PDP don’t tell you about change because we are not bus conductors that ask for change - First Lady Patience Jonathan takes a shot at APC

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has charged women in the country to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the forth-coming elections, stressing that any woman who votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC), is an enemy of herself.

She said: "The PDP is a party that talks less and does more, unlike the APC that tells new lies every week. When you catch them today, they will tell another lie tomorrow. We (PDP) do not tell you about change because we are not bus conductors that ask for change.

"We are now in a digital age and we should reject anyone who wants to take us back to analog days. They keep saying they will do this and that. They should tell us what they have done for Nigerians while in office. As for President Jonathan, he has vowed to do more when he is re-elected.

"President Jonathan has brought a lot of innovation and empowerment programmes for us women. This is because no one loves the Nigerian woman more than Mr. President and the best way to pay him back is by re-electing him."

I'd love to get your reactions on the First Lady's statement. Use the comment section below. LOL at "we do not tell you about change because we are not bus conductors that ask for change" it's so hilarious.

Zimbabwe’s President, Mugabe plans to slaughter 2 elephants and 1 Lion to celebrate his 91st birthday

Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe plans to celebrate his 91st birthday by slaughtering two elephants and a lion.

The slaughter of the animals to provide meat for 20,000 guests that will be attending the birthday party of the notorious dictator who has ruled Zimbabwe for the past 35 years has angered many.

Workers in the country have also been forced to contribute to the feast, as teachers had $10 taken.from their monthly pay to finance  the party which would cost. Mugabe at least $1m at the Victoria Falls.

Innocent Hamandishe, from Mugabe's Zanu-PF party said: "We are going to ensure that the wonder of Zimbabwe celebrates his 91st birthday where one of the wonders of the world is,"

Animal Defenders International President Jan Creamer described the plan as shameful.

He said; "To plan the slaughter of endangered species like this does not accord honour to any individual or nation, in fact it, quite rightly, it brings only shame and embarrassment. There is no dignity in such a demonstration of self-indulgent lack of care and brutality"

Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, described the plan as "totally unethical."

"I am totally disgusted by the news, We claim to have the best conservationist policies in the world, but our president does not set a good example. How can he talk of anti-poaching when he is allowing this to happen?"

Check out Mavin Records star, Di’Ja's look for Guardian Life Magazine | Hot or Miss?

Mavin Records artist, Di'Ja, styled by Myles Igwe and photographed by Tope Horpload, ditches her grunge look as she is featured in Guardian Life magazine.

Hot or Miss?

Boko Haram releases new video | Vows to disrupt March 28 and April 11 polls

Islamist terror sect, Boko Haram has vowed to disrupt the March 28 presidential and national assembly elections and the April 11 governorship and state legislative elections.

"The elections will not be held even if we are dead. Even if we are not alive Allah will never allow you to do it," the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, said in a new video on Tuesday evening.

It would be recalled that the presidential elections, earlier slated for February 14, 2015 was shifted to March 28 due to security challenge.

Despite the threat from Boko Haram, experts doubt that the Islamist rebels have the capacity to disrupt voting nationwide, although election officials concede that voting may be difficult in parts of the North-East, especially on March 28.

Do you think Boko Haram have the capability to carry out their threat? Should Nigerians be worried over this threat?
Share your thoughts!

Plans to postpone general elections again exposed! | Presidency planning to bribe National Assembly members to postpone elections again

Culled From: Sahara Reporters

President Goodluck Jonathan and his inner circle have begun new moves to jettison elections altogether, hoping that members of the National Assembly will agree to postpone polls once again and instead settle for a so-called interim national government, according to information received from several sources, one of them embedded in the Presidency in Abuja.

The sources disclosed that Mr. Jonathan, Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, the chairman of the PDP's board of trustees, Tony Anenih, Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and Ijaw political figure, Edwin Clark, were the main players in the new scheme. They are reportedly determined to sell their new plan to a small nucleus of key legislators at the National Assembly to discuss how best to recruit supporters, sources knowledgeable about the astonishing plot revealed.

The team pushing this new idea, one source said, is operating on the premise that it would be "dangerous to hand over power to Muhammadu Buhari." Ms. Alison-Madueke was reported to be a hawkish pusher of the idea, with one of our sources adding that the Petroleum Minister was extremely anxious about the prospect of a Buhari Presidency exposing her numerous shady deals in the oil sector through which she and a few players selected by her have drained billions of dollars of oil revenues into their private holdings.

