El-Rufai is an Executive Commander in Boko Haram Terrorist Group

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Former Chief of Army Staff, General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika on Thursday opened a can of worms by declaring that the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory and APC Chieftain, Mallam Nasir El-Rufia is one of the frontline Commanders of the Boko Haram terrorist group.</span><br /> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ihejirika-elrufai.gif" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="ihejirika-elrufai" class="alignnone wp-image-461675" height="185" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ihejirika-elrufai-300x170.gif" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="326" /></span></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speaking with Vanguard over allegation by the former minister that he (Ihejirika) and former Governor Modu Sheriff of Borno State were fingered as terrorists sponsors, General Ihejirika said he is not surprised that this unimaginable allegation is coming from ‘one of the Boko Haram Commanders’.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The (Commanders) including El-Rufai know where the problem is. He should stop deceiving Nigerians by trying to divert attention”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to Ihejirika, “When the Boko Haram operation started, supporters of the sect like El-Rufai said that there was nothing like Boko Haram and that the army was just killing innocent youths”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“If you also remember, not too long ago, some of their supporters including El-Rufai said that I was re-inventing the killing of the Ibos during the Biafra war following government’s determination to rid the country of terrorism.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ihejirika who was obviously angry while speaking on phone, also said, “The likes of El-Rufai started the campaign of human right abuses, in order to divert the international attention of the heinous crime being committed by the Boko Haram terrorists”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gen. Ihejirika then recalled recent allegations against his person indicating that that he took away N48 billion, an amount of money which is still in the coffers of the Ministry of Defence, which can be verified by anybody adding that he was not surprised that these allegation is coming from the likes of El-Rufai who started the campaign.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Continuing the former Army Chief said, “The likes of El-Rufai have been supporting Boko Haram. In fact, El-Rufai and his likes are the same group of people that ensured the army did not to get the requested equipment to deal with this menace once and for all, as they used their cohorts to tell the government that procuring modern equipment were not necessary”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Recalling that the same El-Rufai went to Thisday Newspaper premises to grant interview to condemn security forces for the efforts at ridding the country of these senseless mayhem by the terrorists, Ihejirika said, “At the onset of this crisis, I was the first person to declare that the country was at war but group of sponsors led by El-Rufai disagreed, that it was not true”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is the same group of El-Rufai that started the human right abuses campaign. It was done in order to block any international assistance after the state of emergency was declared and the sect was initially tamed. That gave Boko Haram time and respite to build up again”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Furthermore, General Ihejirika said that when the United States was to initially declare Boko Haram a terrorist organization, the same El-Rufai and his group mounted pressure on the international community, using alleged human right abuses as campaign strategy.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The former Army Chief revealed that this same group including El-Rufai have taken further steps in support of Boko Haram, “which I cannot disclose for now”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It will be recalled that shortly after his tenure came to an end as COAS, some Northern political elites started the crusade for General Azubuike Ihejirika to be summoned before the International criminal Court in the Hague claiming that he killed their sons and daughters innocently whereas it is on record that no other military leader but Ihejirika did a lot in helping the nation contain the rapid spread of Boko Haram insurgency in the country.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He not only established the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Maiduguri, he established new Army Brigades, Counter Terrorism Schools in Kachia and Jaji as well as the Terrorism Training School.</span></div> </div>

El-Rufai is an Executive Commander in Boko Haram Terrorist Group

Former Chief of Army Staff, General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika on Thursday opened a can of worms by declaring that the former minister of ...

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Obasanjo agrees working with Pres Jonathan to bring an end to the security challenges facing the Country

