An Ugandan athletics coach, Peter Wemali has been suspended by the country’s Athletics Federation (UAF) for what has been alleged to be sex scandal.
Reports have it today that Wemali was accused of sexually harassing female elite female athletes. It was alleged that Team Captain, Moses Kipsiro, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and one of Uganda’s top distance runners, complained that Wemali allegedly harassed female teammates.
The report quotes Domenic Otuchet, the President of UAF, as saying that the federation is still investigating the allegation, adding that Jessica Alupo, the Minister of Sports in Uganda, has also promised to investigate the allegation against Wemali.
The Ugandan Police spokesman, Mr. Fred Enanga, confirmed the story, saying: “We are taking up the matter, those with information should pass it on to us for investigations.’’
The outing of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state into the pulic glare shortly after a security meeting the governors had with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa on Thursday last week was like one shooting self in the chest. In deed, it was like a good footballer, who after dribbling all the opponents and instead of shooting into the opponents’ net, turned, ran amoc back into his eighten and scored self-goal deliberately. A few minutes after the Thursday’s meeting, chairman of Greenbarge Media and Communications Limited, a veteran Journalist himself, phoned me to express his disappointment on the fact that Governors from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) shunned such a very imprtant security meeting as some online media featured it. “You can see how the APC plays politics even with security matter that should have been the preoccupation of every Nigerian, irrespective of political or religious affiliation,” he raved on. When I told him that Governor Akpabio had briefed newsmen to say that the APC governors were not invited; that it was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affair, the chairman changed his anger: “why would PDP arrogate to itself the matter that ought to cut across party lines?” He dismissed the excuse given by governor Akpabio to the effect that the President had scheduled an enlarged security meeting with all the 36 governors of the federation as an after-thought. Even though, a press statement issued by Dr. Reuben Abati, the President’s special adviser on media and publicity the previous day had clearly stated that all the (36) governors were scheduled to hold the meeting with the President, the attempt by governor Akpabio to show that APC governors were deliberately excluded was a direct indictment on the PDP and technically exonerated APC governors from any blame. In any case, it would have made a lot of sense if, assuming Governor Akpabio was right, the APC were actually made part of that Thursday’s meeting which was at the period the Nyanya bomb blast and abduction of dozens of female students in Borno state were still fresh and burning across the country. This is saying that it did not make any security and political sense for PDP to make the Thursday meeting more of a party affair, using it as a springboard for an all-inclusive governors’ meeting at the date the freshness of the circumstances that called for such meeting would have frozen into the air. Undoubtedly, governor Akpabio, as usual, had intended to injure the APC by implying that it’s governors’ presence at such meeting had no value-added to the solution to the security challenges: that PDP had all it takes to face the challenges, but what he had simply succeeded in doing was to belittle the magnitude of the situation at hand and above all, resorted to politicking in a matter as universally dangerous to the corporate existence of this country and collective happiness of all, I mean, all the citizenry. The governor had successfully played into the hand of APC, which simply cuncur later, when the heat was on, that it’s governors were actually not invited to the meeting with the President. You can see what talking too much, and wanting at all times to undo the ‘enemies’ can cause even to one self?
Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has described the traditional rulers as custodians of Nigeria’s cultural values. The Vice President who was at the Turbaning Ceremony of the Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, as the Dallatun Zazzau, by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris today Arc Sambo while advising the newly turbaned Dallatu said “As custodians of our rich history, culture and traditions, I urge you to follow the footsteps of your predecessors by being steadfast in your responsibilities and roles assigned to you. You must at all time keep in mind that you represent our rich and noble values and must continue to protect the positive image of the emirate locally and international.” Namadi Sambo said that the conferment of the exalted title on the Governor is noteworthy, saying that it is part of the efforts by Emirate to consolidate on its gains by repositioning its fortunes Speaking, Governor Ramalan Yero expressed appreciation to Almighty Allah for the recognition, even as he appreciated the Emir and his council, his parents and those that had played prominent roles in his life. He also thanked Vice President Namadi Sambo for the positive role he played in his life, even as he pledged to uphold the virtues of the title. He called on residents of the State to join hands with him to deliver on his developmental goals. Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and also the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of his counterparts, expressed appreciation to the Emir and his council for recognizing one of their own. He said that this has shown the synergy between the traditional institution and those in government. Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, said that the title was in recognition of the immense contributions of the Governor to the progress of the Emirate, Kaduna State and the country at large. He prayed for continued peace, stability and tranquility in the country. The event had a very colourful Durbar and was graced by the Governors of Gombe, Katsina and Kogi States. Others also present were several deputy governors, members of the executive and legislature from both the state and federal levels, as well as thousands of well wishers. Governor Ramalan Yero is the 19th Dallatun Zazzau, and the third to be installed by the current Emir
“As our Christian compatriots celebrate the Messiah’s triumph over death and all that it connotes, let us all renew our faith and confidence in our ability as a people to overcome all obstacles, challenges and threats to national progress and well-being, including terrorism and other criminal attacks on our people in some parts of the country.” These were contained in a goodwill message which President Goodluck Jonathan today, sent to Nigerian Christians. He saluted Christian brothers and sisters who are celebrating Easter and commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ today. “As we join Christians in other countries of the world in celebrating Easter this year, I urge all Nigerians to reflect on the significance of its lessons of piety, obedience to higher authorities, self sacrifice for the good of others, redemption, salvation, deliverance, renewal and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. “These lessons of Easter and other injunctions on brotherly love, peaceful co-existence, tolerance, honesty, humility, justice, equity and fairness to all without discrimination contained in the Gospels are of particular importance to us as a nation as we continue to contend with the challenges of nation-building and development.” President Jonathan went on: “as our Christian compatriots celebrate the Messiah’s triumph over death and all that it connotes, let us all renew our faith and confidence in our ability as a people to overcome all obstacles, challenges and threats to national progress and well-being, including terrorism and other criminal attacks on our people in some parts of the country.” He said that he believed in our ability to overcome all retrogressive and divisive forces in our midst and build a strong, united and prosperous nation by turning our unique diversity into a source of strength, adding that such belief remains unshaken and “we will continue to work with all interest groups and stakeholders in the country to achieve the peaceful, secure and politically stable conditions essential for rapid socio-economic development.” The President said that in spite of the evil machinations of terrorists, criminals and their collaborators, his Administration remains ardently focused on efforts to successfully execute the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation and achieve sustained development. “We have already made notable advances in this regard. As a result of our efforts and those of previous administrations, the Nigeria economy is now the largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world. “But we cannot afford to rest on our oars. Much remains to be done and we will continue to count on the patriotic support of all Nigerians as we strive to achieve more inclusive economic growth, generate more national wealth and create more employment opportunities to meet the demands of our increasingly youthful population.” He commended the leadership and delegates to the ongoing National Conference, the vast majority of who have shown a patriotic and praiseworthy commitment to national unity, peace and progress built on justice, fairness and equity for all component parts of the country. As the Conference breaks into committees to continue its deliberations, the President hoped and expected that the end result will be meaningful and enduring contributions towards strengthening national unity and fulfilling our collective desire for a better and greater nation. The President once more extended commiserations to all the families who have sadly lost loved relatives in recent terrorist attacks. “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with all those who have suffered injuries from the heinous attacks. We pray for their speedy recovery and shall keep on doing everything possible to assist them with required medical services and material support. “Our Armed Forces and security agencies will continue to do their very best to curb such attacks and restore full security to all parts of our beloved country. “But we must all become more alert and vigilant, and do all that we can to give them the fullest possible assistance, support and cooperation they require to achieve more effective protection of lives and property across the country. “We shall continue to count on your support and prayers for greater peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in Nigeria.”
