2015 Poll: Any Attempt To Stop Jonathan Is A Subject To Disintegration – Ex-NDDC Rep

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FORMER Edo State representative on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, yesterday, said that those asking President Goodluck Jonathan not to contest the presidential election in 2015 were calling for the disintegration of the country.

Iduoriyekemwen who, also warned the leadership of the PDP in Edo State against imposing candidates ahead of the forthcoming general elections and the 2016 governorship election in the state. He said that President Jonathan has performed better than any President the country had produced in the past, insisting that the call in some quarters that he should not run for election due to the Boko Haram insurgency was uncalled for.

He said: “When Niger Delta militants were fighting, it did not stop the late President Umaru Yar’Adua from contesting the election. So, the fact that Boko Haram is waging war against Nigeria cannot stop Jonathan from seeking re-election.

I don’t see the Boko Haram insurgency disrupting elections in 2015. That is actually the motive of those people trying to frustrate government from conducting peaceful election in 2015.”
 

Paris Summit Resolve: African Leaders Declare War On Boko Harram

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West African leaders at Paris Summit have resolved to declare and Wage war against Boko Haram insurgents whose its menace have claimed more than 12,000 Nigerians and equally responsible for the abduction of over 200 school girls from Borno state.

At a security summit in the French capital, Paris, Saturday, attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, the leaders of Chad, Niger, Benin, and Cameroon, agreed to share intelligence, and co-ordinate action against the group which is based in northeast Nigeria, but has operated somewhat freely in northwest Cameroon, parts of Chad and Niger.

A central intelligence platform will be based in Chad, the summit agreed, and will allow all countries involved, including the world powers, to stage a response as necessary.

Representatives of the United States, United
Kingdom and the European Union, also attended the Saturday’s meeting.

The summit, the first intercontinental gathering to forge a common response against the terrorist group, was convened by the French president, Francois Hollande, in the aftermath of the abduction of the schoolgirls from Chibok, a remote community in Borno State.

President Jonathan said Saturday 20,000 troops in are northeast Nigeria in pursuit of the sect.
Boko Haram has operated mainly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States since 2009, attacking government offices, schools and places of worship, and slaughtering civilians.

The group says its objective is to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. The group has also struck far afield from its stronghold, with multiple car bombs in Abuja, the latest being two car bombs in April, killing about a 100 people. There have also been attacks in Kano, Bauchi and Kogi States.

The mass kidnapping of the students in Chibok has drawn an unprecedented international outrage, galvanising a response from Western powers and African nations. President Jonathan has also been criticized over his handling of the Boko Haram crisis and the abductions.

At the Paris summit, Mr. Jonathan said the group was no longer the internal problem of Nigeria alone, but that of the entire region. He said Boko Haram now operates as an Al Qaeda group.

“Boko Haram is no longer a local terrorist group, it is operating clearly as an Al-Qaeda operation, it is an Al-Qaeda of West Africa,” the president said.

“We have shown our commitment for a regional approach. Without West African countries coming together we will not be able to crush these terrorists.”

He vowed that Nigeria will not succumb to the group’s “dangerous tactics”.

“Terrorists will not be allowed to define who we are,” he said.

French President Hollande said Boko Haram was now a threat to West and Central Africa and it was linked to other militants, including al Qaeda’s North African arm.

“Boko Haram is a major threat for all of western Africa and now central Africa with proven links to AQIM (al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) and other terrorist organisations,” he said at the summit.

The U.K. Foreign minister, William Hague, said his country has offered the provide Nigeria with military advisers to fight the group.

“Nigerian security forces have not been well structured for this kind of thing and that has been shown by the problem getting worse,” Mr. Hague said. “We can help with that which is why we are offering to embed military advisers within the Nigerian headquarters.”

But Nigeria must still lead the way, he said.

Bomb Threat: Governor Fashola Commends Lagosians For Being At Alert

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Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Saturday commended Lagosians residing on the Island for their vigilance in the discovery of the strange object that was suspected to be a bomb on Thursday.

Fashola gave the commendation through his Senior Special Adviser on Security, Maj. Babatunde Panox, while inaugurating the Nigeria Police Family Support Unit (FSU) at Adeniji-Adele on Lagos Island.

He said that such alertness was expected from all residents of the state.

Fashola urged the people not to relent in their effort in supporting the police and other security agencies with a view to making the state a safe place for all.

The governor commended Ford Foundation and Justice for All (J4A) for building the facility, stressing that such gesture would help to improve the services of the police.

Mr Monday Agbonika, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Central Police Station, Adeniji-Adele, said that the FSU was built to handle domestic violence, sexual offences against minors and other juvenile cases.

According to him, the police in support of Ford Foundation and J4A decided to build such unit in the area because they have high record of such cases in the community.

The DPO said the trained officers and the station would serve as models to other stations nationwide

From Waste To Wealth – Graduate Scavenger Reveals

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Ade Ogunbowale Narrating the success story of how he makes a living for himself and sponsors his siblings, he said, “I pick up plastic bottles that litter the streets along my way as well as metals to make a living. Although, most people see the job as dirty, I am feeding my family from it”.
According to him, “There are several people the trade helps.

“Waste recycling is a business that if you decide to go into it today, you are sure of making money. The fun of it is that you might even decide to start now with nothing and still make more money from the business,” Ogunbowale said.

He explained that, “most of the scavengers pick used materials at various dump sites and elsewhere. They look out for objects that include glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles and electronics.

“The materials are then taken to a collection centre where they are sorted, cleaned and reprocessed into materials bound for manufacturing”, he added.

His words: “Recycling of such materials would produce fresh supply of the same material. For example, used office paper can be converted into making a new office paper just as used polystyrene can be converted into making new polystyrene.

“But recycling of waste is just picking up in the country as a new business model and it surely offers lots of opportunity. For instance, one benefit of recycling is that it saves resources. Also, to recycle waste is to simply reduce pollution. By recycling plastic material we can reduce air pollution as well as water pollution”, he said.

An Environmentalist, Michael Simire explained that turning waste to wealth is a very viable area common in other countries. According to him, “waste needs to be managed effectively and it can also be a source of wealth if well handled. A lot of projects have been embarked upon by these countries and they are using waste to wealth programme as their programmes under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCC’s theme development mechanism programmes.

“The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, known as the Earth Summit. I also understand that Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has something similar that it is working on”.

He was hopeful that the country will soon join other developed countries in the area of turning waste to wealth. “I think, we will start from somewhere but I don’t think we have done so much in Nigeria. There is a project in Ikorodu whereby waste is turned to fertilizer by a particular company. The company seems to be doing something when it comes to recycling of waste,” Simire said.

