Nigeria and Mexico to overtake Britain on global wealth table

Rob Waugh 

Britain will lose its place at the top table of international wealth in the not-too-distant future as countries such as Mexico take our place.

Growing economies such as Nigeria and Brazil will speed past Britain by 2020 in the league table of global economic heavyweights.

 

Britain is currently ranked 10th – but will slip to 11th worldwide by 2050, behind Brazil, Mexico and Nigeria.

 

PwC’s World In 2050 research shows that Indonesia could rise as high as fourth place if it can sustain growth-friendly policies.

 

China will lead the rankings by some distance (after India and the United States) but PwC expects a slowdown in Chinese growth after 2020.

 

The UK is currently in 10th position and should remain there until at least 2030 before slipping to 11th place in 2050 – behind Brazil, Mexico and Nigeria.

 

PwC’s chief economist John Hawksworth said: ‘Europe needs to up its game if it’s not to be left behind by this historic shift of global economic power, which is moving us back to the kind of Asian-led world economy last seen before the Industrial Revolution.

 

METRO UK

Nigeria military promises neutrality after poll delay

View Photo

Reuters/Reuters – Supporters gather at a campaign rally for Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan as he seeks a second term in office, in Yenagoa in his home state of Bayelsa February 6, 2015

By Tim Cocks

ABUJA  – Nigeria’s military pledged not to get involved in party politics on Wednesday, after concerns grew about its role in pushing for the country’s presidential election to be delayed by six weeks.

The military faced accusations of interference when the chairman of the electoral commission, Attahiru Jega, revealed that the office of the National Security Advisor had written to him saying that unless he delayed the Feb. 14 election, it could not guarantee security.

It urged a six-week delay to enable the military to contain the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast of the country.

On Wednesday, defence spokesman Major-General Chris Olukolade noted “the palpable tension being generated … with regards to the roles of the Nigerian military in the ongoing political activities and recent developments, especially in relation to electioneering.”

“It is important to reassure Nigerians that the military will remain professional, apolitical and non-partisan in all operations … related to (elections),” he said in a statement.

Fears that Nigeria’s military, which has ruled the country for more than half of the period since independence from Britain in 1960, may be slipping back into old habits have spooked investors and hit the ailing naira currency at a time when clouds were already gathering over Africa’s top economy because of the fall in world oil prices.

There have also been reports in the local press that the military colluded with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to try to influence last year’s governorship election in Ekiti state, a claim the military has not directly commented on.

Further delays to or a cancellation of the presidential election, now set for March 28, could trigger unrest, especially in opposition strongholds in the largely Muslim north.

Addressing local journalists in a televised interview on Wednesday, President Goodluck Jonathan said “some very dangerous signals” on security meant the election had to be delayed. He rejected claims by the opposition that his party was trying to scupper the vote.

“A lot of people are using the delay in the elections to misinform people and create suspicion,” he said.

MARKET TURMOIL

Nigerian dealers pulled the plug on electronic trading in the naira on Wednesday after the currency slid past 200 to the dollar on fears the postponement of the election could trigger a constitutional crisis.

Nigeria’s decision to delay the poll on the advice of security forces was a worrying echo for some of the annulment of 1993’s democratic vote by a military government.

Jonathan’s PDP had pushed for a delay, while his main opponent, Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), himself a former military ruler, had called for the vote go ahead on time, arguing that a six-year old insurgency was hardly going to be solved in six weeks.

But the PDP also argued that the commission was not ready because millions of voters had not picked up their ID cards.

On Wednesday, the leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos governor, was quoted in the local press as saying soldiers had besieged his house in the wealthy, palm-lined suburb of Ikoyi.

“Jonathan’s government has through the service chiefs staged a coup against Nigerians and the constitution and now wants to silence his critics. I will not be muzzled through the barrel of the gun,” they quoted him as saying.

A spokesman for Tinubu did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The military also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the alleged siege.

The military has faced criticism of its failure to quell the Boko Haram insurgency, although Jonathan suggested on Wednesday that better cooperation from neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon could be a turning point.

“We’re getting maximum cooperation from the neighbouring countries, which we were never getting before,” he said, adding that there would be a significant improvement in security in the troubled northeast “in the next four weeks”.

