathan made the call a little past 5P.M. on Monday after it became clear his party had lost the election.

Presidency orders investigation on leaked recording of telephone call by the President to Buhari

Heads may roll as The Mega StarNews has learnt that the Presidency might have commenced a discreet investigation into how a recording of the telephone call by the President to Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on March 31, congratulating him on his victory at the last Saturday’s presidential election was leaked.

The recording, which revealed details of what transpired between the two leaders, went viral on the Internet on Thursday.

The audio of the conversation credited to one ENDS.ng @EveryNigerian was titled, “Historic congratulatory call from President Goodluck Jonathan to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on March 31, 2015.”

Igbo group urges Buhari to fulfill promise to South East

Notwithstanding the fact that the region failed to vote for him in the just concluded March 28 Presidential poll, a pro-democracy group, the Igbo Conversational Group (ICG), has urged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to fulfill promises he made to the Igbo people during his campaign.

The call is contained in a statement issued on Friday by the President of the group, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

The statement quoted Ohakim as demanding for the completion of ongoing developmental projects and establishment of new ones in the South East zone.

According to him, there is need to ensure the immediate take-off of the Aba Integrated Power Project to boost economic activities in the region.

Jonathan, family begin packing of personal effects out of Aso Rock

President Goodluck Jonathan and his family members have started moving their personal belongings out of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, few days after the President lost his re-election bid.

At about midday on Friday, some buses were sighted loaded with travel bags moving out of the President’s official residence.

One of the buses, a white 18-seater Hiace bus marked PF 6244 AL, was still being loaded with bags of different shades and sizes at the time of filing this report.

Jonathan, Buhari hold secret meeting in Presidential Villa

President Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect, Gen. Muhammad Buhari (retd) met behind closed doors Friday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, the first between the two leaders since the Presidential election which saw incumbent President Jonathan losing to the opposition leader was said to be a private meeting.

FOR THE RECORD: Map of how Buhari defeated Jonathan

I t is no longer news that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the All Progressives Congress, APC  has defeated the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to emerge the president-elect of Nigeria.

Here is a map showing how Buhari won the March 28 Presidential election.

Anyone against OPC’s N4b pipeline contract is an enemy of the Yoruba – Gani Adams

Gani Adams: 

National Coordinator of the Yoruba Socio-Cultural group, Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, in this interview with VANGUARD reveals that his rusty relationship with the leader of All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was as a result of his resolve to free himself and his group from the servitude of the opposition.

He discloses how the leader of the party truncated the peace move brokered by Governor Aregbesola of Osun State; the pipeline contract President Jonathan awarded OPC. This interview was on the eve of the last Presidential election. Excerpts.

OPC is believed to be a social cultural organisation, but the recent rally organised by you in support of Jonathan shows that it has become partisan. Why is OPC delving into partisan politics?

Well, every human being is a political animal. Politics is everywhere even in your homes. If you have four children, there is possibility that two of them will support everything the father does while others will pitch their tent with the mother. That is politics within the family.

You also have politics with your community or in landlord associations, social clubs including your business ventures. We were only supporting a candidate without involving in what went on within the political parties. Here in my office, you cannot see anything reflecting PDP as a party. We also did not use the symbol of PDP, or that of any other party. I am a leader of Oodua People Congress and convener of Coalition of Concerned Nigerians and the Convener of Oodua Progressive Union in abroad as well as the Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation and Chairman of Donyx Global Concept, all these are non-partisan organisations.

How Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner, family, died in midnight fire

*Police rule out foul play

Tragedy struck in Kano last night as a mysterious fire claimed the life of Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner, Munkaila Abdullahi, his wife and two children.

The incident occurred at his Nassarawa GRA resident midnight was said to have razed the entire building.

An eyewitness, Idi Ali said that efforts by good Samaritans to break into the building to rescue him and his family failed, as they could not gain entrance into the building.

Ambode’s chances brighten as 10 governorship candidate step down for him in Lagos

The hope of the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Akinwunmi Ambode clinching the governorship seat in the forthcoming April 11 election has further been boosted as  10 Lagos governorship candidates have stepped down to declare support for him

According to a press statement signed by the 10 governorship candidates, the parties stated that they have shelved their individual ambitions to be the governor of Lagos State to support the candidature of Ambode.