He continued: “Our challenges could be how committed we are in handling such things. The question of sincerity should be put forward as regard such project. The technical know-how is another pressing issue to be addressed. We should also be determined to make this project work. Discarded materials can contribute to local revenue, job creation, business expansion and the local economic growth.

“Recycling business generates employment and adds value to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country that wants to create wealth for its citizens.

“Benefits of recycling include the following:

Prevents waste of potentially useful materials,reduces energy usage, reduces air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land fill sites). Conserves natural resources, such as timber, water and minerals and prevents habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion associated with logging and mining.

“The collection of waste starts from the general waste stream through curbside collections by purpose-built waste collection vehicles which moves the waste to the LAWMA Waste Bank. The waste is then sorted appropriately, for instance, plastic bank to contain a wide range of plastic waste.

“Once the sorting is complete, the waste is moved into the recycling plant to be crushed and screened for substances that are unsuitable for processing. Once cleared of unsuitable substances, the waste is then transferred by conveyor to the initial treatment vessel.

“As the business of recycling soars in Nigeria with more research going into the available materials for recycling in the country, some individuals and organisations are trying as much as possible to encourage Nigerians to ensure that recyclable wastes do not end up on the floor, fields, drainages and canals through indiscriminate disposal but contribute in generating incomes and adding value to people’s lives. For example, organisations like Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) are collaborating to create awareness on waste recycling and its economic benefits”, he added.
I scavenge to feed my wife, six children
According to another scavenger, Abubakar Abdul, “ The reason why I delved into the business is because I don’t have a job.

As a poor man, there was no help from anywhere. I started scavenging since I was a bachelor and from the little money I’m making, I feed my family. It is not good if I sit at home doing nothing and allow hunger to destroy my family. I’m appealing to government to help us improve our living condition. Hunger is striking so hard despite all my efforts. I’ve a wife and six children and it is only from this picking of waste products that we feed. Sometimes, we will not have food to eat just because there is no money.” he said.

Inspite of their resolve to make ends meet through this garbage business, the operators yet face societal stigmatisation amidst other unfriendly attitudes. Narrating his ordeal, Abdul said people sometimes look at them as insane.
Wale Olofin, 30 said: “I started this business when I was 15 years old and since then, I’ve not recorded any tangible gain from it other than to feed. I desperately need a wife but no woman has ever agreed to marry me because of the nature of my job. I impregnated a girl with the aim of marrying her but she ran away with the notion that she can’t marry a scavenger. She even said we are not different from pigs,”Olofin lamented.

Narrating some of the hazards of the job, Olofin said: “ On many occasions, I have been bitten by snakes, scorpions including ants; I have also sustained injuries on my legs at dumpsites caused by sharp objects but I do not relent because I have to feed to live.”

Festac dump-sites

A visit to a dump site in Festac town reveals another hidden market where people earn a living from garbage business. When Saturday Vanguard visited the site, cars parked for sale could be mistaken as the only business going on in that vicinity, but walking straight behind these cars reveals another rendevous where scavengers meet with merchants that patronises them on a regular basis.

The stench oozing out from the refuse dumpsite opposite 202 Road at FESTAC town clearly explains that they deal in garbage. Scavengers were seen pushing their carts one after the other happily with noiseless haggle as money exchanged hands.

The initiative for buying iron scraps from scavengers all over dump sites and selling them to those who need them for recycling purposes spurred Ahmed Ojo into the business. The 45 year old auto mechanic said the need to make a living and fend for his family led him into the business since there is no job available.

He maintained that he earns more money than people think from the business. “I don’t see myself doing any other business than this. I am a trained auto-mechanic with over six years experience but I ventured into buying iron scraps at dump-sites by coincidence. My take home pay weekly is far better than that of many civil servants that look down on us.It’s a business I have been doing for over five years and I find it very lucrative raising my family and sending my children to good schools as well.”

According to another merchant, Madam Kehinde fondly called Iya Fatiah by the scavengers, she has been dealing with scavengers at dump-sites for over 20 years conveniently. She added, “It’s a profitable business that I earn a living from. I live comfortably in my own house, training my daughter up to the level of higher institution.
Although people perceive this business as dirty but I smile to the bank every time than most people that work in corporate organizations. I don’t see myself engaging in any other business than this,” she stated.

Igando

Scavengers in this area search refuse dump sites to pick waste materials and exchange them for money. They are kitted in boots and hold long hooks or sticks, searching for waste materials. Every day scavengers in Lagos wait for garbage trucks that go into the waste dumps to discard wastes. As soon as the trucks discard the waste, they search all, pick wastes and take them to sell. Bimbo Aderele (not real name), a student of Lagos State Polytechnic, is one of them.

She spends her holidays and mid-semester breaks at the Oko filling waste dump in Igando (Lagos), picking used bottles of soft drinks, water and canned containers. Bimbo doesn’t even care that she is being ridiculed by her mates who see what she does as dirty and menial for an undergraduate. She said that others scavenging with her were undergraduates from different institutions.
The dump site at Igando in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos cannot be easily ignored. The odour that oozes from the site would make anybody gasp for fresh breath, but certainly not the scavengers.

As early as 6:00am, the scavengers swarm around the trucks. They cannot wait for the trucks to off-load as they are all set to pounce on the contents to look for saleable items. A few others look out for electronics, used home utensils and clothes. Some of them go as far as wearing the used clothes to check if they would fit.

Bimbo said, “Many of us are not happy being here but we have no choice. I come here to help my mum because she pays my school fees and those of my younger ones from the proceeds of this business. I cannot imagine how we would have survived if not for this place. That is why anytime we are on break, I come here to work. The only thing is that we pay N100 daily before we start picking.”

She seems not to be alone in this situation, Martins is also a scavenger. He confessed, “I started picking used bottles here two years ago when there was no other place to go. I finished secondary school in 2011 but there was no money to further my education. Feeding became a problem too until someone introduced me to this business.

“I survive with the money I make from here which is about N30,000 in a month depending on the quantity of bottles I’m able to gather. What most of us do here is to pick used bottles of soft drinks, bottled water and the like, pack them in a sack and deliver them to those who buy them, crush and export. We pay the loaders, mostly the abokis.” 63-yr-old woman recounts ordeal.

Indeed, the scavenging ‘business’ has no age barrier. An old woman in her 60s, Mrs. Lasisi, said it was hunger that led herinto the business when she couldn’t find any othermeans of livelihood.

“I am 63 but I don’t want to die of hunger, so I come here to work from morning till 11am before the boys take over. I am a widow and I have a young boy who lives with me; it is the money that I make from here that sustains us, and I pay his school fees. I pick the used bottles and sell them to those who buy them here for N20 per kilogramme. I don’t have another place to go and I must survive.”
 