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6190010659096438557" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">                  </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXVvDGSYFUOym1BSL27oPmf2h8RJ69mvE3_c10D63WzZYCkz-6NrXgelIVPEbWhOAAjKehLnuEGiDjT0bgFjdOEkgp_LR5pQtKWWs4bOk2QNX5UsvvODGpEmrF5w8PJk1kekSyM8gH68/s1600/10615556_10203579181791585_4057126865975428035_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXVvDGSYFUOym1BSL27oPmf2h8RJ69mvE3_c10D63WzZYCkz-6NrXgelIVPEbWhOAAjKehLnuEGiDjT0bgFjdOEkgp_LR5pQtKWWs4bOk2QNX5UsvvODGpEmrF5w8PJk1kekSyM8gH68/s1600/10615556_10203579181791585_4057126865975428035_n.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said: “Yes, I can confirm that I met with Mr. President on his invitation. In fact, he had wanted to come down to Abeokuta, but as a sign of respect for the Office of the President, I had to go. We had discussion on the country’s security issues and that is all.”<br /><br />Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared his readiness to work with President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure an immediate end to the current security challenges facing the country.<br /><br />He had met with President Jonathan in the early hours of yesterday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting centered on the state of the nation, especially security challenges in some northern states.<br /><br />Chief Obasanjo, who returned to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital after the parley, told journalists that his visit was at the instance of an invitation extended to him by President Jonathan.<br /><br />The meeting came a few days after Obasanjo took a swipe at Jonathan administration’s handling of the economy, drawing a parallel between it and that of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.<br /><br />Obasanjo explained that the meeting was purely on security matters and at the instance of President Jonathan.<br /><br />He said that President Jonathan had offered to come to Abeokuta for the meeting but for the respect he has for the President, he had to reschedule it for the seat of power in Abuja.</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said: “Yes, I can confirm that I met with Mr. President on his invitation. In fact, he had wanted to come down to Abeokuta, but as a sign of respect for the Office of the President, I had to go. We had discussion on the country’s security issues and that is all.”</span></blockquote> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Obasanjo, who appreciated President Jonathan for the invitation, promised to always make himself available to him on national issues in the interest of peace and progress of the country.<br /><br />It will be recalled that the former President whose relationship with the Jonathan has been sour in the recent times, had two months ago said he had links with Boko Haram, the group responsible for the security challenges in the nation alleging that he was yet to receive a green light from the President.<br /><br />This statement credited to Obasanjo angered top presidency officials querying the sincerity of the former president despite having unfettered access to President Jonathan.<br /><br />Also, speaking on the crises between Eggon and Fulani crisis in North-Central state of Nasarawa, Obasanjo called on the government of the neighboring Benue and Nasarawa states to ensure that peace is restored to the warring communities.<br /><br />He said the two: Eggon (who are farmers) and the Fulani, who are herders, must understand themselves over the differences and come up with amicable solution that will be acceptable to the two parties.</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“There is no way such will not happen, but the two state governments should come up with lasting solutions. The farmers would want their crops to be protected, while the cattlemen will also want their cattle to feed. So, the government should fashion out peaceful means to end the crisis,” Obasanjo said.</span></blockquote> <div> <br /></div> </div> </div>

Obasanjo agrees working with Pres Jonathan to bring an end to the security challenges facing the Country

                   He said: “Yes, I can confirm that I met with Mr. President on his invitation. In fact, he had wanted to come down to ...

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Suspected Airport 'Bomber': Report is Exaggerated -FAAN

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="post-body entry-content" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div dir="ltr" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" trbidi="on"> <header class="entry-header" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="entry-thumbnail" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px auto; padding: 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-transition: 0.6s; border: 2px solid rgb(249, 249, 249); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; transition: 0.6s; width: auto;"><img alt="murtala-muhammed-airport-Lagos" class="attachment-860x800 wp-post-image" height="403" scale="0" src="https://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2013/12/murtala-muhammed-airport-Lagos1.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.6s ease 0s; border: 2px solid rgb(249, 249, 249); display: block; float: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.6s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" width="600" /></span><br /><br />       <span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reports of an alleged suicide bomber arrested Monday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, were exaggerated, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has said.</span></span><div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a statement issued Tuesday by Yakubu Dati, FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, the agency said safety at the airports remain a “top priority.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The security operatives arrested a physically-challenged man with suspected explosives at CENTREX, an annex facility belonging to the National Airport Management Authority, NAMA, on the road leading to the airport’s international wing.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr. Dati said the alleged bomber was caught at a distance of about one kilometre to the international terminal.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“At the time of his arrest, the suspect was said to have been loitering around the said area all morning. This attracted the curiosity of security guards on duty at the entrance of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency’s CENTREX Facility located along the airport internal link road, who promptly alerted the police,” said Mr. Dati.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He said the suspect, who was alleged to be in possession of a device used in making explosives, was promptly handed over to the Airport Police Command for interrogation.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“While we appreciate the need to promptly report all suspicious characters to security agencies, it is important to always cross-check the facts before going to press, to avoid sending the wrong signals to the public,” Mr. Dati said.<br />He added that safety and security of the airports remain a priority and that the various security agencies are collaborating with FAAN for a secure and safe environment.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria therefore wishes to reassure passengers and other airport users of adequate security architecture at MMA as well as its avowed commitment to making safety and security top priority at all times,” he said.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Culled from www.amazingnewsnetwork.com</span></div> </header></div> </div> </div>

Suspected Airport 'Bomber': Report is Exaggerated -FAAN

        Reports of an alleged suicide bomber arrested Monday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, were exaggerated, the...

