Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged Nigerians to be patient over decision to shift elections by one week.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave logistic reasons for shifting all the elections by one week.

Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday Feb. 16 were shifted to Feb. 23, while state elections also scheduled for March 2 were also moved to March 9.

In a statement he issued on Saturday in Yola, Abubakar urged Nigerians not to react to the postponement with violence, but come out to vote on the new day.

Abubakar said that the All Progesives Congress (APC) had more than enough time and money to prepare for these elections and that Nigerians were poised and ready to perform their civic responsibility by voting in the elections earlier scheduled for Saturday.

This postponement is obviously a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob.

He said that the postponement was to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate to ensure that the turnout is low on the rescheduled date.

Nigerians must frustrate their plans by coming out in even greater numbers on Saturday, Feb. 23 and March respectively.

Abubakar said that the plan was to provoke the public, hoping for a negative reaction and then use that as an excuse for further anti-democratic acts.

As such, I call on all Nigerians to be patient. We have tolerated the maladministration of this government for four years. We can extend our tolerance a few more days and give them our verdict via our votes.

Maintain the peace and be law abiding. Do not react to this provocation with anger, violence or any action that might be exploited by those who do not want this election to hold. Remain calm.

We will overcome this. You can postpone an election, but you cannot postpone destiny.

Please come out to vote on Saturday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, March 9 respectively.

Frustrate those who do not want this election to hold by coming out in very large numbers. That is the best antidote to their plans, he said.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmmood Yakubu said that the Commission would meet key stakeholders to update them on the development at 2 p.m. on Saturday, at the Abuja International Conference Centre.

Yakubu said that the decision would afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges to maintain the quality of the elections. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Discussion involves the exchange between people any given idea or topic. It can be formal or informal and can be in large groups or small groups.

It is an effective teaching technique which promote the sharing of information and it involves the student. One of the key ways to promote communication is through discussion.

How to use Discussion

• You must be prepared to encourage and begin your discussion when appropriate . it is a way to take advantage of a teachable moment.
• Moment – interesting discussion which are unplanned may arise. Formal discussions requires some planning and possible informal discussion can be planned but the spontaneous discussion can be equally effective. The teacher will have to decide whether discussion take place in small groups or involve the whole class.
• The teacher should have a reason for utilizing discussion in the classroom.

Checklist for Utilizing Meaningful Discussion

• How will the discussion enhance the teaching experience of all students.
• What will be emphasized in terms of the discussion. The content of the discussion or both.
• How will students be evaluated.
• How will the teacher get all students to participate in the discussion.
• The teacher should make clear any rules the student will be required to show prior to the discussion.
• There must be a recorder for each group but if the whole class is to serve as a group, the teacher can act as an impartial recorder and record all the activities on the board.
• The teacher should encourage the participation of all students.

Things teachers must consider before creating a discussion.

• Establish a stress free environment
• Establish or arrange their sitting positions in a way that they can have a eye contact
• Never encourage the idea that teachers is all knowing. You should as much as possible learn.
• Teachers must be supportive and refrain from dominating and discussion.
• Teacher should make research before the class.
• Decide which form of discussion is appropriate for the topic being discussed either formal, informal, large, small group discussion.
• The discussion must have purpose and focus.
• Consider the group dynamic, lay down the rules e.g. be considerate in the class, do not interrupt, do not insult, ignore the teacher or student, you encourage rather than discourage them.
• Make sure you put it in mind that one or two students may want to dominate the discussion.

In talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, President Muhammadu Buhari said people have more confidence in a government they have elected in free and fair polls, than one that wangles its way into office through artifice and subterfuge.

The Commonwealth scribe had paid a courtesy visit to President Buhari at State House, Abuja, after attending the signing of the Peace Accord at the International Conference Centre.

One Nigeria is non-negotiable, the President said. Over two million people died in the civil war we fought, and when people elect their own government through a free and fair process, they have more confidence in such government. We will not spare any effort to organise credible polls, and people should come out and vote for their choices, he added.

President Buhari expressed pleasure that the Commonwealth was showing keen interest in the Nigerian election, appreciating Rt. Hon. Scotland for coming all the way to be a part of what would engender free and fair polls.

The Secretary-General described Nigeria as a treasured member of the Commonwealth family, adding that the signing of the Peace Accord would lead to better voter turnout, as they would have seen the commitment to peace by all the main actors.

She commended what she described as President Buharis calmness and good humour, even as the polls approach, stressing: When Nigeria is healthy, vibrant and strong, the whole of Africa is strengthened.

Rt. Hon. Scotland also lauded the energetic way the President has pursued issues of security and anti-corruption, pledging that the Commonwealth stands ready to assist Nigeria at all times.

Source: NAN

By Johnson Eyiangho

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, assumed duty on Thursday at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Musa was appointed the army spokesman in a redeployment of senior officers released on Sunday.

His appointment followed the voluntary retirement of Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman on Feb. 7, after putting
35 years of service.

