Jonathan is overwhelmed by Boko Haram- Obasanjo

x-President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday insisted on a carrot and stick approach to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said there could be no other means since President Goodluck Jonathan “is overwhelmed “by the Boko Haram (insurgency).

According to The Nation, Obasanjo spoke on a BBC programme, Focus on Africa, which aired a special edition on Nigeria’s insecurity last night.Obasanjo said he took it upon himself in 2011 to go on a fact- finding mission when Boko Haram insurgency became uncontrollable to see how to mediate.
He said he met people, especially families who knew them. “I wanted to find out if it was an organisation which has aims and objectives and if they have foreign backing.”
Obasanjo said Boko Haram has leaders, adding that there was somebody who acted as a lawyer to the sect.
“The lawyer, who was acting in proxy told me: ‘Mr President if you want to meet their leaders give me three hours. I will gather their leaders, not in Nigeria but outside Nigeria. Obviously, they have leaders,” Obasanjo said.
When asked if carrot and stick approach would work in dealing with Boko Haram, he said: “Well, if you had tried stick and stick alone and it has not worked, is there anything wrong to try something along with the stick?
“I doubt it very much if you will consider that as wrong because in your introductory statement on this programme, you made the point that no matter how well-meaning the President might have been with his assertion that he will be on top of Boko Haram, it has not been achieved.”
Human rights activist Shehu Sani said Boko Haram is a sect that has a theocratic agenda.
He said the sect is unlike others in the north, adding: “There are sects in the North that say Nigeria should adopt Islam but they are not as fundamental.”
Sani said force had not been able to yield any result.
He cautioned the Federal Government to get the girls out first before using force to subdue the sect.
According to him, Obasanjo has a list of the leaders of the sect.

Rally in Nigeria consulate in U.S #bring back our girls

Kidnapped Girls: I Was ‘Misunderstood’ – Kema Chikwe

                                                                              

“It has come to my attention that part of my speech at the prayer session especially the questions I raised concerning the circumstances surrounding the abduction of these innocent girls was largely misunderstood.”

The National Woman Leader of Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kema Chikwe, has said her statements on the kidnapped girls were ‘misunderstood.’

Ms. Chikwe was quoted as saying she doubts the authenticity of the kidnap of over 250 girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State.

“How did it happen? Who saw it happen? Who did not see it happen? Who is behind this?” the former minister was quoted as saying by Sahara Reporters during a prayer session for Nigeria at the PDP headquarters in Abuja.

The statement has already drawn flaks from several Nigerians including the opposition All Progressives Congress which said the statement “plumbed the depths of absurdity and insensitivity.”

Ms. Chikwe, however, said in a statement she signed on Thursday that she was misunderstood and her intention was not to doubt the kidnap.

“It has come to my attention that part of my speech at the prayer session especially the questions I raised concerning the circumstances surrounding the abduction of these innocent girls was largely misunderstood,” the PDP leader said.

Read her full statement below

May 1, 2014
Press Statement

My Official Position On The PDP Women’s Prayer Session – Kema Chikwe
 My attention has been drawn to reports in some section of the media regarding my speech at the occasion of PDP Women’s Prayer Session organised on Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 to among others things, seek divine intervention for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. As a mother, I have remained heartbroken and deeply pained by the unfortunate incident. My heart and thoughts have continued to go out to these girls and their families, hence my decision to mobilise other women to pray for them. Our prayer points included prayers for security in Nigeria, prayers for the quick recovery of the victims of the Nyanya bomb blast and consolation prayers for families of the dead, prayers for the release of the abducted Chibok school girls in Borno State, prayers for all terrorist victims in Nigeria, and prayers for Nigerian Women and Children amongst other prayer points. Christian and Muslim religious leaders led these prayers.

However, it has come to my attention that part of my speech at the prayer session especially the questions I raised concerning the circumstances surrounding the abduction of these innocent girls was largely misunderstood.

Indeed with every sense of responsibility, I wish to reiterate that this is not the time to sensationalize issues particularly those relating to these innocent girls whose fate we are all deeply worried about.

In this regard, we all must ensure that we are not distracted in anyway whatsoever but collectively focus our energies towards actions that will accelerate the rescue and safe return of these girls to their families, a cause for which I and the PDP family will continue in prayers.

I therefore appeal to all Nigerians, especially the women not to relent but continue to pray along with me especially as we have been reassured that the Government and the security agencies are doing their best to ensure the rescue of our daughters.

Leader of APC, Bola Tinubu allegedly acquires 2nd private jet for $50millione

#eyes rolling#

Still on Chibok abducted girls

   

Presidential media chat holds on Sunday

President, Goodluck Jonathan will host the Seventh Presidential Media Chat on Sunday.
In a statement tweeted by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, he urged members of the public to send questions they want President Jonathan to address via twitter to @mediachatng1

First Kwara Civilian Governor, Alhaji Adamu Attah is dead

Adamu Atta was an indigene of Ebira land, in present Kogi State. Born in Okene in 1927, he was son of warrant chief Ibrahima Atta, whom the British granted wide powers under the Native Authority system, which undermined the traditional process for selection of a leader in the community. He became the first civilian governor of the state, representing the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), although he came from a minority ethnic group In January 1967, he was permanent secretary for the federal Ministry of Finance, and was in discussions with the Soviet Union over possible development loans.

