Monday, February 9, 2015
Video - Al Jazeera talks with Nigeria Presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari
Nigeria's main opposition leader shares his views on the postponed vote, Boko Haram, and challenges facing his country.
Related stories: Video - Presidential candidate General Buhari promises to tackle Boko Haram and corruption
Nigeria presidential elections postponed for six weeks due to Boko Haram
U.S. dissapointed with Nigeria presidential election delay
United States has expressed disappointment over the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the February polls to March.
In a statement issued in Washington, the Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. was “deeply disappointed” by Nigeria’s decision to delay the election. “Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process,” Kerry said.
He visited Nigeria on Jan. 25, urging the People Democratic Party presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress party presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to prevent potential post-election violence by their supporters. The statement read:
“The United States is deeply disappointed by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election, which had been scheduled for February 14. Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.
“The international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates. The United States underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further delays.
“As I reaffirmed when I visited Lagos last month, we support a free, transparent, and credible electoral process in Nigeria and renew our calls on all candidates, their supporters, and Nigerian citizens to maintain calm and reject election-related violence.”
The Sun
Related story: Nigeria presidential elections postponed for six weeks due to Boko Haram
In a statement issued in Washington, the Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. was “deeply disappointed” by Nigeria’s decision to delay the election. “Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process,” Kerry said.
He visited Nigeria on Jan. 25, urging the People Democratic Party presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress party presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to prevent potential post-election violence by their supporters. The statement read:
“The United States is deeply disappointed by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election, which had been scheduled for February 14. Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.
“The international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates. The United States underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further delays.
“As I reaffirmed when I visited Lagos last month, we support a free, transparent, and credible electoral process in Nigeria and renew our calls on all candidates, their supporters, and Nigerian citizens to maintain calm and reject election-related violence.”
The Sun
Related story: Nigeria presidential elections postponed for six weeks due to Boko Haram
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Video - Presidential candidate General Buhari promises to tackle Boko Haram and corruption
As the presidential vote approaches there are concerns over mounting tensions especially considering Nigeria's post election history. In 2011, 800 people died from violence instigated by campaigns. President Goodluck Jonathan's main challenger Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress has, however pledged to follow due legal process to challenge the election outcome should he lose. He also promises that his administration will tackle the Boko Haram insurgency and end corruption and theft in the oil sector.
Nigeria presidential elections postponed for six weeks due to Boko Haram
Nigeria’s electoral commission will postpone next Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections for six weeks to give a new multinational force time to secure north-eastern areas under the sway of Boko Haram, an official close to the commission told the Associated Press on Saturday.
Millions could be disenfranchised if the voting went ahead while the Islamic extremists hold a large swath of the north-east and commit mayhem that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes.
Civil rights groups opposed to any postponement started a small protest on Saturday. Police prevented them from entering the electoral commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Armed police began deploying to block roads leading to the building.
The Nigerian official, who is knowledgeable of the discussions, said the Independent National Electoral Commission would announce the postponement later on Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
A major offensive with warplanes and ground troops from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the insurgents from a dozen towns and villages in the past 10 days. Even greater military strikes by more countries are planned.
African Union officials were ending a three-day meeting Saturday in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital, to finalise details of a 7,500-strong force from Nigeria and its neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. Details of funding, with the Africans wanting the United Nations and European Union to pay, may delay the mission.
Nigeria’s home-grown extremist group has responded with attacks on one town in Cameroon and two in Niger this week. Officials said more than 100 civilians were killed and 500 wounded in Cameroon. Niger said about 100 insurgents and one civilian died in attacks on Friday. Several security forces from both countries were killed.
International concern has increased along with the death toll; some 10,000 have been killed in the uprising in the past year compared with 2,000 in the four previous years, according to the US Council on Foreign Relations.
The United States has been urging Nigeria to press ahead with the voting. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, visited Nigeria two weeks ago and said that “one of the best ways to fight back against Boko Haram” was by holding credible and peaceful elections, on time.
“It’s imperative that these elections happen on time as scheduled,” Kerry said.
Officials in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have been calling for a postponement.
