BUHARI AND RUNNING MATE,OSIBANJO
PARTY: APC
PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND ARC SAMBO
PARTY: PDP
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
AN APOLOGY
i sincerly want to apologise to you, my dearest friends for being AWOL all these while.
iam sorry for the silence without a prior notice.
in all, you have been in my thoughts and i promise to be back with interesting and thought provoking contents.
pls do bear with me, and thanks for staying with me through these times.
you guys rock!!!!!
its friday!!!!!!!! be good, have fun and stay out of trouble.
rita
iam sorry for the silence without a prior notice.
in all, you have been in my thoughts and i promise to be back with interesting and thought provoking contents.
pls do bear with me, and thanks for staying with me through these times.
you guys rock!!!!!
its friday!!!!!!!! be good, have fun and stay out of trouble.
rita
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
BREAKING NEWS:TWIN BOMB BLAST IN JOS
Twin blast rocked jos this afternoon. The explosion ripped through the University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) area inside the terminus market in Jos, Plateau state.
The number of casualty is still unknown at the moment. eye witnesses at the scene of the blast have been tweeting pics from the blast. find pics below..........................................................
#bringbackourgirls: Would Jonathan succumb to the pressure for prisoners swap?
President Goodluck Jonathan is currently under pressure from some prominent Nigerians and some of his influential aides to accept the prisoner swap offer made by Boko Haram to release the over 200 schoolgirls it abducted from their school in Chibok on April 14, investigation has revealed.
The leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, had in a recent video asked for the release of Boko Haram members detained by security agencies across the country in exchange for the abducted girls.
Although the Presidency had ruled out what it called “trade by barter” in securing the release of the schoolgirls, some top government officials, including the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, had at different times said the government would go to any length to ensure that the girls were brought back to safety.
But it was learnt on Sunday that the President was being pressured by some prominent Nigerians to accede to the demands of the sect.
Their argument, it was gathered , was that what Nigerians and the international community were
interested in at this time was the release of the girls and not the process leading to it.
interested in at this time was the release of the girls and not the process leading to it.
“Some prominent Nigerians are already reaching out to the President on the need for him to change his stand on the matter and do anything that can lead to the release of the girls. They are of the view that the release is the most important thing now,” a source close to the Presidency said in Abuja.
He did not name the prominent Nigerians whom he said had reached out to Jonathan on the matter.
The source added that some of the President’s top aides were also of the view that inasmuch as the girls were still in the abductors’ den, Jonathan’s goodwill among Nigerians and on the international scene would continue to dwindle.
This, they argued, would not do the President and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party any good as election year approaches.
Our source said If the President finally yields to the pressure, the release of the Boko Haram members in detention would not be made a public issue like when their wives and children were freed last year.
The source said this was to avoid the moral burden of justifying the release of criminals in exchange for innocent girls.
He added that once the decision was finally taken, the sect members who had already been convicted by courts might not benefit from the arrangement.
The source was not sure whether Shekau would also enjoy the luxury of naming his members who should benefit from the exchange or not.
He said, “Some of us are on the same page with these prominent Nigerians on this matter. Government should not be seen to be too rigid on this matter if we must get result.
“The way it is going, if the pressure is sustained, I see the President giving up on the matter in coming days and processes leading to the consummation of the agreement will be done behind the scene.
“This is why some government officials have been saying that the government will explore all options. It is our belief that this should be done as secretly as possible because of those who do not see the sense in government releasing criminals in exchange for the innocent girls.”
The Northern Elders’ Forum had said no sacrifice was too much to bring back the girls, even if it included releasing Boko Haram prisoners.
The forum’s spokesman Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had told SATURDAY PUNCH that, “every sacrifice is worth making to get these girls released from wherever they are kept.”
Jonathan had in May last year directed the Defence headquarters to release some Boko Haram members in its custody.
The decision was said to have been in furtherance of the Federal Government’’ position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.
The Spokesman for the President, Reuben Abati, had at that time said Jonathan’s directive was evidence of his government’s multi-dimensional approach to tackling the security challenge in some parts of the country
Gen Buhari denies having any adopted son
Gen Buhari has denied that a young man(pictured above)named Mohammed Buhari who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on suspicion of fraud to the tune of N20 million is his adopted son.
General Buhari through his camp has stated that the reports are false as he has no adopted son.
This was contained in a statement released by the Buhari Vanguard on behalf of the General.
Read full statement below:
Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) wishes to state categorically that he does not have any adopted son called “Muhammadu Buhari” and had no need to adopt a son at any time having been blessed with choice children, both male and female.
Muhammadu Buhari and his family do not know the said “Muhammed Buhari” who is alleged to be involved in a N20m scam and is being held by EFCC as reported by Saharareporters.
It is regrettable to note that after several unsuccessful attempts to smear the hard earned respect, popularity, dignity, and enviable image of Muhammadu Buhari, mischief makers have resorted to a laughable tactic of linking Muhammadu Buhari to a crime just because someone who has been alleged to have committed a crime somewhere bears the name “Buhari”.
Muhammadu Buhari is blessed with very descent and disciplined children who obviously took after their father. His children have no single record of stealing and inordinate behavior anywhere in the world. They do not seek attention, but have proven the stuff their father is made of any time their character is put to test.
However, this is understandable, since the entire attempts by mischief makers to discredit Muhammadu Buhari as an individual have failed. We frown at this poorly articulated gimmick to indirectly link Muhammadu Buhari and his family to a crime allegedly committed by someone unknown to him and his family just for the fact that the said suspect bears the name “Muhammed Buhari”.
We urge Nigerians to ignore the said report as Muhammadu Buhari and his family will continue to set the pace for others to follow in good character and conduct.
British Surveillance jet breaks down on its way to Nigeria to help #bringbackourgirls
In another news, the British surveillance jet which was on its way to Nigeria to help in the search for missing Chibok girls reportedly broke down in Senegal due to unspecified technical problems.
UK Ministry of Defense released a statement explaining this...
UK Ministry of Defense released a statement explaining this...
"A technical fault which has delayed the Sentinel aircraft on its way to Ghana is being investigated and will be solved as soon as possible. In the meantime the UK military team continues its work on the ground while other surveillance aircraft continue the search for the missing schoolgirls," .British Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced that Britain would offer Nigeria a surveillance jet to help in the search of the missing girls.
OUR MEN IN ACTION TO #BRING BACK OUR GIRLS(PHOTOS)
Reuben Abati tweeted this pix to show our men in action to #bringbackourgirls
wishing them them all the best and we pray that the girls are found soon.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
IG of Police goes on a terminal leave
The Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar has been asked to proceed on compulsory leave by president Jonathan allegedly because of the rising insecurity in the country under his watch and police under-performance under his leadership.
The Secretary to the Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, issued a letter signed by the president on Monday May 12th asking the IG to hand over to his immediate subordinate, Suleiman Fakai, who is the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Finance and Administration.
MD Abubakar became Inspector General of Police on January 25, 2012. His tenure was supposed to expire in July 2014, as he's due to retire July 30th 2014 based on mandatory retirement age after serving in the Nigerian Police Force for 35 years but had applied for extention of his tenure, but was turned down by the presidency.
Fakai will step in an acting capacity, until a new Inspector General is announced. Wednesday, May 14, 2014
SOLDIERS REVOLT IN MAIDUGURI,BORNO STATE
Soldiers from the newly formed 7th Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri today May 14th revolted against their General Officer Commanding, Major General Abubakar Mohammed, shooting sporadically in the Maimalari barracks, which is also home to the Artillery Corps, the Ordinance, as well as army signals in Maiduguri, Sahara Reporters reports
According to two soldiers who spoke with SR, emotions ran high when they saw the bodies of their colleagues ambushed and killed by Boko Haram men in Chibok, Borno state. The angry soldiers immediately started shooting into the air, complaining that their superior have failed to provide them with adequate weaponry with which to fight the war against the better-armed Boko Haram militants.
