Breaking News:Two suicide bombers Rocks Maiduguri Market.

Two suicide bombers – a male and female – attacked a heavily populated Maiduguri market, killing scores of people, an eyewitness, Yusuf Ahmed, said on Tuesday.

An unconfirmed source said 65 corpses had been evacuated while others claimed 30 people were killed in the explosion.

Ahmed said on the telephone, “As I am talking to you, people are still trying to rescue the injured and evacuate the corpses. It is difficult to know the number of casualties.”

He said the place had been condoned off by security agencies making it difficult to assist in the rescue operations.

A youth vigilante source confirmed that the female attacker kept a parcel in one of the shops on One-way, a commercial area beside the popular Monday Market, telling the traders that she had something to pick from the market,

“The package detonated few minutes later. And as people were still wondering what happened and trying to rescue the injured, a bomber in the same area detonated a bomb planted on her; this claimed so many lives,” the source said.

Details later…

Breaking News:Two suicide bombers Rocks Maiduguri Market.

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Two suicide bombers – a male and female – attacked a heavily populated Maiduguri market, killing scores of people, an eyewitness, Yusuf Ahmed, said on Tuesday.

An unconfirmed source said 65 corpses had been evacuated while others claimed 30 people were killed in the explosion.

Ahmed said on the telephone, “As I am talking to you, people are still trying to rescue the injured and evacuate the corpses. It is difficult to know the number of casualties.”

He said the place had been condoned off by security agencies making it difficult to assist in the rescue operations.

A youth vigilante source confirmed that the female attacker kept a parcel in one of the shops on One-way, a commercial area beside the popular Monday Market, telling the traders that she had something to pick from the market,

“The package detonated few minutes later. And as people were still wondering what happened and trying to rescue the injured, a bomber in the same area detonated a bomb planted on her; this claimed so many lives,” the source said.

Details later…

There Will Be 2 Governments in 2015 -Amaechi Insists

There Will Be 2 Governments in 2015

Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi on Saturday insisted that there will be 2 governments in Nigeria in 2015 if the elections are rigged.

NewsWire NG, reports that Amaechi made the statement on Saturday when speaking on invasion of the National Assembly by the police on Thursday.

The Rivers governor said, "We don’t have democracy in Nigeria yet. What we have is diarchy. We don’t have a democracy. Diarchy is dictatorship. The Federal Government has appropriated the police as its personal property. The FG has taken over the police. See the way the police took over the National Assembly. By law, the police have no power to invade the National Assembly and they have no power to stop the Speaker from going in or out of the National Assembly complex. But they don’t obey law".

"What is the essence of going to court when the Federal Government don’t obey the law. That’s why the APC say we won’t go to the court any longer. If you rig us out, we would rig ourselves in; which means if you think you can rig us out in 2015, we will form our own government. We have met on that and we have agreed on that. We will install our own government and there would be two governments.

"The only way to avoid a parallel government is to have a free and fair election. You can’t continue to use the police as if it is a private agency or company of the government."

What is your talk on this?

There Will Be 2 Governments in 2015 -Amaechi Insists

Posted by Sylvester No comments

There Will Be 2 Governments in 2015

Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi on Saturday insisted that there will be 2 governments in Nigeria in 2015 if the elections are rigged.

NewsWire NG, reports that Amaechi made the statement on Saturday when speaking on invasion of the National Assembly by the police on Thursday.

The Rivers governor said, "We don’t have democracy in Nigeria yet. What we have is diarchy. We don’t have a democracy. Diarchy is dictatorship. The Federal Government has appropriated the police as its personal property. The FG has taken over the police. See the way the police took over the National Assembly. By law, the police have no power to invade the National Assembly and they have no power to stop the Speaker from going in or out of the National Assembly complex. But they don’t obey law".

"What is the essence of going to court when the Federal Government don’t obey the law. That’s why the APC say we won’t go to the court any longer. If you rig us out, we would rig ourselves in; which means if you think you can rig us out in 2015, we will form our own government. We have met on that and we have agreed on that. We will install our own government and there would be two governments.

"The only way to avoid a parallel government is to have a free and fair election. You can’t continue to use the police as if it is a private agency or company of the government."

What is your talk on this?

Make Easy Money OnLine

Henry Ford, the founder of Ford car company, said ...
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it
is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
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In fact, now you can get paid cash to simply upload pictures!
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Posted by Sylvester No comments

Henry Ford, the founder of Ford car company, said ...
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it
is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
But he lived 100 years ago and times have changed.
Now opportunity doesn't take as much effort.
In fact, now you can get paid cash to simply upload pictures!
Can you upload pictures like these?

I think so too. And you could start getting paid for it today.
Check it out here before it's too late:
http://sylvoo.paid4pics.hop.clickbank.net
Talk soon,

Your Pictures make you money..

Did you know that you can get paid to upload pictures from your smartphone?
Could you upload pictures like these?