Ms. Alison-Madueke has assured the group that some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as several big-time beneficiaries of oil sector deals, including importers of refined fuel, were committed to the plan and willing to provide slush funds to pay a bribe of $2 million dollars to each senator and $1 million to key members of the House of Representatives to persuade them to endorse the plot to derail elections permanently and install an interim national government. The president is working through officials of the NNPC to fund the massive bribe scheme.

Mr. Jonathan's henchmen have begun discussions with some members of the National Assembly as the legislative body prepares to resume another legislative session in Abuja next week. It would be the first time the legislature would sit after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced last week that polls, which were scheduled for February 14, 2015, had been postponed for six weeks.

According to those who briefed SaharaReporters on the latest scheme by the Presidency, Mr. Jonathan plans to sell to key legislators the argument that, since Nigeria is at war at the moment, the government would need another six months at least to fight off Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast of Nigeria before elections can take place.

A source close to a former military head of state, Abdulsalam Abubakar, told SaharaReporters that Mr. Jonathan had approached the retired officer and pleaded with him to consider heading an interim national government that would be put in place on May 29, 2015 if Mr. Jonathan's plan prevails. "General Abubakar promptly declined the offer and immediately informed some ex-heads of state about the offer," the source disclosed.

Mr. Jonathan and Ms. Madueke have revived the scheme to avoid elections after a sobering meeting the president held last Thursday night with PDP governors and top party figures. The participants at the meeting were candid in conceding that the forthcoming presidential elections would not favor President Jonathan despite its postponement for six weeks.

A source close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo told SaharaReporters that the incumbent president's machination to thwart elections was the provocation for a recent intensification of verbal warfare between Mr. Jonathan and ex-President Obasanjo. The latter has publicly accused Mr. Jonathan of plotting to stymie election now scheduled for March 28, the same way former President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire caused a political crisis in his country after loosing an election, bringing his country close to a civil war.

The latest plan by Mr. Jonathan, several sources said, is driven by Ms. Alison-Madueke's desperation. The Petroleum Minister is reportedly worried that she would not be able to avoid prosecution for several questionable deals in the oil sector that have catapulted her and her minions to billionaires. Her fear is reportedly heightened by the fact that she does not see the prospect of being granted asylum in any European or North American nation should she decide to flee abroad if Mr. Jonathan loses.

A source close to Mr. Jonathan revealed that First Lady Patience Jonathan has occasionally fumed and blamed Ms. Alison-Madueke of causing her husband's popular unpopularity.

"The fear of Buhari is the beginning of foolishness."

Share your thoughts!

Obasanjo is Nigeria’s number one enemy - Governor Fayose | Why Obasanjo is fighting President Jonathan

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Nigeria's number one enemy, saying: "He is a confusionist who has lost his status as a statesman and Nigerians should simply ignore him."

According to a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said: "Obasanjo is only fighting President Jonathan because he prevented him (Obasanjo) from ruling Nigeria from his Ota Farm."

"Obasanjo is a cancer that may never get cured in a lifetime. The moment Obasanjo is not the one controlling a house, he will want the house pulled down but this time around, he has failed.

"Obasanjo has always benefited from the misfortune of others and he is living with the impression that he is the wisest person in the whole world. When Murtala Mohammed was murdered in 1976, Obasanjo was the beneficiary. In 1993, he said the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola, was not the messiah Nigeria needed. Instead of Obasanjo to join the clamour for the actualisation of Abiola's mandate, Obasanjo was canvassing for an Interim National Government, which he schemed to head.

"MKO Abiola died in detention in 1998 and Obasanjo became the beneficiary of his (Abiola) death. Despite the fact that it was the blood of MKO Abiola that Obasanjo marched on to power, not even a street was named after Abiola throughout Obasanjo's eight years as president.

"Today, Obasanjo is fighting President Jonathan, the man who has done what he failed to do for Abiola, the Yoruba people and Nigerians as a whole when he was president for eight years, simply because he does not want anyone to equal his record as Nigeria's longest serving president.