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Muslim Engineer Banned From Nuclear Plants

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <section class="story__content" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px auto 80px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 18.75rem; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: auto;"><div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">The man's lawyer claims the move to revoke his pass is "pure Islamophobia", but authorities argue it was for security reasons.</span></div> <header class="story__header" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><div class="last-updated" style="bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 40px; max-width: 40%; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-align: right;"> <div class="last-updated__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;"> <span class="last-updated__time" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">                               </span></span><span class="last-updated__day" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;"></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="last-updated__day" style="box-sizing: border-box;">                                </span></div> </div> </header><div class="story__content-outer-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; padding: 0px 332px 0px 0px; width: 992px;"> <section class="story__media" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="module module--primary" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; width: 660px;"> <div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--16x9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 371px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="144x81 362x204 762x428 942x530 1600x900" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330318/default/v1/rtxipyt-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/19/330318/default/v1/rtxipyt-1-1600x900.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 371px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> <div class="image__caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station in France</span></div> </div> </div> </section></div> <div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"><br /></span></div> <div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"><br /></span></div> <div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"><br /></span></div> <div class="story__intro" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextMedium, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">A Muslim engineer has been denied access to French nuclear power stations where he normally works over alleged security issues, according to reports.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> The 29-year-old project manager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was allowed on to the sites as part of his job between 2012 and 2013.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> But in March this year he was refused permission to work at the Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station in eastern France after a police investigation.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> The man was employed by a firm subcontracted by French energy giant EDF and his pass was reportedly revoked by management after he failed a vetting process.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> His lawyer has reportedly said the move was "pure Islamophobia".</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> The decision to stop his access was covered by "Secret Defence" - which means authorities are not required to publicly justify the decision.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> In June this year his lawyer Sefen Guez, who works with France's Anti-Islamophobia Collective (CCIF), was able to get the ban overturned by an appeals court</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> However, when the engineer turned up for work a month later, he was once again refused access.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> He has now launched a second appeal and while he waits for a decision, expected at the end of August, he has been reassigned to administrative work.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Mr Guez said: "This country respects the rule of law and my client, a qualified man with no criminal record who practices his religion in a normal way, like many other French Muslims, would quite naturally like to know the reasons for this ban."</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> He told France 24 that "considering the current atmosphere in France, his religious leanings cannot be ruled out" as a reason behind the ban.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> But officials from the police chief's office said: "It goes without saying that the ban was not based on criteria such as religion or race... Our judgement is based on security issues."</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 1.125rem; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.625rem; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> A spokesman for EDF told Sky News the energy firm was unable to comment on the matter as legal proceedings were under way.</div> </section></div>

Muslim Engineer Banned From Nuclear Plants

The man's lawyer claims the move to revoke his pass is "pure Islamophobia", but authorities argue it was for security reason...

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FG deploys 30 security agents to guard Buhari after assassination attempt failed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">FG deploys 30 security agents to guard Buhari after assassination attempt failed</span></span></h3> <div class="post-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"> <div class="post-header-line-1"> </div> </div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-304279648228203822" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 670px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE2Vio2sI-VGS8_x3NRxBapMKqLTOD31ZJYNXFT3nMd0_fq_ziiT5ZmyHTsf6kH1Hs-4osNjsdgxBhdJSOCz5P_uGThvKM-fQ2Ytu6GWe1HPAnHvpLDyGAG7TsPddplyvGOzLhhXMJw8/s1600/Buhari-Bomb-damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE2Vio2sI-VGS8_x3NRxBapMKqLTOD31ZJYNXFT3nMd0_fq_ziiT5ZmyHTsf6kH1Hs-4osNjsdgxBhdJSOCz5P_uGThvKM-fQ2Ytu6GWe1HPAnHvpLDyGAG7TsPddplyvGOzLhhXMJw8/s1600/Buhari-Bomb-damage.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Security has been tightened around one of Nigeria’s leading opposition figures and former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, after a failed bid to kill him last month.<br /><br />Buhari, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who has been in the presidential race since 2003, escaped death by a whisker when a suspected Boko Haram member who tried to break into his convoy in Kaduna while he was on his way to Daura, his hometown in Katsina State, detonated his bomb-laden vehicle that destroyed cars in the convoy.<br /><br />While Buhari, who was riding in an armoured sport-utility vehicle (SUV) escaped without any injury, some of his security aides sustained varying degree of injuries.<br /><br />The incident, which President Goodluck Jonathan said would have plunged Nigeria into turmoil if Buhari had been killed, has necessitated the review of security around the APC chief.<br /><br />When New Telegraph sighted Buhari, who was in New Bussa, in Borgu Local Government of Niger State at the weekend for the wedding of Hadiza, one of the daughters of the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, he was accompanied to the ceremony by about 30 security agents. Besides the large retinue of security agents, Buhari’s contact with the public was restricted to the barest minimum.<br /><br />Buhari, who came to Borgu with his security in a convoy of about 12 vehicles, mostly SUVs, was sighted at the Muhammadu Sani Memorial Central Mosque at about 2:09p.m.<br /><br />He was dressed in sky blue three-piece traditional attire with a cap to match just as his numerous admirers, mostly, youths started amidst hailing him with chants of “Sai Baba” as he alighted from an unmarked Toyota Sequoia SUV.<br /><br />Buhari was closely followed by the security operatives as he entered the mosque and he hurriedly left the venue of the wedding ceremony, a few minutes later.<br /><br />The former leader who beamed with smiles as he acknowledged the cheers from his admirers was ushered into the mosque by some security operatives who were also chauffeur driven into the mosque premises in a black Toyota Land Cruiser marked ‘PATASKUM.’ The security agents prevented people, especially the jubilant youths who were surging forward to touch and have handshakes with Buhari from reaching him.<br /><br />The tumultuous welcome accorded Buhari, especially around the mosque premises almost marred the occasion, prompting some clerics to appeal to the youths for calm to allow them conclude the ceremony.<br /><br />However, unlike in the past when Buhari would step aside at such an occasion to grant press interview, no sooner had the wedding was concluded than he sandwiched by eagle-eyed security aides who ushered him into his vehicle and spirited him away. One of Buhari’s aides told New Telegraph that the decision to beef up security around the former head of state was prompted by the recent attempt on his life in Kaduna.<br /><br />Source: New Telegraph</span><div style="clear: both;"> </div> </div> <div class="post-footer" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;"> </div> </div>