In the contest between Adamu Atta (a son of Ibrahima Atta) and Obatemi Usman for a seat in the Constituent Assembly in 1977, Obatemi Usman lost, and resorted to appeal to his Oziogu clan, accusing the Aniku sub-clan of Adavi to which Atta belonged, of occupying most of the public offices in Ebira land. Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki supported Atta in his bid to become governor of Kwara State in 1979^.

Atta was responsible for establishing the Obangede Specialist Hospital.

Adamu Atta is a polo enthusiast, and owner of the Fifth Chukker Club and Resorts. The 2008 annual IWC Laureus Polo Cup in England was won by the Laureus Team in a close match against the Julius Baer Team. Highlights were goals scored by Miquel Novillo Astrada (Team Laureus) and Adamu Atta (Team Julius Baer) hammered in from 80 yards. His team was a strong contender in the 2009 Katsina International Polo Tournament. He was a two times MVP award winner. He died on May 1, 2014.

 

‘Clearly’ Russia’s economy has suffered, IMF chief Christine Lagarde says

There have “clearly” been consequences for the Russian economy because of the crisis in Ukraine, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday.
The IMF said Wednesday that the Russian economy was in recession, and is expected to grow by only 0.2% in 2014.
“If you look at the monetary policy, if you look at the capital flows, if you look at their own forecast, there have been consequences on the Russian economy as a result of the geopolitical situation, the uncertainty, and the sanctions that have been decided,” Lagarde told Amanpour.
In a key sign of international support for Ukraine, the International Monetary Fund approved a $17.1 billion bailout for the country on Thursday.
The bailout, Lagarde, said, is “obviously not without risk, but it's a necessity to respond to a member's request.”

China moving ahead by the day.

It has long been clear that China will one day overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy, but new figures released by the World Bank indicate that that could happen as soon as this year.
(The International Monetary Fund, which unlike the World Bank does not take into account the variation in the purchasing power of a single unit of currency between countries, gives that occurrence a longer time frame. In other words, the difference is just a matter of which indicator they are looking at.)
“We still see China at 7.5 and continuing to grow, probably at the slightly reduced pace over time in the next five years or so because the country's developing so much,” Lagarde said.
The fact that Chinese growth will slow, she said, “is not a bad idea, actually, because the focus from the Chinese authorities would be to produce more quality growth than quantity growth.”
“We are not of those that believe that China will have a hard landing,” on the idea that growth will suddenly collapse.
The IMF has a “really solid partnership and dialogue” with the Chinese government, she said, and praised their efforts to focus on domestic consumption, rather than investment and exports, as the engine of the future Chinese economy.

More Jail term ahead for Chris Brown

 

 

Brown attended a hearing Thursday wearing an orange jail suit, just hours after a cross-country trip from Washington to Los Angeles on the federal government's inmate transport system, informally known as "Con Air."

"He's doing remarkably well under the circumstances," Brown lawyer Mark Geragos told CNN. "It's a challenging situation to be in."

Geragos and Assistant District Attorney Mary Murray agreed to hold talks over the next week concerning Brown possibly admitting that he violated his probation. If that happens, it will be announced at a hearing next Friday. Otherwise, the judge will set a date for a trial on his probation revocation.

"I'm hoping we get it resolved and we get it resolved quickly," Geragos said after the hearing.

Geragos said he would also file a motion to have Brown released from jail, which would be considered at the May 9 hearing.

Brown, who turns 25 next Monday, spent most of the past week traveling back to Los Angeles following a delay in the start of his trial on a misdemeanor assault charge in Washington.

U.S. Marshals, who took Brown from the Los Angeles County jail for extradition to Washington four weeks ago, handed him back to Los Angeles Sheriff's deputies just hours before Thursday's hearing, according to Deputy U.S. Marshal Laura Vegas.

Brown's probation for the 2009 beating of ex-girlfriend Rihanna Fenty was revoked after his Washington arrest. He's spent the past six weeks in custody and previous five months in court-ordered rehab.

The prosecutor said last week that she would "strenuously object" to Brown being released because it appears likely Brown will be found guilty of the assault charge in Washington. Assistant District Attorney Mary Murray argued the only change since Brown was jailed in March is that his case has "gotten worse." The Washington judge who found his bodyguard guilty in the assault case also concluded that Brown was the initial aggressor in the incidence, Murray said.

A Los Angeles judge refused a request last week to free the singer from custody so he could make his own way back from Washington.

He and bodyguard Christopher Hollosy were arrested on assault charges in Washington for allegedly beating a man who tried to take a photo of Brown last October.

