News as it Comes: May 2014

Thursday 29 May 2014

Nigerian President's Democracy Day Broadcast

Fellow Nigerians,
1. I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country.

2. Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

3. Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people.

4. As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression.

5. As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure.

6. On my watch, we have witnessed high national economic growth rates, steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure including airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the efficient implementation of a roadmap for improved power supply, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production, as well as advances in education, sports, youth development, healthcare delivery, housing, water supply and other social services.

7. In the oil and gas sector, our promotion of a sustainable local content policy, continues to guarantee equity and better opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and skilled personnel.

8. Significant increase in mobile telephone and national broadband penetration, making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. We have also developed strong financial markets and regulatory institutions. Our banks now have regional and global footprints.

9. Nigeria has also gained recognition as the largest economy in Africa, the most preferred investment destination in the continent and in terms of returns on investment, the fourth in the world. We are pleased that the world has noticed, as global leaders converged in Abuja early this month for the World Economic Forum in Africa.

10. The event not only witnessed a record attendance, it brought the prospect of an additional flow of investment into the Nigerian economy estimated at over $68 billion over the next few years.

11. In foreign relations, our country has equally done well within this period, by establishing and strengthening strong partnerships with all ECOWAS countries and the rest of the world. This has helped to deepen Nigeria’s leadership role in multilateral institutions including the United Nations.

12. Furthermore, under this administration, we have made consistent progress in improving the standard of elections in our country to ensure that they are ever more credible and truly representative of the people’s free choice. The National Conference we initiated to deliberate and make recommendations on the best ways of resolving our current political and socio-economic challenges is on-going. It is our expectation that its outcomes will help to further consolidate the gains we have made from democracy in the past 15 years, and place our dear nation even more firmly on the path to greatness.

Dear Compatriots,
13. It is a sad fact that as I address you today, all the gains of the past 15 years of democratic governance in our country are threatened by the presence of international terrorism on our shores. Our dear country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed on us. Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today.

14. The despicable abduction of school girls from Chibok in Borno State has brought to the awareness of the entire world, the heartless brutality of these terrorists who want to instigate a descent into anarchy and balkanize our nation.

15. In recent years, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of several of our compatriots, many have been injured or maimed, whole villages and communities have been destroyed and the economy of some of our states is in jeopardy.

16. There can be no doubt that what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a manifestation of the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the Southern Russian city of Volgograd. Terrorist activities have brought war and pains to Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These agents of evil continue to brainwash and incite ignorant young men and women to attack the innocent. We cannot allow this to continue.

17. I welcome the statements of solidarity from patriotic citizens and the global community in support of our efforts to stamp out terrorism. I applaud the understanding that in a democracy, such as we are building, people can have differences while sharing worthy values and standing together in opposition to the scourge of terrorism. Nigeria is the only country we have and we must all work to preserve it for present and future generations.

18. Despite the challenges we face, we must commend our security forces. We must not forget their gallantry and successes in liberating nations and in peacekeeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone, Congo, Sudan, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and many places in Africa and beyond. Our forces have paid the supreme price in several places at several times.

19. Today, they face a different challenge, an unconventional war by terrorists. They are adjusting and are being equipped to tackle the new menace of terrorism. We must show confidence in their ability. I have no doubt that, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists.

20. It is now 45 days since the horrifying abduction of the college girls of Chibok. I share the deep pain and anxiety of their parents and guardians and I assure them once again that government will continue to do everything possible to bring our daughters home.

21. I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability, by waging a total war against terrorism. The unity and stability of our country, and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable. I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil.

22. I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal.

23. For our citizens who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace.

24. My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society.

Dear Compatriots,
25. We must remain united to win the war against terrorism. Christians, Moslems, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy or clerics, the rich, the poor and Nigerians from all sections of the country must work together with our security agencies and armed forces to overcome the terrorists who now threaten all that we hold dear.

26. The war against terror may be difficult, but the days of peace will come again. Terror is evil; nowhere in history has evil endured forever. The menace of Boko Haram will surely come to an end. I believe that because of your prayers, your courage, hardwork, faith and sacrifice, we will ultimately prevail over the terrorists and all other evil forces.

27. We are a strong, resilient and courageous people. We will continue to partner with the civilized world, to confront international terrorism and every other challenge that comes our way with patriotic zeal and determination.

Fellow Nigerians,

28. Yes, we have challenges but we will surely overcome. Nigeria is our country. Nigeria is blessed. We will all collectively protect, defend and develop this country for ourselves, and our children.

29. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

30. Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

United owner Malcolm Glazer dies

The Buccaneers, an NFL franchise he also owned, said Glazer was 85 years old, although his most widely listed date of birth is 25th of May 1928 which would have meant he turned 86 three days ago.

It was confirmed that New York-born Glazer had died on Wednesday morning. He had suffered a series of strokes in recent years and his sons have managed the operations of both teams.