FG deploys 30 security agents to guard Buhari after assassination attempt failed

FG deploys 30 security agents to guard Buhari after assassination attempt failed Security has been tightened around one of Nigeria...

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How Nigeria can overtake Malaysia, Singapore, others —Nda-Isaiah

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">FROM her lower comparative status, Nigeria can overtake world economic powers like Malaysia, Singapore, China and United Arab Emirates, if the needful was done, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, founder of Leadership Newspapers Group and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said.</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_455977" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"> <a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sam-Ndah.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="SAM Nda- Isaiah" class="wp-image-455977 size-full" height="302" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sam-Ndah.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="300" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">SAM Nda- Isaiah</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to Nda-Isaiah, Nigeria will leap-frog these countries on the economic ladder by ensuring good leadership, rule of law and security; punishing corruption squarely; creating jobs; strengthening the local currency; changing the way government works and the elite reaching a consensus to move the country forward.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The presidential aspirant spoke, yesterday, in Lagos while delivering the First City People Monthly lecture, entitled,  ‘Moving Nigeria Forward: Lessons from Malaysia, Singapore, China and Dubai.’</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Noting that in terms of development most of these countries looked up to Nigeria in the 1970′s, Nda-Isaiah lamented that “the reverse is the case today.”<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />He said: “Nigeria’s First Republic leaders and General Yakubu Gowon did their best until things took a turn for downward slide after the toppling of Gowon’s military regime<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“General Yakubu Gowon, one of the former leaders of this country that I believe had not yet been given his rightful place in history, told me in a private discussion last year that what pained him most about the coup that removed him from office was not the loss of power, but the loss of opportunity to implement his Third National Development Plan, which started the year he was overthrown and which could have moved Nigeria to the level of the Asian Tigers.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Development<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />He said that, before he left power, international organisations, including the media, were already saying that Nigeria was on the same development trajectory with some of these nations. And General Gowon believed his programmes would have taken us there. He had a lot to show for his tenure as leader.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Apart from prosecuting the civil war and keeping Nigeria one, which Nigerians will eternally remember him for, Gowon also achieved significantly in the development of the country. I know there are people who may differ on this, but most of the developments we still have on ground today in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Benin City, Enugu and a host of other cities are traceable to Gowon’s era. I also believe that the First Republic leaders still have a lot of good history going for them,” he said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speaking on lessons to be learnt from Singapore, he said: “I love the story of Singapore so much that, about four years ago, I attended a governance programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore where most of the resource persons were former principal secretaries and ministers of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who is considered the founding father of modern Singapore. One of the former principal secretaries of Lee Kuan Yew told us that when Singapore gained independence in 1965, apparently without hope or a future to look up to, their greatest ambition was to grow to be like Nigeria and the Philippines in the future. Today, it is Nigeria and the Philippines that want to be like Singapore.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nigeria, Malaysia, Singapore, China and Dubai had a roughly similar history and circumstances. All of them were once considered Third World countries and were once termed emerging markets. Today, all the others have joined the First World; only Nigeria remains a Third World nation.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />One thing that separates Malaysia, Singapore, China and Dubai from Nigeria is leadership – consistent leadership. Singapore had Lee Kuan Yew, China had Deng Xiaoping, Dubai has Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Malaysia had Mahatir Mohammed.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The way out<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />To move forward, he said: “Nigeria needs a new leadership. Since 48 million jobs are not available, Nigeria must create an army of entrepreneurs.   Nigerian leaders must fashion out policies and subsidies that would create at least 10 million new small businesses in the next five years if we don’t want a misfortune worse than Boko Haram. A small business typically creates between two and five new jobs; so, potentially, with 10 million new small businesses, we can create 50 million new jobs.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“With Nigeria’s current deficit of 17 million housing units, Nigeria needs a government that will start building at least one million new housing units annually, a project which multiplier effects will create millions of jobs for engineers, quantity surveyors, architects, labourers, block moulders, flourists, mortgage banks, estate agents, cement, tiles, paint manufacturers and sellers, food vendors at construction sites, among others.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We can borrow money from the N4 trillion pension funds since the houses are going to be sold to the public and the money will be paid back.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“To move Nigeria forward, we must also change the way government works. Governments all over the world, but especially in Nigeria, have a problem of inefficiency, bureaucracy and corruption directly impeding several well-intended plans. We cannot change a country without first changing its government. I believe one way to achieve this in Nigeria will be by the appointment of CEO-style ministers and heads of government agencies with clear targets and commensurate salaries and bonuses.”</span></div> -Vanguard Newspaper</div>