The arrest led to a revocation of Brown's probation, but he was allowed to enter a rehab program instead of going to jail. He was ordered to jail last month when he was kicked out of the rehab program for rules violations.

"I think it's a little over the top to have him in custody on this misdemeanor when everybody saw the bodyguard's trial and which was nothing more than a bloody nose," Brown lawyer Mark Geragos told reporters in Washington last week. "And you have got the bodyguard who was convicted and who readily admitted he was the one who did the punching. So all of this is much ado about nothing."

The delay in Brown's Washington trial came after prosecutors refused to grant immunity to Hollosy so he could testify without jeopardizing his own case. On Monday, Hollosy was found guilty of assaulting a man on a Washington sidewalk before Brown's trial was to begin in the case.

The prosecutors cited Hollosy's refusal to talk to them about his testimony as a major reason for the decision not to grant immunity. Their motion also said they suspected he might lie in his testimony to help Brown.

check out egberi papa 1 of bayela's daughter is all grown up

This is what I call rapid growth, Timaya's daughter now a big girl. How fast children grow these days.

she is cute.

Nigerians demand government do more to bring home kidnapped girls

Nigerians took to the streets Thursday to demand the government do more to rescue scores of girls abducted by militants more than two weeks ago.

Militants seized about 230 girls in the dead of the night at a high school in the nation's far northeast, a hotbed for Islamist group Boko Haram.

Armed men herded the girls out of bed and forced them into trucks on April 16 in the town of Chibok. The convoy of trucks then disappeared into the dense forest bordering Cameroon.

Roughly 200 girls are still missing, although the authorities and parents differ on the number.

Nigerians protest over kidnapped schoolgirls

Nigerians have rallied for days to criticize the government's handling of the rescue efforts. Hundreds wept and chanted "bring back our girls" during protests in the capital of Abuja on Wednesday. A day later, protesters gathered in Lagos.

Shortly after the abductions last month, frustrated Chibok residents went into the forest in motorbikes to search for the girls.

During their nine-hour trek, they never saw a single soldier in the forest where authorities believe the militants took the girls, said Enoch Mark, whose daughter and two nieces were among the kidnapped.

"A total of 230 parents registered the names of their daughters who were missing on the day of the kidnap," said Asabe Kwambura, principal of the Government Girls Secondary School. "From my records, 43 girls have so far escaped on their own from their kidnappers. We still have 187 girls missing." Boko Haram still holding the school girls captive.

In Chibok, angry parents accused authorities of playing politics with the lives of their children.

Witnesses have seen militants in dozens of vehicles headed to nearby Cameroon, said Ayuba Alamson, whose two nieces were among the kidnapped. In a statement Thursday, Nigeria's Defense Ministry said it's committed to the search.

"A lot of information has been received in the efforts at securing the freedom of the girls. The armed forces assures all Nigerians that it will continue to appraise every information received during this operation accordingly," it said. .

"While it will not relent in its efforts in this search, the armed forces is mindful of the fact that some of the information with which it has been inundated are actually a ploy to distract it from its goal of dealing with terrorism and other violent crimes aimed at crippling the nation."

former minister of Education Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili leading

US Education Department reveals for the first time the list of colleges under investigation.

US colleges in sex assault investigation

Dozens of universities and colleges across the United States are facing investigation for the way they handle sexual abuse allegations made by students.
For the first time, the US Education Department revealed a list of 55 institutions under investigation on Thursday, as the administration sought to bring more openness to the issue of sexual violence on and around the country's campuses.
The schools range from public universities, including Ohio State University, the University of California, Berkeley University and Arizona State University, to private ones including Knox College in Illinois, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and Catholic University of America in the District of Columbia.
Ivy League schools including Harvard, Princeton and Dartmouth are also on the list.
The government emphasised the list was about investigations of complaints, not judgements. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said there was "absolutely zero presumption'' of guilt.
Few details of individual cases are known. Establishments on the list, for the most part, were unwilling to talk about specific incidents, Associated Press news agency reported.

Separately on Thursday, the US Secretary of Defence reported that sexual assaults in the military increased by 50 percent last year. Officials welcomed the news as a sign that victims were more confident their attackers will be prosecuted.
Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel called the increase in reported sexual assaults - from 3,374 to to 5,061 - "unprecedented".
He announced six new directives to expand the fight against sexual assault, including an alcohol policy review and an effort to encourage reporting by male victims. Men are thought to represent about half of the victims of military sexual assault but comprise only 14 percent of the reports that were investigated.
"We believe victims are growing more confident in our system," Hagel told a Pentagon news conference. "Because these crimes are underreported, we took steps to increase reporting and that's what we're seeing."
Critics said the Pentagon's numbers on increased reporting demonstrated little improvement in the proportion of cases going to trial or the percentage of convictions.
A total of 484 cases went to trial in the 2013 fiscal year that ended on September 30 and 370 people were convicted of an offence, the report said. That compared with 302 trials the previous year and 238 convictions.