I think so too. And you could start getting paid for it today.
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==> http://sylvoo.paid4pics.hop.clickbank.net
Talk soon,
Your Name

Your Pictures make you money..

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Did you know that you can get paid to upload pictures from your smartphone?
Could you upload pictures like these?

I think so too. And you could start getting paid for it today.
Check it out here before it's too late:
==> http://sylvoo.paid4pics.hop.clickbank.net
Talk soon,
Your Name

Centenary N100 Notes are Wasteful and Ill

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, during the weekend faulted the introduction of new N100 notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, saying it was ill-timed and wasteful, Vanguard reports.

The TUC, in a statement by its President and Secretary General, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal respectively, says “printing of new currency is usually a capital-intensive venture, and raises questions as to how the CBN hopes to grapple with the economic implications of redesigning and printing the new bank notes.

“Even the timing of the project is inappropriate, coming so late in the year when the economic hustle and bustle associated with Christmas and New Year are nigh.

“These, together with the heightened state of insecurity in parts of the country, the frenzy of political activities and electioneering campaigns towards the forthcoming 2015 elections, and the current slump in global oil prices make this the worst possible time for such drastic fiscal policy.”

Centenary N100 Notes are Wasteful and Ill

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, during the weekend faulted the introduction of new N100 notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, saying it was ill-timed and wasteful, Vanguard reports.

The TUC, in a statement by its President and Secretary General, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal respectively, says “printing of new currency is usually a capital-intensive venture, and raises questions as to how the CBN hopes to grapple with the economic implications of redesigning and printing the new bank notes.

“Even the timing of the project is inappropriate, coming so late in the year when the economic hustle and bustle associated with Christmas and New Year are nigh.

“These, together with the heightened state of insecurity in parts of the country, the frenzy of political activities and electioneering campaigns towards the forthcoming 2015 elections, and the current slump in global oil prices make this the worst possible time for such drastic fiscal policy.”

Tambuwal Drops Out Of Presidential Race, Now To Contest As Sokoto Governor

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal earlier today dropped his presidential ambitions after consultations with All Progressives Congress (APC)chieftains who are strong backers of retired General Muhammadu Buhari. 

Tambuwal will now contest for the position of governor in his home state of Sokoto according to impeccable sources close to the speaker.

One source told Saharareporters that Tambuwal was “begged” by Buhari people to step down so as not to sabotage his budding ambition as APC’s consensus candidate in the upcoming party primaries.

Mr. Tambuwal sent tongues wagging when he recently decamped to the APC after which series of events followed including the withdrawal of his police protection reportedly on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

A few days later some house of representatives members visited Mr. Tambuwal at his official residence with the Presidential nomination forms for the APC.

However, several political sources stated that Tambuwals sudden interest in the presidency was driven by Mr. Jonathan in an attempt to frustrate Buhari from emerging as APC candidate. Those sources told this medium that the high-profile fight to remove Tambuwal as speaker was done to raise his profile and attract public sympathy that could portray him as anti-establishment.

Mr. Tambuwal or his aides did not respond to our inquiries regarding the latest action.

Tambuwal Drops Out Of Presidential Race, Now To Contest As Sokoto Governor

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal earlier today dropped his presidential ambitions after consultations with All Progressives Congress (APC)chieftains who are strong backers of retired General Muhammadu Buhari. 

Tambuwal will now contest for the position of governor in his home state of Sokoto according to impeccable sources close to the speaker.

One source told Saharareporters that Tambuwal was “begged” by Buhari people to step down so as not to sabotage his budding ambition as APC’s consensus candidate in the upcoming party primaries.

Mr. Tambuwal sent tongues wagging when he recently decamped to the APC after which series of events followed including the withdrawal of his police protection reportedly on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

A few days later some house of representatives members visited Mr. Tambuwal at his official residence with the Presidential nomination forms for the APC.

However, several political sources stated that Tambuwals sudden interest in the presidency was driven by Mr. Jonathan in an attempt to frustrate Buhari from emerging as APC candidate. Those sources told this medium that the high-profile fight to remove Tambuwal as speaker was done to raise his profile and attract public sympathy that could portray him as anti-establishment.

Mr. Tambuwal or his aides did not respond to our inquiries regarding the latest action.

Barack Obama Approves Deploy 1,500 Troops To Iraq

President Barack Obama has approved sending up to 1,500 additional troops to Iraq to aid Baghdad government and Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State group, roughly doubling the number of US troops in the country, the White House said Friday.

The 1,500 troops will include a group of advisors to help Iraqi forces plan operations and a group of trainers who will be deployed across the country, officials said, as Washington steps up the pressure on the IS militants.

Some of the advisors will be deployed to western Anbar province, where the Iraqi army has been forced to retreat from advancing IS jihadists, a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP.

Some of the additional troops will begin to arrive in Iraq in the next several weeks, the official said.

“As a part of our strategy for strengthening partners on the ground, President Obama today authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 additional US military personnel in a non-combat role to train, advise, and assist Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish forces,” a statement said.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended the move to Obama based on a request from the Iraqi government and the assessment of US Central Command, which is overseeing the air war against the IS militants, the Pentagon said.