“We the soldiers don’t have the kind of arms and ammunition that [Boko Haram] fighters have. So everyday, they kill our men anyhow, but it is never published in the media,” said one source. The other source also complained that the commanding officers “are too busy ‘eating’ money. And they do not pay our allowances on time. And once [a soldier dies], nobody knows what happens to his allowances again.”
CREDIT: LIB
THE TIMES OF LONDON MAKES FUN OF OUR PRESIDENT WITH A CARTOON(photo)
The above picture you see is drawn by The Times' political cartoonist, Peter Brookes, its the main pic you see there when you go to their website. Seriously, i aint finding this funny, people ought to have some respect or go buy one.
Names Of the 54 Chibok School Girls Identified In Boko Haram Video
The parents of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls and their classmates converged at the Government House, Maiduguri, Borno State, to identify the girls who were shown in a video released by Boko Haram on Monday(yesterday).
The exercise which was painstaking and lasted throughout the day and last night, however, yielded some results, as parents, girls from Chibok secondary school and Borno State Government officials, were able to identify 54 of the abducted girls who featured in the video. And about 80 girls have now been identified so far.
Shortly after the terror sect released the video, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, had directed that it should be reproduced and distributed so that the parents of the girls could identify their daughters.
But for other parents who could not identify their daughters, the pain and sorrow continued, with speculation rising that some of the girls who appeared in the video may have been kidnapped before April 14 from other communities in Borno.
The leader of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, had released a video on Monday showing over a hundred of the kidnapped girls who are believed to have been abducted from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, a month ago.
He had said that the girls, all dressed in the Muslim hijab and reciting verses of the Qu’ran, would only be released if the federal government accepts to exchange them for members of his sect who have been in government detention facilities for years.
Below is a list of those identified so far:
1. Agnes Gafane
2. Saraya Stober
3. Hauwa Bitrus
4. Hajara Isa
5. Na’omi Philimun
6. Hauwa Abdu (1st Speaking)
7. Magret Yama
8. Shitta Abdu
9. Jummai Muta…
10. Ladi Paul
11. Roda Peter
12. Filo Dauda
13. Godiya Bitrus
14. Saratu Tauji (2nd Speaking)
15. Ross Daniel
16. Hauwa Ali
17. Hajara Isa (Amira 3rd Speaking)
18. Luba Afga
19. Na’omi Luka
20. Saraya Emos Ali
21. Bilkisu Abdullahi
22. Mairama Ali
23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga
24. Dabora Abbas
25. Kabu Mala
26. Halima Ali
27. Yana Bukar
28. Solomi Pugu
29. Lydia Emmar
30. Luba Sanda
31. Saraya Samuel
32. Comfort Habila
33. Rejoice Shanki
34. Gloria Yaga
35. Mary Nkeki
36. Moda Baba
37. Hauwa Isuwa
38. Patient Jacob
39. Ladi Jajel
40. Abigel Bukar
41. Fanta Lawan
42. Zainabu Yaga
43. Aisha Lawan Zanna
44. Dokas Yakubu
45. Kabu Mala
46. Maryama Bashir
47. Hauwa M. Maina
48. Mary G. Dauda
49. Susana Yakubu
50. Maryam Abbas
51. Laraba John
52. Hanatu Nuhu
53. Na’ omi Bukar
54. Rifkatu Galang
2. Saraya Stober
3. Hauwa Bitrus
4. Hajara Isa
5. Na’omi Philimun
6. Hauwa Abdu (1st Speaking)
7. Magret Yama
8. Shitta Abdu
9. Jummai Muta…
10. Ladi Paul
11. Roda Peter
12. Filo Dauda
13. Godiya Bitrus
14. Saratu Tauji (2nd Speaking)
15. Ross Daniel
16. Hauwa Ali
17. Hajara Isa (Amira 3rd Speaking)
18. Luba Afga
19. Na’omi Luka
20. Saraya Emos Ali
21. Bilkisu Abdullahi
22. Mairama Ali
23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga
24. Dabora Abbas
25. Kabu Mala
26. Halima Ali
27. Yana Bukar
28. Solomi Pugu
29. Lydia Emmar
30. Luba Sanda
31. Saraya Samuel
32. Comfort Habila
33. Rejoice Shanki
34. Gloria Yaga
35. Mary Nkeki
36. Moda Baba
37. Hauwa Isuwa
38. Patient Jacob
39. Ladi Jajel
40. Abigel Bukar
41. Fanta Lawan
42. Zainabu Yaga
43. Aisha Lawan Zanna
44. Dokas Yakubu
45. Kabu Mala
46. Maryama Bashir
47. Hauwa M. Maina
48. Mary G. Dauda
49. Susana Yakubu
50. Maryam Abbas
51. Laraba John
52. Hanatu Nuhu
53. Na’ omi Bukar
54. Rifkatu Galang
BREAKING NEWS: The Co Mastermind Of Nyanya Bomb Blast arrested In Sudan [PICTURED]
According to security sources, the co-mastermind of the April 14, 2014 bomb that went off in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche has been arrested in Sudan.
Ogwuche was reportedly arrested through the help of the Military Attaché to the Nigerian High Commission in Sudan with the help of international security operatives.
The suspect is a student of Arabic Language at the International University of Africa, Sudan is a British born Nigerian.
Ogwuche was formerly in the Nigerian Army with service number SVC 95/104 but was said to have deserted the Army in 2006.
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday 12, May 2014 during a joint news conference in Abuja declared him and one Rufai Tsiga planned the bombing of Nyanya Motor Park on 14 April which killed over 75 people.
The DSS through its Director of Public Relations of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, announced the declaration.
According to the Department of State Security, Ogwuche served in the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Army at Child Avenue, Arakan Barracks, Lagos, between 2001 and 2006. He was allegedly involved in terrorist activities which led to his arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Nov. 12, 2011 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from the UK. But was however, released on bail to his father, retired Col. Agene Ogwuche on Oct. 15, 2012 following intense pressure from human rights activists, who alleged human rights violation.
Ogar, who announced N25 million rewards for anyone who could give information that could lead to the arrest of the duo, also paraded five suspects in connection with the bombing. Ogar named the suspects as Ahmad Abubakar, 43, Muhammed Ishaq, 30, Yau Saidu, 28, Anas Isah, 22 and Adamu Yusuf, a cleric, 43.
“Rufai Abubakar Tsiga, a Boko Haram leader, is the mastermind of the bombing of April 14, 2014 at El-Rufai Motor Park, Abuja.Tsiga was actively aided by a co-mastermind, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche.
“The sum of N25 million is hereby announced as reward for anybody with useful information on their whereabouts,” she said.
The director said that on the night of 13 April, Tsiga and one Muhammed Ishaq, one of the arrested suspects, moved a vehicle laden with explosives to the Nyanya Park.
“In the morning of 14 April, Tsiga, under the direction of Ogwuche, moved the explosives laden vehicle to the position from where he detonated the explosives,” she said.
The DSS spokesperson said that the arrested suspects claimed that they bombed the park to retaliate the killing of a Boko Haram member at the park a week before the incident.
She denounced the claim as a fabrication by the mastermind of the bombing to elicit other members used for the bombing.
Ogar urged the public to be wary as terrorist elements were disguising and taking up menial jobs and parading themselves as businessmen daily in Abuja and its environs
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Court Stops further Probing of former CBN governor;Sanusi by Financial Reporting Council
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday restrained the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria from conducting investigations into alleged financial impropriety levelled against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
In his ruling in a suit instituted by Sanusi to bar the FRCN from probing him, Justice John Tsoho held that given the circumstances, the FRCN had not complied with the provisions of the law.