How Nigeria can overtake Malaysia, Singapore, others —Nda-Isaiah

FROM her lower comparative status, Nigeria can overtake world economic powers like Malaysia, Singapore, China and United Arab Emirates, if...

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Soldiers’ wives protest movement of spouses in Borno

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header class="post-header cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="featured" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/soldiersssss.jpg" itemprop="image" rel="prettyPhoto" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Soldiers’ wives protest movement of spouses in Borno"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="soldiersssss" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/soldiersssss-702x336.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Soldiers’ wives protest movement of spouses in Borno" width="702" /></span></a></div> <h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 35px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Soldiers’ wives protest movement of spouses in Borno</span></span></h1> <a class="comments" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=76552#comments" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px -35px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="fa fa-comments-o" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> </span></span></a></header><div class="post-container cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content-right" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content description" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px -1.857em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Wives of army personnel in Borno State have protested against the movement of their husbands from  Maiduguri barracks to an upgraded army formation in the state. The women, who gathered at the 21 Armoured Brigade (Giwa Barracks) in Maiduguri yesterday morning for the peaceful demonstration, said the planned movement of their spouses and their families from the barracks to troubled Bama town in central Borno would not augur well for them, citing poor security network and lack of adequate weapons at the newly upgraded barracks at Bama as reasons for their unwillingness to move there.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Bama barracks is not safe for us. We understand the duty and oath of allegiance of our husbands as soldiers, but the authorities should also understand that we’re human being. Bama will expose our children to security challenges.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Unfortunately, they don’t even have adequate weapons to do their job well for now and there is no proper security at the Bama Barracks yet.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We won’t forget the Boko Haram attack on Giwa Barracks last time in a hurry and what they did in Bama. The authorities should please help us,” one of the protesting women said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They recalled the attack on Giwa barracks in early March, alleging that some soldiers lost their lives during the attack because of poor weapons.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They called on the authorities not to move the soldiers to Bama until adequate facilities and security measures were put in place in the area.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The movement of the troops, according to a military source, was part of the military expansion of its presence in the state for effective coordination of its counter-terrorism operations in the northeast states, especially after the establishment of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army. Daily Sun learnt that already, some personnel of the brigade have been moved to the Bama Tank Battalion.</span></div> <div> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.857; margin: 0px 0px 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Soldiers’ wives protest movement of spouses in Borno

Soldiers’ wives protest movement of spouses in Borno   Wives of army personnel in Borno State have protested against the movement...

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Jonathan names Abba new Inspector-General

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="nrelate_flyout_placeholder"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday named an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, the new Inspector-General of Police.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Abba, who until his appointment, was the AIG in charge of Zone 7, takes over from Muhammed Abubakar, who proceeded on statutory retirement on Thursday.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who confirmed the change of guard in the police top echelon in a statement, said Abba’s appointment takes effect from Friday.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of AIG Suleiman Abba as the new Inspector-General of Police.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“AIG Abba, currently the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, comprising Abuja, Kaduna and Niger states, replaces the incumbent Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, who proceeds on statutory retirement today having completed 35 years in service.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The incoming Inspector-General, a lawyer, hails from Jigawa State and is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Positions previously held by him in the Police include Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, FCT Command, Deputy Force Secretary and Commissioner of Police, Rivers State.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“His appointment is with effect from Friday, August 1, 2014.”</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The former IGP had led Abba to a closed-door meeting with the President shortly before his appointment was made public.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In an interaction with State House correspondents after the meeting, Abubakar thanked Nigerians for their support.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He described the position of an IGP as challenging but said the experience was worth the while.</span></div> </div> <div class="story-bottom" style="position: relative; text-align: center; top: -10px;"> <div class="wrap"> <div class="widget wpbr-widget" id="story-bottom"> <div class="widget-wrap"> <div class="wpbrad wpbrad-zone" id="wpbrbannerajax0a113ef6b6"> <div class="wpbrbanner" id="wpbrbanner139" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 5px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 5px; clear: both; height: 90px; margin: 0px auto; text-align: left; width: 728px;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Jonathan names Abba new Inspector-General

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday named an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, the new Inspector-General of Polic...