The deployment coincides “with the development of a coalition campaign plan to defend key areas and go on the offensive” against IS fighters who have grabbed large areas of Iraq and neighboring Syria, it said.

The training will focus on 12 Iraqi brigades — nine Iraqi army and three Peshmerga brigades, the Pentagon said.

The training sites will be located in northern, western, and southern Iraq and “coalition partners will join US personnel at these locations to help build Iraqi capacity and capability,” it added.

“This is not just going to be a US mission,” a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity.

“Several coalition partners” have come forward to contribute troops to the train and advise mission, the official said.

There are now about 1,400 American troops in Iraq, including 600 advisers in Baghdad and Arbil, and 800 troops providing security for the US embassy in the capital and the Baghdad airport.

Obama had previously authorized up to 1,600 troops. His decision Friday will raise the maximum troop footprint to 3,100.

The US president had resisted keeping troops in Iraq earlier in his term, vowing to end the American presence that began with the 2003 invasion and continued as an occupation through 2011.

US officials had discussed the possibility of keeping several thousand troops in Iraq after 2011, but talks with the Iraqi government, then led by prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, broke down over the issue of legal immunity, which Washington insisted on and Baghdad declined to provide.

WIith Friday’s announcement, Obama will be deploying a force to Iraq along the lines of that considered in 2011, under legal protections similar to those it rejected as insufficient three years ago.

Barack Obama Approves Deploy 1,500 Troops To Iraq

Posted by Sylvester No comments

President Barack Obama has approved sending up to 1,500 additional troops to Iraq to aid Baghdad government and Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State group, roughly doubling the number of US troops in the country, the White House said Friday.

The 1,500 troops will include a group of advisors to help Iraqi forces plan operations and a group of trainers who will be deployed across the country, officials said, as Washington steps up the pressure on the IS militants.

Some of the advisors will be deployed to western Anbar province, where the Iraqi army has been forced to retreat from advancing IS jihadists, a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP.

Some of the additional troops will begin to arrive in Iraq in the next several weeks, the official said.

“As a part of our strategy for strengthening partners on the ground, President Obama today authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 additional US military personnel in a non-combat role to train, advise, and assist Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish forces,” a statement said.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended the move to Obama based on a request from the Iraqi government and the assessment of US Central Command, which is overseeing the air war against the IS militants, the Pentagon said.

The deployment coincides “with the development of a coalition campaign plan to defend key areas and go on the offensive” against IS fighters who have grabbed large areas of Iraq and neighboring Syria, it said.

The training will focus on 12 Iraqi brigades — nine Iraqi army and three Peshmerga brigades, the Pentagon said.

The training sites will be located in northern, western, and southern Iraq and “coalition partners will join US personnel at these locations to help build Iraqi capacity and capability,” it added.

“This is not just going to be a US mission,” a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity.

“Several coalition partners” have come forward to contribute troops to the train and advise mission, the official said.

There are now about 1,400 American troops in Iraq, including 600 advisers in Baghdad and Arbil, and 800 troops providing security for the US embassy in the capital and the Baghdad airport.

Obama had previously authorized up to 1,600 troops. His decision Friday will raise the maximum troop footprint to 3,100.

The US president had resisted keeping troops in Iraq earlier in his term, vowing to end the American presence that began with the 2003 invasion and continued as an occupation through 2011.

US officials had discussed the possibility of keeping several thousand troops in Iraq after 2011, but talks with the Iraqi government, then led by prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, broke down over the issue of legal immunity, which Washington insisted on and Baghdad declined to provide.

WIith Friday’s announcement, Obama will be deploying a force to Iraq along the lines of that considered in 2011, under legal protections similar to those it rejected as insufficient three years ago.

Prophet T.B Joshua"Absent"At Synagogue Church Collapse Inquest, Coroner Calls For His Arrest

Prophet T.B. Joshua failed today to appear at a coroner's inquest, intended to determine how 116 people were killed in a September 12 building collapse at his Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos.