Chadian soldiers killed 13 fighters from Boko Haram in a battle in the Nigerian town of Gambaru on Wednesday, the Chadian army said in a statement.

 

Reuters

ELECTION POSTPONEMENT:I WAS NOT CONSULTED BY INEC – JONATHAN

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has dismissed claims in some quarters that he influenced the postponement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of the 2015 general elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.

Speaking during in the Presidential Media Chat in Abuja last night, President Jonathan disclosed that he was not consulted by either INEC or the security chiefs before the poll shift was announced last Saturday night by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega. “I was not consulted and I do not want to be consulted,” he stated.

The President referred to the incident in 2011 when INEC postponed the presidential election by two weeks. “I was already in my village in Bayelsa for the election when the postponement was announced and I had to return to Abuja. INEC did not consult me. If it did, I would not have wasted my time going to the village,” he said.

Jonathan expressed the confidence that Boko Haram would be driven out of the occupied parts of the country before the new dates for the elections in keeping with the promise of the security chiefs who requested for the poll shift on security grounds. “I am not saying that Boko Haram will be wiped out before the election but a lot of advances will be made in the next six weeks,” he said.

Assuring that the elections would definitely hold on the rescheduled dates, the President said: “Nobody is saying that we will wipe out Boko Haram before we hold the elections. Boko Haram is not a regular army. Afterall, Boko Haram was there when we held elections in 2011.”

Jonathan raised hopes on the rescue of the Chibok school girls who have been in Boko Haram’s captivity since April last year. His words: “On the fate of the Chibok girls, now that we are working with Chad and other neighbours, I believe that in the next few weeks the story of the Chibok girls will be different and we will rescue them. Of course, we will recover them alive; we do not want anyone to be killed.”

On the fate of the INEC Chairman, President Jonathan denied having any plans to remove him. “I appointed Jega. If I feel that Jega is not good for obvious reasons I have the power to remove him and I have not told anybody that I will remove him,” he stated.

The President expressed confidence that the polls would be peaceful and allayed fears that it would lead to war.

 

News Express

SHAMEFUL: EX-MILITANTS CHASE APC CANDIDATE FROM DELTA COMMUNITY

By Emma Amaize & Cletus Opukeme

WARRI—Reformed militants in Delta State, led by “General” Goddey Smith, aka Bounanawei, King of the Forest, have barred the All Progressives Congress, APC, from campaigning in the riverine Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

Vanguard learned that the former militants chased away a senatorial candidate of the party, Mr. Temisan Omatseye, from the area on Monday.

“No party other than the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is allowed to campaign in the locality,” the ex-militants were quoted as saying.

Mr. Omatseye confirmed that he was harassed by ex-militants when contacted by Vanguard, but Mr. Yemi Emiko, who maintained that he was the bonafide Delta South senatorial candidate of the party, said, “Omatseye is not known by the APC in Delta State as a senatorial candidate, I am the candidate of the party.”

Omatseye said he and his entourage were harassed and told to leave Burutu Rivers, adding that the ex-militants did not hurt them, but escorted them back to Warri.

He disputed the claim by Emiko that he was not the senatorial candidate of the party, adding that the legitimate candidate would be decided by the court.

The ex-militants reportedly seized video camera and other gadgets from Omatseye and his entourage and advised them to vacate in his own interest.

Bounanawei said: “I want to warn categorically clear that no political party in Nigeria, apart from the Peoples Democratic Party will be allowed to campaign in Delta riverine communities.”

VANGUARD

PVC Collection: Low Turnout In Onopa Area Of Yenogoa

visit to the Onopa Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection centre in Yenogoa, Bayelsa state, shows that many have not collected their PVCs.

It was discovered that if the electoral commission had not rescheduled the election dates, many people would have been disenfranchised for not having their PVC.

The postponement of the general election scheduled for February 14th and 28th, as stated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was triggered by security challenges in the country

INEC officials were at the venue for distribution of the PVCs, expecting people in the area to come in mass to pick their cards but the turnout was low as only few people came.

Some of the indigenes were able to get their cards, while some were given to them by friends. Others were told to come back at a latter date for theirs because it was not ready.

Preye Samuel, one of the victims who was told to come back reacted saying she cannot continue footing her transport expenses as it was the third time she had to come for her PVC.