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Jonathan names Abba new Inspector-General

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div id="nrelate_flyout_placeholder"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday named an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, the new Inspector-General of Police.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Abba, who until his appointment, was the AIG in charge of Zone 7, takes over from Muhammed Abubakar, who proceeded on statutory retirement on Thursday.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who confirmed the change of guard in the police top echelon in a statement, said Abba’s appointment takes effect from Friday.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of AIG Suleiman Abba as the new Inspector-General of Police.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“AIG Abba, currently the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, comprising Abuja, Kaduna and Niger states, replaces the incumbent Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, who proceeds on statutory retirement today having completed 35 years in service.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The incoming Inspector-General, a lawyer, hails from Jigawa State and is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Positions previously held by him in the Police include Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, FCT Command, Deputy Force Secretary and Commissioner of Police, Rivers State.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“His appointment is with effect from Friday, August 1, 2014.”</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The former IGP had led Abba to a closed-door meeting with the President shortly before his appointment was made public.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In an interaction with State House correspondents after the meeting, Abubakar thanked Nigerians for their support.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He described the position of an IGP as challenging but said the experience was worth the while.</span></div> </div> <div class="story-bottom" style="position: relative; text-align: center; top: -10px;"> <div class="wrap"> <div class="widget wpbr-widget" id="story-bottom"> <div class="widget-wrap"> <div class="wpbrad wpbrad-zone" id="wpbrbannerajax0a113ef6b6"> <div class="wpbrbanner" id="wpbrbanner139" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 5px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 5px; clear: both; height: 90px; margin: 0px auto; text-align: left; width: 728px;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Jonathan names Abba new Inspector-General

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday named an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, the new Inspector-General of Polic...

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Female Bombers: 4 Insurgents Arrested in Kano

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header class="post-header cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="featured" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/boko-haram-KANo-weapon.jpg" itemprop="image" rel="prettyPhoto" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Female bombers: 4 insurgents arrested in Kano"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="boko haram KANo weapon" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="300" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/boko-haram-KANo-weapon.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Female bombers: 4 insurgents arrested in Kano" width="612" /></span></a></div> <h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 35px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Female bombers: 4 insurgents arrested in Kano</span></span></h1> <a class="comments" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=74484#comments" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px -35px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="fa fa-comments-o" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> </span></span></a><a class="comments" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=74484#comments" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px -35px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></a><a class="comments" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=74484#comments" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px -35px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></a></header><div class="post-container cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content-right" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content description" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px -1.857em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Four suspected members of Boko Haram were arrested in Kano yesterday in connection with the recent multiple female suicide bombings that rocked the state capital in two days. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was gathered that the arrest followed an operation conducted by officers of the Nigerian Army and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) in the early hours of the day.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Credible security sources in both establishments told Daily Sun that the insurgents were picked up in the course of different operations in Hotoro General Area and in Mariri General Area of Kumbotso Local Government Council of the state. It was gathered that among those arrested was a 70-year-old man, whose name was simply given as Ibrahim. The sources stated that the remaining Boko Haram members arrested in the course of the operations  were  Bello,  Nura and Zakari.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sources also told Daily Sun that the operation followed a tip-off, adding that security operatives in the state took seriously the events of the last two days, especially the novel deployment of female suicide bombers for attacks on innocent citizens.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Meanwhile, a reign of fear dominated the general atmosphere of the state yesterday as Muslims were forced to cut short the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr festival, which usually lasted for days after the date of the Sallah.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Traffic was light in the state capital, while parents restrained their children from distant visits as part of new measures of caution in the light of the recurrent bomb blasts.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also, in some parts of the state, such as Yankura area of Abubakar Rimi Market and Ijebu Road in the Sabon Garri area of the state, there were incidents of bomb scare at different times.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These threw the affected areas into confusion as traders and residents ran helter skelter for dear life, abandoning their wares.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Security experts from the anti-bomb disposal unit and soldiers, after investigation, found the suspected objects not to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs).</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also, the leaders of Kano non-indigenes, under the aegis of  Non-Indigenes Community Leaders Association, have  called for calm and restrain following rising anger among the communities over repeated bomb blasts in the area.</span></div> <div> <br /></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Female Bombers: 4 Insurgents Arrested in Kano

Female bombers: 4 insurgents arrested in Kano   Four suspected members of Boko Haram were arrested in Kano yesterday in connectio...

