President Goodluck Jonathan Condemns Jos Bomb Blast, Press Statement Released

President  Goodluck Jonathan has released a press statement condemning the bomb blast that occurred this afternoon at Terminus market in Jos. Find the statement signed by his spokesperson, Reuben Abati, belowPresident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan strongly condemns the bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau state, describing the perpetrators of this tragic assault on human freedom as cruel and evil.  He has also directed all relevant agencies to mobilise support and relief efforts in aid of the victims. The President extends his heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and persons. President Jonathan assures all Nigerians that government remains fully committed to winning the war against terror, and this administration will not be cowed by the atrocities of enemies of human progress and civilization. President Jonathan has also expressed Nigeria’s deepest appreciation to the international community on the success of the recent Summit in Paris on the security situation in Nigeria hosted by the President of France, H.E. Francois Hollande.

He reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to the implementation of the resolutions reached by the Summit, in addition to existing measures already being taken by the administration to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of lives. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>

Gen Muhammadu Buhari Disowns Son Arrested For N20m Fraud

The former military Head of State,Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the person who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for a N20m scam and who claimed to be his adopted son was not his son.The former Head of State said that he had no need to adopt any son as God had blessed him with both male and female children.

The disclaimer by Buhari was contained in a statement issued on his behalf by the Chairman of the Buhari Vanguard, Mr. Jasper Azuatalam, on Monday.

“Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) wishes to state categorically that he does not have any adopted son called “Muhammed Buhari” and had no need to adopt a son at any time having been blessed with choice children, both male and female.

“Muhammadu Buhari and his family do not know the said “Muhammed Buhari” who is alleged to be involved in a N20m scam and is being held by the EFCC as reported.”

Azuatalam urged Nigerians to ignore the report saying Buhari and his family would continue to set high standards for others to emulate.

He described the story as an attempt by mischief makers to smear the image of the former military leader. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>>

Adopted Son Of General Buhari Arrested Over N20million Scam

General Mohammed Buhari's adopted son has being arrested by men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly defrauding a businesswoman, Mrs Florence Nwokocha, to the tune of N20million, Mohammed, who was introduced to Mrs Nwokocha through his account officer at Ecobank, had promised Mrs Nwokocha 10% of annual profit from a supposed oil deal which she was made to invest N20m into. After receiving her money, Muhammed reportedly disappeared. When he was eventually arrested by the EFCC, Muhammed claimed he ran into trouble after losing bank guarantee which he secured from another new generation bank. He is currently in the custody of the EFCC.

Who Is Fashola’s Successor? How Ambode’s ambition started 2 Years Ago

As the race for the successor of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State thickens within All Progressives Congress, APC, indications emerged weekend that the plan to pick former state’s Accountant General, Akinwunmi Ambode, by party leaders in the state to succeed Governor Fashola in 2015, started two years ago.

A party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed; “The party leaders have since penciled Ambode for Fashola’s seat when he (Ambode) was secretly asked in 2012 to resign even when he was not due for retirement.

“The strategy then was to place him in good stead for the job ahead of 2015, which he accepted in good faith.

“Ambode  is a good public servant who re-engineered the financial fulcrum of Lagos economy, an astute administrator which earned him much respect from the former governor of the state and national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Though the slot is very open to other qualified candidates in the party, the primaries will justify the end.”

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, last week, endorsed Ambode  to succeed Fashola,

He spoke while addressing the audience at the public presentation of the biography of Ambode, titled: The act of selfless service, written by Marina Osoba, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>>

Dora Akunyili Releases Statement About Her Health, Also Says She's Not Dead

Recently there were rumours flying around that former NAFDAC boss Mrs Dora Akunyili,who is currently undergoing medical treatment in India, had passed on. but the rumour was apparently strong enough to get a response from the former minister's media assistant. she released a statement via her Facebook page to dispel the rumour and says she's responding to treatment.

2015: Arewa Defence League (ADL) Wants Buhari & Atiku To Contest

Arewa Defence League (ADL) has insisted that General Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar remain the strongest political assets of the north at present and that any attempt to stop the duo from contesting in 2015 through undemocratic means would amount to robbing the electorate of their right to vote for the best. ADL president Alhaji Murtala Abubakar, in a statement issued in Kaduna at the weekend, said that remarks credited to the Kaduna State Interim Management committee chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr.Hakeem Baba Ahmed, that General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should not to contest in 2015 presidential elections was unhelpful and a negation of the collective efforts of well meaning Nigerians to halt the blind ambitions of President Goodluck Jonathan to remain in power beyond 2015. ADL said: “Many Nigerians are deeply concerned about how the present administration is running the affairs of this country and the threat our democracy faced in the hands of President Jonathan and his conspirators at Wadata Plaza where they successfully silenced anybody with presidential ambition to indicate interest particularly from the northern Nigeria.” SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>

President Goodluck Jonathan Leaves For Paris To Meet Leaders Of Neighboring Countries On Fight Against Boko Haram