Any delay is opposed by an opposition coalition fielding former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari, though the opposition stands to take most votes in the north-east.
Supporters of both sides are threatening violence if their candidate does not win. Some 800 people were killed in riots in the mainly Muslim north after Buhari, a Muslim, lost 2011 elections to Jonathan, a Christian from the south.
A postponement will give electoral officials more time to deliver some 30 million voter cards. The commission had said the non-delivery of cards to nearly half of the 68.8 million registered voters was not a good reason to delay the vote.
Guardian
Millions could be disenfranchised if the voting went ahead while the Islamic extremists hold a large swath of the north-east and commit mayhem that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes.
Civil rights groups opposed to any postponement started a small protest on Saturday. Police prevented them from entering the electoral commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Armed police began deploying to block roads leading to the building.
The Nigerian official, who is knowledgeable of the discussions, said the Independent National Electoral Commission would announce the postponement later on Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
A major offensive with warplanes and ground troops from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the insurgents from a dozen towns and villages in the past 10 days. Even greater military strikes by more countries are planned.
African Union officials were ending a three-day meeting Saturday in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital, to finalise details of a 7,500-strong force from Nigeria and its neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. Details of funding, with the Africans wanting the United Nations and European Union to pay, may delay the mission.
Nigeria’s home-grown extremist group has responded with attacks on one town in Cameroon and two in Niger this week. Officials said more than 100 civilians were killed and 500 wounded in Cameroon. Niger said about 100 insurgents and one civilian died in attacks on Friday. Several security forces from both countries were killed.
International concern has increased along with the death toll; some 10,000 have been killed in the uprising in the past year compared with 2,000 in the four previous years, according to the US Council on Foreign Relations.
The United States has been urging Nigeria to press ahead with the voting. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, visited Nigeria two weeks ago and said that “one of the best ways to fight back against Boko Haram” was by holding credible and peaceful elections, on time.
“It’s imperative that these elections happen on time as scheduled,” Kerry said.
Officials in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have been calling for a postponement.
Any delay is opposed by an opposition coalition fielding former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari, though the opposition stands to take most votes in the north-east.
Supporters of both sides are threatening violence if their candidate does not win. Some 800 people were killed in riots in the mainly Muslim north after Buhari, a Muslim, lost 2011 elections to Jonathan, a Christian from the south.
A postponement will give electoral officials more time to deliver some 30 million voter cards. The commission had said the non-delivery of cards to nearly half of the 68.8 million registered voters was not a good reason to delay the vote.
Guardian
Friday, February 6, 2015
Jumia gets official Apple istore
Jumia has rolled out their official Apple store online. According to Jumia, they are the first online retailer to be authorised by Apple to sell Apple related products.
According to the online retailer, it expects that the official authorisation will alleviate shoppers’ fears of purchasing counterfeit Apple products online.
Speaking on the launch of the online iStore, Jeremy Doutte, MD Jumia Nigeria stated that: “The collaboration between Jumia and Apple is a thing of beauty and can best be described as a big win for innovation and authenticity. Nigerians no longer have to be burdened by fears of using their hard earned cash to purchase a fake, stolen or reworked Apple device. Above all our continued commitment to seeing the Nigerian customer get top quality and premium retail keeps driving us to push new boundaries and break new frontiers.”
Darryl Linington
IT News Africa
Related story: Jumia is biggest e-commerce website in Nigeria
Nigeria's answer to amazon.com
According to the online retailer, it expects that the official authorisation will alleviate shoppers’ fears of purchasing counterfeit Apple products online.
Speaking on the launch of the online iStore, Jeremy Doutte, MD Jumia Nigeria stated that: “The collaboration between Jumia and Apple is a thing of beauty and can best be described as a big win for innovation and authenticity. Nigerians no longer have to be burdened by fears of using their hard earned cash to purchase a fake, stolen or reworked Apple device. Above all our continued commitment to seeing the Nigerian customer get top quality and premium retail keeps driving us to push new boundaries and break new frontiers.”
Darryl Linington
IT News Africa
Related story: Jumia is biggest e-commerce website in Nigeria
Nigeria's answer to amazon.com
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