Leader of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, on has owned up the Monday’s bombing in Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja that killed at least 75 people. Shekau in a video message today said, “We are the ones that carried out the attack in Abuja.” Shekau said in the 28-minute video, referring to the deadliest attack ever in Nigeria’s capital, which targeted a bus station packed with morning commuters. Seated with a kalashnikov resting on his left shoulder and dressed in military uniform, the insurgent commander spoke in both Arabic and the Hausa language that is dominant in northern Nigeria. The message was delivered to AFP in a manner consistent with previous videos from Boko Haram. The bombing at the Nyanya bus terminal on the outskirts of Abuja was the first major attack in the capital in two years. Most of the insurgents’ violence in recent months had been concentrated in the group’s remote northeastern stronghold in Borno, where the military is waging an 11-month-old offensive. The attack in Abuja underscored the serious threat the insurgents pose to Africa’s most populous country and top economy. Shekau indicated that Boko Haram has fighters based in the capital. “We are in your city,” he said, addressing President Goodluck Jonathan. Shekau has been declared a global terrorist by the United States of America, which has put a $7 million bounty on his head.
Former Nigeria Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has said that the current security challenges in Nigeria, though sad, but provide an opportunity for Nigerians to come out as one people and one nation, to stand together against any persons or forces trying to divide them. In his message today to Christians at Easter and Nigerians, Atiku advised Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love and sacrifice as they celebrate Easter. He asked the citizens to watch out for the wellbeing of one another and to internalize the spiritual gains and benefits of the season for an improved society. According to him, this is the only path to enthroning a Nigeria where the basic human rights of the rich and poor are respected and upheld, and where citizens can dwell in peace and safety. “We need to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and, above all, make sacrifice an integral part of our existence. That is the only way the sacrifice and life’s lessons of Jesus Christ will make meaning in our own daily lives and the life of our nation,” Atiku said. The message of Easter, he explained, is love. Unconditional love for each other and “not as people from different tribes or places of birth, not as Christians or Muslims, but as members of a commonwealth of humanity. We must love each other as Nigerians first.” The former Vice President also advised Nigerians to contribute their quota to national security, by reporting any suspicious activity to the police. “Until we begin to care for one another and to realize that every single human life is precious in the eye of God, Nigeria will never actualise its destiny as a great nation capable of playing a leading role in the world.”
The adverse security situation in Northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria in general is being felt by all of us. While every State Government is doing everything possible using virtually all its resources to stem the tide of near disaster facing all of us especially in the North, it is a well-known fact that the present Federal administration has now become a government of impunity run by an evil-minded leadership for the advancement of corruption that is apparently enjoying the protection of the Federal administration as a citizen of this country should enjoy but is being denied by the administration using its mass murderers/cut-throats imbedded in our legitimate and traditional Defence and Security organizations. It is very clear that the protection of life and property of innocent citizens in Northern Nigeria and recognizing their Human rights and Voting right in the forthcoming general elections is no longer a cardinal principle of the administration. Clearly the victims of the Administration’s evil-mindedness are substantially Northern Nigerians. The administration is bent on bringing wars in the North between Muslim and Christians and within them and between one ethnic group and another or others in various communities in the region. Cases of mass murders by its bloody minded killers and cut-throats are well known, but it attributes the killings to so-called Boko-Haram. Thousands of our young girls and boys have been kidnapped by clearly organised militia in the last few years and kidnapping is now a random affair all over the far North. These organized kidnappers must have the backing of the Federal administration for them to move about freely with abducted children just as those who convey ammunitions and explosives from the Ports to the safe-houses of so called Boko-Haram in the North. Hurrah we are no longer being deceived! We no longer accept let alone believe that our prominent Mallams in the Mosques in Kano and Zaria have been killed by ‘innocent’ Boko-Haram members or Christians in the North, nor do we believe that the killing of the Pastor and other worshipers in the Christ Apostolic Church in Jimeta-Yola was done by any Muslim or Boko-Haram members. We know where we are now pointing our fingers. There have also been attempts to assassinate the Senate President (Northerner) in Imo State, two Executive Governors of States in the North (the Governor of Benue State and my humble self), two of our most prominent Traditional leaders (Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Kano), Senators and others too numerous to mention, all from Northern Nigeria. This is in line with the demonic policy of the evil-few in and around the administration that have advocated how Northerners, both