In granting Sanusi’s prayers, the judge said that allowing the probe to go on could be likened to the case of the proverbial cockroach, which found itself in the midst of fowls.
He said the cockroach under such circumstance was presumed guilty, adding that “since prevention is better than cure” the court should rule against the proposed investigation.
He had urged the court to stop the investigation into the CBN records during his tenures as governor on the ground that FRCN had found him guilty before commencing the probe.
The judge said the commission had already reached its conclusion as to the culpability of Sanusi, given the commission’s briefing note attached to the letter suspending him as the CBN governor on February 20, 2014, and newspaper advertisement inviting him for the probe,.
Sanusi, through his counsel, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN), insisted that the suspended CBN boss had not been given the benefit of fair hearing.
In his ruling in a suit instituted by Sanusi to bar the FRCN from probing him, Justice John Tsoho held that given the circumstances, the FRCN had not complied with the provisions of the law.
In granting Sanusi’s prayers, the judge said that allowing the probe to go on could be likened to the case of the proverbial cockroach, which found itself in the midst of fowls.
He said the cockroach under such circumstance was presumed guilty, adding that “since prevention is better than cure” the court should rule against the proposed investigation.
He had urged the court to stop the investigation into the CBN records during his tenures as governor on the ground that FRCN had found him guilty before commencing the probe.
The judge said the commission had already reached its conclusion as to the culpability of Sanusi, given the commission’s briefing note attached to the letter suspending him as the CBN governor on February 20, 2014, and newspaper advertisement inviting him for the probe,.
Sanusi, through his counsel, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN), insisted that the suspended CBN boss had not been given the benefit of fair hearing.
GoodNews: China Railway Unit Signs $16.3billion High-Speed Railway Contract With Nigeria
Sorry for not been able to post any news this few days, I just got tired of all the negative stories happening around here.
Over two hundred girls are still held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group, a video showing the abducted girls was released yesterday and the sect are demanding the release of their imprisoned members for the girls, the Borno State Governor has hinted he knows where the girls are been held-he got the intel!!! . And finaly the World Economic Summit that was held here in Nigeria was quite a success atleast I got to stay at home for 5 days.lol, just kidding.
So away from all the bad news, the China Railway Construction Corp has signed a US$13.1 billion (S$16.3 billion) deal to build a high-speed railway in Nigeria, as China’s pushes to develop fast rail and other infrastructure projects on the continent.
China Railway unit China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation signed the contract with the Nigerian government on Monday, according to a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday evening.
Under the contract, the state-backed Chinese company will build a railway with a single track length of 1,385 kilometres (860 miles) and a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The filing gave no details about where the line would be built.
The announcement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during a visit to Ethiopia, unveiled extra aid for Africa totalling at least US$12 billion and offered to share advance technology with the continent to help with development of high-speed rail, state media reported.
Over two hundred girls are still held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group, a video showing the abducted girls was released yesterday and the sect are demanding the release of their imprisoned members for the girls, the Borno State Governor has hinted he knows where the girls are been held-he got the intel!!! . And finaly the World Economic Summit that was held here in Nigeria was quite a success atleast I got to stay at home for 5 days.lol, just kidding.
So away from all the bad news, the China Railway Construction Corp has signed a US$13.1 billion (S$16.3 billion) deal to build a high-speed railway in Nigeria, as China’s pushes to develop fast rail and other infrastructure projects on the continent.
China Railway unit China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation signed the contract with the Nigerian government on Monday, according to a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday evening.
Under the contract, the state-backed Chinese company will build a railway with a single track length of 1,385 kilometres (860 miles) and a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The filing gave no details about where the line would be built.
The announcement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during a visit to Ethiopia, unveiled extra aid for Africa totalling at least US$12 billion and offered to share advance technology with the continent to help with development of high-speed rail, state media reported.
GoodNews: China Railway Unit Signs $16.3billion High-Speed Railway Contract With Nigeria
Sorry for not been able to post any news this few days, I just got tired of all the negative stories happening around here.
Over two hundred girls are still held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group, a video showing the abducted girls was released yesterday and the sect are demanding the release of their imprisoned members for the girls, the Borno State Governor has hinted he knows where the girls are been held-he got the intel!!! . And finaly the World Economic Summit that was held here in Nigeria was quite a success atleast I got to stay at home for 5 days.lol, just kidding.
So away from all the bad news, the China Railway Construction Corp has signed a US$13.1 billion (S$16.3 billion) deal to build a high-speed railway in Nigeria, as China’s pushes to develop fast rail and other infrastructure projects on the continent.
China Railway unit China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation signed the contract with the Nigerian government on Monday, according to a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday evening.
Under the contract, the state-backed Chinese company will build a railway with a single track length of 1,385 kilometres (860 miles) and a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The filing gave no details about where the line would be built.
The announcement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during a visit to Ethiopia, unveiled extra aid for Africa totalling at least US$12 billion and offered to share advance technology with the continent to help with development of high-speed rail, state media reported.
Over two hundred girls are still held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group, a video showing the abducted girls was released yesterday and the sect are demanding the release of their imprisoned members for the girls, the Borno State Governor has hinted he knows where the girls are been held-he got the intel!!! . And finaly the World Economic Summit that was held here in Nigeria was quite a success atleast I got to stay at home for 5 days.lol, just kidding.
So away from all the bad news, the China Railway Construction Corp has signed a US$13.1 billion (S$16.3 billion) deal to build a high-speed railway in Nigeria, as China’s pushes to develop fast rail and other infrastructure projects on the continent.
China Railway unit China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation signed the contract with the Nigerian government on Monday, according to a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday evening.
Under the contract, the state-backed Chinese company will build a railway with a single track length of 1,385 kilometres (860 miles) and a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The filing gave no details about where the line would be built.
The announcement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during a visit to Ethiopia, unveiled extra aid for Africa totalling at least US$12 billion and offered to share advance technology with the continent to help with development of high-speed rail, state media reported.
GoodNews: China Railway Unit Signs $16.3billion High-Speed Railway Contract With Nigeria
Sorry for not been able to post any news this few days, I just got tired of all the negative stories happening around here.
Over two hundred girls are still held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group, a video showing the abducted girls was released yesterday and the sect are demanding the release of their imprisoned members for the girls, the Borno State Governor has hinted he knows where the girls are been held-he got the intel!!! . And finaly the World Economic Summit that was held here in Nigeria was quite a success atleast I got to stay at home for 5 days.lol, just kidding.
So away from all the bad news, the China Railway Construction Corp has signed a US$13.1 billion (S$16.3 billion) deal to build a high-speed railway in Nigeria, as China’s pushes to develop fast rail and other infrastructure projects on the continent.
China Railway unit China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation signed the contract with the Nigerian government on Monday, according to a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday evening.
Under the contract, the state-backed Chinese company will build a railway with a single track length of 1,385 kilometres (860 miles) and a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The filing gave no details about where the line would be built.
The announcement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during a visit to Ethiopia, unveiled extra aid for Africa totalling at least US$12 billion and offered to share advance technology with the continent to help with development of high-speed rail, state media reported.
Over two hundred girls are still held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group, a video showing the abducted girls was released yesterday and the sect are demanding the release of their imprisoned members for the girls, the Borno State Governor has hinted he knows where the girls are been held-he got the intel!!! . And finaly the World Economic Summit that was held here in Nigeria was quite a success atleast I got to stay at home for 5 days.lol, just kidding.
So away from all the bad news, the China Railway Construction Corp has signed a US$13.1 billion (S$16.3 billion) deal to build a high-speed railway in Nigeria, as China’s pushes to develop fast rail and other infrastructure projects on the continent.
China Railway unit China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation signed the contract with the Nigerian government on Monday, according to a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday evening.
Under the contract, the state-backed Chinese company will build a railway with a single track length of 1,385 kilometres (860 miles) and a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The filing gave no details about where the line would be built.