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will travel to Paris, France,today Friday to participate in a summit convened by President Francois Hollande to discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in West and Central Africa. President Jonathan will be joined at the summit by Heads of State and Government of Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad. It is also expected that Britain, the United States of America and the European Union will be represented at the talks which will give special attention to the coordination and intensification of efforts to curtail the destabilizing activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighbouring countries in the wake of the recent abduction of college girls from Chibok, Borno State. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>>>

Nigerian Army Removes Commander Whose Battalion Revolted In Borno State

Nigerian Army Commander whose unit revolted on May 14th,2014 in Maiduguri has been removed by the Nigerian Army from the 7th infantry division. Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chris Olukolade, announced the removal of Major General Ahmadu Mohammed in a statement released. The Commander's battalion revolted, shooting sporadically after seeing the bodies of their colleagues who had been ambushed and killed by Boko Haram in Chibok. They also complained of not getting adequate weaponry to fight Boko Haram and poor conditions. The soldiers shot at their commander during the rampage but didn't kill him.

Gen Muhammadu Buhari Explains How Boko Haram Started Says It is Unfair to Kill Their Members

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Gen Buhari Explains How Boko Haram Started:

It is Unfair to Kill their members.....after all Niger/Delta militants were not killed at their time of trouble. General Muhammadu Buhari is urging the Federal Government to stop the ongoing clampdown of Boko Haram insurgents in the North saying because the the Niger Delta Militants were not killed when they were tormenting the country. Speaking as a guest on the Liberty Radio programme recently, Buhari took us down memory lane and explains how Boko Haram started.

Excerpts:

“.What is responsible for the security situation in the country is caused by the activities of Niger Delta militants. Every Nigerian that is familiar with what is happening knows this. The Niger Delta militants started it all.

“What happened is that the governors of the Niger Delta region at that time wanted to win their elections. So they recruited the youths and gave them guns and bullets and used them against their opponents to win elections by force.

“After the elections were over, they asked the boys to return the guns; the boys refused to return the guns. Because of that, the allowance that was being given to the youths by the governors during that time was stopped. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>

The Times Of London Mocks President Goodluck Jonathan With Cartoon

When you go to the times of london website, this is the main picture On the page, And it's drawn by The Times' political cartoonist, Peter Brookes.

Dora Akunyili's Health Worsens, To Be Flown Abroad

Former NAFDAC Director General and one-time Minister of Information Mrs Dora Akunyili's health has deteriorated according to new reports. Mrs Akunyili, who is a delegate at the on-going national confab (though she hasn't made an appearance for several weeks), was admitted at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja a few days ago after her condition worsened. She became even worse last night and was reportedly instructed by her doctors to seek immediate medical attention abroad. There are reports that she will most likely be flown abroad in the coming days.

Dora Akunyili was recently in the news when she appeared at the National Confab as a delegate looking very pale and a shadow of her old self. She revealed that she had been ill with a life threatening illness but survived it and was declared fit by her doctors to resume her normal life.

According to people close to her, Mrs. Akunyili was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and had spent several months in the US receiving treatment. Please say a prayer for her.

APC National Secretary: APC’s Presidential Ticket Open To All

Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah is the interim national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with DONALD OJOGO AND BODE GBADEBO, he clears the air on the skirmishes that characterised some state congresses of the party across the country and the plans for the maiden national convention of the party. 

The maiden APC convention is by the corner; how prepared is your party for the event: We are very prepared. We are now at the conclusive stage of the state congresses. We started from the wards up to local governments and we are at the conclusive stage of the state congresses. The party is having a meeting next week (tomorrow) to consider the outcome of these congresses and fix a date for the convention.

But the outcome of some of the congresses are not pleasant enough, there were skirmishes and crises in some of the states: Sometimes the skirmishes are contrived and sometimes they are genuine and the genuine ones are being addressed by appeal panels across the states. There is no way you will have a congress that there wouldn’t be acrimony. Good to say that in our own set-up, we were able to carry most people along because the initial stage of all the congresses starting from the ward to the local government started with the stakeholders’ meeting together to establish their rules of engagement for the congresses. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>

#BringBackOurGirls: Bola Tinubu Joins Campaign

  

Otunba Ahmed Bola Tinubu, says Bring back our girl sharply,But what is wrong with this photo?

Gen Buhari Says Boko Haram Are Just Bigots Masquerading As Muslims

We will see the end of Boko Haram as prominent leaders are beginning to unite against the killer. In his most pointed denunciation of the deadly sect, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to put aside politics and all other divisions to crush the Boko Haram insurgency which he said is fanned by mindless bigots masquerading as Muslims. Affirming that the group does not portray the Islamic faith he practices, Buhari told the group that the world is united against its evil and that their days are numbered if they don't change their wicked ways. In his words: “Over the past few weeks, the abduction of the schoolgirls at Chibok, Borno State, has underscored the threat we have been facing as a nation in recent times from the actions of misguided persons masquerading as adherents of Islam. “Our hearts are with families who have lost loved ones in this cycle of senseless violence. We also empathise with the parents of children whose daughters are in the custody of a group of anarchists. “That horrific video posted on the internet is a clear manifestation of the mindlessness of the bigots. It shows them for what they are; such men can neither threaten nor should they be allowed to violate our sovereignty. It is clear from what they profess that they are not followers of God.