Christians and Muslims, are to be so dealt with, ill-treated and oppressed! No wonder, we in the Northern Nigeria are now facing an organised ethno-religious campaigns of hate fuelled by the Federal administration to make communities which hitherto have remained peaceful for centuries to start killing the minorities in their midst and to facilitate mass killings of the innocent and the arbitrary arrests and torture of elders of minority ethnic groups in the various Northern communities. The reader is please requested to note what has been happening in Plateau State and the recent happenings in Benue and Nasarawa States. We, in Adamawa State, have been battling this heinous machinations in the last 3 years. Yes, we noticed it! We also saw it as the Beginning of Genocide. Genocide kingpins are now on prowl in Northern Nigeria! Fulani communities in parts of the North who have been in their locations for over 100 years are now being raided and uprooted by paid killers within the Nigerian Army for the satisfaction of the Federal administration instead of being protected as citizens with their rights and dignity safe-guarded. This has happened to those communities at Keana L.G. in Nasarawa State and Laddoga and Kachia in Kaduna State. It is presently extended to Benue, Zamfara and Katsina States. Furthermore it is a well-known fact that virtually all the soldiers of Northern Nigerian origin recently recruited to fight Boko-Haram have been deceived in that aspect. They are being poorly trained, totally ill-equipped, given only uniform and are killed by their trainers in Nigerian Army training centres as soon as they arrive in the Nigerian Army camps being used by so-called Boko-Haram insurgents. Virtually all the Nigerian Army soldiers killed/murdered in these operations so far are of Northern Nigerian origin. The Administration has also hired militia from all across especially North Africa who have been deceived into accepting to come because they were made to believe that they would be fighting infidels. The Federal administration’s affront to frame Northerners is also an open secret. Senior Special Assistant to Mr President tried to hoodwink us into believing that Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was kingpin of Boko-Haram. Typical bullshit from the Federal administration. Mr Henry Okah, the convicted leader of MEND also stated under oath that he was being put under pressure by the administration to implicate senior Northern elements such as IBB and Buhari as financiers of Boko Haram terrorism. We are in deep trouble. We have begun to sleep with ‘both our eyes widely open’! Let me paraphrase what humanity has been humming over the ages: When they killed the Jews, we watched unconcerned because we were not Jews. When they murdered the Blacks we were still unconcerned because we were not Black. When they massacred the Asians we kept mute because we were not one of them. Then we saw the Marauding Murderers coming and we realised they were coming for us and we were not safe. That was when we knew that if we had collectively protested the Killings of the Jews, the Murder of the Blacks and Massacres of the Asians, we would all have been safe. They started killings in Borno State we kept quiet. The hired killers got to Yobe State we remained mute They proceeded to Adamawa State we watched They attacked Kano, Katsina and Sokoto we said nothing The North-East is under occupation The North-West is under assault Now their tanks and marauders have begun rolling into the North-Central Yet we are still silent! Nigerians stand-up and talk! Injury to one is injury to all! It is fortunate that the people of Northern Nigeria and indeed Nigerians have friends namely the good people of this country and other nations, International Court of Justice and NGOs dealing with the protection of humanity against Genocide etc. The International Criminal Court Charter broadly defines genocide as: ∙Mass killings of human beings∙ A deliberate action by a government that embarks on a policy that denies a group basic social amenities.∙ A deliberate action by a government or group of people who embark on campaign of hatred against the innocent. The International Criminal Court Charter also empowers any aggrieved person(s) or NGO to approach the Court to intervene when a Nation/State party fails to prosecute perpetrators of genocide or grave human right violation or human right offences. One must confess that all these elements of genocide have been perpetuated by the present Federal administration against the people of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States and is beginning to rapidly spread to other 14 States of Northern Nigeria. The dead bodies being dragged daily from the Nigerian Army hitherto armouries now turned into killing chambers as identified by Human Right organizations and the last weekend massacre of inmates of SSS cells in Abuja speak volumes on genocide being committed in our country today. Mass killings of students and children in their schools’ dormitories and on their way to take exams are now virtually daily occurrence in Borno and Yobe States. We in the North must now have an open agenda to protect our people from acts against us similar to those in the foregoing. We should demand our Human Rights; we should demand protection against the evil acts being done to our people and environments; we should demand the Right to Vote in forthcoming General Elections as the people of war-torn Afghanistan did and were able to vote in smooth General Elections on 5th April, 2014. If it could be done in Afghanistan, it should be done in Nigeria, the whole of Nigeria! It is overdue for us to commence the very serious business of purging all Northerners and fellow Nigerians of mutual hatred and suspicion against fellow countrymen and to inculcate true love and patriotism in the minds of all of us. How