Col. Aliyu Yusuf, the Chief of Staff in the Directorate of Army Public Relations, who acted in the interim,
handed over to Musa.

Until his appointment, Musa was the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Enugu.

Musa pledged to evolve measures, potent ways and means that would improve and strengthen civil/military
relationship.

He also pledged to improve media relations to win the war against terrorism and other forms of criminality.

He said that the directorate had over time developed strategies in managing, defending and projecting the
image and reputation of the army in spite of challenges by the social media.

The new spokesman called for continued partnership between the army and media, devoid of rancor and
distrust, adding that the media must assist to tackle security challenges.

Dignitaries at the assumption of duty included the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr
Chris Isiguzo and the President, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Alhaji Mukhtar Zubairu.

Others are representatives of the Guild of Editors and Online Publishers. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has appreciated former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, for his continuous support for Nigeria and the growth of her democracy.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, said President Buhari gave the commendation in a telephone conversation with Clinton on Wednesday night.

President Buhari described Clinton as a friend of the country, while commending his constant support for the peace, stability and progress of Nigeria under a democratic dispensation.

He also assured him of his commitment to free, fair and credible elections in the weeks ahead.

President Clinton, who regretted his inability to visit the country to witness the signing of the final peace accord before the general elections, wished Nigeria well as her citizens go to the polls, the statement revealed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Clinton had planned to witness the signing of the Wednesdays second Peace Accord where presidential candidates in the Feb. 16 general elections renewed their pledge for peaceful conduct of exercise.

The candidates also agreed to accept the outcome of the elections.

The event, which was witnessed by prominent personalities including three former African Presidents from Liberia, Tanzania and Bostwana, was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) under the chairmanship of the former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Source: NAN

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says that more than 900 million dollars worth of Pangolin for illicit trading were seized in Nigeria in 2018.

Asst. Comptroller Mutalib Sule of the NCS, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, made the disclosure at an event to mark the 2019 World Pangolin Day on Wednesday in Lagos.

The event which was organised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Lekki, Lagos, in collaboration with the Pangolin Conservation Guild of Nigeria had the theme: Pangolins and Politics.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Pangolin is a harmless African and Asian Mammal with body covered with horny overlapping scales: it has small head with an elongated snout.

It has a long sticky tongue for catching ants and termites and a tapering tail; it also has large protective keratin scales covering the skin; they are the only known mammals with this feature.

Asst. Comptroller-General Mutalib Sule of the Nigeria Customs service delivering a paper/session on History of Confiscation, Current Challenges and Opportunities in Combating Pangolin Trafficking in Nigeria, during the 2019 World Pangolin Day event by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Lekki, Lagos and Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria. (NAN Feb. 13, 2019)

The summary of Pangolin seizure by the FOU Zone Aunder my superintendent in the year 2018 is 14,833 metric tonnes.

My study across the world revealed that this is the highest seizure of Pangolin in the world.

Japan came a distant second having made a seizure of 7.100kg of Pangolin in the same year with the estimated value of 450, 000 dollars.

Going by this, Nigerias seizure under my watch cannot be less than 900,000,000 million dollars or even more, Sule said.

The assistant comptroller-general of NCS said that people engaged in illicit trade of Pangolins because of the benefits.

Roasted pangolin scales are believed to cure cancer, relieve palsy and even stimulate breast milk.

Pangolins are hunted for food, for use in traditional medicines and as fashion accessories; it is considered a delicacy in China, Vietnam and other parts of South East Asia.

The scales are prized 3,000 dollars per kilogram, while the meat is 300 dollars per kilogram; live pangolin attracts 1,000 dollars based on current black market prize, a kilogramme of pangolin is sold at 15,000 dollars.

The mouth-watering price of the illicit trade largely accounted for the business to boom and attract international attention; about 10,000 Pangolins are poached every year.

According to Sule, the NCS has been working hard to curtail this act.

On Feb. 12, 2018, the FOU patrol team led by my humble self went to a building located along Allen Avenue and confiscated 54 sacks of pangolin scale and 218 pieces of elephant tusks.

The Pangolin weighed 2001kg, while the elephant gave us 343kg; a Chinese citizen was apprehended in connection with it and taken to court by customs for prosecution.

On March 3, another Chinese was arrested at a location off Toyin Street; 329 sacks of pangolin was discovered and evacuated; the sacks gave us 8.492 metric tonnes.

A second visit there gave us 78 sacks of pangolin of 1,771 metric tonnes; also on July 22, 2018, around Lekki area of Lagos, 21 sacks of pangolin and 4 pieces of elephant tusks were found stashed in a shop.

On Aug. 11 of the same year, we swooped on the den of some Chinese nationals suspected to be engaging in the illicit trade; 10 sacks of pangolin were found and evacuated; these gave us give us 738 metric tonnes, he said.

He noted the need stop the poaching and trading of Pangolins because it will affect the ecosystem and make the animals go into extinction, especially as it is a rare species of mammal.