The Prophet was called to present evidence that supported his claim that the church was attacked by terrorists flying over the building, something experts have ruled out. The prophet was also facing allegations that members of his church thwarted emergency rescue operations the day of the tragedy.
“The first three days (after the collapse) were marred by the so-called church sympathizers and the crowd,” said the head of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, during the inquest. “By the time we attained momentum after 96 hours a lot of things had gone bad.”
“The crowd impeded our operation. They did not allow our personnel and equipment to come in. They frustrated the emergency workers at the scene,” he furthered. "Instead of allowing trained rescue workers with specialist equipment to search for survivors, only church members and volunteers were allowed to pick through the rubble," he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu additionally claimed that SCOAN staff were not forthcoming with details that would aid an effective investigation. “We were not allowed to do documentation. Photographs of the incident were not allowed," he said. "We asked for the manifest to know the number and identities of the people in the building, we were not given. We asked for the building plan, we were not given.”
The coroner, Oyetade Komolafe, said last week that Joshua would face arrest if he dismissed the inquest, but Joshua's lawyers are claiming that he, as well as the building's contractors, never received summons to appear.
“We don’t want the impression to be created that The Prophet is avoiding the court," Olalekan Ojo, Joshua's lawyer, explained. "The prophet has not been personally served the witness summons. He was unavoidably absent when the sheriff went for the service."
Despite this, the lawyer did not accept the summons on his client's behalf.
Vanguard Nigeria reports that inspections indicated that the buildings were structurally defective, bearing more than they were designed to.
“We want Prophet T.B Joshua to know that the court is not persecuting anybody but (trying) to find the truth. He should come," the coroner said.
“As a prophet of God that he claims to be, he must not do anything that will make him to be at variance with the law.”

Prophet T.B Joshua"Absent"At Synagogue Church Collapse Inquest, Coroner Calls For His Arrest

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Prophet T.B. Joshua failed today to appear at a coroner's inquest, intended to determine how 116 people were killed in a September 12 building collapse at his Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos.

The Prophet was called to present evidence that supported his claim that the church was attacked by terrorists flying over the building, something experts have ruled out. The prophet was also facing allegations that members of his church thwarted emergency rescue operations the day of the tragedy.
“The first three days (after the collapse) were marred by the so-called church sympathizers and the crowd,” said the head of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, during the inquest. “By the time we attained momentum after 96 hours a lot of things had gone bad.”
“The crowd impeded our operation. They did not allow our personnel and equipment to come in. They frustrated the emergency workers at the scene,” he furthered. "Instead of allowing trained rescue workers with specialist equipment to search for survivors, only church members and volunteers were allowed to pick through the rubble," he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu additionally claimed that SCOAN staff were not forthcoming with details that would aid an effective investigation. “We were not allowed to do documentation. Photographs of the incident were not allowed," he said. "We asked for the manifest to know the number and identities of the people in the building, we were not given. We asked for the building plan, we were not given.”
The coroner, Oyetade Komolafe, said last week that Joshua would face arrest if he dismissed the inquest, but Joshua's lawyers are claiming that he, as well as the building's contractors, never received summons to appear.
“We don’t want the impression to be created that The Prophet is avoiding the court," Olalekan Ojo, Joshua's lawyer, explained. "The prophet has not been personally served the witness summons. He was unavoidably absent when the sheriff went for the service."
Despite this, the lawyer did not accept the summons on his client's behalf.
Vanguard Nigeria reports that inspections indicated that the buildings were structurally defective, bearing more than they were designed to.
“We want Prophet T.B Joshua to know that the court is not persecuting anybody but (trying) to find the truth. He should come," the coroner said.
“As a prophet of God that he claims to be, he must not do anything that will make him to be at variance with the law.”

Stampad At Inauguration Of Akwa Ibom International Stadium Leaves Two Feared Dead, At Least 20 Injured

In a tragic twist to the opening of Akwa Ibom International Stadium Friday, a stampede which broke out at the venue's entrance is said to have left two persons suspected dead and at least 20 injured.

Said to have been driven by a frenzy to enter the venue for the Nigeria—Ghana friendly which took place today, the rush to enter the 30,000 capacity stadium, promised to be the biggest in West Africa, proved more than security operatives could control.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emem Okon, said that two unconscious persons had to be taken to an undisclosed hospital. “Two persons have been taken to the hospital; these are perhaps people who were fighting at the gate in their bid to enter the stadium,” the commissioner said.


A third person rendered unconscious in the fray was revived by medical personnel at the stadium.

Reports also surfaced that security personnel at the venue resorted to using horse whips and tear gas to manage and control spectators.

While assuring the public that the incident was under control, Dr. Okon stated that such chaos was expected for these situations. “It should be expected; this is the first time this is happening, everybody is excited, everybody wants to enter the stadium."

"We have 150 medical personnel in this place and eight ambulances. All our medical teams are up and doing and all the clinics are manned,” Okon said.

Stampad At Inauguration Of Akwa Ibom International Stadium Leaves Two Feared Dead, At Least 20 Injured

Posted by Sylvester No comments

In a tragic twist to the opening of Akwa Ibom International Stadium Friday, a stampede which broke out at the venue's entrance is said to have left two persons suspected dead and at least 20 injured.

Said to have been driven by a frenzy to enter the venue for the Nigeria—Ghana friendly which took place today, the rush to enter the 30,000 capacity stadium, promised to be the biggest in West Africa, proved more than security operatives could control.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emem Okon, said that two unconscious persons had to be taken to an undisclosed hospital. “Two persons have been taken to the hospital; these are perhaps people who were fighting at the gate in their bid to enter the stadium,” the commissioner said.


A third person rendered unconscious in the fray was revived by medical personnel at the stadium.

