Photo of the day
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Oyo State Govt appoints Tillaman as Youth Musical Ambassador
The event which took place at the Cultural Centre in Ibadan and was attended in great numbers by the youth in the state, saw musical performances from artistes like Chuddy K and Konga who came to support Tillaman. Fuji artiste Obesere also got an award from the Oyo state government as well.
Just FYI, Tillaman's dad is an Oba in the state. :-). See more pics from the event after the cut...
Beyonce kills magazine cover sales
From Women's Wear Daily
Newsstand sales for the first half of the year declined by 10 percent, according to figures released last week. The numbers show that editors would be wise to stick by a few operating principles: sex sells, three celebrities are better than one and Beyoncé trumps everyone, even the First Lady of the United States.
Vogue styled Beyoncé looking so regal for its March cover, she outsold an exclusive interview in April with Michelle Obama, 355,397 to 293,798, a difference of about 60,000 copies, digital replicas included.
Nicki Minaj is indisputably newsstand poison. Appearing on the April cover of Elle and in Teen Vogue in June-July, she sold the second fewest number of copies for both.
Do you like Burna Boy’s new album “LIFE”? Get it on Konga.com
The Deluxe album with all the tracks is available for just N500 on Konga.com
You can also get premium Burna Boy collector snapbacks and shirts at great prices - HERE
Buy original LIFE Album - HERE
BBA contestant Barbs shows off hot bikini body
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
APC Embarks on Trouble Shooting Exercise
General Muhammadu Buhari
In a bid to galvanise the views of top leaders of the newly-registered
All Progressives Congress (APC), and to pre-empt any crisis of
confidence that may erupt during the post merger roll-out of its
structures, the party's interim management committee has scheduled a
meeting for next week Tuesday in Abuja.
THISDAY gathered from a reliable source that the meeting ostensibly
tagged, 'stakeholders meeting' was however a fence- mending move to try
to rally support for the interim leadership, especially as it embarks of
the setting up of party structures in the states and local council
areas.
As part of efforts to strengthen APC, a special committee headed by
Alhaji Bello Masari meant to work out modalities for setting up party
structures is to meet tomorrow to draw-up a roadmap.
According to the source, the stakeholders summit will have all the top
leaders of the party in attendance, including former national and state
officers of the three political parties, Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN), Congress for Progress Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party
(ANPP) that formed APC.
Though the source said the meeting is being planned to take stock of
the progress recorded so far by party towards unifying its operations
and possibly come up with a roadmap, there are indications that more
serious issues may have necessitated the convening of the summit.
It was learnt that part of the worry of the interim leadership is that
urgent measures must be taken to bring under control some
behind-the-scene moves by interest groups trying campaign for their
preferred presidential candidates.
For instance, last week was agog with surreptitious campaigns by those
trying to draft the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu
Tambuwal to vie for APC flag bearer and the die-hard CPC group who were
insisting on the candidacy of General Muhammadu Buhari.
The matter, THISDAY gathered, was made even worst following Buhari's
uncompromising posture about contesting for the presidency, which was
said to be at variance with an earlier understanding that he and the
former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived at.
The source also said the APC would try to seize the opportunity of a
gathering of the party's leaders during their condolence visit to Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola, to stoke the fire of agitations within
its ranks.
The alleged rancour created by the presidential ambition of Buhari
came to a height when the Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji
Lai Muhammed, had to issue a press statement debunking the frosty
relationship between Tinubu and the former Head of State.
Muhammed in the statement, said the rancour existed only in the
imagination of the peddlers of the rumour, adding that the relationship
of the top party leaders cannot be more cordial as it is at present.
Apart from Buhari and Tambuwal, there are other persons who are said to
be nursing presidential ambition. These include, former National
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Mallam Nuhu
Ribadu.
The other issue that is generating concern among the stakeholders is
that of how to deal with the likely desire of incumbent governors of the
APC-controlled states to run for a second term.
A chieftain of the opposition party, said already the matter has
started to generate turbulence in some states like Ogun, where former
leaders of CPC are said to be expressing displeasure over an alleged
over-bearing influence of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
He said a decision has to be made by the party on how to treat
governors who harbour second term interest and who might be seeking an
automatic ticket to actualise their desire.