Sule also highlighted that some of the challenges that the NCS face in its mission to seize and arrest culpable individuals in connection with this highly profitable illicit trade of pangolins.

According to the assistant comptroller general, the challenges include dangerous terrains while making arrests, resistance, attacks, poor reward system and lack of enforcement of laws against trafficking as well as the judicial system. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Aisha Cole

The Lilypond Container Terminal Customs Command in Lagos generated N3.03 billion as revenue in January 2019, against N1.90 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2018.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Lami Wushishi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

Wushishi said that the command generated N2.48 billion in December 2018.

She attributed the increase in revenue to the continuous dedication of officers in the command and close supervision by the heads of various units of the command.

According to her, over 95 per cent of the revenue generated came from the Customs Processing Centres (CPCs) at Lekki Free Trade Zones in Lagos.

She said the command was able to record continuous increase in revenue because all revenue leakages had been blocked with the replacement of Nigeria Customs Integrated System (NICIS II).

Wushishi said that the command had no record of seizures in January as a result of the commitment of the officers and men of the command.

The controller said she had always sensitised clearing agents on the importance of honest declarations on freight which had resulted in no record of seizures.

Wushishi also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, for motivating the personnel of the service.

The controller assured of the commands determination to remain committed to boosting international trade and increasing revenue generation for the Federal Government. (NAN)

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday made a tumultuous entry into the stadium with a surging crowd trailing his motorcade.

Security operatives had a hectic time preventing the crowd from entering the already filled 35,000 capacity Muhammadu Diko Stadium in Katsina where the grand rally to mark the end of the campaigns held.

Aside taking over all the seating terraces and the main bowl of the stadium, many other climbed all the available polls erected for facilities inside the stadium.

It was all praises for Buhari as the crowd intermittently chantedSai Buhari, Sai Baba.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took to the dancing floor to herald his turn to speak on their mission to Katsina.

Speaking in Hausa language, he turned to smiling Buhari and said: Today you should feel fulfilled. You have demonstrated your honesty and integrity.

You will go down in history as the first sitting president who visited all the 36 states and FCT to campaign and for the affection people showed.

You cannot be loved by everyone. It is in the Bible. But you touched the lives of poorest of the poor.

Those who pauperised the people cannot be on your side, but the beauty is that everyone has one vote.

The one with majority will emerge. I have every confidence that by this time on Saturday indications will emerge that you are victorious.

You have taken on corruption and corruption is fighting back, but you have overwhelmed those who welcome corruption.

All those you have empowered, including farmers and small traders would support you.

You have tried to curb rural urban migration.

The opposition PDP has promised to revive structural adjustment programme and sell out major assets.

President Buhari has not come into government to show bad behaviour. We will not support violence because of elections. We will not support war because the President knows the meaning of war because as a General he fought war before.

Oshiomhole, presented the governorship flag to the contestant, Aminu Masari.

No place like home, President arrives Katsina for his final Presidential Campaign Rally.

No place like home, President @MBuhari arrives Katsina for his final Presidential Campaign Rally. #VoteBuhari pic.twitter.com/YuANLBV2rI

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) February 14, 2019

Source: NAN

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered vehicular restriction from 6am 6pm tomorrow 16 February during the election.

Adamu said the restriction was in furtherance of the overall interest of public order, public well-being and safety and national security.

IGP Adamu said the restriction will assist the security agencies in effectively policing the electoral process, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from hijacking and disrupting the electoral process.

Adamu urged the citizens to troop out en-masse on the day of the election to exercise their franchise without any fear or apprehension as the Police and other security agencies have already put in place adequate security measures to ensure a safe, secure and conducive environment for a peaceful and credible election.

While regretting the inconveniences the restriction will cause the citizens, the IGP warned that the Force will deal decisively with any individual or group that will want to test our common will in our resolve to ensure a peaceful election.

He therefore enjoined the citizens to steer-clear of vote buying, vote selling, hate speeches, circulating fake news, snatching of ballot boxes and other act(s) capable of truncating the peoples will noting that the Force will not hesitate to bring to bear the full weight of the law on anyone who engages in any crime during this period.

Source: NAN

By Francis Onyeukwu

Anambra Government has declared Friday work free day to enable public and civil servants to participate in Saturdays Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Head of Service (HOS), Mr Harry Udu, announced the the work free on Thursday in Awka.

Udu urged workers in the state to show patriotism to government by ensuring they exercised their franchise peacefully.

Udu explained that the work free day would enable those traveling to their respective communities to do so in time.

The HOS said that the government expected massive participation of all eligible voters during the elections.

He reaffirmed the states commitment to workers welfare, saying it remained top on the agenda of the Gov. Willie Obianos administration.

It is a known fact that the state government has since late last year begun renovation and upgrade of the Anambra State Secretariat Complex.

The government undertook complete maintenance of the structures, including servicing of appliances, paintings, refurbishing of furniture and improved landscaping.

Others are construction of standard toilet facilities, parking lot to decongest roads and walkways within the secretariat, Udu said in a statement.