Reports also surfaced that security personnel at the venue resorted to using horse whips and tear gas to manage and control spectators.

While assuring the public that the incident was under control, Dr. Okon stated that such chaos was expected for these situations. “It should be expected; this is the first time this is happening, everybody is excited, everybody wants to enter the stadium."

"We have 150 medical personnel in this place and eight ambulances. All our medical teams are up and doing and all the clinics are manned,” Okon said.

Who Is The Bigger Threat To Nigeria – President Jonathan Or Boko-Haram

Boko Haram will not be on the ballot in the upcoming presidential election, but Goodluck Jonathan will. I recently read a report in a popular online magazine that claims the likelihood of Jonathan being re-elected is pretty good. What a troubling forecast. And it’s far more dangerous to Nigerians and to Africa as a whole than anything Boko Haram can conjure up.

So who, then, is the bigger threat to Nigeria? Is it Jonathan or Boko Haram? Yes, Boko Haram is a dreadful menace to Nigeria. But when Nigeria finally gets a strong leader, he will swat Boko Haram like a fly. Boko Haram is only as big a threat as the Nigerian president allows it to be. Instead of working to develop strategies to pull Nigeria into the 21st century, Jonathan is trotting the globe trying to win sympathy from the global community by comparing Boko Haram to the Taliban. What a waste of time from a president who really has no time, energy or other resources to waste.

If Nigerians re-elect Jonathan, I believe it is only a matter of time before Nigeria’s social, economic and political infrastructures fracture and Nigeria, in all her glory, will come tumbling down. The fact that Nigerians are unable to stand against Boko Haram is a direct reflection of its spineless, careless leaders. These leaders have decided that lining their pockets is more important than creating a country that is at peace and moving toward progress. These are leaders who have brazenly declared they are beyond accountability. They answer to no one. They are only concerned with what they siphon from Nigeria while they have access to her wealth and resources.

These are the real terrorists if you ask me. It is the only explanation I have for a group of leaders who would allow its children to be hunted, kidnapped and taken hostage for such a length of time. Every smart leader protects its children. The children are the future of a nation, the legacy. But Nigerian leaders have seen fit to sacrifice its children instead. So who is the real threat to Nigeria? A group of thieves who boldly report to work every day to systematically liquidate Nigeria’s assets and sacrifice its children or a band of bandits who are on the run and acting out when they can?

Nigeria’s leaders are supposed to be defenders and lawmakers! But the petroleum industry bill that should have been a top priority for the nation is mired in controversy and on the back burner of the legislative agenda.

A Good Long Look at Nigeria’s North Dakota

A few days ago, I watched a program on CNN about North Dakota, a U.S. state that I liken to Bayelsa in Nigeria.

Wealth and Poverty. Like Bayelsa, North Dakota has oil but that is where the similarities end. Unemployment in North Dakota is 2.6 percent, while in Bayelsa, unemployment hovers around 80 percent. North Dakota has a population of 700,000 and a GDP of $36 billion. The GDP of Bayelsa is only $4.3 billion with a population of about 1.7 million. As a state, North Dakota has recorded the highest income growth among all U.S. states since 2007. Poverty doesn’t exist in North Dakota. In Bayelsa, 70 percent of the population lives in poverty.

Oil. North Dakota pumps about 575,000 barrels of oil daily. Even though Bayelsa has one of the largest deposits of oil and gas in Nigeria, no one really knows how much is pumped or stolen daily. Like our leaders have proclaimed, they are accountable to no one so this kind of valuable information is shrouded in secrecy because of the weak leadership of our spineless Commander-in-Thief and the lackluster leadership of the dishonorable rogues who populate the National Assembly. We don’t know because the co-operation of the pot-bellied armed forces, the conspiracy of the union leaders, the greed of the village chiefs, the weakness of the press and the gullibleness of the general public make it impossible for us to hold anyone accountable.

Electricity and Water. North Dakota has round-the-clock electricity. The power supply and tap water is being sent into homes and business 24/7 in North Dakota. Bayelsa has power two, maybe three hours a day if they are lucky. Bayelsa is surrounded by water, yet its residents can hardly get clean water to drink, let alone wash their clothes.

Who Is The Bigger Threat To Nigeria – President Jonathan Or Boko-Haram

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Boko Haram will not be on the ballot in the upcoming presidential election, but Goodluck Jonathan will. I recently read a report in a popular online magazine that claims the likelihood of Jonathan being re-elected is pretty good. What a troubling forecast. And it’s far more dangerous to Nigerians and to Africa as a whole than anything Boko Haram can conjure up.

So who, then, is the bigger threat to Nigeria? Is it Jonathan or Boko Haram? Yes, Boko Haram is a dreadful menace to Nigeria. But when Nigeria finally gets a strong leader, he will swat Boko Haram like a fly. Boko Haram is only as big a threat as the Nigerian president allows it to be. Instead of working to develop strategies to pull Nigeria into the 21st century, Jonathan is trotting the globe trying to win sympathy from the global community by comparing Boko Haram to the Taliban. What a waste of time from a president who really has no time, energy or other resources to waste.