Eto’o keen on Mourinho reunion
Russia-based
striker Samuel Eto’o has opened the door for a move to Chelsea after
admitting he would like to again play for Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
The 32-year-old Eto’o is on the verge of
leaving his current club, the crisis-hit Anzhi Makhachkala, with
rumours suggesting a number of high profile clubs are monitoring the
situation.
But Eto’o hinted a move to the Premier
League, and a return to the successful partnership with Mourinho, could
be his final destination.
Eto’o and Mourinho won the Serie A, the
Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana and the crown jewel, the Champions
League trophy in their time together at Inter Milan.
“There is only one Jose Mourinho. I have
played under a lot of great coaches – but there is no other character
in the game like Jose,” Eto’o was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.
“He is one of the best coaches in the
world and we had a lot of success together at Inter Milan. I would like
to have the chance to play under him again – because it is never boring
when Jose is around.
“Of course Chelsea are a great team –
and when we have all the offers on the table then I will discuss with my
agent and see what my next step is.”
However, a return to Italy could also be
on the cards with speculation linking Napoli with a move for the former
Barcelona striker.
But Eto’o’s agent denied those rumours,
saying, “It’d be a dream for him to wear the jersey of a glorious club
like Napoli. However, so far they have not contacted us.”
Mandela Challenge: Mikel out, Moses in
Victor Moses
Chelsea
and Nigeria midfielder, Mikel Obi, will not be available for
Wednesday’s Mandela Challenge against Bafana Bafana in Durban, South
Africa. Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, who made the confirmation in
Durban on Tuesday, said that Mikel opted out of the game due to a
stomach infection he picked up while on a pre-season tour with his
English Premier League side.
Keshi, who approved his withdrawal, said
he would not “push Mikel too much” because of the September 7 World Cup
qualifier against Malawi in Calabar. It was said that Chelsea doctors
wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday asking that the
player be excused for health reasons.
Keshi said, “Mikel has been withdrawn from the squad. He has a stomach bug.”
The other 19 players in the squad are
already in Durban for the game, including Mikel’s Chelsea teammate,
Victor Moses. Keshi also led the team in prayer for the late Nigeria
international, Samuel Okwaraji, who died on August 12, 1989 during a
World Cup qualifying game against Angola in Lagos.
“We pray for the repose of his soul and
for the family he left behind. We miss him badly but God knows best,”
Keshi said before Monday evening training session.
But Mikel is not the only player
dropping out on the eve of the kickoff as South Africa’s Anele Ngcongca
has also pulled out. Bafana coach Gordon Igesund said on Tuesday that
team manager Barney Kujane spoke to Ngcongca before his flight on Monday
and he was eager to play. However, it was reported that his Belgian
side Genk are now claiming that he is injured and have prevented him
from joining the national team.
Igesund said he requested Ngcongca to
come to South Africa to be checked by South Africa Football Association
medical team, but Genk refused.
“Anele Ngcongca will not play against
Nigeria. Genk claim he is injured; it seems like a fabricated story. I
am not calling up a replacement for Ngcongca. I have cover. I am just
very disappointed at a club of Genk’s stature,” Igesund said.
Igesund maintained that his players are
ready for the African champions, when he met with Keshi at the Southern
Sun Hotel, where the Bafana Bafana are camped.
Many South Africans are eager to see the
Super Eagles beaten after witnessing many years of Nigeria’s dominance
over their teams at all levels.
The match is billed to kick-off at 8.15pm local time (7.15pm Nigeria time).
Borno Attacks: Survivors Recount Ordeal as Police Launch Investigation
Borno attacks
•UK condemns attack on mosques
•FG: Boko Haram has ruined Nigeria’s reputation
Chuks Okocha and Damilola Oyedele and Michael Olugbode
Survivors of Sunday’s attack in Konduga, one of the three communities attacked by suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect in Borno State, Tuesday recounted their ordeal, claiming that the gunmen surrounded their mosques and shot sporadically at them.
•FG: Boko Haram has ruined Nigeria’s reputation
Chuks Okocha and Damilola Oyedele and Michael Olugbode
Survivors of Sunday’s attack in Konduga, one of the three communities attacked by suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect in Borno State, Tuesday recounted their ordeal, claiming that the gunmen surrounded their mosques and shot sporadically at them.