The HOS noted that ongoing renovations were part of the efforts of Obiano to improve on workers welfare and ensure serenity at work environment.

According to him the government is working relentlessly to ensure regular power supply through dedicated lines to the secretariat complex and invariably improve productivity and efficiency.

He pointed out how important it was for workers to show loyalty to a government that had continued to devote prompt attention to workers related issues.

It is paramount that workers become diligent so as to improve productivity and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

Improved IGR will make it possible for government to pay whatever the Federal Government commits to as the minimum wage, Udu said.

He cautioned workers against engaging in electoral malpractices during the upcoming elections as any defaulter would face the consequence.

Source: NAN

By Prudence Arobani

The United States Ambassador at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Samuel Brownback, has called on religious leaders in Nigeria to send out clear messages against violence during the upcoming general elections.

Brownback, who gave the advice at a news conference on the International Religious Freedom, said the whole world was watching the Nigerias general elections scheduled for February 16 and March 2.

He said: My advice to religious leaders is to suggest to everybody for there to be a calm election, a peaceful election, and no violence in the election.

And I would ask all the religious leaders in Nigeria to put that message out: that people get out and vote, but that it be calm and peaceful and no violence.

That this is a right that everybody in Nigeria has to vote.

It should be exercised, but it shouldnt be something that people then are threatened with violence or deadly force in various places, and the religious leaders have a role to play and a strong role to play asking for people to do this election peacefully.

The world is watching. Nigeria is an important, incredibly important country, and its important throughout the world.Its certainly a key country in Africa.

And what you do on having a peaceful election cycle is an important thing for the progress in Nigeria.

And the religious leaders should be just adamant about that this must be peaceful.We do these things peacefully and we showcase that to the world.

Brownback said he was in Nigeria for several days a few months ago, travelling particularly in the middle belt but also in the south of Nigeria adding, I tracked the situation very closely.

The United States Government is strongly concerned that there be free and fair elections, and that they be safe elections that the factions vote, but not attack each other.

And that the government itself thats in power now do everything they can to protect the people, to make sure that theyre safe, he said.

He noted that the discussions Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari held with American President Donald Trump, when the former visited the White House in 2018.

And so we our focus is that they be free and fair elections, and that they be safe, and that every effort be made to make sure that people are safe in these elections as they come up, he said.

Brownback said the United States had been working to establish a religious roundtable in Nigeria.

We have a religious freedom roundtable here, and were taking that concept on a global basis and asking all different faiths, or people of no faith at all but that are interested in religious freedom, to join these religious freedom roundtables, to push for religious freedom and respect for all faiths in those countries.

The first one of those has been held in Nigeria now, and it brought together people of various faith persuasions and free thinkers as well, and it was on the topic of, what can we all do to push together for religious freedom, for respect of each others religion, and for the safety and security of the people that practice their faith.

Thats gotten started; its just getting going.

But its our hope that some of these can take place in many places around the world because of the need, really, to expand religious freedom and the protection for all people of faith wherever they are, he said.

Source: NAN

By Lucy Osuizigbo/Lagos

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, says he remains Gidigba(solid) in the party, despite the recent attack on the APC leaders at the Abeokuta rally in Ogun state.

He said the attack was disrespectful to the office of the Nigerian President.

The attack could have potentially harmed the person of the President, Tinubu said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr Tunde Rahman on Tuesday in Lagos.

He was reacting to the APC rally in Ogun on Monday where some APC leaders were attacked by hoodlums from APM, allowed into the rally venue by Governor Ibikunle Amosun

An incident did actually occur at the Ogun State APC rally, but it is not the one PDP has concocted.

The true incident that should be reported and condemned is that people who oppose the party and the president tried to infiltrate and disrupt the rally.

The attack by these operatives is disrespectful of the office of the president and could have potentially harmed the person of the president.

Such antics have no place in our political discourse. The author of these misdeeds should desist before real harm is done.

Tinubu said he had no plans of leaving the party as being insinuated by some reports based on a video clip from the Ogun rally.

In the video, Tinubu was alleged to be seen throwing the partys flag at the presidential rally.

He, however, accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of framing the video clip to mean that he was throwing away the partys flag.

According to him, he remains Gidigba (solid) in the governing party.

If the issue of the flag has become the hotspot of the PDP campaign, then they are in serious trouble.

During that portion of the Ogun rally, the National Chairman and others were looking for a party flag.

I spotted one within my reach. I picked it up and attempted to toss it to the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole so that the Chairman can present it to the partys gubernatorial candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

If you want to fault me for anything in this matter, your critique can only be limited to the accuracy of my toss.

Any attempt to enlarge the episode beyond this is fiction and mischief writ large, he said.

Tinubu said he was committed to the party and had been hard at work for the victory of the APC and all of its candidates in the upcoming elections.

As the National Leader. It is unthinkable that I will leave the party. Moreover, there is no reason for me to do so.

I understand the bigger picture. I know what is at stake in this election.