"They do not mean well for our country and her citizens. I am a Muslim, I am versed in the teaching of Christianity and I understand both religions seek peaceful co-existence of all humanity. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>

Femi Falana Warns: Patience Jonathan, Remove Your Hand From Missing Girls Case

#ThereRisGodO but we do not need such distractions in serious matters. Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to stop people from further trivialising the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from their school ini Chibok, Borno State on April 14. Falana said the comment credited to some individuals, including Patience Jonathan, that “no child is missing”, is very sad and capable of deepening the agony of the abducted children’s parents:“Why has the Federal Government accepted the offer of the United States’ Government to join in the "frivolous-search" for the girls since they are no longer missing? “No doubt, the incendiary statements credited to certain people to the effect that “no child is missing” must have accentuated the agony of the parents of the abducted girls some of whom had taken part in street demonstrations title #BringBackOurGirls. “To that extent, the panel of inquiry alleged to have been set up by the First Lady is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. It should be disbanded without any further delay.” SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>

Niyola Calls President Jonathan Animal Farm Leader

EME Records Singer, Niyola, real name, Eniola Akinbo, is not happy with the leadership in the country and has voiced her disapproval, likening President Goodluck Jonathan to the story book leader of the Animal Farm, equating the president's vocation as a Zoologist as the reason for the rudderless steering of the ship of the country.The Love to Love You crooner, who is fondly called the First Lady of EME, took to her twitter handle joining lots of Nigerianswho are disgruntled with the present leadership and likens the situation in the country to George Orwell's legendary novel, Animal Farm, where the animals, led by some pigs, chased away the human minders of the farm, took over the helms of affair and turned round to inflict untold hardship on the other animals, killing some, maiming others and generally making life difficult for their subjects.

PHOTOS: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Omotola, Pharrell, More At The Time 100 Gala 2014

Beyoncé was MIA at the 2014 Time 100 Gala on Tuesday night, we can’t stop talking about the awkward red carpet. While most of the evening wear was the usual black tie and floor-length gown get-ups, many of the guests opted for more head-turning outfits… and not so much in a good way. Man-of-the-moment Pharrell Williams paired his tuxedo jacket, slouchy denim and scribbled-on sneakers with a Mickey Mouse bandage. Martha Stewart sported what has to be the world’s largest gold clutch, while Barbara Walters attempted colorblocking with a red belt and hot pink skirt. And Carrie Underwood looked like she walked straight out of a bridal magazine in her Claire Pettibone floral dress. which stylish stars made the 2014 TIME 100 list, and sound off on all of these interesting red carpet looks. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>

Fresh Mandate For Petroleum Minister Alison Madueke To Appears Before Nigeria's House Of Assembly

The Nigerian Federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Monday described as unfortunate President Goodluck Jonathan’s comment on the credibility of the probes being conducted by the House during his Sunday’s media chat. Stopping short of saying they were disappointed in the President, the legislators said Jonathan had been the “highest beneficiary” of the House resolutions, hence the least they expected from him was to encourage his ministers to respond to parliamentary inquiries. The President had said during his Presidential Media Chat that the House was conducting politicized probes and that his petroleum resources minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, had appeared before the lawmakers up to 200 times.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, reacting to the President on Monday, said the comment was  “unfortunate, particularly coming from Mr. President.” SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>>>>

Governor Fashola Strenghtens Lagos State Security & Faults USA Terror Warning

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has recently donated 100 patrol vans, and 150 motorcycles to the State Police Command in order to complement their efforts in protecting the lives and property of Lagosians. he said during the handing over of the security vehicles, the Governor faulted a report released by the United States consulate stating that Sheraton hotels in Lagos were potential targets for Boko Haram.

The US has routinely released such reports but there has been no such attack in the Southern part of Nigeria since the American government started releasing these sort of reports many years ago.

Fashola said, “There is no further information regarding the timing and method of the attack. US citizens were just cautioned to avoid the hotel. I think there are channels of communication which information of that type can shared without creating panic. And I think that citizens of all nations can be protected without throwing a cat among pidgins.

“I will hope that we are more circumspect in the way we share information and that our intentions are noble.SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>

Nigeria Set To Join Top 15 Largest Economies In the World By Year 2050

The recent GDP rebase which saw Nigeria displace South Africa as Africa’s largest economy, global financial rating firm Moody’s has forecast exponential growth in Nigeria’s GDP, predicting a rise to $4.5 trillion by 2050. This is expected to elevate Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer and most populous country, to the bracket of the top 15 largest economies, rivaling top European countries like Holland.The rating agency noted that with the economic advantage of a population that exceeds 170 million, backed by oil reserves reaching 28 percent of the continent’s total, Nigeria is set to experience soaring growth in the coming years.

“Nigeria is likely to number among the world’s 15 largest economies by 2050 when GDP is projected to exceed $4.5 trillion in purchasing power parity terms,” Aurelien Mali, VP-Senior Analyst, Moody’s. Moody’s new forecast was largely fuelled by the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP that pegged its economy at $510 billion, depicting a clearer picture of the country’s present economic resurgence. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>>>