Nigeria’s Slow Response Empowered Boko Haram – US

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A top United States Defense Department official has said Nigeria’s response to the threat of Boko Haram emboldened the violent group.

She, however, assured that her country was committed to the release of more than 200 seized from Government Secondary School, Chibok, a month ago.

“In general, Nigeria has failed to mount an effective campaign against Boko Haram,” said Alice Friend, the Pentagon’s principal Director for African Affairs, in testimony provided to the Senate’s Africa subcommittee ahead of a hearing on Thursday.

“The Department has been deeply concerned for some time by how much the Government of Nigeria has struggled to keep pace with Boko Haram’s growing capabilities,” she said.

She added that, “more troubling” was that atrocities have been perpetrated by some security forces during operations against the group, which means U.S. human rights law would bar providing assistance to them.

She disclosed that 6 U.S. Department of Defense personnel with medical, intelligence, counter-terrorism and communications expertise have been assigned exclusively to the mission of advising Nigerian efforts to recover the girls safely.

“Our intent is to support Nigerian-led efforts to recover the girls and help catalyze greater efforts to secure the Nigerian population from the menace of Boko Haram,” Friend said.

The official also said the Pentagon and Department of State were developing a “regional response” to Boko Haram to improve border security along Nigeria’s frontiers with Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The intention was to detect and respond to movement of Boko Haram members between Nigeria and its neighbours, she added.

On his part, Robert Jackson, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, said in his prepared testimony that Washington has been urging Nigeria to reform its approach to Boko Haram.

“When soldiers destroy towns, kill civilians and detain innocent people with impunity, mistrust takes root,” he said.

Ozil Urges Arsenal To Seize FA Cup Chance

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Arsenal’s record signing Mesut Ozil believes victory over Hull City in Saturday’s FA Cup final would spark further success for the silverware-starved club.

Arsene Wenger’s side have not won a trophy since their last FA Cup final appearance in 2005 when they beat Manchester United and have come to be seen as English football’s nearly men.

United and Chelsea have since won 25 trophies
between them, while Portsmouth, Birmingham City, Swansea City and Wigan Athletic are among the teams to have tasted cup glory.

Ozil has himself picked up five trophies in that period but the STG42.5 million ($A77.58 million) former Real Madrid playmaker sees no reason why he can’t win more with Arsenal.

“We are in the final and we want to take this silverware now. I am convinced we will achieve that,” says the Germany international, whose side have not left London once during this season’s competition.

“We can win titles with this squad. This is very
important for the fans as well, because they have been waiting for so long.

“I am very proud of the team. We qualified for the Champions League and we are in the FA Cup final. If we can win the cup, then it will be a great season.

“However, it will be a tough game because Hull fights till the end. Nowhere else other than in England are there so many teams who never give up.”

Ozil missed the penalty shoot-out success over holders Wigan in the semi-finals due to a hamstring injury but is now fit and will be expected to line up against Hull when Arsenal return to Wembley Stadium.

Hull finished 16th in the Premier League this season and have never played in an FA Cup final but Arsenal know from experience not to underestimate supposedly weaker opponents.

They were eight minutes away from losing to Wigan in the last four and suffered a traumatic experience in their last domestic final, losing 2-1 to Birmingham in the deciding match of the 2010-11 League Cup.

While victory would see Arsenal equal United’s overall record of 11 FA Cup wins, Hull’s trophy cabinet is completely devoid of major honours.

Based in Kingston-upon-Hull on England’s northeast coast, which is more commonly associated with rugby league, the 110-year-old club are looking to capable remarkable recovery from the brink of obscurity.

Having played in the English fourth tier recently as at 2004, Hull went close to bankruptcy after being relegated from the Premier League in 2010, only to be saved by Egyptian-born local businessman Assem Allam.

His backing enabled Hull to return to the Premier League but he sparked anger this season by attempting to change the club name to ‘Hull City Tigers’ to make them more marketable.

An ill-tempered stand-off with supporters ensued but his plans were rejected by the Football Association and it is therefore as plain old Hull City that the club will approach the biggest game in their history.

“Of course we’re rank outsiders. But the beauty of the competition is exactly what it is on Saturday,” says Hull manager Steve Bruce, who won two FA Cups as a player with Manchester United.

“It’s the mighty Arsenal with all their history, tradition and huge support against the smaller club. And the attraction is the ability of the smaller club to turn them over

FA Cup: Team News, Update And Predicted LineUps

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After the frantic wait that seemed to last forever, the Gunners finally have a chance of ending their long-standing trophy drought with a crucial clash against Hull City, a team they dispatched with. consummate ease both home and away this season.

When both clubs met at the Emirates, goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Mesut Ozil sealed the tie and when the Gunners visited the KC Stadium, Aaron Ramsey took center stage to score a goal and create two assists for Lukas Podolski.

Since his return from injury, Ramsey has continued his fine form and he would justly be proud about his 15-goal haul this season, which is definitely a career best for the Welsh lad. His composure in front of goal this season has been exemplary and his teammates would be hoping that he brings his scoring boots to Wembley.

Arsene Wenger has also shared his thoughts on the game and has stressed that the performance of his players is more important than the final outcome of the game,

“No matter what the result will be, this club – and this is always most important – can deal with the consequences of any game.

“What is important is that we come out of the game and have the feeling that we gave absolutely our best, our total energy to play at our best and then you always accept the consequences.

“No matter how much we talk about it, you can win and lose but you want to come out of the game feeling you have done the maximum to win and that is what we want to achieve.”

The club’s official site deemed it fit to release a video showing the team’s exploits from the FA Cup third round all the way to the final. German playmaker, Mesut Ozil, has spoken about his excitement in making his Wembley debut while Santi Cazorla claims that he prefers the FA Cup to the Spanish Copa del Rey.

To injuries, it’s worth noting that Hull would be without James Chester as well as the striking duo of Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long that have been cup-tied

Allan McGregor, Paul McShane and Sone Aluko, have recovered just in time to be involved. At Arsenal, Thomas Vermaelen and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would face late fitness tests, but I don’t see them getting involved today.

Since Arsenal’s victory over Manchester United in the2005 FA Cup final, there have been a plethora of near misses, what ifs and the whole nine yards. There was the Champions League final heartbreak against Barcelona in 2006, the Carling Cup final loss to Chelsea in 2007, the unfortunate Premier League campaign in the 2007/08 season,getting to the Champions League semifinals in 2009, and of course, the most painful of them all, losing the 2011 Carling Cup final to a relegation-bound Birmingham City.

The list of near misses goes on, but could soon be at an end if Arsenal handles the weight of expectation this time round. An opportunity is just in front of the lads today and we can only hope they grab it with both arms.