The announcement came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during a visit to Ethiopia, unveiled extra aid for Africa totalling at least US$12 billion and offered to share advance technology with the continent to help with development of high-speed rail, state media reported.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
GUNMEN INVADES PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NYANYA
According to a report by Sahara Reporters,Unknown gunmen have attacked a primary school at Nyanya the scene of recent bombing attacks in Abuja.
Multiple sources within and around the Vine International Academy school toldSaharaReporters that the gunmen launched the attack few minutes before 8 am.
No pupil or member of staff was hurt, but the gunmen snatched the school bus.
“We do not know if they are members of Boko Haram or if they are robbers”, an official of the school said.
“The sad thing is that parents do not want to know if it’s Boko Haram or not. Many of them are coming to take away their children out of panic”.
Nyanya was the target of two bomb attacks that left hundreds dead and scores injured last month, and residents of the area are now living in fear of further attacks.
may GOD help us. Amen #bringbackourgirls
UPDATE: The stories initially had it that two schools were invaded - Ave Maria Girls Secondary School and Vine International Academy but here is the true story - Ave Maria was not involved. The school
proprietor of Ave Maria confirmed on phone that their school wasn't involved. But at Vine International Academy in Nyanya, their school bus was taken this morning by gunmen.
Vine International school's proprietress confirmed the gunmen tried to enter her school but eventually couldn’t. And NO child was taken away by them. Just their school bus.
Security in Nyanya really needs to be boosted cos residents are so scared. Someone living there, in Federal Housing Estate Nyanya,said that the government needs to bring in more troops into Nyanya, cos apparently, it seems Boko Haram has invaded the Nyanya environment.
UPDATE: The stories initially had it that two schools were invaded - Ave Maria Girls Secondary School and Vine International Academy but here is the true story - Ave Maria was not involved. The school
proprietor of Ave Maria confirmed on phone that their school wasn't involved. But at Vine International Academy in Nyanya, their school bus was taken this morning by gunmen.
Vine International school's proprietress confirmed the gunmen tried to enter her school but eventually couldn’t. And NO child was taken away by them. Just their school bus.
Security in Nyanya really needs to be boosted cos residents are so scared. Someone living there, in Federal Housing Estate Nyanya,said that the government needs to bring in more troops into Nyanya, cos apparently, it seems Boko Haram has invaded the Nyanya environment.
UPDATE: According to statement on the Facebook page of the Nigerian Police force, the early morning attack on Vine International school was a robbery attack and not an attack by Boko Haram.
PHOTOS: WHO COULD DO THIS TO HER CHILDREN???
According to a report by the The Nation, A woman; Mrs Toyin Abiodun who cooks, washes, bathes and defecates in a single room which she shares with her four young children has been accused of brutally assaulting them.
She beats her children with knife, cutlass, belt and iron. The boy pictured right is her first son and you can see all the marks on his head and face, and his dislocated arm.
permit me to ask, what on earth could make a mother hate her kids this much????
BREAKING NEWS: Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Vows To Sell Abducted Chibok Girls,says They’re His Properties And God has Instructed him to Sell Them.
Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist sect has on Monday claimed responsibility for the abduction of over 267 pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State which took place on April 14.
The Agence France-Presse quoted the leader of the sect, Abubakar
Shekau, as making the claim in a video the agency said it obtained.
Shekau, in the video, also threatened to sell off the abducted
girls in defiant response to the international outrage that greeted the
kidnapping of the girls from their hostel.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the seizure of the girls
barely 24hours after President Goodluck Jonathan told the nation that no group
had claimed responsibility for the abduction.
Shekau
was quoted to have said, “I
abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah.”
He spoke just as the Daily Telegraph of London reported that a
former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is now a UN special envoy on
education, led calls for Western governments to assist with the rescue of the
girls.
According to the report, a Foreign Office spokesman said the
government was in talks with the Nigerian Government and ‘security services’
but declined to say if that might include Special Forces, such as the SAS.
The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, over the
weekend also promised America’s help.
He said, “The kidnapping of hundreds of children by Boko Haram
is an unconscionable crime and we will do everything possible to support
the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes
and to hold the perpetrators to justice.”
When the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen
Chris Olukolade was contacted, he said that the military authorities had
not seen the said video.
He said that even if there was such a video, the claim would
have to be verified.
Olukolade added that the military had been treating all claims
and pieces of information relating to the abduction of the schoolgirls with the
deserved seriousness.
The Defence spokesman added,“On the so- called video or message
from the terrorists, let me reiterate the fact that the military is taking
every information or claims on this abduction with due seriousness.
“This claim will also be studied although it will not distract
the ongoing search.”
A source said that the move was part of a conspiracy to
frustrate government investigation into the incident.
The BBC, also citing the video obtained by the AFP, also quoted
Shekau as saying the girls should not have been in school in the first place,
but rather should get married.
“God
instructed me to sell them, they are his properties and I will carry out his
instructions,” he said.
Assurances from President Goodluck Jonathan have done little to
convince Nigerians of the government’s commitment to freeing the girls.
Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden”, has
attacked numerous places of worship and educational institutions in northern
Nigeria.
The Associated Press said it was unclear whether the video was
made before or after reports last week that some of the girls had been forced
to marry their abductors, who paid a nominal bride price of N200.
Others are reported to have been taken across borders into
Cameroon and Chad.
The girls were in their final year of school, most of them aged
16 to 18.
Shekau in the 57-minute video also insisted that the girls were
no better than the “booty of war.”
The terrorist, who is currently on the most wanted list of both
Nigerian and the US governments, said the abducted schoolgirls were no more
than slaves that he could choose whatever he wanted to do with them.
He admitted that the girls had spent over 20 days in his custody
and that he had not treated them any better than the “booty of war.”
Shekau who did not display the girls throughout the recording,
said, “We would also give their hands in marriage because they are our slaves.
We would marry them out at the age of nine. We would marry them out at the age
of 12,” it depends on “our choice”.
The terrorist leader, who spoke in Hausa and Arabic languages
interchangeably, noted that the girls were captured because they were seeking
Western education.
“Western education is sin, it is forbidden, and women must go
and marry,” he said.
The video, which had been sent to local journalists via
electronic mail, could not however be independently verified
Monday, May 5, 2014
Girl Who Escaped From Boko Haram Den narrates her experience
One of the girls who miraculously escaped from the turbulent Boko Haram camp has narrated her horid experience, the young teenager detailed all that happened while she was captured and also explained how their captors (Boko Haram) rapes every girl up to 15times daily.
According Daily Mirror, “Families of the schoolgirls, aged between 15 to 18, are certain their daughters are now being used as séx slaves by an extreme sect that has killed 1,500 people since the start of this year alone. They are captives in the wild Sambisa Forest in north-east Nigeria where Boko Haram has a heavily armed camp of bunkers, tunnels, ramshackle buildings and tents.
“One girl who recently escaped following an earlier kidnapping said she was prized as a terror leader’s wife because she had been a virgin. She said young female captives were raped up to 15 times a day, forced to convert to Islam and had their throats cut if they refused.”
It is noted that under President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian government appears to have done little except issue an entirely false claim that most of the girls had been rescued by defence forces.”
It quotes Mma Odi, executive director of the Nigerian charity Baobab Women’s Human Rights, as saying: “It is a very bad situation for those girls. The men went to the school for no other reason than to make them their sex objects. The men will have reduced them to sex slaves, raping them over and over again. And any girl who tries to resist will be shot by them. They have no conscience.
“The conditions will be terrible and it seems like the government has just abandoned them because they are girls and they are poor. If they were the sons of the rich, the government would act. Their abductors are not human beings and if the girls get out they will no longer be normal. They will have to have years of counselling to recover.”