"The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United are with the Glazer family tonight following the news that Malcolm Glazer has passed away. He was 85," the Premier League club said in a statement.

"Malcolm leaves behind his wife Linda, six children and 14 grandchildren. Staff at Manchester United extend deep and sincere condolences to them all at this difficult time."

His death is not expected to have any impact on the club, which remains 90% owned by his family.
Glazer made his fortune in real estate before diversifying into wider business interests and, latterly, sports teams.

He purchased the Buccaneers in 1995 and led what traditionally had been one of the weakest teams in the National Football League to its first Super Bowl championship eight years later.
"A dynamic business leader, Glazer helped mould the Buccaneers into a model franchise and one respected league-wide," the Buccaneers said in a statement on their website.
American entrepreneur Glazer and his six children took control of the English club in 2005 after a bitter takeover battle but have in the past been criticised by fans for saddling the club with too much debt, amid fears that it didn't have as much money as some rivals to compete to buy and retain top players.

Some fans were so angered by the family's involvement, coupled with the increasing commercialisation of the game, they forced FC United, who are now in the Northern Premier League and have started construction of their own stadium.

Many of those who remained wondered what fate would befall their club, believing the debt would be a major handicap in the transfer market and even raise the potential for United being unable to pay their bills.

Yet such apocalyptic fears failed to materialise.

Compared to many overseas owners, the Glazers have remained in the background and allowed the actual football team to function in line with the manager's wishes.

The result has been five Premier League titles in nine full seasons, plus three Champions League finals, one of which, against Chelsea in 2008, was won.

Some United supporters remained distrustful though. For others, the scars run so deep they will never be reconciled to the Glazer family's vision.

CAR church attack leaves 15 dead

The latest bout of violence has heightened fears of renewed tensions between Christians and Muslims [AFP]

At least 15 people, including a priest, have been killed and several others wounded following an attack on a Catholic church compound in the capital by Muslim fighters, witnesses said.
Wednesday's attack at the Notre-Dame de Fatima church in central Bangui, where thousands of civilians had sought refuge, is the largest and most brazen blamed on Muslim fighters since the Seleka coalition was ousted from power nearly five months ago.

"We were in the church when we heard the shooting outside,'' Reverend Freddy Mboula told the Associated Press news agency. "There were screams and after 30 minutes of gunfire there were bodies everywhere.''

Witnesses said the gunmen entered the complex, hurling grenades and shooting indiscriminately.

There were conflicting reports of how many were killed, and fighting in the area also prohibited observers from independently confirming the toll.

Some witnesses said up to 30 people had been killed. A Reuters cameraman said he saw dozens of bodies being carried away.

The majority Christian country has been wracked by relentless clashes between Christian vigilante groups and the mainly Muslim ex-Seleka rebels who had seized power in a coup which ended in January.

Error processing SSI file
The attack on the Church, however, marked a rare assault on a house of worship, as Catholic churches have served as sanctuaries for both Christian and Muslim civilians since the country erupted into sectarian bloodshed in December.

A 76-year-old priest, Paul-Emile Nzale, was killed in the violence near the church, Archbishop Dieudonne Mzapalainga told AFP.

"One can only feel sadness about these deaths. For several days there have been clashes in the this neighbourhood," he added.

Fears escalated on Wednesday that the new bloodshed would spark reprisal attacks on the city's few remaining Muslims, most of whom fled the city in a mass exodus earlier this year that the UN has described as ethnic cleansing.

In the hours that followed, Christian militia fighters began putting up road blockades around Bangui.

Exchanges of gunfire continued into Wednesday night, mainly near a mainly Muslim neighbourhood of Bangui, where helicopters were seen flying over the area, an AFP reporter said.

Out of the 2,000 French soldiers deployed to CAR, 700 have been assigned to patrol the streets of Bangui in light armoured vehicles, but the city is still gripped by violence.

The crisis in the former French colony has forced nearly one million people from their homes, and at one point nearly 100,000 sought shelter on the grounds of the Bangui airport, which has been guarded by French and now other

Scotland 2 - 2 Nigeria

Uche Nwofor's last minute strike denied Scotland three straight wins under Gordon Strachan