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Why we’re slow in rescuing Chibok Girls – Presidency

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="entry-title posttitle" itemprop="name headline" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 2819px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><time class="meta-time updated" datetime="2014-07-25T00:08:34+00:00" itemprop="datePublished" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">July 25, 2014</time><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">  /   in</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/category/national-news/" rel="category tag" style="-webkit-transition: background-color, border-top-color; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News">News</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: small;">12:08 am</span> </span></h1> <div class="metaStuff" style="background-image: none; border: none; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: -23px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div class="metaStuff" style="background-image: none; border: none; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: -23px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div class="metaStuff" style="background-image: none; border: none; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: -23px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit;">By Henry Umoru</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" class="twitter-share-button twitter-tweet-button twitter-share-button twitter-count-horizontal" data-twttr-rendered="true" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets/tweet_button.1404859412.html#_=1406264686260&count=horizontal&id=twitter-widget-0&lang=en&original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanguardngr.com%2F2014%2F07%2Fslow-rescuing-chibok-girls-presidency%2F&related=vanguardngrnews&size=m&text=Why%20we%27re%20slow%20in%20rescuing%20Chibok%20Girls%20-%20Presidency%20-%20Vanguard%20News&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanguardngr.com%2F2014%2F07%2Fslow-rescuing-chibok-girls-presidency%2F&via=vanguardngrnews" style="border-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 107px;" title="Twitter Tweet Button"></iframe></span></div> <div id="entryContainer" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="entry entry-content" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 6px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ABUJA—THE Presidency, yesterday, gave an insight into why the Federal Government was slow at rescuing the over 200 Government Secondary School girls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14.</span></div> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Presidency also disclosed that plans were being put in place by the Federal Government to block domestic and international sources of funds for the insurgents group.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to the Presidency, the present slow and steady method became imperative to avoid a repeat of the 2004 experience when 300 children were killed in an attempt by Russians to free hostages held by Chechens in the North Caucasus region of Russia.</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_447534" style="border: 0px; float: right; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 422px;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/presidency-angry-cds-badeh-chibok-girls-sighting-claim/bringbackourgirls-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-447534" style="-webkit-transition: background-color, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and President Jonathan " class="size-full wp-image-447534" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/BringBackOurGirls8.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and President Jonathan</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speaking yesterday at a Chatham House lecture series held at the Royal institute of International Affairs in London, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, said that the Nigerian military, other security agencies as well as their international allies, have the wherewithal to secure the freedom of the over 200 Chibok girls from their abductors, but would like to thread with caution because making Nigeria and Nigerians happy at the end of the day would be to bring back the girls alive to reunite with their families.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr Okupe who spoke on <span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Priorities and Progress in Nigeria: Imperatives for stability and Growth</span>, described tackling the current insecurity in the North Eastern part of the country as the major priority of the Federal Government. He, however, lamented that the various acts of insurgency were slowing down growth in other equally important sectors of the economy.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to Okupe: “We are taking advantage of the offers from our international military and intelligence allies to get a greater understanding of the landscape and identify key locations . We are working with our neighbours to secure the borders and limit the movements of the Boko Haram fighters, building on the agreements reached at the recent summits in Paris and London”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While speaking on the various milestones attained by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last three years, Dr Okupe said the reduction of Nigeria’s food import bills by half as well as successful implementation of reforms in critical sectors of the economy are crucial to the attainment of social and economic stability.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The presidential aide asserted that since Nigeria attained independence in 1960,no administration has done so much as the Jonathan administration in guaranteeing food sufficiency, better power output,effective transportation and general macro economic stability.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said, “ Consequent upon the faithful implementation of the transformation agenda , by the end of 2013 Nigeria’s nonoil exports had increase ten fold over two years, reaching almost 3 billion dollars from 276 million dollars in 2011. Nigeria is once again the world’s largest producer of cassava, a major rawmaterial in the European and Asiatic food markets, and also accounted for thirty six per cent of the total global cocoa exports in 2013″</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While describing the reforms carried out in the transportation sector in the last three years as unprecedented , Okupe said, “President Jonathan inherited a road transport network that was near total collapse. Critical economic roads, such as the Lagos Ibadan expressway, the Shagamu Ore Benin road; the Kano Maiduguri expressway, the Abuja Abaji Lokoja expressway, the Enugu Port harcourt road, and the East West road, were in a state of total or near total disrepair resulting in countless accidents and needless loss of life with the attendant extreme frustration of commuters who spend countless hours travelling across the country but massive reconstruction and rehabilitation which were embarked upon ensured that well over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s total existing road network have been repaired or are undergoing rehabilitation.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to him, that train services which were almost non existent in 2011 had been revitalised with old rail lines rehabilitated and new modern ones being constructed, adding, “The trains now provide means of transportation to over four million Nigerians annually. There are new gauge lines under construction from Ajaokuta to Warri, Abuja to Kaduna while the Eastern axis of railway from Portharcourt to Maiduguri is nearing completion”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the reforms carried out by the Jonathan administration in the Power sector, Dr Okupe said it was significant that Nigeria rose from a power generation capacity of less that three thousand megawatts in 2011 to almost five thousand megawatts in 2013.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said the completion of ten new power plants as we’ll as successful privatisation of the power infrastructure have increased the capacity of the Nigerian power sector to gradually meet the needs of the 165 million Nigerian population and that within the next few years most Nigerian cities would be having a minimum of 18 hours uninterrupted power supply.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the forthcoming 2015 general elections, Okupe said President Jonathan remains committed to ensuring that the vote of every Nigerian counts in deciding who occupies which elective office and that the President would not waiver in his resolve to maintain the independence and integrity of the Electoral body.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Chatham House lecture was chaired by The Director, Area studies /International Law and Head of the Africa Programme of the Chatham House, Alex vines .</span></div> <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-browser="safari" data-dynload="" data-ob-mark="true" data-os="ipad" data-src="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/slow-rescuing-chibok-girls-presidency/" id="outbrain_widget_0" obdone="true" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="ob_brnBox_cont NA" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="ob_empty" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></wbr></span><span class="ob_org_header" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/slow-rescuing-chibok-girls-presidency/#sthash.clj31DWR.dpuf</span></div>