Also indicting the Jonathan led administration, Professor Hauwa Biu, a women’s rights campaigner based at the University of Maiduguri, told Daily Mirror: “They claim they are on top of the situation, that they are in the bush, but they are not there. If the government had acted straight away then they could have followed the gunmen’s footsteps or tyre tracks, but over the past weeks rain and leaves have fallen, covering them up.
“Meanwhile, nobody knows what kind of conditions they will be living in the camp. I cannot think what these girls must be going through. I have been told that the men feed them and treat them quite well, but we also know that other girls kidnapped have been highly molested.
As the news of the abductions spread, frantic parents rode motorbikes into the forest in pursuit. But they were met by villagers who told them with icy certainty that unless they turned back they would be shot dead by the terrorists.
Some girls managed to escape. In the end 53 got away, but 276 are still missing.
A girl called Rehab, 17, told how she jumped from a truck with schoolmate, Comfort, 15, as they were driven into the forest: “We summoned up some courage and grabbed some of the branches and clung on to them while the truck moved on with the other girls,” she said.
“We jumped down and began to run into the darkness. Comfort and I went in the same direction but four other girls took the path back to a village. We didn’t know where we were but we kept running.”
Malam Ali Iliya is the father of another schoolgirl who escaped.
“My daughter said when the trailer got stuck, some of the girls began to jump out and run for their lives and she followed suit. We are lucky our children were not shot,” he said.
According Daily Mirror, “Families of the schoolgirls, aged between 15 to 18, are certain their daughters are now being used as séx slaves by an extreme sect that has killed 1,500 people since the start of this year alone. They are captives in the wild Sambisa Forest in north-east Nigeria where Boko Haram has a heavily armed camp of bunkers, tunnels, ramshackle buildings and tents.
“One girl who recently escaped following an earlier kidnapping said she was prized as a terror leader’s wife because she had been a virgin. She said young female captives were raped up to 15 times a day, forced to convert to Islam and had their throats cut if they refused.”
It is noted that under President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian government appears to have done little except issue an entirely false claim that most of the girls had been rescued by defence forces.”
It quotes Mma Odi, executive director of the Nigerian charity Baobab Women’s Human Rights, as saying: “It is a very bad situation for those girls. The men went to the school for no other reason than to make them their sex objects. The men will have reduced them to sex slaves, raping them over and over again. And any girl who tries to resist will be shot by them. They have no conscience.
“The conditions will be terrible and it seems like the government has just abandoned them because they are girls and they are poor. If they were the sons of the rich, the government would act. Their abductors are not human beings and if the girls get out they will no longer be normal. They will have to have years of counselling to recover.”
Also indicting the Jonathan led administration, Professor Hauwa Biu, a women’s rights campaigner based at the University of Maiduguri, told Daily Mirror: “They claim they are on top of the situation, that they are in the bush, but they are not there. If the government had acted straight away then they could have followed the gunmen’s footsteps or tyre tracks, but over the past weeks rain and leaves have fallen, covering them up.
“Meanwhile, nobody knows what kind of conditions they will be living in the camp. I cannot think what these girls must be going through. I have been told that the men feed them and treat them quite well, but we also know that other girls kidnapped have been highly molested.
As the news of the abductions spread, frantic parents rode motorbikes into the forest in pursuit. But they were met by villagers who told them with icy certainty that unless they turned back they would be shot dead by the terrorists.
Some girls managed to escape. In the end 53 got away, but 276 are still missing.
A girl called Rehab, 17, told how she jumped from a truck with schoolmate, Comfort, 15, as they were driven into the forest: “We summoned up some courage and grabbed some of the branches and clung on to them while the truck moved on with the other girls,” she said.
“We jumped down and began to run into the darkness. Comfort and I went in the same direction but four other girls took the path back to a village. We didn’t know where we were but we kept running.”
Malam Ali Iliya is the father of another schoolgirl who escaped.
“My daughter said when the trailer got stuck, some of the girls began to jump out and run for their lives and she followed suit. We are lucky our children were not shot,” he said.
Girl Who Escaped From Boko Haram Den narrates her experience
One of the girls who miraculously escaped from the turbulent Boko Haram camp has narrated her horid experience, the young teenager detailed all that happened while she was captured and also explained how their captors (Boko Haram) rapes every girl up to 15times daily.
According Daily Mirror, “Families of the schoolgirls, aged between 15 to 18, are certain their daughters are now being used as séx slaves by an extreme sect that has killed 1,500 people since the start of this year alone. They are captives in the wild Sambisa Forest in north-east Nigeria where Boko Haram has a heavily armed camp of bunkers, tunnels, ramshackle buildings and tents.
“One girl who recently escaped following an earlier kidnapping said she was prized as a terror leader’s wife because she had been a virgin. She said young female captives were raped up to 15 times a day, forced to convert to Islam and had their throats cut if they refused.”
It is noted that under President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian government appears to have done little except issue an entirely false claim that most of the girls had been rescued by defence forces.”
It quotes Mma Odi, executive director of the Nigerian charity Baobab Women’s Human Rights, as saying: “It is a very bad situation for those girls. The men went to the school for no other reason than to make them their sex objects. The men will have reduced them to sex slaves, raping them over and over again. And any girl who tries to resist will be shot by them. They have no conscience.
“The conditions will be terrible and it seems like the government has just abandoned them because they are girls and they are poor. If they were the sons of the rich, the government would act. Their abductors are not human beings and if the girls get out they will no longer be normal. They will have to have years of counselling to recover.”
Also indicting the Jonathan led administration, Professor Hauwa Biu, a women’s rights campaigner based at the University of Maiduguri, told Daily Mirror: “They claim they are on top of the situation, that they are in the bush, but they are not there. If the government had acted straight away then they could have followed the gunmen’s footsteps or tyre tracks, but over the past weeks rain and leaves have fallen, covering them up.
“Meanwhile, nobody knows what kind of conditions they will be living in the camp. I cannot think what these girls must be going through. I have been told that the men feed them and treat them quite well, but we also know that other girls kidnapped have been highly molested.
As the news of the abductions spread, frantic parents rode motorbikes into the forest in pursuit. But they were met by villagers who told them with icy certainty that unless they turned back they would be shot dead by the terrorists.
Some girls managed to escape. In the end 53 got away, but 276 are still missing.
A girl called Rehab, 17, told how she jumped from a truck with schoolmate, Comfort, 15, as they were driven into the forest: “We summoned up some courage and grabbed some of the branches and clung on to them while the truck moved on with the other girls,” she said.
“We jumped down and began to run into the darkness. Comfort and I went in the same direction but four other girls took the path back to a village. We didn’t know where we were but we kept running.”
Malam Ali Iliya is the father of another schoolgirl who escaped.
“My daughter said when the trailer got stuck, some of the girls began to jump out and run for their lives and she followed suit. We are lucky our children were not shot,” he said.
According Daily Mirror, “Families of the schoolgirls, aged between 15 to 18, are certain their daughters are now being used as séx slaves by an extreme sect that has killed 1,500 people since the start of this year alone. They are captives in the wild Sambisa Forest in north-east Nigeria where Boko Haram has a heavily armed camp of bunkers, tunnels, ramshackle buildings and tents.
“One girl who recently escaped following an earlier kidnapping said she was prized as a terror leader’s wife because she had been a virgin. She said young female captives were raped up to 15 times a day, forced to convert to Islam and had their throats cut if they refused.”
It is noted that under President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian government appears to have done little except issue an entirely false claim that most of the girls had been rescued by defence forces.”
It quotes Mma Odi, executive director of the Nigerian charity Baobab Women’s Human Rights, as saying: “It is a very bad situation for those girls. The men went to the school for no other reason than to make them their sex objects. The men will have reduced them to sex slaves, raping them over and over again. And any girl who tries to resist will be shot by them. They have no conscience.