Either the nation moves forward along the progressive path of the APC or it will be forced to retreat into the ills of the past created by the PDP.

With the nations future hanging in the balance, I will not allow myself to be deterred by petty mischief.

After the election, I will be there celebrating the APC and this nations victory over those who will prevent us our rightful future, he said.

Source: NAN

With less than four days to the presidential election, fire engulfed the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka, destroying 4,695 card readers.

INEC confirmed that the incident happened on Tuesday.

Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner, Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, said that there was no fatality or injury report.

He recalled that similar incidents had occurred in the last 12 days following closely behind those of Isiala Ngwa and Quaan pan Local Governments offices in Abia and Plateau States respectively.

Okoye said that though the incident no doubt was a setback to the commissions preparation for the smooth conduct of the elections in Anambra, but immediate measures had been taken to ameliorate the situation.

He said that the measures was the mopping up of some of the spare card readers from other states to deploy to Anambra for smooth conduct of the general elections come Feb. 16 and March 2.

The national commissioner said that with the steps taken so far, the commission remained confident that the election in the state would proceed as scheduled.

Okoye said that the incident had been reported to the police and the Fire Service adding that investigation into the cause had commenced.

He commended the Fire Service for its response which had prevented the spread of the fire and more damage to the commissions property was averted

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two containers with configured card readers and other sensitive materials for the general elections were gutted by fire at the INEC office in the state.

The fire, which source remained unknown, started around 2.14 pm razing the entire containers before the arrival of Anambra State Fire Service.

An eye witness, who spoke in anonymity, said the fire started at a portion and was put off only to double and escalate to other places.

NAN reports that many of the ad-hoc staff of the commission were at the INEC complex to collect their posting letters when the incident. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will deploy a state-of-the-art Parallel Voting Tabulation (PVT) system and four other strategies to prevent any form of rigging or manipulation in Saturdays presidential election.

Mr Osita Chidoka, former Aviation Minister and Chairman, Strategy Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

The other strategies according to Chidoka included a national network of fully equipped Situation Rooms and Call Centres, a nation-wide hotline for the public to report malpractice and the launch of a hashtag, #DefendYourVote.

He described PVT as a scientifically proven, best practice technique, to hold election authorities accountable, particularly when there is a lack of trust and the result are highly contested.

Our methodology accounts for several different scenarios to ensure continued collation of the results in the event of any disruptions with collation process.

Hard copies of the signed voter tally provided to all party agents by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC officers) will be transported to the central command centre should future disputes need to be reconciled.

He added that the party apart from deploying well trained and educated agents to each of the 176,000 polling units nationwide, the PDP had established a reporting system for the PVT from the wards level to the national tally centre.

He added that the PVT would ensure that PDP partisans accept the results of the election, and that the country remained peaceful and respectful of its differences, adding that some civil society organisations will also have their PVTs in place.

Chidoka further disclosed that the party had also launched a nation-wide hotline for the public to report any noticed infractions.

The PDP is providing multiple-line inbound call centre linked to a single hotline number: 097000551, for voters to report any incidence of violence or electoral malpractice.

He said that the party would also make use of social media, #DefendYourVote campaign, targeted at Nigerias largest voter block (18-25 years-old), saying a set of 12 easy-to-follow guidelines has been communicated to voters.

Chidoka expressed confidence that election officials and security services would do their duty in accordance with their oaths and obligations.

He however warned that there would be consequences if attempt was made to compromise the integrity of the election.

Particularly, we call on the Inspector General of Police whose wide international experience places him with a historic burden to ensure that security agencies strictly abide by the election code of conduct and rules of engagement, the spokesman said.

Chidoka also noted that the PDP was aware that the All Progressives Congress (APC) intended to repeat the tactic it used for the Osun State governorship election in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Kaduna, Kano and Rivers States.

According to him, the PDP had studied the APC play book, but said the PDP had adopted international best practices to halt the ruling partys plans.

He listed these to include establishing a robust election results management system and wide array of intelligence collectors and patriotic public servants who are resolute in defending the Constitution and the integrity of the electoral process.

Chidoka who expressed confidence that election officials and security agents would do their duty in accordance with their oaths and obligations, however warned that there would be consequences if they try to compromise the integrity of the elections.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that electorate can use any finger to cast their votes in the forthcoming general elections.

The commission made the clarification on its official twitter page @inecnigeria on Wednesday.

It said that the ballot paper was not finger sensitive, but advised the electorate not to allow the indelible ink on their fingers cross into another box.

A voter can use any finger to vote but should ensure that his or her mark is clear and placed inside the box of the political party of his or her choice and does not stray into another box, it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that there have been unfounded reports alleging INEC of secretly changing the pattern of fingers allowed for thumb printing on the ballot papers, ahead of the elections.

NAN further reports that 73 political parties are partaking in Saturdays presidential election.