NASS poll: Returning officer dissociates self from Abia North result

NASS poll: Returning officer dissociates self from Abia North result

Dr Ihekwaba Chukwugoziem, Returning Officer for Abia North Senatorial District in the March 28 National Assembly elections, has disassociated himself from  results emanating from the election.

Chukwugoziem said in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia on Friday, that he could not announce the results because of ''irregularities and massive fraud.''

He claimed that the irregularities and fraud were perpetrated in all the five local government areas of the constituency comprised of Ohafia, Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato and Umunneochi.

Easter: Buhari urges Nigerians to unite, embrace peace

President-elect Mohammadu Buhari

The President–Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has called on all Nigerians to embrace peace this Easter and celebrate our nation’s rebirth as they commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In an Easter message to Nigerians and the Christian world, personally signed by the in-coming Nigeria’s leader, General Muhammadu Buhari and released by the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, he urged all citizens of our great nation to unite and use the season of Easter to celebrate both the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the rebirth of the Nigerian nation.

Buhari’s Victory: Shell shuts down flow stations in Bayelsa over fear of attack

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCo, has reportedly shut down some of its flow stations in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of Bayelsa state because of anxiety that ex-militants may attack the facilities following the outcome of the presidential election.

The incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost last Saturday’s presidential election to the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd), is from Bayelsa state, but he had accepted defeat in good fate and urged his supporters to eschew violence.

Seek divine wisdom to appoint right people to work with, Mbaka tells Buhari

Rev. Fr. Mbaka

Fiery Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, has congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) on his victory in the March 28 Presidential election.

Mbaka, whose New Year Message, “From Goodluck to Badluck,” became a major talking point during the campaigns for the election, said Buhari’s emergence was a divine victory for all Nigerians.

Speaking through his spokesman, Maximus Ugwuoke, Mbaka also noted that Buhari’s victory was a fulfillment of his prophecy in the New Year Message.

However, he urged the President-Elect to seek divine wisdom before appointing people who will work with him.

French President invites Buhari to Paris, congratulates him

Hollande, French President

French President Francois Hollande spoke by phone with President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday and invited him to Paris for discussions on expansion of trade between France and Nigeria.

A statement by the French Embassy in Abuja, said the French leader congratulated Buhari on his success and noted the generally smooth electoral process, which solidifies Nigeria’s democracy.

Oba flees, loses crown as hoodlums sack palace

The Alaagba of Aagba, Oba Rufus Ogunwole, narrowly escaped death as hoodlums invaded his palace and vandalised the building before destroying vehicles parked within the premises among other important items.

Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums first stormed the palace on Wednesday evening and went back  later after destroying some valuables.

Not satisfied with the level of destruction at their first attempt, the miscreants, who were identified to be operating under the name of ‘Odo Oru’, which literally means night youths, returned to complete the destruction of the palace.

APC blasts Alao-Akala over “Sai Buhari-Sai Akala” posters

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has taken a swipe at the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Adebayo Alao-Akala, over the circulation of posters bearing pictures of the former governor and the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, apparently, to gain sympathy from the electorate ahead of next week’s governorship election in the state.

Campaign posters bearing the pictures of Messrs Buhari and Alao-Akala with “Sai Buhari, Sai Akala” boldly written on them have flooded particularly Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

PDP will be back in four years time – Okupe

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has predicted that the defeated People’s Democartic Party, PDP, would bounce back after four years.

Okupe, said on his Facebook page on Thursday that if it took Buhari 30 years to come back to power, it would take the Peoples Democratic Party much less to do so.

He said PDP was bowed, but not cowed.

He wrote, “It has pleased the Almighty God to give victory to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC and the President-elect. We accept this as the will of God and I personally congratulate the General on his success.

Omisore vows to unseat Aregbesola through Supreme Court as Appeal Court upholds judgment

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has vowed to head for the Supreme Court following the dismissal of his suit by the Court of Appeal in Akure, seeking to upturn the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the August 2014 governorship election in Osun State.

Omisore spoke through his media aide, Mr. Victor Oriola  to react to the dismissal of his appeal on Thursday.

He said Omisore was not going to let the alleged manipulation of the August 9, 2014 governorship election go without fighting it to the very end.