As Ramsey recently stated in an interview,these players need to start winning trophies which would signal the start of an era for the club.
You can’t get addicted to smoking if you haven’t had your first cigarette.

While everyone seems to be entirely focused on
Arsenal and their famous trophy drought,people also tend to forget that the club’s only trophy came in 1966 when it won England’s third-tier title and its best run in a cup competition came back in 1930 when the team reached the FA Cup semifinals. Not like we actually care?

Hull midfielder, David Meyler, shared his thoughts on the daunting task in front of his team,

“Nobody expects us to win it and obviously they
haven’t won a trophy in nine years and they’ve got their posters up in London about their parade next week and credit to them. “I’d rather be the underdog.

People are delighted when the underdog wins – I don’tthink many people want Arsenal to win.”

Irrespective of today’s result, Hull is assured of a place in next season’s Europa League, which is a very demanding competition, bearing in mind that the team would face fatigue issues arising from playing on thursday which is swiftly followed by a match during the weekend.
Swansea didn’t have a deep enough squad to face the rigors of the competition and it took its toll on the player’s performances, which ultimately led to the sacking of Michael Laudrup.

To team news, I envisage that playing Lukasz
Fabianski ahead of Wojciech Szczensy hinted that the manager wanted to play the younger Pole today but then again, you can never know goes on his head. In defense, I expect to see the regular back fantastic four with Ramsey and Arteta protecting the back line.

In midfield, Lukas Podolski would hope to continue his fine form which would mean that Santi Cazorla would start from the right wing with Giroud spearheading the attack.

It will be hard for them without Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long (who are both cup tied) because they’re the ones that give them a bit extra.

Matty Fryatt is a good goalscorer – probably a better goalscorer than the other two – but he hasn’t got the pace and he isn’t going to run away from anybody. They will have to give him good service.

Arsenal would have to approach this game with themindset that as last year’s final – when wigan shocked Manchester City – proved, nothing can be taken for granted in this competition.

US Senator To Jonathan: Demonstrate The Leadership Enthrusted On You On Chibok Girls

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The officials of United State on thursday slammed Nigeria’s “slow” response to the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls by Islamic militants and renewed criticism of its military over its human rights record, said Nigeria should have acted far before now.

Democratic senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said Nigeria had been “tragically and unacceptably slow” to deal with the crisis, despite offers of assistance from the United States and other countries.

“I have called on President (Goodluck) Jonathan to demonstrate the leadership his nation is demanding,” Menendez said.

The militant Boko Haram group is currently holding more than 200 schoolgirls hostage after raiding the northeastern Nigerian town of Chibok on April 14.

The Pentagon meanwhile criticized Nigeria for failing to react swiftly to the rise of Boko Haram, who have been blamed for thousands of deaths since 2009.

Nigeria has typically resisted security cooperation with the West over the group.

“We cannot ignore that Nigeria can be an extremely challenging partner to work with,” Department of Defense official Alice Friend said.

“In the face of this sophisticated threat, Nigeria’s security forces have been slow to adapt with new strategies and new tactics.”

US State Department official Robert Jackson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, said Washington had been “urging Nigeria to reform its approach to Boko Haram.”

The United States has accused Nigeria’s military of widespread rights abuses in its fight against Boko Haram, which Jackson said had been counter-productive in dealing with the group.

“The State must demonstrate to its citizens that it can protect them and offer them opportunities,” he said.

“When soldiers destroy towns, kill civilians and detain innocent people with impunity mistrust takes root.”

Friend said Nigeria’s “record of atrocities perpetrated by some of its security forces during operations against Boko Haram have been widely documented.”

The United States would not provide assistance to any Nigerian military units who had been implicated in rights abuses, she added.

The United States has sent a team of around 30 civilian and military personnel to help Abuja in its hunt for the kidnapped schoolgirls.

The US military has also confirmed it is flying surveillance drones as well as manned reconnaissance planes over the country in an effort to locate the girls.

Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 girls from their school in Chibok last month. Dozens managed to escape but 223 are thought to remain in the hands of the group.

Obasanjo On Boko Haram: Jonathan Has Tried But Not Yet Enough

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo insisted that a mere friendly approach cannot do any help to end insurgency in the country but a carrot and stick attack was the best option to adopt in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to the former president, having tried the “stick” approach without achieving commensurate result, it was time to try other available options, more so, as President Goodluck Jonathan “is overwhelmed” by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Obasanjo, who spoke on a BBC programme, Focus on Africa, which aired a special edition on Nigeria’s insecurity last night, recalled that he took it upon himself in 2011 to go on a fact-finding mission when Boko Haram insurgency became uncontrollable to see how to mediate.

He said he met people, especially families who knew members of the sect.

“I wanted to find out if it was an organisation which has aims and objectives and if they have foreign backing”.

According to Obasanjo, Boko Haram has leaders, adding that there was someone, who acted as a lawyer to the sect.

“The lawyer, who was acting in proxy told me: ‘Mr President if you want to meet their leaders give me three hours. I will gather their leaders, not in Nigeria but outside Nigeria. Obviously, they have leaders”, he said.

When asked if carrot and stick approach would work in dealing with the insurgency, he responded, “Well, if you had tried stick and stick alone and it has not worked, is there anything wrong to try something along with the stick?

“I doubt it very much if you will consider that as wrong because in your introductory statement on this programme, you made the point that no matter how well-meaning the President might have been with his assertion that he will be on top of Boko Haram, it has not been achieved”.

Most 7 Amazing Reasons You Should Cuddle With Your Spouse

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1. One of the Best Feelings

Cuddling is one of the closest and most romantic things you can do to your partner. It is more than just mere Intimacy, it is a comforting message, it tells your partner that you are there for them and they are safe with You in your arms, they are warm and they are protected. Studies have shown that couples who cuddle more Often stay happier and have a better life together because they share a whole new level of comfort and love That not even s*x can bring.

 

2. The Facts Are Right There

Studies have shown that couples who tend to cuddle on a daily basis tend to last longer and live an exclusive Life together. Couples who don’t do it are proven to not be exclusive because cuddling is much better than s*x, if your partner is only interested in s*x and if you ever ask them to just hold you they act weird, it won’t Last long.

3. It Ends Cravings

Cuddling is scientifically proven to help couples fight their cravings. It can be all sorts of cravings, smoking, Other bad habits, they all slowly go away when you tend to cuddle everyday. When the need of smoking is Fulfilled by being in the arms of your lover, the warmth and love makes your forget about your addictions.

 

4. A New Level of Communication

Famous therapists have gone on and on about how cuddling and snuggling makes you get closer to your Partner. Because when you’re in the warm arms of your loved one, you tend to be on a whole new level of Communication, it is a way of telling them you’re there for them and you’re in it for the long run. You might Even be silent while cuddling, but both of you will be smiling. Cuddle!