Source: NAN

By SKC Ogbonnia

The perennial ambition of Atiku Abubakar to preside over Nigeria finally comes to a dead end this February 16, 2019. This failure is neither because of the extraordinary qualities nor the exceptional performance of President Muhammadu Buhari, Atikus main opponent. It has nothing to do with election rigging, as feared by the opposition camps. The imminent defeat should not be attributed to other needless underhand tactics of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), such as the heedless removal of the Chief Justice of the Federation or the artless death threats to foreign election observers by a sitting ruling party governor. The problem is simply that Atiku has dug his own grave, and the nail in the coffin came with super glue.

Atiku Abubakar does not need introduction. The former Vice President shares a sanctuary with a coterie of powerful Nigerian leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, and Bola Tinubu, who are widely alleged to have acquired immense wealth through corrupt means, even though no court of law has found them guilty of such offense. This thick corruption label never deterred Atiku from a presidential dream. His most realistic opportunity came in the 2019 polls through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party with a corruption baggage as heavy as Atikus or even more. However, the former ruling party revitalized itself after an open apology and a picture-perfect primary season that suggested true atonement. Though money had influence in the presidential primary, as usual, the PDP was energized behind its nominee.

The momentum was further buoyed by the fact that Abubakar was set to face a vulnerable incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, an impenitent personality, plagued by poor health, a pattern of partiality, acute nepotism, incessant killings, selective justice, and growing youth unemployment, as well as mass poverty. Moreover, the ruling APC was coming out of a disastrous primary season characterized by arbitrary exclusion of qualified aspirants, lack of transparency, crass impunity, and stark arrogance; anchored by a shambolic national chairman whose every presence provokes crisis as honey attracts bee.

But the PDP balloon of buoyancy quickly crashed before any meaningful rise.

The clouds began to gather when it became clear that Atiku lacks a captivating message. His manifesto does not evoke a sense of hope capable of negating Buharis measurable gains in the war against corruption, agriculture, and infrastructure. Abubakars three cardinal points of jobs opportunity, being united and security are desperately banal, and his plan to achieve them is inconceivably incoherent. If he is not crap-shooting an idea to restructure the country, Atiku is hawking the notion of selling off more national assets, including the NNPC, a state corporation that generates the bulk of the nations revenue. It did not help matters when Nigerians were reminded that the sale of the mega oil company falls into privatization exercise like the type Atiku superintended, as vice president, in which his friends and family were alleged as prime beneficiaries.

The most embarrassing is Atikus gamble to make his contest against Buhari a referendum on integrity without anything to show for it. He started by deploying Karl Roves old trick of attacking the strengths of the opponent. The aim this time was to turn Buharis storied anticorruption profile from advantage to a liability. Atiku gained good currency by refreshing the sad reality that the current war against corruption is selective. The biggest bombshell was his allegation that Buhari diverted N1.032 trillion meant for arms to his relatives. Mr. Abubakar saw instant admiration when he followed the charge with an open promise to spare no thoughts in furnishing the public with details of the allegation. Unfortunately, however, despite pressure from Buharis camp and the civil society, Atiku reneged on the news-breaking promise. Nigeria has penchant for imitating Americas political pattern, quite alright, but the world is not ready for another commander-in-chief who draws his strength by parading fantasies and fallacies as facts.

The nail in the coffin stuck when Abubakar muted a plan to grant full amnesty to politicians who looted our common wealth. That is, Fellow Nigerians, please steal, but if you are caught, return the money and go free. This patent appeal for corruption is a moral miasma. Critics will counter here, and understandably so, because President Buhari has not prosecuted corrupt politicians who have returned their loot since he assumed power. But not to be lost is the fact that the president has, at least, been able to sustain a level of credibility with a constant promise that none of such looters will escape prison, eventually. It is a bad policy to shutdown Nigerias shop to chase criminals, as Atikus vice-presidential candidate Peter Obi cautioned; but, as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo reminded us, allowing criminals to loot Nigerias entire stock is definitively worse. Half bread is better than none

Nothing illustrates the apparent lack of political sagacity more than the fact that Abubakar named, as running mate, a right man in a wrong party and wrong region. Mr. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, is a very wealthy man, but his austere politics and virtues are in stark contrast to the ideals of the PDP and Atiku himself. Though this choice is popular with the Nigerian masses, the deviant political move dispirited the party leaders from Obis home region of the East. Since then, notable South-East and South-South PDP bigwigs have remained ambivalent. Some of them in the South-East are openly or clandestinely campaigning against their top ticketwith the hope of taking a shot at the presidency themselves, sooner in 2023, especially considering that Atiku has not been committal with his one-term pledge. On top of that, Obi took his chintzy style to the extreme by not dishing out money, the main language the Eastern electorate seems to understand. Overall, Atiku will carry the South-East and South-South zones, as expected, but an imminent low margin of victory in the partys strong hold signals a woeful outcome for his candidacy across the country.