The problem facing most Nigerians on PVC collection also ranges from; misplaced Temporary Voter Cards, others have issues with their location as they have relocated from states where they initially registered for the PVC, many have misplaced their cards, but they all want to exercise their franchise.

CHANNELS

Obasanjo finally endorses Buhari

Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, has publicly expressed support for the electioneering campaign of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Until now, he had not specifically endorsed Buhari despite openly criticising President Goodluck Jonathan in the last two years.

Speaking at the launch of My Watch in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday, Obasanjo, who served his two terms as president on the same Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform that Jonathan is now running on, also condemned the postponement of the election.

“The circumstances [Buhari] will be working under if he wins the election are different from the one he worked under before, where he was both the executive and the legislature – he knows that,” he said.

“It’s a question of leadership – political and military.

“He’s smart enough. He’s educated enough. He’s experienced enough. Why shouldn’t I support him?”

It is the first time that the ex-president has publicly spoken of his support for Buhari. He recently said that he would only speak out on his leaning after the election has been conducted.

On the postponement of the election he said:“The signs are not auspicious. I don’t know whether a script is being played.”

He criticised the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of wasting the country’s resources. “You need to ask [Jonathan] how has he let [the army] go to this extent,” he said

“Many things went wrong: recruitment went wrong; training went wrong; morale went down; motivation not there; corruption was deeply ingrained; welfare was bad.”

When asked if he was still nursing further political ambition, he said: “I am an old man and I’m enjoying what I’m doing now… And then you forget I am a farmer; I have to manage my farm.”

The Cabelng

FG uncovers Boko Haram’s new bombing tactics

From Umar Dankano, Yola & Joy Baba Yesufu

The Federal Government yesterday alerted Nigerians to new bombing tactics being devised by Boko Haram.

The Federal Government announced that it has uncovered plans by insurgents to use cobblers, otherwise called shoe shiners, and livestock to bomb public places.

Mr Mike Omeri, the Coordinator of the National Information Centre disclosed this Thursday at a news conference in Abuja to give an update on security situation in the country.

According to Omeri, “The insurgents plan to hide explosives in the tool boxes of the cobblers and detonate them at markets, political rallies, ATM points, restaurant and places of worship.

He said that there is also indication of a plan to use livestock such as goats, cows, donkey and camels laden with explosives to attack chosen targets.

“In view of this, the general public, including persons operating within and around the aforementioned places, are advised to be vigilant”, Omeri said.

He also urged Nigerians to be mindful of suspicious activities in their environment.

The coordinator confirmed the release of some persons abducted by the insurgents in Yobe, saying that they were currently being counseled by the military.

He said that they would be released to their families after the counseling.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has announced the liberation of Michika local Government Area in Adamawa State from the enclave of Boko Haram insurgents yesterday, Thursday.

Goodluck gave the breaking news at his presidential campaign rally held at the famous Muhammadu Ribadu square Yola, the Adamawa State capital promising Nigerians of his government’s commitment to providing security to all.

“I am glad to announce here that the Nigerian troops have just liberated Michika local Government from the occupation of Boko Haram today and Madagali will soon be liberated too”.

He also used the gathering to deny the allegation that, his government is behind the terrorists group (Boko Haram) stressing that, no reasonable leader can ever be behind such ungodly and inhuman act of killing and destroying properties of his people in his own father land just for selfish political reasons.

“There is no reasonable leader in the globe who can convene with terrorists to kill his people for political gains or reasons and those peddling such rumor (allegation) against us (presidency), I pray that may God Almighty forgive them.’ He stated

Peoples Daily

Kuku: Only Northern Leaders Can Stop Boko Haram

•   Says international terrorists now Boko Haram’s financiers

Ndubuisi Francis in  Abuja

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, has stated that military option alone could not resolve the problem of insurgency perpetrated by the violent Islamist sect, Boko Haram; arguing that only conciliatory moves by leaders from the North-east could end the reign of terror.
Kuku said insurgency had festered because northern political, religious, traditional, and  opinion leaders, particularly those from the North-east geo-political zone failed to embark on the kind of moves by their compatriots in the Niger Delta region, which brought militancy in the oil-rich area to an end in 2009.

The presidential aide, who spoke in Abuja  at a public policy discourse on resolving the Boko Haram challenge via the adoption of lessons learnt from the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, said the Niger Delta crisis was resolved through the sincere, committed and fearless participation of leaders  from that region.