They also said at the end of the shooting spree, they were left with
the burden of burying 52 persons, 47 of whom were villagers, while five
others were members of the sect who were hacked down during the
confrontation with the military and youth vigilante groups.
The villagers also revealed that 26 persons were critically injured
during the attacks and were receiving treatment in a Maiduguri hospital.
The villagers recounted their ordeal just as the Nigeria Police Force
said yesterday that it had launched an investigation into the attacks on
Konduga and other communities at the weekend.
Also, the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister,
Mr. Mark Simmonds, has condemned what he described as the senseless
killings of worshippers at Borno mosques where at least 60 people were
reported to have died.
It is believed that an estimated 60 persons were killed when the
outlawed sect launched attacks on communities in Konduga and Mafa Local
Government Areas of Borno State.
The sect members had claimed that the villagers were assisting both the
Joint Task Force (JTF) and the youth vigilante groups to hunt down
their members.
The survivors of the incident in Tsohuwar Kasuwa (old market) community
of Konduga told journalists during the condolence visit by the Borno
State Governor Kashim Shettima to the area, that the gunmen surrounded
the village and attacked people in various mosques during the 4.30 am
prayer.
The villagers said the gunmen were about 200 and comprised mainly men
and a few women, who emerged from the bush and opened fire on the
people.
The villagers added that most of the attackers were dressed in military camouflage and fatigues.
The district head of the area, Zanna Masu Yale, told the governor that
43 corpses of innocent villagers were initially discovered immediately
after the attack, but four other bodies were later discovered. Another
five corpses believed to have been those of the insurgents were also
discovered.
Yale said the assailants came in seven Golf Volkswagen cars and
deployed sophisticated weapons. He added that the gunmen attacked
various mosques in the town.
He also told the governor that about 50 houses, two cars and scores of motorcycles were burnt down in the town.
“While the men among the attackers were busy killing people, the women participated in the burning of houses,” Modu Kolo, a survivor told journalists.
“While the men among the attackers were busy killing people, the women participated in the burning of houses,” Modu Kolo, a survivor told journalists.
He said the burning of houses was used as a decoy for their escape,
insisting that the women had set the houses ablaze when male assailants
were being pursued by the few soldiers and the youth volunteer groups
who came out to repel the insurgents.
Mohammed Muktar, a 20-year-old man, said his father was shot dead while performing ablution in front of a mosque.
Another villager, Goni Bukar, said his wife was killed inside his house while seven of his children were still missing.
Shettima, while condoling with the people, announced a donation of N250,000 to each of the families of the 43 people killed.
He also donated N5 million and four vehicles to boost the activities of the youth vigilante groups known as the Civilian JTF.
Shettima, who addressed the people in Kanuri, said the cash donation
was a palliative measure to cushion the hardship they were facing as a
result of the death of their loved ones.
Those whose houses were burnt were also given cash gifts of between N100,000 and N400,000.
Shettima urged the people to continue praying for the full restoration of peace in the state.
“What happened to us is unfortunate and you should understand that
whatever happened to you affects us all and we identify with you at this
hour of grief,” he told the people. He also set up a committee headed
by the legislator representing the area in the state House of Assembly,
Hon. Ali Dalori, to advise him on modalities to make the place secure
and on the compensation to pay to families of the victims.
In reaction to the attacks, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Minister has condemned what he described as the senseless killings of
worshippers at Borno mosques where scores of people were reported to
have died.
Simmonds, in a statement issued yesterday, offered condolences to all those affected by the incident.
“Attacking innocent people in a place of worship is a contemptible and
cowardly act. My thoughts are with all those who were caught up in the
attack, and their families.
“The UK stands with the government and people of Nigeria as they seek to reduce violence in the North-east of the country,” the statement read.
“The UK stands with the government and people of Nigeria as they seek to reduce violence in the North-east of the country,” the statement read.
In the meantime, the federal government yesterday expressed sorrow over
the fact that the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the
north, where thousands of persons have been brutally killed and property
worth millions of naira destroyed, has ruined the reputation of the
country.