Adding to the conundrum is Atikus seemingly disregard for geopolitics. It is true that the PDP candidate adopted restructuring, an original agenda of the progressive Yoruba South-West, it is equally impolitic to have denied the people both the positions of national chairman and the vice presidency. With a Yoruba as a sitting Vice President, Atiku will fare worse than President Jonathans numbers in 2015, when the people retaliated for a palpable marginalization of the zone in the upper echelon of the then PDP government. As for the North, Abubakar could not articulate a game-changing agenda for the peasant northern electorate that somehow holds Buhari as a folk hero. Moreover, Atikus vow to restructure the country is a vote-killer in the North where most are comfortable with the current structure which has handed them political advantage. Besides Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kwara, Kogi, and Adamawathe states Atiku has good chance of victory; the rest of the other 12 Northern states belong to the Buhari column. Generally, the president will garner majority backing in North-West and the North-East zones while Atiku takes the lion share of the votes in the North-Central zone. Do the remaining math

The 2019 presidential contest is ending as a binary election, with two analog candidates who have no clear ideology or vision for the 21st Century Nigeria. But, all things considered, Buhari comes out better and deserves to win. As for Atiku, the affable former Vice President ought to be eulogized for his ambition. But he should forever blame his presidential quietus on the failure to demonstrate any lessons learned from the 16 years of gross misrule under the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria, eight of which he was a very powerful second-in-command. Adieu, Wazirin!

SKC Ogbonnia, Abuja, Nigeria

Source: NAN

The spokesman of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC leader has alerted about a move by the Atiku Abubakar camp to mine a photograph taken at a private terminal in Lagos for political capital.

The aim is to portray Tinubu as a backer of Atiku, few days to Saturdays election, especially on the tail of another lie, that unhappy Tinubu threw away the APC flag at a near riotous rally of his party in Abeokuta on Monday.

But Tunde Rahman, Tinubus spokesman and special adviser on the media told NAN there was no truth in the two episodes and warned that people should not consume the propaganda of the opposition, unquestioningly.

About the photograph now being used to blackmail Tinubu, Rahman explained the circumstances that led to the selfie.

According to him, Tinubu bumped into some PDP stalwarts at the Private Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

These people who included ex-DSS Spokesperson Marilyn Ogah quickly wormed up to him and sought a selfie with Asiwaju. Because he knows Ogah well and because of his mature politics, he allowed what he thought was a seemingly innocuous request.

Now, Marilyn Ogah and PDP elements have turned this noble gesture exemplified by the photograph below into a propaganda machinery and an instrument of blackmail.

I understand, they even want to place this photograph as an advertorial in newspapers in their desperate attempt to smear Asiwaju and curry support.

The photograph has been turned into an instrument of blackmail. This is sad indeed. With the way she is using this photograph, Marilyn Ogah has sunken low. Many who were there saw how they forcefully pleaded for the selfie and Asiwaju obliged them even without his trademark cap.

Please ignore their propaganda and campaign of calumny. There is nothing more to the photograph than an acceptance of a seemingly harmless request for a photograph.

Source: NAN

In talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, President Muhammadu Buhari said people have more confidence in a government they have elected in free and fair polls, than one that wangles its way into office through artifice and subterfuge.

The Commonwealth scribe had paid a courtesy visit to President Buhari at State House, Abuja, after attending the signing of the Peace Accord at the International Conference Centre.

One Nigeria is non-negotiable, the President said. Over two million people died in the civil war we fought, and when people elect their own government through a free and fair process, they have more confidence in such government. We will not spare any effort to organise credible polls, and people should come out and vote for their choices, he added.

President Buhari expressed pleasure that the Commonwealth was showing keen interest in the Nigerian election, appreciating Rt. Hon. Scotland for coming all the way to be a part of what would engender free and fair polls.

The Secretary-General described Nigeria as a treasured member of the Commonwealth family, adding that the signing of the Peace Accord would lead to better voter turnout, as they would have seen the commitment to peace by all the main actors.

She commended what she described as President Buharis calmness and good humour, even as the polls approach, stressing: When Nigeria is healthy, vibrant and strong, the whole of Africa is strengthened.

Rt. Hon. Scotland also lauded the energetic way the President has pursued issues of security and anti-corruption, pledging that the Commonwealth stands ready to assist Nigeria at all times.

Source: NAN

Barriers to effective communication can retard or distort the message and intention of the message being conveyed which may result in failure of the communication process or an effect that is undesirable. These include filtering, selective perception, information overload, emotions, language, silence, communication apprehension, gender differences and political correctness.

Barriers to communication are the factors that contribute towards the total or partial loss failure of the communication. In simple terms they can be referred to as those features it act as bulwark to the desired outcome of any communication process. Some common barriers are identified in the paragraphs that follows.

Physiological Barriers
Physiological barriers may result from individuals' personal discomfort, caused, for
example, by ill health, poor eye sight, or hearing difficulties. These may also affect one's personality in many different and mostly negative ways. It is imperative to enable one's thought process to accept the realities and yet stay positive to curb the negativity that affects one’s perception of one’s own self in relation to others. This can best be handled by working on developing a positive perception as certain physiological features contributing to barriers may not be curable.