 

5. Best for Busy Schedules

We all tend to get busy with work and life in today’s competitive world, cuddling helps make up for lost time. When you go through an insanely busy day of work, there is no sweeter feeling than to be in the arms of your Partner and telling them all about your day and listening to them about how their day went. You don’t get any More comfortable than that.

 

6. You Wake Up Smiling

Once you sleep in the comfortable arms of your lover, you wake up in the happiest state possible. When You wake up happy, you tend to have an awesome day ahead. Waking up cuddling is one of the most Awesome feelings in the world, so why wait? Cuddle!

 

7. Satisfied With Each Other

Studies have proven that couples who cuddle more are tend to be more satisfied and happy with each other. They tend to trust each other on a higher level no matter where they are. And they feel a whole new level of Exclusivity with their partners that doesn’t happen with anything else. So cuddling makes you happy, keeps You healthy, and keeps you satisfied with each other, so stop reading and go grab your partner right now!

Borno Villagers kill Boko Haram Members

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Residents of Kalabalge Village in Borno State on Tuesday fought off invading Boko Haram gunmen in an early morning attack, killing several of them with about 10 also caught alive.
The insurgents had repeatedly attempted to attack Kalabalge, an agro-nomad community near the Cameroon borders, but failed to gain entry into the village on each attempt.
Residents said the villagers had made security preparations around the village that made it impossible for the Boko Haram insurgents to succeed in attacking the village which also serves as the headquarters of Kalabalge Local Government Area of Borno.

“We have told them (Boko Haram) that they cannot take their attacks to our village because, we have taken measures both security wise and spiritually to prevent them”, said a vigilante member in the community.

“They wanted to attack us just the way they did in Bama, Konduga and Damboa, but we got the wind of it and all of us laid ambush for them; when they neared the village, we opened fire using our Dane duns, double barrel rifles and bows-and-arrows, most of them who were shocked took to their heels, but many of them died, some that were injured have been caught alive and are with the security people as I am talking to you”, said the vigilante member.
An official of the State Security Service who pleads anonymity confirmed the incident to reporters on phone.

“The insurgents tried to attack the village as at 5 a.m. of this morning (Tuesday) but the vigilante and some members of the village who got the hint of the attack laid ambush and were able to kill as many of them as possible, while about ten of them were caught alive; they also recovered two trucks from the insurgents”, said the security source.

The Boko Haram has raided several villages in Borno killing thousands of people and destroying several property.

Shettima Provided Misleading Information On Missing Girls – DHQ

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Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, said Borno State officials had provided wrong information on the missing Chibok girls.

In a recent interview with African Independent Television (AIT) Olukolade claimed that Borno governor Kashim Shettima and the state senators gave misleading information, which resulted in the waste of resources.

He narrated that Shettima had previously reported the movement of some 60 vehicles, and DHQ immediately sent an aircraft to search the area, but nothing was spotted.

He lamented that many pieces of information in connection with the abduction, no matter whether they are coming from the governor or from ordinary people, are “unhelpful because it tends to just want to wear us out and expend resources“.

“By the time aircraft goes on air, you can imagine the resources involved. We have a series of that experience… Once the information comes, a lot of action goes into place instantly.

According to him, although the security forces expect that the senators might provide useful information, in many cases “they also mislead”.

Reps Fail To Resolve Asup Strike

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The House of Representatives Committee on Education, on Monday, failed in its bid to resolve the over 10 months strike action embarked on by Academic Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

This emanated from a peace meeting packaged by the House Committee on Education to end the protracted strike by the unions against the Federal Government.

The peace deal was thwarted by the disclosure of the Minister of Education, Mr Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, that the salary arrears of polytechnic staff, which is one of their demands, was not captured in the 2014 budget.

The minister, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr McJohn Nwaobiala, also maintained that the Federal Government would release the white paper on the visitation panel to federal polytechnics this week or next week.

He added that “there is willingness on the part of the Federal Government to pay the CONTISS-14 salary arrears,” but stressed that there was no provision in the budget for it. 

On his part, National President of ASUP, Comrade Chibuzo Asumogha, said that the Federal Government had failed to implement the condensed 4-point demand of the union.

While declaring the sitting open, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon Aminu Suleiman, said the meeting was a fall-out of the motion raised on the issue last week and the charge by the speaker that the committee attended to the letter which ASUP presented.

Osun 2014: Tinubu, Aregbesola Should Be Prepared To Commit Political Suicide – Omisore

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The political heat in osun state is getting volatile.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flag bearer in the August 9 Osun governorship elections, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that no amount of threat from ex-Lagos State governor and a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will save the incumbent, Governor Rauf Aregbesola from suffering defeat at the polls.

Tinubu had restated in Lagos on Friday, without remorse, that anybody caught attempting to rig the forthcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun States would be roasted alive.

But Omisore in a statement issued by his Director of Media and Strategy, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, on Monday alleged that Tinubu had made the threat as a precursor to the APC’s planned rigging of the Osun poll.

The statement read, “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have taken issues with him knowing full well that the August 9 gubernatorial election will vindicate the PDP, but in order to put the issues in proper perspective, we want to let every discerning Nigerians particularly Osun indigenes know that Mr. Tinubu is fixated because of the defeat starring his sidekick, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the face.

“The rig and roast campaign that he has embarked on with Ogbeni Aregbesola is to prepare the ground for the mayhem they planned to unleash on the people once they lose, which is imminent.

“We have discovered that by threatening fire and brimstone should the APC lose the election, Tinubu and Aregbesola were merely trying to protect their business empire in Osun.

“The APC inspite of its grandstanding lost woefully in Ondo and Anambra gubernatorial elections because people are now seeing through the deceit and empty promises where they hold sway.

“Let Tinubu and Aregbesola be prepared to commit political harakiri since the people have rejected them and no amount of blood letting campaign will dissuade the people from voting for the PDP on August 9”.

A Season Of Conspiracies Against Goodluck Jonathan, By Femi Aribisala

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There are well-placed Nigerians, especially in the North, sponsoring aiding and abetting terrorism for the sake of political gain.

The Yorubas have a proverb. They say: “A witch cried out yesterday and a child died today. Who does not know that it was the witch who killed the child?” Some people have gone to great lengths to declare that if President Jonathan dares to run for re-election, they would make Nigeria ungovernable.

Some, like Murtala Nyako, have even gone as far as threaten civil-war. It is, therefore, not far-fetched to conclude that, with the election only a stone-throw away, much of the turmoil we are witnessing in Nigeria today is the handiwork of the anti-Jonathan brigade.