“The conditions will be terrible and it seems like the government has just abandoned them because they are girls and they are poor. If they were the sons of the rich, the government would act. Their abductors are not human beings and if the girls get out they will no longer be normal. They will have to have years of counselling to recover.”
Also indicting the Jonathan led administration, Professor Hauwa Biu, a women’s rights campaigner based at the University of Maiduguri, told Daily Mirror: “They claim they are on top of the situation, that they are in the bush, but they are not there. If the government had acted straight away then they could have followed the gunmen’s footsteps or tyre tracks, but over the past weeks rain and leaves have fallen, covering them up.
“Meanwhile, nobody knows what kind of conditions they will be living in the camp. I cannot think what these girls must be going through. I have been told that the men feed them and treat them quite well, but we also know that other girls kidnapped have been highly molested.
As the news of the abductions spread, frantic parents rode motorbikes into the forest in pursuit. But they were met by villagers who told them with icy certainty that unless they turned back they would be shot dead by the terrorists.
Some girls managed to escape. In the end 53 got away, but 276 are still missing.
A girl called Rehab, 17, told how she jumped from a truck with schoolmate, Comfort, 15, as they were driven into the forest: “We summoned up some courage and grabbed some of the branches and clung on to them while the truck moved on with the other girls,” she said.
“We jumped down and began to run into the darkness. Comfort and I went in the same direction but four other girls took the path back to a village. We didn’t know where we were but we kept running.”
Malam Ali Iliya is the father of another schoolgirl who escaped.
“My daughter said when the trailer got stuck, some of the girls began to jump out and run for their lives and she followed suit. We are lucky our children were not shot,” he said.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Teenage gay cult " Yansh" uncovered in Warri
The Delta State Government has revealed that there's a teenage gay cult in Warri called Yansh. The teenagers who are said to be from ages 15 to 18 reportedly live in rented apartments close to Enerhen Junction, Warri, where gay men come to sleep with them and pay them.
This was revealed by the Delta state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday during his Easter message to Deltans at the First Baptist Church in Warri
"These are our sons and men come to sleep with them. It is through the Edu Marshals Programme that we discovered them. We used to know about female harlots, now we have male harlots. Unfortunately they are young boys. There is much government can do, but there is more we can do as parents.” the governor said
Source: Vanguard
This was revealed by the Delta state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday during his Easter message to Deltans at the First Baptist Church in Warri
"These are our sons and men come to sleep with them. It is through the Edu Marshals Programme that we discovered them. We used to know about female harlots, now we have male harlots. Unfortunately they are young boys. There is much government can do, but there is more we can do as parents.” the governor said
Source: Vanguard
Happy Easter
Here is wishing everyone a Happy Easter,May the good tidings of Easter reach You and everyone around You.
Sorry this is coming late, the network service in the village has been so bad......FYI my Traditional Marriage is coming up on the 24th of this month which is like 48 hours away. Need your Love and prayers.
And please bear with me, I am gonna be AWOL this few days, I promise to come back as soon as possible so I would continue providing you with Nigeria's freshest breaking news. I Love U all.*Mwah*
Sorry this is coming late, the network service in the village has been so bad......FYI my Traditional Marriage is coming up on the 24th of this month which is like 48 hours away. Need your Love and prayers.
And please bear with me, I am gonna be AWOL this few days, I promise to come back as soon as possible so I would continue providing you with Nigeria's freshest breaking news. I Love U all.*Mwah*
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Update:Boko Haram Leader Claims Responsibility for Abuja Nyanya Bomb Blast in new video
Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for the Abuja bomb blast that killed at least 75 people via a video message.
“We are the ones that carried out the attack in Abuja,” Shekau said in the 28-minute video, referring to the deadliest attack ever in Nigeria’s capital which targeted Nyanya bus station packed with morning commuters.
Seated with a kalashnikov resting on his left shoulder and dressed in military uniform, the insurgent commander spoke in both Arabic and the Hausa language that is dominant in northern Nigeria. The message was delivered to AFP in a manner consistent with previous videos from Boko Haram.
Shekau indicated that Boko Haram has fighters based in the capital. Referring to President Goodluck Jonathan, he said:
“We are in your city.”
The bombing at the Nyanya bus terminal on the outskirts of Abuja was the first major attack in the capital in two years. Most of the insurgents’ violence in recent months had been concentrated in the group’s remote northeastern stronghold, where the military is waging an 11-month-old offensive.
Shekau has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which has put a $7 million bounty (5.1 million euros) on his head.
“We are the ones that carried out the attack in Abuja,” Shekau said in the 28-minute video, referring to the deadliest attack ever in Nigeria’s capital which targeted Nyanya bus station packed with morning commuters.
Seated with a kalashnikov resting on his left shoulder and dressed in military uniform, the insurgent commander spoke in both Arabic and the Hausa language that is dominant in northern Nigeria. The message was delivered to AFP in a manner consistent with previous videos from Boko Haram.
Shekau indicated that Boko Haram has fighters based in the capital. Referring to President Goodluck Jonathan, he said:
“We are in your city.”
The bombing at the Nyanya bus terminal on the outskirts of Abuja was the first major attack in the capital in two years. Most of the insurgents’ violence in recent months had been concentrated in the group’s remote northeastern stronghold, where the military is waging an 11-month-old offensive.
Shekau has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which has put a $7 million bounty (5.1 million euros) on his head.
President Jonathan's Easter message to the nation
Easter message from Mr President..
Dear Compatriots,
I greet you all, especially our Christian brothers and sisters who are celebrating Easter and commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ today.
As we join Christians in other countries of the world in celebrating Easter this year, I urge all Nigerians to reflect on the significance of its lessons of piety, obedience to higher authorities, self sacrifice for the good of others, redemption, salvation, deliverance, renewal and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
These lessons of Easter and other injunctions on brotherly love, peaceful co-existence, tolerance, honesty, humility, justice, equity and fairness to all without discrimination contained in the Gospels are of particular importance to us as a nation as we continue to contend with the challenges of nation-building and development.
As our Christian compatriots celebrate the Messiah’s triumph over death and all that it connotes, let us all renew our faith and confidence in our ability as a people to overcome all obstacles, challenges and threats to national progress and well-being, including terrorism and other criminal attacks on our people in some parts of the country.
My belief in our ability to overcome all retrogressive and divisive forces in our midst and build a strong, united and prosperous nation by turning our unique diversity into a source of strength remains unshaken and we will continue to work with all interest groups and stakeholders in the country to achieve the peaceful, secure and politically stable conditions essential for rapid socio-economic development.
In spite of the evil machinations of terrorists, criminals and their collaborators, our Administration remains ardently focused on efforts to successfully execute the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation and achieve sustained development.
We have already made notable advances in this regard. As a result of our efforts and those of previous administrations, the Nigeria economy is now the largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world.
But we cannot afford to rest on our oars. Much remains to be done and we will continue to count on the patriotic support of all Nigerians as we strive to achieve more inclusive economic growth, generate more national wealth and create more employment opportunities to meet the demands of our increasingly youthful population.
I commend the leadership and delegates to the ongoing National Conference, the vast majority of who have shown a patriotic and praiseworthy commitment to national unity, peace and progress built on justice, fairness and equity for all component parts of the country.
As the Conference breaks into committees to continue its deliberations, it remains our hope and expectation that the end result will be meaningful and enduring contributions towards strengthening national unity and fulfilling our collective desire for a better and greater nation.
Once again, I extend heartfelt commiserations to all the families who have sadly lost loved relatives in recent terrorist attacks.
Our thoughts and sympathies remain with all those who have suffered injuries from the heinous attacks. We pray for their speedy recovery and shall keep on doing everything possible to assist them with required medical services and material support.
Our Armed Forces and security agencies will continue to do their very best to curb such attacks and restore full security to all parts of our beloved country.
But we must all become more alert and vigilant, and do all that we can to give them the fullest possible assistance, support and cooperation they require to achieve more effective protection of lives and property across the country.