could we be nonchalant to the activities of the Federal administration which is involved in the daily massacre of our young men and women, selected elders and eventually all and sundry? It is also time to mobilize International NGO to bring to an end all the atrocities being committed by the evil-few in Abuja against millions of our innocent people. We need international support to compile an accurate data on the dead, maimed, wounded, displaced and missing in the North-East Zone especially Borno State and Yobe State and now other Northern States for payment of full compensation for the loss of life and property. We need the Red Cross to help us set up an efficient medical and ambulance services etc. We need the services of other international organizations such as UNICEF to assist us trace the whereabouts of our abducted children and return them to their parents. They should also assist us to rehabilitate all those who have been adversely affected by the evil machinations of the Federal administration and those evil-few around it. We also need the services of appropriate NGOs to help us arraign all those involved in the genocide before the International Criminal Court at The Hague! We urgently require the services of all those that could help us achieve the objective of the UN Millennium Declaration 2000 where all parties agreed viz “We recognize that, in addition to our separate responsibilities to our individual societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level. As leaders we have a duty therefore to all the world’s people, especially the most vulnerable and, in particular, the children of the world, to whom the future belongs”. Nigeria is a signatory to this Declaration. WE NEED ONE ANOTHER IN NIGERI Nigerians, this is the first time we have collectively elected a citizen of this country from the former Eastern Nigeria as a President. Dear citizens of Eastern Nigerian origin please note that this Federal administration under your son is giving you a very bad name! He takes wrong decisions and seems to be heading us to the abyss. Let’s therefore team up to save our freedom, dignity and rights. The issue now is not between North and South or Northern Nigeria vs Eastern Nigeria or Western Nigeria. We must save our communities, State and Nigeria from the Hitler-like evil-mindedness of a few. Let me remind ourselves that when Hitler walked out of the 1938 Olympics because a Blackman was winning all his events, humanity pretended it did not notice the beginning of genocide; when he started tracking and killing the Jews, it talked glibly about it as if it did not concern us; when he embarked on his racial cleansing, humanity then began to shiver, but it was too late to avert disaster that engulfed our world. The 2nd World War became a reality! We have the duty not to allow our country to be taken to the abyss! We should always condemn any action by any group of people that would set our communities and nation aflame. One is quite sure that if you had condemned the cold-blooded murder of political and military leaders of Northern and Western Nigerian origins in the night of 15 January, 1966 by your sons it would not have led to the subsequent massacre of the innocent and the Nigerian Civil War. We should never be silent or tolerant of such action by anybody. We have the duty not to be nonchalant or dormant on the fundamentals of our life. We should never take any ethnic group however small or unorganized for granted! The Federal administration under present leadership has truly become absurd in its approach to vital decision makings as it could be seen in its declaration of State of Emergency and the deployments of the Armed Forces! How could such decisions be made without Exit strategies? The administration should know that declaration of State of Emergency is a very serious affair requiring proper analysis on all items of its Check-list. Nigerians are wondering why the administration has not yet declared a State of Emergency on FCT Abuja in view of the numerous explosions attributed to phantom Boko-Haram, one at Eagle square on the 50th Independence anniversary and others at United Nations Headquarters, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, ThisDay offices etc. and terrorist attack at SSS Headquarter since the administration did declare such on Adamawa State where there was not a single incident of explosion! Perhaps this would happen soon; the absurdity of the administration’s conflict resolution is such that it is wise for Nigerians and foreigners residing in Abuja to braze up for a Declaration of a State of Emergency on Abuja in view of another carnage there at Nyanya District a few days ago! God help us! We seem to be led by a bunch of ‘HuHun-ma-ahun’ (courtesy of Kwankwasiyya which is being led by the one and only Dan Musa who was the former Minister of Defence) Let me say, on the final note, with all seriousness that each and every one of us whatever is our religious or ethnic background and regardless of where we were born, needs this country, Nigeria, for self-actualisation and greater possibility. The various ethnic groups too by their individual traits require the space and the great population of this country; such ethnic group as Fulani, who are nomadic by vocation, require pasture and grains for their cattle; the Hausa and Igbos require further reach to fulfil their commercial ambition; some other Nigerians e.g. Yorubas require higher job opportunities for employment and profits that should exist in a united Nigeria; the aristocratic Kanuri/Shuwa who are presently under siege need the vocal amongst us to save them from further destruction by deliberately recruited murderers embedded in our traditional Defence and Security forces/organization; and other groups would like expanding markets for their yams (the Tiv/Munci) and other farm produce far beyond the boundaries