Goodluck Jonathan must be the most vilified president in the history of Nigeria. He is abused and bad-mouthed with ferocious intensity. This really has nothing to do with his record in office. He is by no means the worst president Nigeria has ever seen. As a matter of fact, he is one of the better ones. True; he has not been able to address the age-old problem of corruption.

Nevertheless, Nigeria has been making giant strides under his administration. The Nigerian government did not fool the world into having the WEF (World Economic Forum) in Abuja. It took place here because Nigeria is by all accounts an emerging frontier market in the world economy.

Obama’s Nigeria President Jonathan did not bribe U.S. President Obama to proclaim Nigeria as “the world’s next economic giant” in 2012. Obama’s Nigeria is coming of age under Jonathan. The United Sates rebases its economy every two years. The United Nations recommends every country should rebase every five years. Under this administration, Nigeria rebased its economy after 23 years, and yet some Jonathan traducers accuse the government of 419 for doing so.

That rebasing has now shown that the much-maligned Nigeria is by far the largest economy in Africa. This should not come as a surprise. Under Jonathan, the Nigerian economy has been growing consistently by nearly 7% per annum. That is one of the highest growth-rates in the world. For the past two years, Nigeria has become the number one destination for foreign investments in Africa; according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. A Nigerian industrialist, Aliko Dangote, is now the 23rd richest man in the world and, by far, the richest African.

Jonathan has so transformed Nigerian agriculture that the minister, Akinwunmi Adesina, was named Forbes Magazine’s African of the Year 2013. Today, poor Nigerian farmers not only have access to fertilizer, they have cell-phones so they can access the government for seeds, implements and vital information. The administration is engaged in extensive rehabilitation of rail and road networks nationwide.

Travel by air today and you will discover that most Nigerian airports have been transformed. The foundation has finally been laid for addressing the problem of electricity. A long-anticipated National Conference is currently underway.

Jonathan is not the object of so much attack because he is incompetent, but because he comes from the minority South-South. Moreover, a Northern cabal that has been out of power for 15 years is desperate to return. The next president will have the prerogative of allocating a new round of juicy oil-blocks. For example, the oil-block Sani Abacha allocated toAlhaji Mai Daribe of Borno in 1996 had over 500 million barrels of oil which translates to over $50 billion dollars at current prices. That is the kind of largesse available to just one well-placed Nigerian in our winner-takes-all political-economy.

Political terrorism

Accordingly, the determination is that power must be wrested from Jonathan by hook or crook. Some are issuing threats: others are talking up impeachment in the legislature. These people are not averse to economic sabotage. Therefore, gas pipelines keep getting vandalized in order to impede power-generation. Let us call a spade a spade. There are well-placed Nigerians, especially in the North, sponsoring aiding and abetting terrorism for the sake of political gain.

Bombs were placed in a motor-park in Abuja on the eve of the WEF. Instead of cooperating with the government to fight the insurgency, many leading Northerners have been accusing the government of using Boko Haram as an excuse for killing Northerners. The government has been placed in a catch-22 situation. If it moves strongly against the insurgents, some Northerners cry genocide, threatening to take the matter to the International Court of Justice. If it pulls punches, the same Northerners accuse the government of incompetence in dealing with Boko Haram insurgency.

Self-defeating sabotage

This is tantamount to cutting off your nose to spite your face. Those who gave impetus to the Northern insurgency out of disaffection with a South-South presidency now sleep with one eye open. What they promoted has gone out of their control. It is not the people of the South-South that are now being shot, bombed and kidnapped indiscriminately; it is the people of the North. Those who feel that by creating instability they will provide a catalyst for Jonathan’s defeat have simply hardened the case for retaining him in power.

People like me never supported Jonathan until we saw the virulent conspiracy against him. We never cared for the mischievous PDP until we discovered that Jonathan’s opponents are so desperate for power, they are even prepared to destroy the nation in the process. They are so determined to seize power; they are threatening to “soak the dog and the baboon in blood” if they don’t get their wish. Therefore, the deafening answer to them must be: “Thy will
shall not be done.”

These malcontents were having a good time of it until someone came up with a “brilliant” idea: “Let us kidnap 300 innocent school-girls in Chibok in one fell swoop.” This scheme had curious pieces of detail. The head of WAEC National Office, Charles Eguridu, maintains they warned the Borno State government that Chibok was unsafe and that the exams should be moved to more secure locations. But the state government refused. The few soldiers guarding the school were suspiciously re-deployed a few hours before the kidnapping.

It is therefore not surprising that the Northern Nigeria Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), noting that the Chibok girls are mainly Christians, maintains the kidnapping is a grand conspiracy involving the state governor, the school principal and others. Our First Lady alluded to the same matter by declaring: “There is God o!”

Northern volte-face

The Chibok kidnapping has become the biggest blunder of the Boko Haram. As a result, they are no longer just fighting against the Nigerian army. The whole world is now ranged against them. The Americans, the British, the French, the Japanese, the Israelis, the Chinese; everyone is now lining up behind the Jonathan administration, offering assistance for dealing with the insurgents.

Jonathan’s Northern opponents who have hitherto been sympathetic to the insurgents are now caught in a bind. Accordingly, they have started singing a different tune. Murtala Nyako said Boko Haram is a “phantom” devised by Southern Jonathan to conduct genocide against the North. Now, the Northern Governors’ Forum of which he is a member welcomes the assistance of the international community to fight Boko Haram “phantoms.” The chairman, Governor Babangida Aliyu, says: “The current challenges facing our country demonstrate the importance of working together across geo-political zones, political party lines, and ethnic-religious affinities to defeat our common
enemies.”

Muhammadu Buhari declared at Kano Government House that the Boko Haram was a “strategic plan” by Jonathan’s government “to destroy the North.” He insinuated that, by declaring a state of emergency in the North-east, the president was waging war on Northerners. Listen to the same Buhari today: “Now is not the time to play politics. Now is also not the time to trade blames and amplify our ideological differences. The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable and nothing should divide us as a people.”

New imperatives

Was Jonathan even planning to run for another term? Your guess is as good as mine. However, what the Northern blackmail has succeeded in doing is to ensure that Jonathan no longer has a choice: he has to contest. To back out now would be tantamount to succumbing to blackmail. The threats, sabotage and insurgency also mean Jonathan cannot afford to lose the election. Again, to lose the election is to succumb to blackmail.

The use of extra-constitutional means to fight Jonathan gives the lie to the posturing of his opponents. It shows they don’t believe in elections. Worst of all, they don’t have the interest of Nigeria at heart. They are even prepared to sacrifice Nigeria on the altar of their selfish, sectarian and regional interests. For these reason, they must be resisted by anyone who loves this country and believes in a united Nigeria.

