State House report on Jonathan's visit to Maiduguri

The State House press release below.. 

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan undertook a surprise visit to Maiduguri Thursday on the occasion of Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day to meet with officers and men of the Armed Forces currently in the frontline of the war against terrorism and insurgency in the country. 

Accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, President Jonathan visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri to thank them for their patriotic and courageous service to the nation.

The President told officers and soldiers of the Division that the nation was very proud of them and grateful for their dedication and commitment to the defence of the civilian population against terrorists and violent extremists.

Before Voting Buhari: Twenty Things History Teaches US By Kennedy Emetulu

History is harsh, because it hides nothing from honest and discerning people. For those who are dancing at the prospect of voting in Muhammadu Buhari, please consider the following historical facts. Interpret them however you choose, but think about them deeply: (1) Think of the kind of nation the colonial masters bequeathed to us before leaving. They instituted different political, social and



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INTERVIEW: Why We Overthrew Buhari — Babangida

Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida may go down in the history of Nigeria as the most loved yet most hated leader to ever rule Africa’s most populous nation. Such paradox marks him out as an intriguing personality, who remains a reference point in the political circle more than two decades after he ‘stepped aside’ from Aso Rock in controversial circumstances. In this rare



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Before Voting Buhari: Twenty Things History Teaches US By Kennedy Emetulu

History is harsh, because it hides nothing from honest and discerning people. For those who are dancing at the prospect of voting in Muhammadu Buhari, please consider the following historical facts. Interpret them however you choose, but think about them deeply:
(1) Think of the kind of nation the colonial masters bequeathed to us before leaving. They instituted different political, social and legal system in the North and South, but still ran the country as one and left us without any attempt at righting the wrongs they’ve instituted.

INTERVIEW: Why We Overthrew Buhari — Babangida

Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida may go down in the history of Nigeria as the most loved yet most hated leader to ever rule Africa’s most populous nation. Such paradox marks him out as an intriguing personality, who remains a reference point in the political circle more than two decades after he ‘stepped aside’ from Aso Rock in controversial circumstances.
In this rare encounter with a team from Zero Tolerance (ZT), a quarterly magazine published by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  at his Hill Top mansion in Minna, Niger State,  the former leader offers rare reminisces on his leadership of the country and attempts a prognosis on the myriad challenges facing Nigeria. He spoke about why he led a coup that toppled the regime of Muhammadu Buhari and why he approved the killing of his bosom friend, Mamman Vatsa.
We have the magazine’s permission to republish the interview here.

EFCC Arrests Suspected Fraudsters For N806m Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 arrested three suspected internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State - Okpekereke Timothy, Stanley Odjighere, and Teminor Karo.

The trio are part of a syndicate arrested over allegations of conspiracy, internet scam and stealing from one of the new generation banks to the tune of N806, 208,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Six Million Two Hundred and Eight Thousand Naira). Forty others are still at large.
The theft was perpetrated through a system glitch linked to the fraudsters, in which the bank suffered a huge loss of more than N806, 208,000.
The petitioner, who works in one of the new generation banks, alleged that a review of transactions involving the bank with Interswitch Nigeria limited revealed that the bank was not reimbursed for the

Ozoemezina – Day Obiano Held Rite of Passage for Igbo War Dead

At the end of the Nigeria – Biafra war, folks on the eastern divide greeted each other with the prayer – salutation, ‘happy survival!’ It was a natural impulse that surged on meeting with a relative, friend or associate whose fate in the harrowing events had remained unknown to you. The  scary signatures of the conflict were everywhere; intruding into your psyche even if you wanted to avoid them – malnourishment all around, blown up bridges,  buildings pock marked with bullet holes,  abandoned artillery pieces and cases of spent cartridges,  queues for essential commodities and so on. It was merciful providence to be alive.   A short while into the new season, prolific writer Cyprian Ekwensi published the novel, Survive the Peace. It was an artistic recreation of the transition from the trauma of war to the sobriety of peace. From the life of the characters, the post – conflict stage could be daunting without the right attitudinal responses. As it were, a key demand of pacification of a brutal past is coming to terms with its memory.

Anambra Bids Fallen War Heroes, Civilian Victims Farewell, 45 years After Biafra... Ndigbo do not have a single story – Obiano declares

Following the clamour for a formal burial for millions of Anambra indigenes who lost their lives in the Nigerian Civil War, the World War II and pockets of sporadic violence in the country, the Government of Anambra State today performed a formal rite of passage for the fallen heroes and heroines as well as the civilian victims of the Nigerian Civil War, the World War II, the pogroms and other ethnic and religious violence in the country.

The very elaborate but solemn ceremony which took place at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, attracted distinguished Igbo sons and daughters from the entire South Eastern geopolitical zone including the former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme and the maverick billionaire businessman, Prince Engineer Arthur Eze, Chief Victor Umeh, APGA National Chairman and Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, APGA gubernatorial candidate in Imo State among many others.

Why PDP Chose Small Venue For Jonathan’s Campaign In Osogbo

Fresh facts have emerged regarding the reasons the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun opted for a smaller venue to host the party’s presidential campaign team in the centre of the town, instead of the city stadium.
Ashiwaju.org gathered that aftermath of the Lagos rally, the party campaign coordinators in the South-West resorted to using smaller venues located within business centres, so as to create an impression
of large turnout at the rally.
Unlike in some PDP-dominated states like Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, where rallies were held at the stadia, the one in Ibadan was held at the Mapo Hall area, while that of Osogbo was held at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park.
According to findings, the venue was chosen to save the party the embarrassment of holding the rally at the stadium, where it may find it difficult to mobilise its supporters to fill the venue like it did during last year’s governorship election in the state.

Rev Fr Mbaka: The Planned Episcopal Sanction and Looming Dangers

*Laity Council blows hot THE Laity Council across the nation has expressed worries over the reported gathering storm by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria to sanction Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka over his recent comments on the state of the nation.

Their worry according to Dr Paul Obi stems from the erroneous impression the move would give to the public and the international community about the intolerant posture of Nigerian government on freedom of expression. That this would cast a big shadow of doubt about our democratic development and plurality of opinions.

Asking rhetorically, Dr Obi who was flanked by other members of the Laity Council, including Chief Christopher Inalegwu, wanted to know if we are now in Idi Amin Dada era, where 'freedom of expression is free, but freedom after the expression would not be guaranteed'

The council members, in an interview with journalists in Enugu yesterday recalled that "our dear Anthony Cardinal Okogie had in the past bitterly criticized the administration of former Gen Ibrahim Babangida. No one attacked him then, or even now.