The government also said the President Goodluck Jonathan administration
must not be blamed by Nigerians for the level of violence in the
country, pointing out that the president had done everything humanly
possible to nip in the bud the insurgency.
Speaking when he appeared before the Bamanga Tukur led-National Working
Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give the
scorecard of his ministry, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who
noted that major critics of the president and the government were
members of the PDP, stressed that in the world over, reforming leaders
and presidents were not always popular at the beginning.
Power: Bidders for Discos Seek Extension of Payment Deadline
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo
•Nebo advises investors to pay up TCN to get $1.6bn from proceeds of NIPPs
Chineme Okafor
•Nebo advises investors to pay up TCN to get $1.6bn from proceeds of NIPPs
Chineme Okafor
The preferred bidders of the 10 distribution companies (Disco) carved
out from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN
(PHCN) Tuesday stated that unless the federal government met their
conditions they might not be able to pay the outstanding 75 per cent bid
price and take over the distribution assets.
The bidders also requested an extension to the payment deadline just
about two weeks before the expiration of the deadline set by the
National Council on Privatisation (NCP) for the payment of the
outstanding balance.
But the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has said government
would only make realistic adjustments that are consistent with its PHCN
privatisation timelines, reminding the bidders that adjustments had
initially been made necessitating changes in the deadline for the
conclusion of the privatisation.
One of the demands, which 10 out of the 11 bidders for the distribution
assets – with the exception of Kaduna Distribution Company which is
still undergoing privatisation – tabled before Nebo at a meeting in
Abuja yesterday, included the possible extension of the deadline for the
payment of the 75 per cent outstanding bid price by 31 days.
In accordance with the revised PHCN privatisation timeline, the
deadline for the payment of the outstanding balance was fixed for August
21 by the NCP.
Other demands the bidders, who met with the minister under the auspices
of Roundtable of Distribution Companies (Disco Roundtable), made
included a request that the government hands over the assets free of all
legacy liabilities.
In this regard, it asked the government to fast track the payment of
severance benefits to employees of PHCN companies, so that they
(bidders) could access the funds needed to pay up the 75 per cent
balance.
The Chairman of the Disco Roundtable, Dr. Ransome Owan, in his remarks, explained that government’s negotiations with PHCN labour unions had remained a source of concern to financial institutions willing to lend monies to the bidders.
The Chairman of the Disco Roundtable, Dr. Ransome Owan, in his remarks, explained that government’s negotiations with PHCN labour unions had remained a source of concern to financial institutions willing to lend monies to the bidders.
Owan stated that it was necessary for government to finalise the
payment of severance benefits of the workers before August 21, adding
that lenders would require evidence of these payments before funds for
the completion of payments could be drawn down.
He said given the circumstances, government should consider the request
for an extension of the payment deadline to September 21, as this would
give time to the government to complete payment of the severance
benefits.
“By March 21, 2013, all the 10 bidders made the 25 per cent down
payment and the balance is to be made by August 21, 2013. It is a
condition precedent that the discos would be handed over free of all
legacy liabilities.
“Our lenders are mindful of this and are reluctant to approve loans.
Therefore, it is vital for full payment obligations to the current PHCN
employees be finalised before August 21. Lenders expect evidence of
these payments before we can draw down on funds to complete our
payments,” Owan said.
He further explained: “At the moment, the Discos operate at a loss and
buyers would quickly deploy their respective turnaround plans.
Therefore, we pray the minister to convene a stakeholders’ meeting
before August 21 to check the progress before the long-stop date.
“In addition, the minister should kindly consider the following:
conclude all labour issues and meet all conditions precedent before
August 21, 2013; provide assistance in the release of the subsidy
contained in the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) model for each of the
Discos; and ensure the adequate funding of the Transmission Company of
Nigeria (TCN).”
The bidders also made a request for a five-10-year special tax holiday
for electricity distribution companies, similar to fiscal incentive
granted telecoms operators. He said this would mitigate tariff increases
and high costs.
In his response, Nebo acknowledged that the ministry was fully aware of
the challenges of the bidders, adding that the ministry had taken into
consideration some of the issues to allow for a smooth transition of the
privatisation process.
He, however, indicated that government was banking on the payment of the outstanding balance to offset most of its financial obligations, adding that it was at the discretion of the NCP to grant the extension for the payment deadline.