If Nigerians re-elect Jonathan, I believe it is only a matter of time before Nigeria’s social, economic and political infrastructures fracture and Nigeria, in all her glory, will come tumbling down. The fact that Nigerians are unable to stand against Boko Haram is a direct reflection of its spineless, careless leaders. These leaders have decided that lining their pockets is more important than creating a country that is at peace and moving toward progress. These are leaders who have brazenly declared they are beyond accountability. They answer to no one. They are only concerned with what they siphon from Nigeria while they have access to her wealth and resources.

These are the real terrorists if you ask me. It is the only explanation I have for a group of leaders who would allow its children to be hunted, kidnapped and taken hostage for such a length of time. Every smart leader protects its children. The children are the future of a nation, the legacy. But Nigerian leaders have seen fit to sacrifice its children instead. So who is the real threat to Nigeria? A group of thieves who boldly report to work every day to systematically liquidate Nigeria’s assets and sacrifice its children or a band of bandits who are on the run and acting out when they can?

Nigeria’s leaders are supposed to be defenders and lawmakers! But the petroleum industry bill that should have been a top priority for the nation is mired in controversy and on the back burner of the legislative agenda.

A Good Long Look at Nigeria’s North Dakota

A few days ago, I watched a program on CNN about North Dakota, a U.S. state that I liken to Bayelsa in Nigeria.

Wealth and Poverty. Like Bayelsa, North Dakota has oil but that is where the similarities end. Unemployment in North Dakota is 2.6 percent, while in Bayelsa, unemployment hovers around 80 percent. North Dakota has a population of 700,000 and a GDP of $36 billion. The GDP of Bayelsa is only $4.3 billion with a population of about 1.7 million. As a state, North Dakota has recorded the highest income growth among all U.S. states since 2007. Poverty doesn’t exist in North Dakota. In Bayelsa, 70 percent of the population lives in poverty.

Oil. North Dakota pumps about 575,000 barrels of oil daily. Even though Bayelsa has one of the largest deposits of oil and gas in Nigeria, no one really knows how much is pumped or stolen daily. Like our leaders have proclaimed, they are accountable to no one so this kind of valuable information is shrouded in secrecy because of the weak leadership of our spineless Commander-in-Thief and the lackluster leadership of the dishonorable rogues who populate the National Assembly. We don’t know because the co-operation of the pot-bellied armed forces, the conspiracy of the union leaders, the greed of the village chiefs, the weakness of the press and the gullibleness of the general public make it impossible for us to hold anyone accountable.

Electricity and Water. North Dakota has round-the-clock electricity. The power supply and tap water is being sent into homes and business 24/7 in North Dakota. Bayelsa has power two, maybe three hours a day if they are lucky. Bayelsa is surrounded by water, yet its residents can hardly get clean water to drink, let alone wash their clothes.

No President resigns in war time -Presidency

The Presidency has said there is no part of the world where the President resigns during an ongoing war
It therefore challenged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to tell Nigerians where such presidents had resigned during war time.

The Presidency was reacting to the demand by the leadership of the APC, including its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan should resign because of the ongoing war against the country by the members of the Boko Haram sect.

Reacting on behalf of the President, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, asked Nigerians to ignore such calls.

He said, “The suggestion by one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan resign from office as a result of the activities of insurgents in the north eastern part of the country has once again shown beyond doubt that the former Lagos State Governor and his colleagues in the opposition are a bunch of political anarchists and charlatans blinded by an unbridled appetite for power.

“The assertion by Tinubu at a political rally in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday that in ‘civilised’ societies, the President should have resigned is unfounded and lacking in historical precedence.

“We challenge him to tell Nigerians which part of his ‘civilized’ world has there been a call on a President to resign during an on-going war.

“When terrorists attacked the United States of America in September, 2001, leaders of the Democratic Party did not demand a resignation of President George Bush but rather they rose in defence of the American Nation to support the various measures taken by the President to defeat the Al Qaeda terrorists.”

No President resigns in war time -Presidency

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The Presidency has said there is no part of the world where the President resigns during an ongoing war
It therefore challenged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to tell Nigerians where such presidents had resigned during war time.

The Presidency was reacting to the demand by the leadership of the APC, including its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan should resign because of the ongoing war against the country by the members of the Boko Haram sect.

Reacting on behalf of the President, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, asked Nigerians to ignore such calls.

He said, “The suggestion by one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan resign from office as a result of the activities of insurgents in the north eastern part of the country has once again shown beyond doubt that the former Lagos State Governor and his colleagues in the opposition are a bunch of political anarchists and charlatans blinded by an unbridled appetite for power.

“The assertion by Tinubu at a political rally in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday that in ‘civilised’ societies, the President should have resigned is unfounded and lacking in historical precedence.

“We challenge him to tell Nigerians which part of his ‘civilized’ world has there been a call on a President to resign during an on-going war.