Kuku regretted that so far, leaders from the northern part of the country, particularly, the North-east were yet to galvanise themselves and take up the gauntlet that would culminate in bringing the dreaded Boko Haram sect to embrace peace.

Arguing that military option alone may not end the orgy of violence unleashed by the sect, Kuku challenged respected, committed and trusted leaders from the North-east and other parts of the north to rise up, reach out to the insurgents with a view to ending the blood-bath and massive destruction being visited on people and property.

He recalled the roles played by President Goodluck (then vice president) and other notable leaders from the Niger Delta, who risked their lives to reach out to ex-militant leaders, which eventually resulted in the federal government’s Amnesty Programme and the concomitant peace being enjoyed in that region presently.
Kuku, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) lamented  that  insurgency could engulf  and  destroy the whole country if not checked  urgently.

He stated that the sect was affiliated to ISIS, which was already sponsoring the insurgents, noting that this had led to Nigerians losing the command structure of Boko Haram.

According to him, this international link had culminated in the infiltration of Nigeria by insurgents from the Islamic Maghreb region, adding that this had been  given practical expression by recent arrests of the sect members .

He said all of them who were arrested by the military were of Arab descent, noting that their activities had been massively destructive since they were non-Nigerians.
The presidential aide said the bravery of the Nigerian military had continued to checkmate the rampaging insurgents, who were well-funded and armed from over-running the North-east and the entire country.

The PAP Chairman said the size of the country was a disincentive to the insurgents, noting that for Nigeria’s massive land mass, the insurgents would have wreaked havoc in more communities.

While urging leaders from the northern part of the country to collectively lead a peace initiative to stop insurgency, he also called for support from all Nigerians to overcome the crisis.

THISDAY

Jonathan Not President of Ijaw Nation – PDP

• Alleged plot to postpone elections unfounded, says Presidency
• February election must hold, Benin monarch insists

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday cautioned Ijaw leaders threatening war over the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan and added that Jonathan was not the President of the Ijaw nation alone, “but the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, debunked allegations by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that the Presidency and the PDP were involved in surreptitious schemes to postpone the February 14 Presidential elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, who cautioned the Ijaw leaders during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, also expressed optimism that if the general election were to hold today, the party would win over 64 per cents of the total votes.

The party also warned its members and supporters against making provocative statements in their course of supporting the re-election of the President.

Metuh said: “Though the PDP should not be held responsible for all their (Ijaw leaders) comments, we caution them to be mindful of what they are saying, especially as it concerns the unity of the country. PDP is a national party.
Though the President is from Bayelsa State, but he could be loved more by the people of Anambra State than the people of Bayelsa State.  The President is not the President of Ijaw nation alone; he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Even yesterday in Yola, the President said that he received more votes from the people of Adamawa State than he received from his home state, Bayelsa State. He said that Adamawa State gave him more votes than Bayelsa State, so he is not the President of the Ijaws alone.”

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP also cautioned other supporters of Jonathan to adhere to the presidential directives of ensuring that all campaigns were based on issues and not casting aspersions on candidates.

“The various support groups of the party should be cautious of what they say and ensure that they follow the dictates of the founding fathers of PDP. There is need to respect the sanity of individual privacy and human dignity and avoid issues that are personal to the families of the candidates.

“There is the need to maintain decency and ensure that campaigns are issue-based. This is how we intend our campaigns to be.”

On the evaluation of the campaigns of the party, the spokesman said it had surpassed more than 70 per cent and so far, “if the votes are cast today, the PDP would be winning with more than 64 percent of the total votes in all the elections, including the presidential election.”

Metuh who slammed the APC for making empty promises, dismissed them as unrealisable dreams.

“APC said that they would create three million jobs and pay benefits to the unemployed people. But the PDP is asking: How will they finance these projects that they are promising? These are nothing but empty dreams. We view these promises as mere mirage. The campaigns of the PDP have exposed their mirage and the insincerity of their campaigns.

“The APC said that they would end insecurity and insurgency in the country within three weeks and PDP would like to ask: Did the APC start the insurgency. Are they magicians or voodoo politicians?”