Man cuts off girlfriend’s breast, dumps her body in pit toilet

The pit toilet where the girlfriend's corpse was found

A  middle-aged man simply identified as Soji has been reported to have dump the corpse of his girlfriend in a pit toilet after she was killed in Oshogbo.

Residents of Balogun area of Osogbo were shocked when detectives from Osun State Police Command exhumed the decomposing remains of the 19-year-old girl, Bilikisu from a pit toilet at Abaja compound of the town.

It was gathered that Soji allegedly dumped the corpse in the pit toilet after she was killed.

Breaking News: Army Headquarters locates Buhari's missing certificate

Information reaching Mega StarNews has it that the Nigerian Army might have eventually located the Secondary School leaving Certificate of  the President-elect,  Gen. Mohammadu Buhari which they  said has never been in their possession.

Buhari can’t stop our N4bn contract- Adams, Fasheun

Adams, Fasheun: Change of government cannot affect our contract

The leader of Odua People’s Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams has said that the expected change of government by May 29 cannot affect the N4bn pipeline contract N4bn pipeline contract awarded to the group by the outgoing Jonathan administration.

Speaking while describing the victory of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari at the polls as the will of God, Adams said, “On the issue of the contract, we are all Nigerians and we fought for it. I am not an opportunist, we fought for it and we are entitled to that contract and I know Gen. Buhari knows the right thing to do at the right time.”

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR, PRESIDENT - ELECT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

President-elect Mohammadu Buhari: I extend a hand of friendship and conciliation to President Jonathan and his team. I harbour no ill will against anyone 

01 APRIL 2015

I am immensely grateful to God for this day and for this hour. I feel truly honoured and humbled that the Nigerian people have so clearly chosen me to lead them. The official announcement from INEC was the moment the vast majority of Nigerians had hoped and been waiting for. Today, history has been made, and change has finally come. Your votes have changed our national destiny for the good of all Nigerians .

INEC has announced that I, Muhammadu Buhari, shall be your next president. My team and I shall faithfully serve you. There shall no longer be a ruling party again: APC will be your governing party. We shall faithfully serve you. We shall never rule over the people as if they were subservient to government.

Our long night has passed and the daylight of new democratic governance has broken across the land. This therefore is not a victory for one man or even one party. It is a victory for Nigeria and for all Nigerians. Millions of you have worked for this day. So many have risked life and livelihood; and others have died that we may witness this moment.

And it is with a very heavy heart that I report many deaths and injuries amidst the jubilations yesterday. We send our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives; and wish speedy recovery to those who suffered injuries. I appeal to all our supporters to celebrate this victory with prayers and reflection instead of wild jubilation.

May the souls of those who died rest in peace. Let us take a moment of silence to honour all of those whose sacrifices have brought us to this fine and historic hour. As the results of the election have shown, their labour has not been and will never be in vain. Democracy and the rule of law will be re-established in the land.

Let us put the past, especially the recent past, behind us. We must forget our old battles and past grievances—and learn to forge ahead. I assure you that our government is one that will listen to and embrace all.

I pledge myself and our in-coming administration to just and principled governance. There shall be no bias against or favouritism for any Nigerian based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status. I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection.

Crisis returns to Ekiti as gunmen disrupt Ekiti APC victory party

Fayose: Still beating drum of war ?

It is quite not understandable if the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose is still not relenting in beating the drum of war especially against the opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC. 

In what looked like a renewed war against the opposition, crisis returned to the state on Wednesday as gunmen attacked the APC Secretariat and jubilant members of the party.

The APC members had just returned from the streets of Ado Ekiti where they had gone to celebrate the victory of the APC candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in the Saturday’s Presidential election.

The state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, who addressed journalists in Ado Ekiti after the attack, said the gunmen came in three Hilux vans with Government House number plates with three men in Police uniform sitting in the front.

Patience Jonathan follows husband’s steps, congratulates Buhari’s wife

Patience Jonathan to Nigerians: Support Hajia Aisha Buhari to succeed 

Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, on Wednesday congratulated Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of the President-elect on her husband’s victory during the Saturday’s presidential election.

In a three-paragraph statement by her media aide, Ayo Adewuyi, Mrs. Jonathan appealed to Nigerian women to support Hajia Buhari in order to succeed in her new assignment.