of their domains. Quite a number of us should simply be happy to have an erosion-free area where we could build houses and offices of our desire and enjoy the liberty to partner with persons of our choice regardless of primordial divides! Even my father who by today’s standard could be said to be untutored fully realised the need to seize the opportunities a greater Nigeria offered him from the 1920s. His cattle business and commercial activities were spread to all the big towns in Eastern Nigeria operating from Adamawa and northern Cameroon. So let us please sort ourselves out and stop at all levels wicked leaders from venting their evil hearts and committing genocide against fellow Nigerians. We must not ‘walk together’ with the evil-few especially those located in Abuja. Our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said something to the effect that the consequences of breaking up of Nigeria would be to traumatic to even be contemplated. We all should therefore perish the thought of Nigeria falling apart. Let’s enjoy the opportunities Nigeria offers to all!
This is a Memo to the Northern Governors Forum by His Excellency, V/Admiral Murtala H. Nyako (rtd.), CFR, GCON, rcds Executive Governor Adamawa State
It is quite unfortunate the controversy over the statement of a military spokesperson on the abducted students of Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno State. As a member of PRNigeria Mailing List for Press Releases distribution from spokespersons of government, especially security agencies in Nigeria, I realise that two Press Releases were issued by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director Defence Information on the abducted students before the denial by officials in Borno. The first Press Release on the evening of April 16, 2014 with a title “More Students Of Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok Freed; Normalcy Returns To Wukari,” the spokesperson only used one paragraph to provide information on the development on Chibok which goes thus: “More of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State have this afternoon been freed as troops pursuing the terrorists close in on the den of those believed to have carried out the attack. A total of 129 students had earlier been abducted by a group of terrorists.” About an hour later, another Press Release came with a title “Update on Abducted Students.” The storyline made the press release as most controversial ever issued by General Olukolade who had been a spokesperson on several military operations under ECOMOG and UN Peacekeeping Missions. The controversial Press Release goes thus: “More students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok have been freed this evening in the ongoing Search & Rescue operations to free the abducted students. With this development, the Principal of the school has confirmed that only 8 of the students are still missing. One of the terrorists who carried out the attack on the school has also been captured. The military intervention and search and rescue operation to ensure the safety of the remaining students is ongoing in the suspected areas.” While most of the media celebrated the cheering news with different captions the following day, the Principal of the School came out to fault the military’s statement. The Principal Mrs. Asabe Kwambura said she was shocked when she heard of claims by Nigerian military authorities that only eight girls are yet to be found. She was quoted to have said: “There is nothing in the military statement that is true about our abducted girls. Up till now we are still waiting and praying for the safe return of the students; all I know is that we have only 14 of them, and the security people especially the Vigilante and the well-meaning volunteers of Gwoza are still out searching for them. “The military people too are in the bush searching. So we have not received any information that they have gotten the students yet. So let it be clear that all the information passed on the media by the military concerning 107 girls is not true.” “I, as the principal did not tell anybody any figure on released students other than what our Governor, His Excellency Kashim Shettima had informed the media,” she said. The conflicting reports become the major item in various social media. It was therefore not surprising that the Director Defence Information had to issue another press statement (the third on the abducted students) under a title “Update on the Abducted Students of Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok.” The Press Release goes thus: “The controversy that has been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok is unfortunate. The ongoing frantic efforts of security forces along with vigilante groups including hunters working to locate and free the abducted students have continued to be keenly monitored at the Operation Centre of the Defence and Army Headquarters as regular progress reports are being received from troops on the ground. “In this regard, a report was filed in from the field indicating that a major breakthrough had been recorded in the search. There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately. Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone. “It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State. Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious. “In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.” While the military has sincerely retracted the statement, it is worrisome to observe the preference of hunters and vigilantes over the military in the ongoing operation in some stories attributed to people and official of affected communities. We should avoid statement that could demoralize our military and dampen their spirit. Many of them are sacrificing their lives to keep us safe. We should also avoid playing politics with the life of the people.