He, however, indicated that government was banking on the payment of the outstanding balance to offset most of its financial obligations, adding that it was at the discretion of the NCP to grant the extension for the payment deadline.
Nebo further explained that the ministry would begin payment of the
severance benefits of employees of PHCN distribution companies next week
after it might have concluded payment to employees of the generation
companies and PHCN corporate headquarters this week.
“We are not unaware of the challenges that lie before us. Some of these
issues raised, we have been mulling for the past few weeks. We are
working to ensure that the condition precedents are completely met
before the declaration of the transmission electricity market.
“I do think that we need to realise that there will be some adjustments
here and there but everything will still be consistent with the spirit
of the reform. Going by the definite date and timelines, as we can see
now, might not resolve all the problems; we are already experiencing
slippages but we are going to address the issues as diligently as we can
to ensure that the slippages are kept to a minimum,” Nebo said.
Speaking on the payment of the outstanding balance for the Discos, he
said: “You have given us a task: on the one hand, you are asking us to
meet all the conditions precedent by 21st of August and on the other
hand, you are telling us that while we meet our own obligations, you are
not going to be able to meet your own.
“We will do whatever we can but there is no way we can ensure full payment by the end of August.”
On additional funding provisions for TCN, the minister said: “Part of
the proceeds from the sale of the National Integrated Power Projects
(NIPPs), as much as $1.6 billion, will be assigned to the improvement of
TCN to give us a better transmission network and that should not be
your problem now.
“We appreciate and share your concerns but I am sure you know that the
process was supposed to have been completed by December but it didn’t
happen.
“I believe that we should be declaring the transition electricity
market open by September, so we need you to pay up so that we can settle
the workers.”
Regular salaries will boost Eagles technical crew –Agali
Victor Agali
Former
Nigeria striker, Victor Agali, says constant payment of the salaries
and allowances of the technical crew of the Super Eagles would ‘further
help in moving Nigeria to the next level.’
The former Schalke 04 forward hailed the
Nigeria Football Federation for giving the country’s football a new
image but insisted that payment of the agreed monies to the technical
crew of the Eagles was key in achieving more success after the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations victory in South Africa.
Agali, whose five goals helped Nigeria
qualify for the 2002 World Cup said, “The fact that our football is
taking a more positive image is good news for all of us and I think
owing Coach Stephen Keshi and his crew salaries is not the best for us.
“I know they (NFF) would not allow money
to destroy the good job they have been doing. You can’t take away the
contribution of the NFF in the success story of the Eagles since Keshi
took over.
“But I am appealing to the NFF officials
to ensure that issues involving them and the coaches of the team do not
come up again. They should try and pay whatever they owe them.”
Agali scored four goals as Nigeria’s
U-23 national team crashed out of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games before
he made his international debut in 2000. He played 12 times for Nigeria
and scored five goals.
The Delta-born gangling ex-player also
had a fantastic club career in Europe, playing for such big sides like
Olympique Marseille, Schalke, Toulon, Hansa Rostock, Nice and
Ankaragücü.
Obasanjo attacks Atiku, Tinubu, others
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo
Former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday took a swipe at the younger
generation of Nigerian leaders, saying they had poor performance record
in terms of integrity and probity.
He passed the damning verdict while
responding to questions on issues bordering on poor leadership in
Africa at the 4th Annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit organised
by the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, in
collaboration with African Sustainable Development Network.
The former President, who delivered
the keynote address at the summit stated that the younger
generation of leaders failed Nigerians.
Obasanjo made specific references to
former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former governor of Lagos State,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji
Salisu Buhari; former Bayelsa State Governor, Deprieye Alamieyesiegha;
and ex-Edo State Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, as being among the younger
generation of leaders with low integrity and probity records.
He said during his administration, “We
had some people who were under 50 years in leadership positions. One of
them was James Ibori, where is he today? One of them was Alamieyesiegha,
where is he today? Lucky Igbinedion, where is he today?
“The youngest was the Speaker, Buhari,
you can still recall what happened to him. You said Bola Tinubu is your
master. What Buhari did was not anything worse than what Bola Tinubu
did.