In short, the issue is no longer about Jonathan. It is now about Nigeria. By a strange twist of fate, it is Jonathan of the discreditable PDP who now represents united Nigeria. To defeat Jonathan is to defeat Nigeria. To defeat Jonathan by a Northern APC presidential candidate is to hand over victory to the Northern insurgency. To accede to the defeat of Goodluck Jonathan by a Northern cabal is to promote the interests of the Boko Haram. If the APC understand the signs of the times, they would field a Southern presidential candidate to challenge Goodluck Jonathan.

For this reason, the new Jonathan coalition created by the Chibok kidnapping cannot just include the international community. It must also include rank-and-file Nigerians: Southerners and Northerners; Christians and Muslims. This is a time of national emergency. We must forget our differences and join hands to ensure that Jonathan prevails in spite of all the stumbling blocks and minefields put in his way.

So doing, we would be able to make effective demands on the president. He would have to listen to us. With the added pressure from the international community, we will insist that the corruption that has gone through the roof under his administration must finally come to an end. The time is long overdue: some malefactors must be arrested, prosecuted and jailed. No more pussy-footing. Nigerians require a transparent government; and we require this “yesterday.”

Ekiti 2014: Collapse Of Fayose’s Camp Was An Act Of God

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When the platform on which the PDP candidate Ayo Fayose and others stood on collapsed last week some may have thought it to have been an accident. But not so, for the APC candidate who has described it as an act of God reflective of God’s rejection of Fayose and the PDP.
Speaking during a fund raising dinner for his campaign in Lagos at the weekend, Governor Fayemi said the collapse of the platform was reflective of God’s anger on the PDP.

Fayemi and his Osun State counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rescind its decision not to use Voters Card Reader machines in the forth coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

Fayemi at the occasion said that irrespective of the plans and plots, that the people of Ekiti would do everything to protect their votes after the election.

“We will go to any length not only to ensure that the votes of the people count but that the votes must be counted at the spot where they have chosen to elect the leader for themselves and we will do everything to ensure that INEC is forced, not just encouraged to use the card reader for these elections in Ekiti and Osun.”

The APC candidate stressed that the difference made by his government in the lives of Ekiti people since 2010 is crystal clear and it is an evidence of his commitment to lifting up the weak and vulnerable section of the society.

Shekau’s Wife Released With 7 Of Boko Harram Commander’s wives, Given N100,000 Each

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There are reports that the wife of the Boko Haram Leader Hassana Yakubu has been released by Joint Task Force.

Alongside her were seven of the Boko Haram commander wives including the wife of the slain leader, Mohammed Yusuf. The women are reportedly to have been in detention for several months.

Naija Telescope believes the release of their wives could be as a result of the pressure mounted by shekau earlier on that the abducted girls would only be released if other Boko Haram members in detention are released.

The news which was first reported by the Daily Trust Newspaper, also reveal that 16 other people who were arrested alongside the wives of the Boko Haram leaders in various locations in Yobe, were also released. Of that number, three are believed to be children of Abubakar Shekau.

But even as the JTF and FG are releasing the women and children relatives of the Boko Haram leaders, no word has been heard about the women and children who the Boko Haram leader claimed to be holding hostage as well.

All released detainees were handed over to the Yobe government who subsequently handed them over to the Borno government. They were later reconnected with their families in a brief ceremony which took place at the executive chambers of the deputy governor of Borno State, Zanna Umar Mustapha.

According to the report:

The women and children, who were brought to Maiduguri by Barrister Aliyu Shehu, the special adviser to the Yobe State governor and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Asma ‘u Kolo, were received by Borno Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu, and other top government functionaries on behalf of Governor Kashim Shettima.

Our correspondent gathered that Shekau’s wife and children were arrested by the JTF in a rented apartment in Damaturu about 10 months ago.

The house was thoroughly searched and sophisticated weapons recovered before the building was demolished after the family was taken into custody, the source said.

Zara was said to have corroborated this during her remarks before she was released to her family who were at the government house to receive her.

Daily Trust source said she attributed their travails to Allah and quoted verses of the Holy Quran that says ‘God has reason for everything’. She also confirmed that she and her children had been in custody for ten months but said they dedicated their time to prayers and supplications.

Barrister Kaka Shehu who spoke to our correspondent on the modalities that led to their release said the Yobe State government had earlier contacted government officials in Borno State indicating its readiness to release the detainees who were said to be indigenes of Borno State.

“On the appointed date, the special adviser to Yobe State governor brought the women and children as well as a covering letter which was signed by Yobe State Attorney-General, Barrister Ahmed Goniri. I and some of my fellow commissioners received them on behalf of our governor who was unavoidably absent,” the justice commissioner said.

Shehu said apart from identifying names, the letter did not give details about the ladies.

He said the women were told to reintegrate themselves into the society and also take part in the peace process initiated by the federal government with active support of the Borno and Yobe State governments.

The commissioner said the women were also immediately enrolled into the skill acquisition programme of the state government while the state Ministry of Women Affairs gave them five sets of wrappers and 10 yards of brocade for each of the children.

He said the sum of N100, 000 was also approved for each of them.

The commissioner said similar gesture was extended to the six women and 14 children that were detained in Borno State but released in the first phase of the amnesty programme.

It was not clear whether the remaining commanders whose wives were released are alive but our correspondent gathered that some of the women released had trouble in joining their families.

A top government source confirmed that in one of the neighbourhoods in Maiduguri, the family of one of the released women told her to leave because they were afraid that the operatives of the JTF will come and arrest them.

“One of the commissioners that were involved in the release of the women had to intervene and told the woman’s family not to entertain any fear,” the source said.

Meanwhile, top security source also told our correspondent that one of the children that were released during the first exercise was captured with a letter at the Sambisa forest

2015: Nigeria May Experience Serious Mayhem If The Poll Is Rigged

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A Professor of Criminology, Femi Odekunle, has taken a futuristic look at the 2015 election. He warned that the country may face widespread public disorder, chaos or a semblance of undeclared civil war if the forthcoming general election in the country lacks credibility and acceptability among Nigerians.

Odekunle, who was a guest lecturer at the ‘2014 Feast of Barracuda’ of the National Association of Seadogs (Pirates Confraternity) Enugu Zone, weekend took a critical look at the possible scenarios of the 2015 election from the most optimistic to the most pessimistic position.

He identified the major threats to the 2015 elections as lack of leadership ethos by the irresponsible political class, corruption before, during and after elections, partisanship of operatives of the electoral body among others, saying he envisaged a situation where elections do not hold at all.

He would not also rule out a situation where elections hold with minimal violence and/or rigging and qualifies as ‘relatively/grudgingly’ credible/acceptable election.
“There is also a possibility where elections hold but excludes the North Eastern states and therefore considered inconclusive but situation saved by some contraption designed by the so called elder statesmen,” he said.