We shall continue to count on your support and prayers for greater peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in Nigeria.
May God Almighty bless our dear nation and guide us, always.
Happy Easter to you all.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Dear Compatriots,
I greet you all, especially our Christian brothers and sisters who are celebrating Easter and commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ today.
As we join Christians in other countries of the world in celebrating Easter this year, I urge all Nigerians to reflect on the significance of its lessons of piety, obedience to higher authorities, self sacrifice for the good of others, redemption, salvation, deliverance, renewal and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
These lessons of Easter and other injunctions on brotherly love, peaceful co-existence, tolerance, honesty, humility, justice, equity and fairness to all without discrimination contained in the Gospels are of particular importance to us as a nation as we continue to contend with the challenges of nation-building and development.
As our Christian compatriots celebrate the Messiah’s triumph over death and all that it connotes, let us all renew our faith and confidence in our ability as a people to overcome all obstacles, challenges and threats to national progress and well-being, including terrorism and other criminal attacks on our people in some parts of the country.
My belief in our ability to overcome all retrogressive and divisive forces in our midst and build a strong, united and prosperous nation by turning our unique diversity into a source of strength remains unshaken and we will continue to work with all interest groups and stakeholders in the country to achieve the peaceful, secure and politically stable conditions essential for rapid socio-economic development.
In spite of the evil machinations of terrorists, criminals and their collaborators, our Administration remains ardently focused on efforts to successfully execute the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation and achieve sustained development.
We have already made notable advances in this regard. As a result of our efforts and those of previous administrations, the Nigeria economy is now the largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world.
But we cannot afford to rest on our oars. Much remains to be done and we will continue to count on the patriotic support of all Nigerians as we strive to achieve more inclusive economic growth, generate more national wealth and create more employment opportunities to meet the demands of our increasingly youthful population.
I commend the leadership and delegates to the ongoing National Conference, the vast majority of who have shown a patriotic and praiseworthy commitment to national unity, peace and progress built on justice, fairness and equity for all component parts of the country.
As the Conference breaks into committees to continue its deliberations, it remains our hope and expectation that the end result will be meaningful and enduring contributions towards strengthening national unity and fulfilling our collective desire for a better and greater nation.
Once again, I extend heartfelt commiserations to all the families who have sadly lost loved relatives in recent terrorist attacks.
Our thoughts and sympathies remain with all those who have suffered injuries from the heinous attacks. We pray for their speedy recovery and shall keep on doing everything possible to assist them with required medical services and material support.
Our Armed Forces and security agencies will continue to do their very best to curb such attacks and restore full security to all parts of our beloved country.
But we must all become more alert and vigilant, and do all that we can to give them the fullest possible assistance, support and cooperation they require to achieve more effective protection of lives and property across the country.
We shall continue to count on your support and prayers for greater peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in Nigeria.
May God Almighty bless our dear nation and guide us, always.
Happy Easter to you all.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Update: Doyin Okupe takes responsiblity for misinformation on abducted girls
Mr Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, yesterday took full responsibility for the misinformation on the 100+ abducted Government Girls Secondary students who were taken from their hostel on Monday 14th in Chibok, Borno state by Boko Haram men. He had issued a statement saying the military had released the girls. It was later found to be false. The girls are still missing.
Nigerian Military Retracts Claim It Freed 107 Abducted Schoolgirls
The Nigerian military on Thursday backtracked on its claim that it freed majority of the 129 female students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted on Monday night by suspected Boko Haram members.
The spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, Chris Olukolade, had said 107 of the girls were freed in addition to the 14 that escaped from their abductors.
Mr. Olukolade claimed that following the rescue, only eight of the girls were still held captive by the insurgents.
But shortly after Mr. Olukolade’s statement was published, the principal of the affected school, Asabe Kwambura, as well as officials of the Borno state government, said the claims were untrue and that majority of the girls were still missing.
“There is nothing in the military statement that is true about our abducted girls,” Mrs. Kwambura had said. “Up till now we are still waiting and praying for the safe return of the students; all I know is that we have only 14 of them, and the security people especially the Vigilante and the well meaning volunteers of Gwoza are still out searching for them.”
Mrs. Kwambura’s claim portrayed the military in bad light and angered several Nigerians, with some accusing the military and the Nigerian government of playing politics with the lives of the abducted girls.
Apparently rattled by the denial of its claim, the military on Thursday night issued a statement, saying it was deferring to the principal of the school and the Borno government on the correct number of girls that have so far been freed.
“In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues,” Mr. Olukolade said in a statement.
The defence spokesperson denied the military was playing politics with the rescue operation, saying the information he provided on Thursday was sourced from the field.
“There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately,” Mr. Olukolade explained. “Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.”
He added, “It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State.
“Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious.”
Read Mr. Olukolade’s full statement below.
Joint Information Centre
Counter Terrorism Campaign
North-East Nigeria
c/o Defence Headquarters
ABUJA
JIC/CTC/NE/14 17 April 2014
PRESS RELEASE
UPDATE ON THE ABDUCTED STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL CHIBOK
The controversy that has been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok is unfortunate. The ongoing frantic efforts of security forces along with vigilante groups including hunters working to locate and free the abducted students have continued to be keenly monitored at the Operation Centre of the Defence and Army Headquarters as regular progress reports are being received from troops on the ground.
In this regard, a report was filed in from the field indicating that a major breakthrough had been recorded in the search. There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately. Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.
It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State. Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious.
In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.
CHRIS OLUKOLADE
Major General
Director Defence Information/Coordinator
Source: Premium Times
The spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, Chris Olukolade, had said 107 of the girls were freed in addition to the 14 that escaped from their abductors.
Mr. Olukolade claimed that following the rescue, only eight of the girls were still held captive by the insurgents.
But shortly after Mr. Olukolade’s statement was published, the principal of the affected school, Asabe Kwambura, as well as officials of the Borno state government, said the claims were untrue and that majority of the girls were still missing.
“There is nothing in the military statement that is true about our abducted girls,” Mrs. Kwambura had said. “Up till now we are still waiting and praying for the safe return of the students; all I know is that we have only 14 of them, and the security people especially the Vigilante and the well meaning volunteers of Gwoza are still out searching for them.”
Mrs. Kwambura’s claim portrayed the military in bad light and angered several Nigerians, with some accusing the military and the Nigerian government of playing politics with the lives of the abducted girls.
Apparently rattled by the denial of its claim, the military on Thursday night issued a statement, saying it was deferring to the principal of the school and the Borno government on the correct number of girls that have so far been freed.
“In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues,” Mr. Olukolade said in a statement.
The defence spokesperson denied the military was playing politics with the rescue operation, saying the information he provided on Thursday was sourced from the field.
“There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately,” Mr. Olukolade explained. “Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.”
He added, “It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State.
“Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious.”
Read Mr. Olukolade’s full statement below.
Joint Information Centre
Counter Terrorism Campaign
North-East Nigeria
c/o Defence Headquarters
ABUJA
JIC/CTC/NE/14 17 April 2014
PRESS RELEASE
UPDATE ON THE ABDUCTED STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL CHIBOK
The controversy that has been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok is unfortunate. The ongoing frantic efforts of security forces along with vigilante groups including hunters working to locate and free the abducted students have continued to be keenly monitored at the Operation Centre of the Defence and Army Headquarters as regular progress reports are being received from troops on the ground.
In this regard, a report was filed in from the field indicating that a major breakthrough had been recorded in the search. There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately. Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.
It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State. Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious.
In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.