“When terrorists attacked the United States of America in September, 2001, leaders of the Democratic Party did not demand a resignation of President George Bush but rather they rose in defence of the American Nation to support the various measures taken by the President to defeat the Al Qaeda terrorists.”

CAN Accuses INEC Of Plotting To Disenfranchise Nigerian Christians

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is deliberately planning to shut out Christians in the country from voting in the 2015 general elections.

The President of CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor, who stated this at the association’s national executive council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, said he was suspicious of a sinister motive by the Commission following its poor handling of the distribution of the permanent voters’ cards.

He, however, warned that Christians would resist such a plan if the Commission was truly harbouring it just as he appealed to faithful to register and vote in other to participate in governance.

Mr. Oritsejafor did however not substantiate his claims. He did not say exactly how the electoral body is shutting out Christians and how it is failing to issue them cards.

He only said, “I want to say passionately to Nigerians, go and get your voters’ cards. I want to appeal to INEC to double up. Our people must register and have their voters’ cards.

“I hope INEC is not doing something deliberate here in order to prevent Christians from voting. I hope Professor Attahiru Jega can hear me. We must all vote and vote wisely.”

The clergyman also warned the Boko Haram sect to end their terrorist activities in the North East region, adding that the association was ready to meet senior Muslim clerics with a view to ending the insurgency and unprovoked attack on Christians and churches.

He demanded that fifth columnists among security agencies, which allegedly are sabotaging government’s war against insurgency, should be fished out and dismissed.

According to him, the nation’s territories that had been taken over by the dreaded Boko Haram sect are predominantly populated by Christians who he said were no longer safe.

Mr. Oritsejafor restated that the insurgents were waging a religious war against Christians, adding that he had remained a critic of the satanic activities of the group.

“What is happening in the North-east is unacceptable,” he said.

“What is happening there is unacceptable to us. Christians are the main victims. We are not saying that other people are not affected. But Christians are the ones affected more. All the places where Boko Haram has foisted their flags are dominated by Christians.”

“They have taken over Mubi in Adamawa state which is dominated by Christians. Somebody will now tell me this is not religion. Who is fooling who? Nigerians should accept that we have a problem,” the leader of Christian community in Nigeria stated.

Again, Mr. Oritsejafor did not provide facts and figures to back his claim that adherents of a particular religion have been more on the receiving end of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The CAN president however called on Nigerians to pray to God to put an end to the mindless killings.

He said he would not join other Nigerians who had created names for themselves by constantly criticising the military, but would continue to ask the leadership of the military to fish out saboteurs if the war against terror must be won.

He said, “All well meaning Nigerians must pray and continue to pray. We must pray. I will not join those condemning our security agencies. They are Nigerians. Women are losing their husbands and children are losing their fathers. I want to challenge the military. They can do better. They must continue to fish out those sabotaging their efforts. Those people should be expelled. They are in all the security agencies.

“No matter the intention you have, if you have people working against you, you will not succeed. There are too many people in the system working against the system. Why should these kind of things be happening? Innocent people are being killed. It’s too much. Enough is enough,” Mr. Oritsejafor told the audience.

Mr. Oritsejafor also reminded the Federal Government and other Nigerians of the need to adopt new approach in the war against Boko Haram, noting that the use of force alone could not end the insurgent activities.

According to him, “Even though I have said the military must continue to work harder, guns and bullets alone will not save this problem. Boko Haram is an ideology. Let us not run away from it. You do not defeat an ideology with guns and bullets. You defeat an ideology with a superior ideology. Boko Haram will not listen to me.

“I want to make an appeal to our Muslim clerics and Muslim political leaders to come together and see how they can help us solve this problem. They have the solution. There are some muslim scholars Boko Haram members respect. To a large extent, that is the only way out.

“As members of CAN, we are ready to meet with them. I believe in progressive dialogue. This is my strong appeal. I want to appeal to those at the grassroots. This connects to the leaders. The leaders should talk to those at the grassroots. They should give reliable intelligence to our security agents. Please, do not harbour these people. They are not fighting for you. Expose them.

While noting that there were journalists at the meeting, the cleric asked them to pass the message to the relevant authorities.

He said Nigerians would like to have a better country where everyone was equal and have respect for the constitution.

In fact, we want one constitution where everyone will follow. Those saying Boko Haram is not religious are deceiving themselves.

“We want a Nigeria where everyone is safe. We want a Nigerian where a man is not judged by his religion. That is the Nigeria we all want. If we want one united Nigeria, we must all pay the price for it.”

Mr. Oritsejafor called on the international community to assist Nigeria and its people to surmount the current challenges.

He said, “I believe as bad as the situation is, with God, all things are possible. I know that there is God. He will not forsake us. We have restrained our people so much and we will continue to restrain them. But I beg Nigerians to not let this continue. These are dangerous and serious times.