According to the don, the most critical situation would be where elections hold but are actually or allegedly massively rigged resulting in post election violence on a scale that makes the 2011 violence a child’s play and/or resulting in blockage or sabotage of oil and gas facilities leading to widespread disorder or even a semblance of war.

Odekunle, who spoke on the topic ‘Security and Political Temperature of Nigeria: Implications for 2015 General Elections called for a committed presidential leadership with the political will to do what is right and for deliberate re-education of the political class, INEC, the police and other security agents on the importance of free, fair and credible elections to the survival of the polity.

Recommendation: Lamido Is Competent Enough To Rule Nigeria – Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has showered praise on Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, saying he’s capable to lead the country in 2015.

This disclosure was made known while the Former President was answering questions from journalist during his one day official visit to the state.

Going by Lamido’s political background, credibility and performance, his competence and exposure, he can stand head to head with anybody in the country. Obasanjo said

If it is the wish of the people, it is ok. He never tell me anything about his ambition but being the wish of the people, let’s wait and see.

He is capable and can stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone in this country based on his tracking record.

Our hope is to produce a leader who would grow with one Nigeria in his mind.

Here Is The Meaning of Dorobucci By Mavins

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The hit track from Mavins Record tittled Dorobucci have been generating a lot question.

People all around have been eager to know the motive behind it and here is what Don Jazzy has to say to clear the cloud

‘Bucci’ pronounced as ‘B-oo-ch-ee’ is anything that is awesome, cool, fun, or fantastic.

The word ‘bucci’ is best used for anything that will make you exclaim Ahhhhh!!!!

So, when I say you are Bucci, you say Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

Zambian musician arrested for ‘mocking’ president

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A Zambian musician was arrested on Monday over a song
he composed that officials said defamed
President Edgar Lungu by accusing him of drinking too
much and being incompetent. 

image

Chama Fumba, 31, whose stage name is Pilato, was
detained in Lusaka and charged with conduct likely to
cause a breach of the peace, his lawyer told reporters at
the capital’s central police station.
“The police declined to grant us bail and we requested to
them that in that case the matter should quickly proceed
to court,” Marshall Muchende said.
Fumba faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison
or a fine if found guilty.
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a character named
Lungu who grows up in a slum and becomes president.
The Lungu in the song is described as carrying a suitcase
filled with bottles of Jameson Irish whiskey and having no
idea how to govern.
President Lungu, 58, who took office in January, is a
former defence minister.
He suffers from recurring achalasia, a condition caused by
narrowing of the oesophagus, and has been regularly
hospitalised for treatment.
His election victory followed the death of predecessor
Michael Sata.

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GOAL UPDATE: Nigeria Vs Sweden

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Sweden 3 (OG Oparanozie, fischer, sembrant) Nigeria 3 (okobi, oshoala, ordega 87mins)
image

Full Time

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Boko Haram: Why #BringBackOurGuirls Will Not Yield Any Result – Shekau

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Abubakar Shekau says his group will only release the girls in exchange for detained militants.

image

The leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau, has vowed not to release more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls in his group’s captivity, saying the sect will only accede to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign after the release of Boko Haram militants held by the Nigerian government.

Mr. Shekau made the demand in a new video published Sunday, restating a position he has maintained since the abduction of the girls by Boko Haram militants April 14.
“Nigerians are saying BringBackOurGirls, and we are telling Jonathan to bring back our arrested warriors, our army,” he said in the video seen by reporters

Mr. Shekau claimed responsibility for the Emab plaza bomb attack in Abuja on June 25, and a blast at Apapa in Lagos which killed at least two people. The Emab attack killed more than 20 people.

In the video, the group’s erratic leader described the killings as a victory over Constitution and western influences.

Mr. Shekau praised several leaders of terrorist groups in the Middle East, in a move that appears to acknowledge the group’s ties to foreign terrorist networks.

He displayed several arms and ammunitions, including armoured vehicles his group had taken away from the military base in Damboa, with which he said he would deploy fully to execute some of the attacks in future.

Read his full speech below:

“My greetings goes to all Muslim faithful, especially the jihadist. I am the father of Muhammadu, Abubakar the son of Muhammadu Shekau. May God grant us good intentions and make us succeed in our quest to see the face of Allah in this perilous times; the times when indecent living like homosexuality is being accorded legislative backing; the era when adultery and fornication has become a thing of pride; the period when people go about the world as though there is no God.

“Just like a young man came out to say recently that he never believes in the existence of God – and we said to the young man that he was caught napping to realize that that is what westernization is teaching the world; that is the values of America, France, Britain; but if you are just realizing that, then may the wrath of Allah befall you.

“To you my dear brethren, Muslims, those who are true believers and not those that practice democracy, not those who believe in constitution, not those who believe in western education. My regards to my leaders like Mullar Umar, the Amirul Muminin in Afghanistan, great minds like Sheikh Al Zawahiri; those like Amir of Yemen, Abu Basir; the likes of Abu Mus’ab Abdul Wudud; and others In Pakistan and Iran, like Al-Baghadad. My greetings go to you all. I thank you all. We give thanks to almighty Allah; here we are in the land called Nigeria; but we don’t see it as Nigeria.

“May God’s wrath befall the name Nigeria; all we know is the land of God. We are doing the religion of God and no one will stop us from practicing the religion of Allah, even if it is going to be only for a few people of millions of people.
“God has given us victories of recent and we give thanks to Him. We were the ones that detonated bomb in Abuja, that filthy city; we were responsible for the bomb in Kano, in Plateau. We were the ones that sent a female bomber to the refinery in Lagos but Adams Oshiomole the governor of Edo state said it was a fire disaster.

“Yahaya Jingir, the leader of the Izala we will deal with you; you servant of democracy. We are the true bombers.

“We led the attack on military base and killed the soldiers’ commander; (leery sarcastically) and the military are lying that they killed 50 of our men; liars! How could you have killed us when I killed all your soldiers and the policemen there? I was the one that ordered the bomb in Konduga.
“God is great, God is great! You will never understand my mode of operation because I am working for God.

“Nigerians are saying BringBackOurGirls, and we are telling Jonathan to bring back our arrested warriors, our army.

(Speaking in faulty English) “Tell me who you are; I am reading the Quran, and you are reading the constitution; I am reading the rules and regulations of the Quran, and you are doing that of the constitution, the book of Lord Lugard, the book of Tafawa Balewa.

“We have recovered several arms from the Damboa military base attack including armoured tanks and Kalashnikov rifles. (Pointing at the stolen arms) Look at what God has given us free of charge; we filled our vans with ammunitions like sands. This is what is called religion and worship.

“The video ended with Shekau raising an AK47 rifle with one hand and fired into the air severally with rapid action mode”.