"President Jonathan has made it impossible for Obasanjo to run his presidency for him and for this reason, he is supporting Buhari, hoping that he will be the one to nominate ministers for Buhari if he becomes president. However, I have this bad news for Obasanjo. Nigeria is not his football that he can kick around as he likes. President Jonathan will be reelected and Nigeria will be freed from Obasanjo's bondage once and for all."

Share your thoughts!

President Jonathan says stealing is different from corruption | Do you agree or disagree?

According to President Goodluck Jonathan stealing is different from corruption.

The President during the 8th presidential media chat on Wednesday maintained that there was a difference between the two acts. This came several months after he first made a similar statement.

"If somebody is a thief, he is a thief. We should not use the word 'corruption' to cover a case of stealing. Thieves should be called thieves," the President had said.

However, a lawyer and human rights activist, Prof. Itse Sagay, said in a telephone conversation with Saturday PUNCH that there was no technical difference between the two acts and that persons involved in either should be made to face the wrath of the law.

He said, "In a broad legal sense, they are the same. Stealing is taking what belongs to another person without the consent of the owner with the intention of keeping it permanently.

"Corruption is using an office to acquire the resources of an organisation without working for it and without the organisation's awareness. Looking at it, using an office as a political office holder to acquire what belongs to the state results to stealing.

"Ultimately, every act of corruption is an act of stealing. There is no question about it. There is no moral or ethical difference between them. Both are criminal, immoral and anti-social acts and nobody should attempt to make one look lighter than the other. People who commit either should be dealt with seriously."

A civil rights lawyer, Fred Agbaje, said President Jonathan's differentiation between the acts was clear evidence that the President's government is corrupt.

Source: Punch

Do you agree with President Jonathan that stealing is different from corruption or do you disagree?

Share your opinion on the topic.

Photos: LOL have you seen singer Praiz' outfit to his album listening party? | Check it out!

Singer Praiz rocked this outfit to his album - 'Rich and famous' listening party in South Africa last night.

What do you think?
Hot or Not?

Obasanjo dumps Jonathan, endorses Buhari

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared his support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Obasanjo, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, made his opinion known during an interview with the Financial Times at the launch of his controversial autobiography titled, 'My Watch', in Nairobi, Kenya.

Obasanjo said Buhari, who ruled Nigeria between December 1983 and August 1985, was aware of the challenges of Nigeria today and was qualified to rule the country.

He said, "The circumstances he (Buhari) will be working under if he wins the elections are different from the one he worked under before, where he was both the executive and the legislature – he knows that. He is smart enough. He is educated enough. He's experienced enough. Why shouldn't I support him?"

The former President said Buhari would restore the morale of the military which, he said, was needed in the fight against terrorism.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan betrayed the armed forces by allowing corruption to undermine their operations.

Do you agree with him? Is Buhari really the right man to rule Nigeria? Share your thoughts by using the comment section.

Come March 28 presidential election, who will you vote for?

Last week the presidential election which was originally scheduled for February 14 was shifted to March 28 due to the security reasons.

The "battle" to cling the seat of power is mainly between the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party, Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Muhammadu Buhari.

Come March 28, Buhari or Jonathan, who will you vote for?  and why?

For those who won't go out to vote, assuming you were going to vote,  who will you vote for? and why?

As for me i doubt if i would vote, this is because i don't have a PVC yet. But if i am to vote, i will vote Goodluck Jonathan. Why? Because he has done well.

Take a look at the power sector, with the privatization of the power sector, in no distant time Nigerians will begin to enjoy reasonable, if not stable power.

Take a look at the automobile industry, Nigeria is now producing cars. In 10 to 15 years time Nigeria may even start exporting cars.

Look at the country's railway system which is now resurrecting, thanks to the GEJ administration... The achievements goes on and on.

Yes GEJ failed in some key areas like security but i believe he deserves a 2nd term to fix things and continue the good work.

Well that's my opinion, share yours by using the comment section.

Important Announcement for All DavidvsNaija Readers

With sadness in my heart i announce the discontinuation of this blog, DavidvsNaija from offering news and gossips.

When i created this blog a year ago and nine months ago, i never imagined that a blog created, designed and runned on a mobile phone would grow to this extent. You guys are simply the best readers one can ever have.

However, i created this blog with the aim of providing latest news and gossips but sadly i can no longer keep up with it due to some reasons.