Why we’re slow in rescuing Chibok Girls – Presidency

July 25, 2014     /   in   News   12:08 am   By Henry Umoru ABUJA—THE Presidency, yesterday, gave an insight into why the Fede...

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Nyako’s Whereabout Unknown as Security Agents Move to Arrest Him in Abuja

<br /> <article class="entry clearfix" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nyako’s Whereabout Unknown as Security Agents Move to Arrest Him in Abuja</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Few hours after the Adamawa State House of Assembly impeached Governor Murtal Nyako, security agents stormed his Asokoro residence in Abuja to affect his arrest, but could not locate his where about.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nyako’s whose security aides were withdrawn at about 1pm shortly after his impeachment was said to absent at his Abuja residence when the security tram arrived to arrest him.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A source close to the governor said: “Some plain-clothe security agents came to look for Nyako but he had left his Asokoro residence.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“These agents were looking so desperate to effect his arrest in connection with a letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan on the security situation in the North, especially Northeast.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The plot is to arrest him and arraign him for sedition.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Asked of the governor’s whereabouts, the source said: “Only God and his family could tell now.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We even learnt that if they cannot locate him, they might declare him wanted. Nyako is a military man; he would only insist on due legal process, even if he has to face trial.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Indications emerged last night that the impeached governor might be charged to court for alleged treason.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aside the treason charges that may be filled against him, the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would also be prosecuting him in in another court for allegedly looting funds of the state said to have been stashed in a local bank.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The governor and the North-East Region manager of the said bank will be charged with another top official of Adamawa State Government, who is being held by the anti-graft agency for aiding and abetting the looting.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A competent source revealed that he Presidency has already ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to file treason charges against the governor, who lost his plum job yesterday.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The charges, according to the source, had been prepared by the Federal Government even before the impeachment process against Nyako.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was revealed that Nyako is to be tried specifically for levying war against Nigeria and inciting Nigerians and the international community against the person of President Goodluck Jonathan by accusing Jonathan of committing genocide against Northerners under the guise of fighting terrorism.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One of the sources said: “The AGF is ready with the treason charges against Nyako, who never showed any remorse over his letter to the Northern Governors Forum and refused to retract the contents and apologise even when he had the opportunity to do so.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The AGF has since been directed to file treason charges against the governor, who was fired by the Adamawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday (yesterday) because what he did was levying war against the nation and inciting the world against President Jonathan.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“If the former governor is lucky, he will survive the legal onslaught against him but he may be in for many years in jail if convicted for his indiscretion and deliberate action to malign the President of Nigeria,” the source</span></div> </article><br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div align="left" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.naijaurban.com/nyakos-whereabout-unknown-security-agents-move-arrest-abuja/#sthash.UcyKdFR4.dpuf</span>

Nyako’s Whereabout Unknown as Security Agents Move to Arrest Him in Abuja

Nyako’s Whereabout Unknown as Security Agents Move to Arrest Him in Abuja Few hours after the Adamawa State House of Assembly impeached ...

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