“I was reading a report from a priest in Borno of how churches have been destroyed. I wonder why the international community is not saying anything. Is this not human rights violation? We call on government, NEMA, NGOs, the international community. We need help. Our people are dying. Come and help us.”

CAN Accuses INEC Of Plotting To Disenfranchise Nigerian Christians

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is deliberately planning to shut out Christians in the country from voting in the 2015 general elections.

The President of CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor, who stated this at the association’s national executive council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, said he was suspicious of a sinister motive by the Commission following its poor handling of the distribution of the permanent voters’ cards.

He, however, warned that Christians would resist such a plan if the Commission was truly harbouring it just as he appealed to faithful to register and vote in other to participate in governance.

Mr. Oritsejafor did however not substantiate his claims. He did not say exactly how the electoral body is shutting out Christians and how it is failing to issue them cards.

He only said, “I want to say passionately to Nigerians, go and get your voters’ cards. I want to appeal to INEC to double up. Our people must register and have their voters’ cards.

“I hope INEC is not doing something deliberate here in order to prevent Christians from voting. I hope Professor Attahiru Jega can hear me. We must all vote and vote wisely.”

The clergyman also warned the Boko Haram sect to end their terrorist activities in the North East region, adding that the association was ready to meet senior Muslim clerics with a view to ending the insurgency and unprovoked attack on Christians and churches.

He demanded that fifth columnists among security agencies, which allegedly are sabotaging government’s war against insurgency, should be fished out and dismissed.

According to him, the nation’s territories that had been taken over by the dreaded Boko Haram sect are predominantly populated by Christians who he said were no longer safe.

Mr. Oritsejafor restated that the insurgents were waging a religious war against Christians, adding that he had remained a critic of the satanic activities of the group.

“What is happening in the North-east is unacceptable,” he said.

“What is happening there is unacceptable to us. Christians are the main victims. We are not saying that other people are not affected. But Christians are the ones affected more. All the places where Boko Haram has foisted their flags are dominated by Christians.”

“They have taken over Mubi in Adamawa state which is dominated by Christians. Somebody will now tell me this is not religion. Who is fooling who? Nigerians should accept that we have a problem,” the leader of Christian community in Nigeria stated.

Again, Mr. Oritsejafor did not provide facts and figures to back his claim that adherents of a particular religion have been more on the receiving end of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The CAN president however called on Nigerians to pray to God to put an end to the mindless killings.

He said he would not join other Nigerians who had created names for themselves by constantly criticising the military, but would continue to ask the leadership of the military to fish out saboteurs if the war against terror must be won.

He said, “All well meaning Nigerians must pray and continue to pray. We must pray. I will not join those condemning our security agencies. They are Nigerians. Women are losing their husbands and children are losing their fathers. I want to challenge the military. They can do better. They must continue to fish out those sabotaging their efforts. Those people should be expelled. They are in all the security agencies.

“No matter the intention you have, if you have people working against you, you will not succeed. There are too many people in the system working against the system. Why should these kind of things be happening? Innocent people are being killed. It’s too much. Enough is enough,” Mr. Oritsejafor told the audience.

Mr. Oritsejafor also reminded the Federal Government and other Nigerians of the need to adopt new approach in the war against Boko Haram, noting that the use of force alone could not end the insurgent activities.

According to him, “Even though I have said the military must continue to work harder, guns and bullets alone will not save this problem. Boko Haram is an ideology. Let us not run away from it. You do not defeat an ideology with guns and bullets. You defeat an ideology with a superior ideology. Boko Haram will not listen to me.

“I want to make an appeal to our Muslim clerics and Muslim political leaders to come together and see how they can help us solve this problem. They have the solution. There are some muslim scholars Boko Haram members respect. To a large extent, that is the only way out.

“As members of CAN, we are ready to meet with them. I believe in progressive dialogue. This is my strong appeal. I want to appeal to those at the grassroots. This connects to the leaders. The leaders should talk to those at the grassroots. They should give reliable intelligence to our security agents. Please, do not harbour these people. They are not fighting for you. Expose them.

While noting that there were journalists at the meeting, the cleric asked them to pass the message to the relevant authorities.

He said Nigerians would like to have a better country where everyone was equal and have respect for the constitution.

In fact, we want one constitution where everyone will follow. Those saying Boko Haram is not religious are deceiving themselves.

“We want a Nigeria where everyone is safe. We want a Nigerian where a man is not judged by his religion. That is the Nigeria we all want. If we want one united Nigeria, we must all pay the price for it.”

Mr. Oritsejafor called on the international community to assist Nigeria and its people to surmount the current challenges.

He said, “I believe as bad as the situation is, with God, all things are possible. I know that there is God. He will not forsake us. We have restrained our people so much and we will continue to restrain them. But I beg Nigerians to not let this continue. These are dangerous and serious times.

“I was reading a report from a priest in Borno of how churches have been destroyed. I wonder why the international community is not saying anything. Is this not human rights violation? We call on government, NEMA, NGOs, the international community. We need help. Our people are dying. Come and help us.”