Why I Am Discontinuing DavidvsNaija from Providing News and Gossips

1. It Consumes alot Time: Running this blog is so time consuming due the fact that i have to literally source for news and gossips every minute. The problem with that is right now i'm at a point in my life where i have to concentrate on my academics. I have tried juggling both academics and blogging but it's not working out, both are suffering.

2. Epileptic Power Supply: Since the beginning of this year i've been unstable in my blogging due to the poor power supplied in my area in Ibadan (I'm currently in Ibadan for some exams. I'm actually based in Abuja). Most times there is no light during the day, infact sometimes there is no light throughout the day. Often times power is supplied at night or very early in the morning (like around 2am). Since i have to spend much time online sourcing for news and gists, by afternoon my battery is already dead. Considering this situation, it is obvious i can not deliver "latest news and gossips" which is what this blog promises.

3. Lack of Funds: I run this blog with my personal money as it is not yet generating any revenue. Let me state clearly that my aim of creating this blog is not to make money but to provide latest news and gossips. But as a student with no source of income it's been really difficult running this blog. (You can actually advertise your business on DavidvsNaija, it's really cheap and affordable, that's because my aim is not to make money from adverts but to get enough money to keep the blog alive)

It is due to the factors stated above, which has made me no longer able to deliver what this blog promises, that led to my decision to discontinue it.

What I Now Plan to Do With DavidvsNaija

I have decided to convert DavidvsNaija to a discussion blog. A blog where national issues or hot topics are analysed. A blog where people can freely share their opinions.

Basically, i plan to convert this blog to a platform for people to share their opinions on trending, national and interesting topics.

Considering the factors that lead to the discontinuation of news and gossips, i should be able to cope with a discussion blog, which ofcourse i wouldn't be obliged to post daily.

I therefore would like to promise to do my best in creating new discussions regularly.

What I Beg of You.

You guys supported me from the very start till this moment. I would like to say a big THANK YOU for that. Without you there would be no DavidvsNaija.

I therefore want to solicit for your continuous support even as i venture into a new part.

My plan is to convert DavidvsNaija into a discussion blog and since discussion is involved, you sharing your opinion on a topic by leaving a comment after reading it is very important.

Commenting on posts will make this blog more interesting for you and i. And it would also give you a voice online.

I've decided to add incentives to encourage you guys to share your thoughts by commenting. I will be giving out free recharge card to readers who comment regularly.

When I Plan to Kick Off the Discussion Blog

I'll kick off on Tuesday, 10th of February 2015.

I'm confident i can count on you guys. Let's create a community online. Do not forget to tell your friends about DavidvsNaija.

Thanks.

God bless you all.

See new photos of TY Bello's twin boys | So adorable!

TY Bello's twin boys are just so adorable!

Ibidun Ajayi Ighodalo, wife of Trinity House head pastor shared this cute photos of the twin boys, Christian and Christopher. See more photos below...

Mercy Johnson pledges support for President Jonathan, says he deserves a second chance

Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson Okojie has pledged her support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

The actress in an interview with iCampus says she believes President Jonathan deserves a second chance, noting that the president has good intention for Nigeria.

"He deserves another chance. This is a president who has good intentions for the nation. He is by no means a perfect man but he means well and he has apparently learnt from his weaknesses in the last four years. We must continue to believe in this great nation of ours. Nigeria belongs to us. The president cannot do it alone. He needs our help and we should not let him down at a time like this when he needs our votes to get the job done," Mercy Johnson said with an emotion laden voice.

Photos: Cristiano Ronaldo strips down for CR7 Spring/Summer 2015 underwear campaign

Cristiano Ronaldo looks quite hot.

The 29-year-old footballer stripped down for his CR7 underwear line Spring/Summer 2015 campaign.

Talking about it he says, "I love vibrant colours and underwear is a great way to experiment with different looks. The bright pink and red in the new collection and the bold patterns gives it a distinctive look for spring/summer– I like to make sure that the collection stands out! I'm really proud of it."

PDP denies giving pastors N6bn bribe to campaign against Buhari

The National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has denied giving N6bn bribe to some Christian leaders for the purpose of helping President Goodluck Jonathan win the February 14 presidential election.

The PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, who spoke at a press briefing in Abuja today, said the party was alarmed about the allegation which was made by the Director General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, had accused the ruling party of giving the bribe to a group of clergymen to campaign against the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

Metuh said, "Pastors are revered people and to bring their character into disrepute is a sin before God. We do not think anybody, not to talk of somebody who is a Christian, can make such statement.

"We challenge the Director General of APC to name such pastors and where the money is coming from.

"This attack is capable of bringing Christians and Muslims into a major disagreement and major dispute. If truly the person who issued this statement is a Catholic as he said, we are asking him to go for confession."

My government will punish anyone who embezzles public funds - Buhari

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), yesterday said there would be no hiding place for corrupt elected officials, including governors and all other government officials in his administration.

Buhari who gave the assurance at the APC presidential rally which held at the Pantami International Stadium, Gombe, said any public official who betrays the trust of Nigerians and illegally enriches himself under his administration would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

"We must do away with corruption as well as develop the Nigerian economy, if we are elected into office by the grace of God, any elected official that is elected or appointed to serve under me must be transparent, because if any of them embezzles public funds, he will face the consequences." he said.

I will do better in my second term - President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said he would do better in his second term if given the opportunity to rule again. The president said this yesterday while speaking to traditional rulers in Kogi State.

"Whatever we have done in the last four years, we believe that we will even do more in the next four years. Most governments all over the world do better in their second tenure. This is because the Presidents are more stable that time, especially in these two terms arrangement. They are more stable. They sit down and plan for the country and focus on key areas." he said.

Chadian troops enter Nigeria to battle Boko Haram

Chadian troops have crossed into northeastern Nigerian town of Gambaru to launch a ground offensive for the first time against Boko Haram insurgents who control the town bordering Cameroon.

Meanwhile Defence spokesman, General Chris Olukolade has denied that the presence of foreign troops on Nigerian soil compromised the country's sovereignty.

"Nigeria's territorial integrity remains intact," he said, claiming national forces had "planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria, not the Chadian forces".

Chad's ground intervention reflects the growing nervousness among Nigeria's neighbours over the prospect of Boko Haram achieving its aim of carving out an Islamic caliphate on their borders.

Chadian forces have also taken up position close to Boko Haram strongholds along Nigeria's border with Niger.

Some pastors took N6bn bribe to campaign against Buhari - Governor Amaechi

The Director-General of Buhari Presidential Campaign organisation and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has accused some church leaders of taking N6 billion bribe from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to campaign against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

Amaechi who spoke at APC's governorship campaign rally yesterday, in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, alleged that the religious leaders were already distributing leaflets all over that Buhari had plans to Islamize the country if elected.

He said: "Some pastors collected N6 billion and they are circulating documents and telling you not to vote for an Hausa man; not to vote for a Muslim; that they want to Islamize Nigeria. Tell them to return our N6 billion.

"They gave them N6 billion. They should return it to the Federal Government coffers. They will tell you that Buhari wants to Islamize Nigeria; tell them we are too educated. I am a Catholic, but no Catholic priest has told me that story right now in the Catholic Church because, I will ask him how.

"If any pastor tells you that, tell him to return the money. Nobody can Islamize Nigeria. They have commercialised Jesus Christ. They should stop commercialising Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Saviour.

"You know what Jesus Christ did in the temple, he chased them away. We shall chase away those pastors who have collected money from PDP to tell us lies. We shall chase them away on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"I told the President that the election in Rivers State is a referendum between him and me. I told him anywhere I will go, I will show what I have done. Let him show what he has done."

President Jonathan escapes death as bomb blast rocks his presidential rally in Gombe

President Goodluck Jonathan escaped death few hours ago as a bomb blast ripped through a car park outside a stadium where he had addressed a re-election campaign rally.

According to a source who was at the rally in Gombe, the explosion happened at 3:10 pm just three minutes after Jonathan's departure.

Another source said two suicide bombers died in the explosion that injured 18 persons.

"The president had just passed the parking lot and we were trailing behind his convoy when the explosion happened… just 100 metres (yards) from the bus we were driving in." A local reporter said.

Bishop Oyedepo never said he will open the gate of hell on anyone who opposes President Jonathan - Winners Chapel

The Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, has dismissed reports that its founder, Bishop David Oyedepo, vowed to unleash the gate of hell on anybody who opposed the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, when he visited the church on January 25, 2015.