“We got some of them impeached. But in
this part of the world, some people covered up the other man. The man
claimed he went to Government College, Ibadan but the governor (Oyo
State) went to Government College and packed all the documents so that
they would not know that he did not go there.
“I wanted someone who would succeed me
so I took Atiku. Within a year, I started seeing the type of man Atiku
was. And you want me to get him there?
“I once went to Tanzania because Julius
Nyerere recognised Biafra. He told me not to mind his aides and others
in government. They would say they have one house in town but their
five-year-old sons and daughters would have houses all over.’’
Abubakar served as Obasanjo’s deputy
between 1999 and 2007 but the two fell out when the issue of third term
became public knowledge.It was believed that the former President
viewed Abubakar as the unseen hand behind the opposition against his
bid to remain in office after his second term tenure.
Tinubu, a founding member of the All
Progressives Congress, had a running battle with the former President
who seized the allocations of the Local Governments in the state for
many months. The matter ended in the Supreme Court which ruled in favour
of the Tinubu administration.
Before the incident, there were
controversies on whether or not the former governor actually attended
the Chicago State University in the United States which he had said was
his Alma Mater.
Buhari’s had claimed that he
attended the Toronto University in Canada, a claim that was found out
to be false. For this, he was sacked as the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Ibori, Alamieyeseigha and Igbinedion
were hounded for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission during Obasanjo’s tenure. Although Ibori was lucky to have
escaped imprisonment in Nigeria, Igbinedion and Alamieyeseigha were not
as lucky as they ended up being convicted.
The long arm of the law however
caught up with Ibori in far away London where he was tried and jailed.
He is currently serving his jail term in the UK.
Obasanjo told the audience at the summit
that Nigerians must begin to realise that there could never be a good
leadership without good following.
Wondering if Nigeria was jinxed or
cursed, he said it was regrettable that the country had not produced a
commendable leader after 53 years of independence.
He said, “Some of you who are condemning
those in leadership positions would get there tomorrow and it would
be a different story. Only very few are actually good.
“Gen Sani Abacha (now late), my
predecessor got $750m. Through our lawyer in Switzerland we recovered
$1.25bn and the lawyer still said there is probably another $1bn to be
recovered. In 1979 we had 20 new ships specially built for Nigeria. When
I came back 20 years after, the national shipping line had been
liquidated.
“The whole thing is not just about
leadership. If we talk about good leadership, you should also talk about
good followers. If you talk about human rights, you should also talk
about human duties and obligations.
“It is sad that after 53 years of
independence we have no leader that we can commend. Then we are jinxed
and cursed; we should all go to hell. The problem in Africa is that when
one person takes over he would not see any good thing that his
predecessor did. Let us condemn but with caution”.
The former president said the topic for
the summit, “Leadership in Africa’s quest for sustainable development”,
came at a time when humanity as a whole was in search of innovative
ways of managing globally shared challenges.
The Vice-Chancellor, UI, Prof. Isaac
Adewole, said, “We have not raised questions about the scenario where
35 people(governors) found it difficult to conduct a credible election
in this country. I then have concern about how 2015 elections would be”.
A discussant from Institute of
Sustainability and Peace, United Nations University, Tokyo, Dr.
Obijiofor Aginam, said, “Unemployment is a bomb that has exploded and
manifested itself in hunger, violent attacks, crimes and killings.
Another discussant, Prof. Mojeed Alabi,
said, “The task of leadership in Africa has been quite challenging.
Africans have been so unfortunate. The question is whether our leaders
wanted development or power.”
Abubakar, however, was not combative in his response to Obasanjo’s comment about him.
He said from the way the former
President spoke, it was clear that he initially did not know him to be a
“fighter for democracy and defender of the Nigerian constitution.”
Atiku, who spoke through his
spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, said , “Yes, ex-President Obasanjo
is right. He didn’t know Abubakar well. It was later he got to know him
as a fighter for democracy and defender of the constitution.”
UN, UK, ACF condemn Borno mosque killings
Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal
United
Nations, United Kingdom and Spain joined others on Tuesday to condemn
the killings of no fewer than 44 people in a mosque in Konduga, Borno
State on Sunday by suspected Boko Haram members.