Thousands of Malaysian Muslim activists protested today outside the US embassy against the visit of President Barack Obama on April 26 and 27, saying that he is Number one terrorist in the world. The Protesters called Obama an enemy of Islam.
The demonstration underscored the delicate nature of Obama’s trip to Muslim-majority Malaysia, which will make him the first sitting US president to visit in nearly half a century, a period marked by mutual distrust.
The protesters marched to the embassy in Kuala Lumpur from a nearby mosque after Friday afternoon prayers, shouting “God is great” and “Obama is the enemy of the Prophet Muhammad.”
They also bore placards and banners saying: “US is axis of evil” and handed out leaflets saying “Reject Obama, World’s No. 1 Terrorist.”
They dispersed after about 15 minutes.
Malaysia has opposed US wars in the Middle East and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Obama embarks on a week-long Asia tour next week that will bring him to Malaysia April 26-28.
The last US president to visit was Lyndon Johnson in 1966.
US-Malaysia relations have been marked by rancour in recent decades, particularly during the tenure of former authoritarian premier Mahathir Mohamad from 1981-2003, who was harshly critical of US policy around the world.
Current Prime Minister Najib Razak has taken a more friendly tone toward the West, but he is restrained by conservative elements in his Muslim-dominated government.
Obama will also visit South Korea, Japan and the Philippines at a time of unease around the region over China’s rise.
Nigeria’s Supervising Minister of National Planning, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda has given an assurance that the Federal Government is fully ready to host the World Economic Forum next month, reassuring members of the international business community coming for the Forum of their safety. The minister, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, expressed gratitude to the international community for their confidence in Nigeria and its economy, adding that the Government is doing its best to protect its citizens as well as foreigners. According to him, the security sub-committee of the local organizing committee has been given all the necessary attention, adding that government places high premium on the security of lives and property. “The security sub-committee of the local organizing committee is headed by the Inspector-General of police himself. That goes to show the importance we attaché to the safety of the delegates coming. It is also our responsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians before, during and after the event.” Yuguda said that President Goodluck Jonathan has given all the necessary support for the successful hosting of the event and that he (Minister) met with the Inspector-General of police yesterday to confirm that all the security arrangements are already in place. “Nigeria is guaranteeing the security of all the delegates and we shall do our best as a nation to ensure that the event holds without hitches. It is our responsibility to protect the lives of all the delegates coming. Mr. President is on top of the situation and hasgiven all the support needed to ensure the success of the event. Yuguda said that Nigeria stands to benefit economically from hosting the event, stressing that the essence of the forum is in line with the Government’s Transformation Agenda. “How do we create a conducive environment for the private sector to develop, How do we attract more foreign direct investment. How do we maintain and sustain the economic progress Nigeria is making?” “These are all our interests which coincide with the aspirations of the World Economic Forum.The theme of the forum is on increasing growth and job creation.” The minister noted that the theme is in line with Nigeria’s aspirations, saying: “it is in line with what Mr. President is trying to do on how to make our growth inclusive.” He commended the World Economic Forum for issuing a statement to indicate that despite Nigeria’s security challenges, they are going ahead with the event because of their confidence in Nigeria.
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Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has described the traditional rulers as custodians of Nigeria’s cultural values.
“As our Christian compatriots celebrate the Messiah’s triumph over death and all that it connotes, let us all renew our faith and confidence in our ability as a people to overcome all obstacles, challenges and threats to national progress and well-being, including terrorism and other criminal attacks on our people in some parts of the country.”
Leader of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, on has owned up the Monday’s bombing in Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja that killed at least 75 people.