Physical Barriers
Physical barriers include marked out territories, empires, and fiefdoms into which strangers are not allowed. Barriers can also manifest at micro level in the shape of closed office doors, barrier screens, separate areas for people of different status, and large working areas or working in one unit that is physically separate from others. Research shows that one of the most important factors in building cohesive teams is proximity. As long as people still have a personal space that they can call their own, nearness to others aids communication because it helps us get to know one another. Proximity in different cultures is different and therefore needs to be taken in the right context. It has been observed that people who come from rural backgrounds with more physical space available may not feel comfortable in closed quarters as they tend to have larger personal spaces as compared to people living in urban conditions. This aspect alone can become a significant psychological barrier if they subconsciously feel threatened" by inadvertent "invasion" of their personal space in case an urbanite approaches them in close proximity considering it as a normal personal space. There are numerous accounts of such barriers that in certain cases sprout out of cultural norms.

Cultural barriers
When we join a group and wish to remain in it, sooner or later we need to adopt the behavior pattern of the group. These are the behaviors that the group accepts as signs of belongings. The group rewards such behavior through acts of recognition, approval and inclusion. In group which are happy to accept you and where you are happy to conform, there is a mutuality of interest and a high level of win-win contract. Where however, there are barriers on your membership of a group, a high level of game played replaces good communication. It is interesting to note that we can adapt to different cultures once we come to accept it and appreciate that cultures are different so that we can be recognized from others and that no specific connotations need to be attached to one culture or the other.

Language barriers
Language that describes what we want to say in our terms may present barriers to others who are not familiar with our expressions, buzz-words, and jargon. When we couch our communication in such language, it is a way of excluding others. In a global setting, the greatest compliment we can pay another person is to talk in their language. Living language derive from other languages and successfully absorb and indigenize the borrowed words and phrases into its usage. A dialect for example would identify a person geographically and identically, certain slang would reveal the cultural or group orientation of the persons; speaking it. The same are then barriers, if spoken in situations and with people, who may not be able to relate to them.

Gender Barriers
"There are distinct differences between the speech patterns in a man and those in a woman. Global studies suggest that a woman speaks between 22,000 and 25,000 words a day whereas a man speaks between 7,000 and 10,000. In childhood, girls speak earlier than boys and at the age of three, have a vocabulary twice that of boys. The reason for this lies in the wiring of a man's and woman's brains. When a man talks, his speech is located in the left side of the brain but in no specific area. When a woman talks, the speech is located to both hemispheres and in two specific locations.

Scientifically, speaking, a man talks in a linear, logical, and compartmentalized way, which are the features of left brain thinking, whereas a woman talks more freely, mixing logic and emotion, features of both sides of the brain. It also explains why women talk for much longer than men each day. It also explains that why mothers can understand and relate better to kids (with apologies to fathers).

Interpersonal Barriers
There are six levels at which people can relate to one another.

• Withdrawal is an absence of interpersonal contact. It is both refusals to be in touch and me alone.
• Rituals are meaningless, repetitive routines devoid of real contact
• Pastimes fill up time with others in social but superficial activities.
• Working activities are those tasks which follow the rules and procedures of contact but do not essentially mean communication.
• Games are subtle, manipulative interactions which are about winning and losing,
• Closeness is the aim of interpersonal contact where there is a high level of honesty and acceptance of yourself and others.

A diary is a written account of what someone has completed or a daily account of event in one's life.

Types of Diary

• Personal diary

• Dialogue diary

• Travel diary

Diary can be used appropriately in social studies and history. It allows students to become creatively with the past. Diary may be factual or fictional (imaginative) diary could become a tool of motivation for student as many people keep them.

Diary may be either read (as a document) or written by students. They are opportune to be secret, record, event, values, frustration act of revenge, hope and so on. Writing a diary became a hobby for students. Usually diary provides a largely personal and different perspective on a historical event than a textbook.

How to use Diary.

• A diary can be used as a document because it can become contracted.
  It is used to determine biased.
• A student may write an account of a trip in a diary and these account can be shared. It provide the person perspective or custom, tradition, religious practices, examination and social conditions of cultural and regions visited.
• The student may read aloud a diary of a person from the past or present.
• Discuss on the reading of the diary and it should focus on teacher data, interpretation of the personal situation, analysis of values and questions pertaining to materials found in the diagram.
• Company and constructing between current practices, values and lifestyles and those found in the dairy.
• Another meaningful activity is making a dialogue diary between you and persons from the past and present and future
• It could also be between two characters from the past, present and future.

NOTE: It is very important that students gain insight into other people’s life backgrounds and knowledge dealing with the time they are writing the diary.

• If you are using it for relative writing, ensure the children explore all possible scenes.
• Diary are not free or biased, the act of detecting and dealing with it should be practiced.
• Students should be warned that factual information may be inaccurate. Therefore, we must consult other sources e.g. textbooks, index, journals etc.
• Be warned that students may not like to share their personal diary so their right should be respected.