Others included the Arewa Consultative
Forum, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Christian Association of
Nigeria and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
In a statement by its spokesperson on
Nigeria, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who expressed
condolences to the bereaved families, called on all extremist groups to
stop their attacks.
He said, “The Secretary-General
reiterates his firm conviction that no objective can be attained through
such violence. He calls on all parties to resolve their differences
through dialogue and other peaceful means.”
In a related statement on Tuesday, the
UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, said the attack
was a “contemptible and cowardly” act.
He said, “I strongly condemn the attack on worshippers in a mosque in Borno state, Nigeria, that took place on Sunday.
“Attacking innocent people in a place of
worship is a contemptible and cowardly act. My thoughts are with all
those who were caught up in the attack, and their families.”
Spain’s Foreign Ministry, in its own
statement, called on the authorities “to advance their efforts to arrest
the offenders, probably part of the Boko Haram terrorist group, bring
them to justice, and put an end to the activities of the group which
threaten the peace and coexistence in the country.”
In its own reaction, the ACF described
as “sad” the killing of 40 Muslim worshipers in Konduga, Borno State, by
the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
National Publicity Secretarry of ACF,
Anthony Sani, said in a statement sent to one of our correspondents in
Kaduna that the killing was not only sad but condemnable.
The Forum noted that apart from being a
heinous crime, the incident sought to desecrate the name of a religion
of peace, “which is unfortunate.”
It, therefore, urged the sect to lay down their arms and embrace peaceful means of addressing their grievances.
The Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme
Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the killing of
people, whether muslim or Christian or any other person was an
abomination.
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, he said killing of the people was sad and unIslamic.
He added that a thorough and discreet investigation should be carried out to identify the real perpetrators.
He said, “But whether those who killed
people that were praying in the mosque are Boko Haram members or not, I
think it is too hasty to name the perpetrators. Let us wait and see. I
want to be on the ground to have the first hand information.
“It is condemnable to kill anybody
whether Muslim or Christian, whether praying or not praying. Killing
anybody is an abomination. It is unIslamic.”
In his reaction, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, condemned the attacks by
the terrorists in Borno State.
Tambuwal said the incident was “barbaric”, expressing shock over the killing of innocent worshipers and security operatives.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on
Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Imam Imam, the speaker called on security
agencies to go after the attackers and bring them to book.
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Tuesday also condemned the attack.
Shettima, who gave N250,000 to each of
the deceased families and N100,000 to owners of the destroyed houses,
stated this at the palace of the District head of Konduga.
Noting that Konduga has a very reach
history, the governor urged the people to complement the government
effort in restoring peace.
The Christian Association of Nigeria described the perpetrators of the attack as “brood of vipers that must be chased out.”
The CAN Public Relations Officer in the
Northern States and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, stated this in an interview
with our correspondent on Tuesday, it appealed to Muslims to cooperate
and join in the crusade to chase “the evil men out of the system.”
He said, “We condemn the attack on the
mosque in its entirety because it is a crime against humanity and this
is what we have been saying that when evil is perpetrated anywhere, it
is against all humanity. We condole with the family of those who lost
their beloved ones in this trying moments.”
US billionaire unveils plans for Hyperloop that will shoot passengers from LA to San Francisco in 30mins
Paypal billionaire Elon Musk, inset, has revealed plans for a radical
new 'Hyperloop' transport system that could 'shoot' passengers from Los
Angeles to San Francisco in 30 minutes.Travellers enter aluminium pods mounted by skis either to their feet or to their cars, top. The pods, mounted above the ground on columns 50 to 100 yards apart, travel through steel tubes, reaching speeds of up to 800mph and travelling on a cushion of air. These images, left and right, show sketches of the passenger transport capsule and how it would look travelling through the steel tubes. Continue...
Musk told Bloomberg Business Week the system would be ‘like getting a ride on Space Mountain at Disneyland.’
‘It would have less lateral acceleration—which is what tends to make people feel motion sick—than a subway ride, as the pod banks against the tube like an airplane,' he said.
‘It would feel supersmooth.’
'The Hyperloop (or something similar) is, in my opinion, the right solution for the specific case of high traffic city pairs that are less than about 1500 km or 900 miles apart,' he claimed.
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