Former Nigeria Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has said that the current security challenges in Nigeria, though sad, but provide an opportunity for Nigerians to come out as one people and one nation, to stand together against any persons or forces trying to divide them.
The adverse security situation in Northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria in general is being felt by all of us. While every State Government is doing everything possible using virtually all its resources to stem the tide of near disaster facing all of us especially in the North, it is a well-known fact that the present Federal administration has now become a government of impunity run by an evil-minded leadership for the advancement of corruption that is apparently enjoying the protection of the Federal administration as a citizen of this country should enjoy but is being denied by the administration using its mass murderers/cut-throats imbedded in our legitimate and traditional Defence and Security organizations. It is very clear that the protection of life and property of innocent citizens in Northern Nigeria and recognizing their Human rights and Voting right in the forthcoming general elections is no longer a cardinal principle of the administration.
Nigeria’s Supervising Minister of National Planning, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda has given an assurance that the Federal Government is fully ready to host the World Economic Forum next month, reassuring members of the international business community coming for the Forum of their safety.
Politics Of Abduction And Military Retraction By Labaran Saleh
It is quite unfortunate the controversy over the statement of a military spokesperson on the abducted students of Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno State.
As a member of PRNigeria Mailing List for Press Releases distribution from spokespersons of government, especially security agencies in Nigeria, I realise that two Press Releases were issued by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director Defence Information on the abducted students before the denial by officials in Borno.
The first Press Release on the evening of April 16, 2014 with a title “More Students Of Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok Freed; Normalcy Returns To Wukari,” the spokesperson only used one paragraph to provide information on the development on Chibok which goes thus: “More of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State have this afternoon been freed as troops pursuing the terrorists close in on the den of those believed to have carried out the attack. A total of 129 students had earlier been abducted by a group of terrorists.”
About an hour later, another Press Release came with a title “Update on Abducted Students.” The storyline made the press release as most controversial ever issued by General Olukolade who had been a spokesperson on several military operations under ECOMOG and UN Peacekeeping Missions.
The controversial Press Release goes thus: “More students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok have been freed this evening in the ongoing Search & Rescue operations to free the abducted students. With this development, the Principal of the school has confirmed that only 8 of the students are still missing. One of the terrorists who carried out the attack on the school has also been captured. The military intervention and search and rescue operation to ensure the safety of the remaining students is ongoing in the suspected areas.”
While most of the media celebrated the cheering news with different captions the following day, the Principal of the School came out to fault the military’s statement. The Principal Mrs. Asabe Kwambura said she was shocked when she heard of claims by Nigerian military authorities that only eight girls are yet to be found.
She was quoted to have said: “There is nothing in the military statement that is true about our abducted girls. Up till now we are still waiting and praying for the safe return of the students; all I know is that we have only 14 of them, and the security people especially the Vigilante and the well-meaning volunteers of Gwoza are still out searching for them.
“The military people too are in the bush searching. So we have not received any information that they have gotten the students yet. So let it be clear that all the information passed on the media by the military concerning 107 girls is not true.”
“I, as the principal did not tell anybody any figure on released students other than what our Governor, His Excellency Kashim Shettima had informed the media,” she said.
The conflicting reports become the major item in various social media.
It was therefore not surprising that the Director Defence Information had to issue another press statement (the third on the abducted students) under a title “Update on the Abducted Students of Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok.”
The Press Release goes thus: “The controversy that has been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok is unfortunate. The ongoing frantic efforts of security forces along with vigilante groups including hunters working to locate and free the abducted students have continued to be keenly monitored at the Operation Centre of the Defence and Army Headquarters as regular progress reports are being received from troops on the ground.
“In this regard, a report was filed in from the field indicating that a major breakthrough had been recorded in the search. There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately. Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.
“It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State. Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious.
“In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.”
While the military has sincerely retracted the statement, it is worrisome to observe the preference of hunters and vigilantes over the military in the ongoing operation in some stories attributed to people and official of affected communities. We should avoid statement that could demoralize our military and dampen their spirit. Many of them are sacrificing their lives to keep us safe. We should also avoid playing politics with the life of the people.
Labaran Saleh
salelabaran@yahoo.com