The PDP spokesman said Buhari was already weary of the campaigns and willing to pull out, stating that his body language was indicative that he was tired. According to Metuh, “It is because of the body language of Buhari that he is tired that the APC is accusing the PDP of plotting to shit the presidential election. The body language of Buhari is that he is willing to concede defeat; that is why the APC is claiming that PDP wants to shift the election.

Alleged plot to postpone elections unfounded, says Presidency…
Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali has debunked allegations by the APC that the Presidency and the PDP were involved in surreptitious schemes to postpone the February 14 Presidential elections.

In a press statement issued in Abuja, Alkali said rather than the Presidency and PDP, it is the APC through their members and supporters that had been doing everything possible to frustrate the conduct of a free and fair electoral process.
He alleged that the APC had been breaching the Abuja Peace Accord which all the presidential candidates subscribed to with impunity.

He emphasized that Jonathan had been receiving unprecedented support since he embarked on the nationwide campaign and “he is fully prepared for the election with the PDP.”

Alkali added: “From our tours and the unprecedented outpour of goodwill, we are confident of a wider margin of victory than ever before. We are ready and fully prepared for this election.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the President is committed to a peaceful and successful conduct of the February 14 polls and will not be distracted by tissues of lies and cocktails of deceit from people who have run out of ideas on how to move our country forward.”

February Election Must Hold, Benin Monarch Insists…
Meanwhile, the Benin monarch, Omo N’ Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo said in Benin that protagonists pushing for the postponement of the February 14 general election were only calling for anarchy, insisting that election must take place as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He also warned those making inflammatory statements to desist from heating up the polity while predicting that the election will be peaceful in spite of the beating of drums of war by politicians.

The Oba spoke at a press conference through the Benin Forum, an apex body of the Benin people. It was addressed by its Chairman, Chief David Edebiri.

The forum expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the major political parties in Edo South Senatorial District have conducted themselves.

14,000 PVCs Snatched By Hoodlums in Rivers, Says INEC

Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs)

Ernest Chinwo in  Port Harcourt

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said hoodlums forcibly snatched about 14,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) from officials of the commission during the collection exercise in Rivers State.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Gesila Khan, made the disclosure while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday.

She said some of the cards were stolen from local government collection centres where the PVCs were deposited at the close of the collection exercise to enable the rightful owners pick them up at their own time before the elections.

Khan also said over 50,000 PVCs would be distributed to their owners before the general election, adding that more than 80 per cent of the registered voters in the state have collected their PVCs.

She stated that her office received 2,990,056 PVCs and distributed 1,869,379.
The resident electoral commissioner, who expressed dismay at the action of the hoodlums, expressed regret that Rivers State recorded one of the highest cases of stolen PVCs in the country.

Her words: “I am appealing to Rivers people because we have lost a lot of cards. We have lost more than 14,000 PVCs and it is one of the highest figures in the federation.

“All the cards that are being snatched are useless and meaningless because we are going to use a new system called card readers.  Your card readers are just like ATM cards. You take it there and they slot it into the card reader to confirm if it is yours before you are allowed to vote.

“So, if you go there with another person’s voter’s card, it is meaningless. So, I am advising those of you with other peoples’ cards to return them to the local government offices so that the rightful owners can collect them so that they can participate in the general election”.

“Polling officer will, on the presentation of the PVC by an electorate, slot the card into the card reader to confirm if it belongs to you. The next stage is the confirmation of your finger prints by the card reader before you are allowed to vote. If you go to the polling booth with someone else’s card, you would not be able to vote because each card is unique and can only be authenticated by the real owner. The PVC’s are meaningless to those who have stolen them”.

Mrs. Khan further emphasised: “The PVCs are beyond registration; the cards are beyond voting. People now use these cards in the banks as a means of identifying themselves. All those who snatched these cards should please take them to the designated collection centres so that we can give them to the rightful owners so that the rightful owners can use them during the elections to perform their legitimate civic duties”.

Khan further warned politicians that it would be doubly difficult for them to rig the forthcoming election either through ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing or the writing of bloated election results in hotel rooms or the homes of influential politicians.

She explained that ballot papers and result sheets for each of the 23 local government areas in the state would be coded and had also been printed in colours that could be traced to each local government. Mrs. Khan assured that the 2015 election would be peaceful because of the cooperation among INEC, police and other security agencies in the state.

THISDAY