CHRIS OLUKOLADE
Major General
Director Defence Information/Coordinator
Source: Premium Times
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Reasons Why Jonathan Attended Political Rally in Kano While Nigerians Mourned Abuja Bomb Victims- Information Minister, Labaran Maku Responds
Few days ago, Nigerians condemned Jonathan's visit to Kano State for a political rally. Well The Federal Government has come out in staunch defence of President Goodluck Jonathan for attending and indeed dancing at a politically rally while Nigerians mourned victims of the Monday morning Abuja bomb explosion.
At least 75 people died and over 100 injured when a bomb exploded in a crowded park in Nyanya, Abuja on Monday, with witnesses saying the casualty was much more than the official figures.
A day after the Nyanya bomb blast, Mr. Jonathan went to Kano State for a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, politically rally. The president danced as he and hundreds of the party’s supporters welcomed Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of the state, to the PDP. This led to criticisms from several Nigerians and the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, who accused him of insensitivity to the plight of the blast victims.
However, at the end of the weekly Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, meeting on Wednesday, the federal government defended Mr. Jonathan’s actions.
The Information Minister, Labaran Maku, who briefed journalists after the FEC meeting, said the President had to attend the rally to prove to the terrorists that they cannot cripple the activities of government which, he said, was their fundamental aim.
“This president has suffered psychologically as a result of this criminality,” Mr. Maku said. “I think going to Kano was a statement, a loud statement that terrorism will not stop the administration of this country”.
“For someone to go round and say that the President is not sensitive is not correct.
“You will remember that the President called off his trip to Ibadan(which he attended the next day) for the centenary church celebration of the Olubadan of Ibadan who was exactly 100 years old that time.
“He personally visited the scene and called on all the security operatives to provide support. There also he called on the nation to be more united even as he reassured the nation that government will not surrender to the antics of the terrorists,” he added.
The Information Minister said the criticisms of the president’s actions were coming from politicians “trying to exploit the issue to score cheap political points.”
“I think that this is very bad… We should not be exploiting the emotion of citizens for a cheap political point,” he said.
Mr. Maku also said the government had also ensured that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, was strengthened enough to respond promptly to such attacks.
He added that government was doing everything possible to ensure that anywhere Nigerians are attacked, relief items are provided promptly.
.
“We must be united in condemning terrorism and make sure that Nigerians are committed to kicking out terrorism from our country.
The minister also criticised media reportage of the blast. He said members of the FEC were disturbed about the way the gory pictures of the blast were published and called for restrains in reporting such incidents.
“Yes, we must report, but in reporting, we must be sensitive to the psychological state of our people.
“We noticed that throughout the 911 incidence, we notice that hardly was pictures of any of those who died were shown,” he said.
Mr. Maku urged Nigerians not to allow the current spate of terrorism dampen their spirit, saying Nigeria is not a nation of terrorists.
“Terrorism is not our way of life; it is not part of the mentality of any ordinary Nigerian that is why Nigerians are united against the issue of terror”.
He also assured that Nigeria will continue to work against terrorism with its neighbours including Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
Mr. Maku said the President has directed the FCT Minister to begin surveillance and provision of security around the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
In his statement, the Abuja Minister, Bala Mohammed, said 75 victims of the blast died while 171 others were currently receiving treatments in various hospitals.
He also announced that the FCT will foot the bills of those under treatments in the various hospitals, adding that the Abuja administration is fully prepared to close the gaps in the security system
“We will make it very difficult for people with bad intensions to penetrate our parks. Certainly, we are going to bring bomb detectors and we are going to work with our security to guide us on how to make our schools, parks, markets and other public places safe for our people,” he said.
He disclosed that the FCT will bring in about 100 high capacity new buses so that the Nyanya incident does not affect the movements of people and goods, adding that government cannot source all the buses from the country.
He also disclosed that the Abuja administration will install metal detection devices inside the new buses being purchased.
“We have noticed that these people have changed their strategies and we also have to change our strategies to protect our people,” Mr. Mohammed said.
He said 47 motorcycles and 27 mass transit buses were destroyed during the Monday bomb blast.
In his statement, the Minister of State for Health said the major challenge is getting blood for the injured victims. He also said permission has been given to relatives of victims to collect the corpses of their loved ones, adding that government is doing everything to ensure that the information given out about the dead victims was accurate.
Source: Premium Times
At least 75 people died and over 100 injured when a bomb exploded in a crowded park in Nyanya, Abuja on Monday, with witnesses saying the casualty was much more than the official figures.
A day after the Nyanya bomb blast, Mr. Jonathan went to Kano State for a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, politically rally. The president danced as he and hundreds of the party’s supporters welcomed Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of the state, to the PDP. This led to criticisms from several Nigerians and the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, who accused him of insensitivity to the plight of the blast victims.
However, at the end of the weekly Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, meeting on Wednesday, the federal government defended Mr. Jonathan’s actions.
The Information Minister, Labaran Maku, who briefed journalists after the FEC meeting, said the President had to attend the rally to prove to the terrorists that they cannot cripple the activities of government which, he said, was their fundamental aim.
“This president has suffered psychologically as a result of this criminality,” Mr. Maku said. “I think going to Kano was a statement, a loud statement that terrorism will not stop the administration of this country”.
“For someone to go round and say that the President is not sensitive is not correct.
“You will remember that the President called off his trip to Ibadan(which he attended the next day) for the centenary church celebration of the Olubadan of Ibadan who was exactly 100 years old that time.
“He personally visited the scene and called on all the security operatives to provide support. There also he called on the nation to be more united even as he reassured the nation that government will not surrender to the antics of the terrorists,” he added.
The Information Minister said the criticisms of the president’s actions were coming from politicians “trying to exploit the issue to score cheap political points.”
“I think that this is very bad… We should not be exploiting the emotion of citizens for a cheap political point,” he said.
Mr. Maku also said the government had also ensured that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, was strengthened enough to respond promptly to such attacks.
He added that government was doing everything possible to ensure that anywhere Nigerians are attacked, relief items are provided promptly.
.
“We must be united in condemning terrorism and make sure that Nigerians are committed to kicking out terrorism from our country.
The minister also criticised media reportage of the blast. He said members of the FEC were disturbed about the way the gory pictures of the blast were published and called for restrains in reporting such incidents.
“Yes, we must report, but in reporting, we must be sensitive to the psychological state of our people.
“We noticed that throughout the 911 incidence, we notice that hardly was pictures of any of those who died were shown,” he said.
Mr. Maku urged Nigerians not to allow the current spate of terrorism dampen their spirit, saying Nigeria is not a nation of terrorists.
“Terrorism is not our way of life; it is not part of the mentality of any ordinary Nigerian that is why Nigerians are united against the issue of terror”.
He also assured that Nigeria will continue to work against terrorism with its neighbours including Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
Mr. Maku said the President has directed the FCT Minister to begin surveillance and provision of security around the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
In his statement, the Abuja Minister, Bala Mohammed, said 75 victims of the blast died while 171 others were currently receiving treatments in various hospitals.
He also announced that the FCT will foot the bills of those under treatments in the various hospitals, adding that the Abuja administration is fully prepared to close the gaps in the security system
“We will make it very difficult for people with bad intensions to penetrate our parks. Certainly, we are going to bring bomb detectors and we are going to work with our security to guide us on how to make our schools, parks, markets and other public places safe for our people,” he said.
He disclosed that the FCT will bring in about 100 high capacity new buses so that the Nyanya incident does not affect the movements of people and goods, adding that government cannot source all the buses from the country.
He also disclosed that the Abuja administration will install metal detection devices inside the new buses being purchased.
“We have noticed that these people have changed their strategies and we also have to change our strategies to protect our people,” Mr. Mohammed said.
He said 47 motorcycles and 27 mass transit buses were destroyed during the Monday bomb blast.
In his statement, the Minister of State for Health said the major challenge is getting blood for the injured victims. He also said permission has been given to relatives of victims to collect the corpses of their loved ones, adding that government is doing everything to ensure that the information given out about the dead victims was accurate.
Source: Premium Times
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