In a statement on Sunday by the Resident Pastor of the church, Pastor Ubong Ntia, the church said the reports were far from the truth and were intended to cause mischief and to dent the image of the Bishop.

"There was nowhere, nor was there any time the following prayer or words were uttered by the Church or the Bishop: 'I will open the gates of hell to anyone who opposes you', or 'I will open the gates of hell to anyone who opposes the peace of this nation'," the statement read.

He however stressed that the President along with his entourage, like the rest of the congregation, were upstanding, and prayers were made for him and all those in authority, including the nation, noting that Oyedepo did not call the President to the altar for any special deliverance.

Recounting the visit, the church said, "The President and his entourage arrived at Canaan Land (Faith Tabernacle) for the third service at about 9. 30am. He and his team were ushered in and asked to occupy the front seats alongside the resident pastor and other senior pastors. Thereafter, in honour of the President, Bishop Oyedepo invited Jonathan to 'bring a word of greeting' to the congregation.

"President Jonathan spent approximately six minutes in his address, clearly stating that he would be careful not to sound political so that his visit and intentions would not be construed as electioneering campaign.

"In his brief speech, he adulated the ministry and person of bishop for the mighty works of faith, prayer for Nigeria and educational milestones the Living Faith Church has engendered for national development. He then expressed his belief that the elections of 2015 would go peacefully, while also asking for the people of God to pray more."

The church said contrary to insinuations that the visit was meant to canvass votes from the church, the President visited "in his capacity as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"Our church of over 33 years has been a sanctuary for all people with no prejudice to colour, ethnicity and political persuasion. We stand for righteousness and cherish our integrity."

Nigerian troops backed by vigilantes repel Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri

Nigerian troops working with civilian Joint Task Force have contained an assault aimed at taking over Maiduguri, Borno state capital by Boko Haram, roughly after 12 hours of fierce fighting.

"The terrorists' attack on Maiduguri in the early hours of Sunday was quickly contained. The terrorists incurred massive casualty," Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a text message. "The situation is calm as mopping up operation in the affected area is ongoing."

Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday launched a fresh attempt to take over the strategically crucial northeastern city of Maiduguri, a brazen attack on a state capital just two weeks before national elections.

Four residents told AFP that Sunday's fighting began at roughly 3:00 am (0200 GMT) with loud explosions and gunfire, as the Islamists tried to enter the city from the south.

After heavy fighting in the Mulai area just three kilometres south of the city, troops backed by vigilantes repelled the attack, but the militants then began a separate assault to the east and gun battles were ongoing, multiple witnesses said.

"The gunmen were initially subdued in Mulai, but now they have changed strategy and are attacking through the Damboa road (to the east)," said local Bukar Mungono, in an account supported by two others. "Fighting is still going on."

"The whole city is in fear," said resident Adam Krenuwa. "People are afraid of what will happen if Boko Haram defeats the security forces."

Losing control of Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, would be an enormous defeat for the security forces, whose handling of the six-year Islamist uprising has been fiercely criticised.

The city's fall would also likely spark a humanitarian disaster as Maiduguri's population is believed to have swelled above two million in recent weeks as residents from other parts of Borno have been forced to flee to the city to seek refuge from Boko Haram violence.

Iran offers to help fight Boko Haram

Iran has offered to assist Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram, as part of its contribution for global peace.

The country's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Amir Hossein Abdollohian made the announcement while addressing the press on Saturday on the sideline of the ongoing 24th Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Iran is attending the AU Summit as an observer with interest in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with some of the AU member states.

Abdollohian said the activities of the Boko Haram militants and that of Al-Shabaab in the Somalia were similar to that of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in the Middle East.

"Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa are similar with Al-Qaeda and ISISL in parts of the Middle East using similar methods of operations to cause havoc to the people of the two regions. Iran is therefore willing to use its experience in dealing with terror groups to assist in combatting these groups in Africa."

He said Iran was willing to share its experiences on terrorist activities it gathered over the years in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and other parts of the Middle East with Africa, particularly Nigeria and Somalia, as part of efforts to ensure global peace.

According to him, Iran has opened consultation with the African Union to offer its contribution to the affected countries in the coming days.