SIX games now without defeat? Well you wouldn’t have bet on this 18 months ago, not even with a dodgy tenner.
But what happened here at a rowdy, throbbing Craven Cottage last night – as Gordon Strachan’s revolutionary skills saw another World Cup contender made to look very ordinary indeed – was yet more hard evidence of this incredible recovery.
Had Grant Hanley not lost his footing or his nerve or a combination of both in the very last seconds of this friendly, allowing sub Uche Nwofor to smash home a last-gasp leveller, then Scotland would have ben celebrating a fourth straight away win. And that’s not been done by any side in dark blue shirts since back in the 1950s.
So even if Nigeria stole a bit of  Scottish thunder this was yet another hugely heartening display from Strachan’s side which has been transformed almost beyond recognition from the sorry state in which the manager found it.
They scored twice, had another two chopped off by an English ref and hit a post making what happened at the death hard to swallow as Strachan’s defence wilted in stoppage time.
Next stop Germany in September. If this unbeaten run extends beyond that trip, Strachan really will have us believing anything might be possible.
He had toyed with the notion of experimenting with his line-up – and in particular throwing Chris Martin in from the start – but in the end he thought better of it. And this looked like no bad thing at all.
There was a first start for Dundee United youngster Andy Robertson at left-back and Gordon Greer, after an exceptional performance last time out in Poland, kept his berth at centre-back, this time beside Hanley.
Also, Allan McGregor was given his No.1 shirt back as his duel for the gloves with David Marshall continues.
But, everywhere else, was one of Strachan’s confirmed favourites, from Alan Hutton at right-back to Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew at the base of his midfield. Then there was Okechi Anya, James Morrison and Shaun Maloney, providing a the three-pronged supply for Stevie Naismith in attack.

There was very little about this line-up not to like even if most of Strachan’s picks were dwarfed by these Nigerians who had arrived here in West London via a stop-off at the land of the giants.
By God there were some big units out there all dressed in green but this didn’t intimidate Scotland. It motivated them, none more so than skipper Scott Brown who buzzed around in midfield as if he was ready to take on all comers.
At one point Brown thumped a quick free-kick into the crown jewels of Ejike Uzoenyi who hit the deck as if the world had just fallen out his shorts.
This prompted an angry response from Shola Ameobi but Brown was not for backing down even though his shaven head was at around about the former Newcastle man’s chest.
No, Scotland were here to make a game of it and were swarming all over Nigeria. At times they threatened to rip them apart such was the pace of their play and precision of their passing. In fact, much of it was a delight.
Just four minutes in and Anya was through on to a wonderful probe from Morrison, killing it on his chest as he raced in behind the defence.
The little winger then angled a shot across goal and it was creeping inside Austine Ejide’s left-hand post until it clipped the heel of full-back Kunle Odunlami and smacked off a post.
There was a scare at the other end when Hutton’s stray pass allowed Uchebo the chance to get into his huge stride but although the striker came bursting through, his shot was solidly saved by McGregor. Then, nine minutes in, Scotland hit the front when, after catching Nigeria napping with a short corner, Morrison unloaded from the edge of the box.
And even though he shanked his effort into the ground, Mulgrew’s quick thinking and deft touch took over – the Celtic man flicking out a heel to send the ball looping into Ejide’s net.
This game was clattering long nicely. Yes, Nigeria were muscling their way into the contest but the most inventive, incisive football came from Scottish feet.
And it would have been 2-0 in 32 minutes had ref Lee Probert not spotted Hanley barging into Ejide just a split second before the keeper threw a corner into his own net. Probert was probably right but Ejide’s calamitous handling might have made the watching bookies splutter on their beer. But just as Scotland looked to be safely heading for half-time, big Uchebo came thundering forward again and this time his shot thumped into Hanley, deflecting it wildly and sending McGregor the wrong way.
Strachan reacted to this set-back at the break by keeping Naismith inside and sending for Martin, a man more purpose built for nights such as these.
The big man provided Scotland’s attack with a more obvious focal point and the Nigerian defence with a very different set of problems.
Soon this back line would buckle again but not before McGregor had to make a smart save, jabbing out a boot to block Ameobi’s snap shot.
Then, in 51 minutes, Scotland hit the front for a second time and again there was much to be admired about it.
Nigeria were pegged back and rattled enough to slice a clearance in the general direction of Brown who was on it in a flash, sending Hutton overlapping down the right flank.
In a flash the full-back hit the byline but Hutton also had the presence of mind to pause until the right moment before feeding a low cross to Morrison.
The West Brom man appeared to apply the most feint of touches to send the ball towards goal before Azubuike Egwuekwe made sure, sliding in at the back post and thudding it into the roof of his own net.
A third Scotland goal almost followed when Hutton picked out Maloney with another superbly measured cross but the little man had strayed a yard or two offside and his moment was denied.
Strachan replaced Morrison with George Boyd who wasted no time in setting up Martin but the striker’s shot was beaten away by Ejide.
With 15 minutes left Strachan swapped one new left-back, the outstanding Robertson, for another in Derby’s Craig Forsyth. Roberston left to a standing ovation.
Steven Whittaker came off the bench for Anya and with all these new arrivals came a lack of fluency.
With Nigeria pressing hard, Hanley’s stumble let Nwofor hammer home an equaliser  but this was another good night for  Strachan and his improbable project.

Obasanjo in talks to free Chibok girls

Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo has met with people close to Boko Haram in an attempt to broker the release of more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls, a source close to the talks told AFP on Tuesday.

Reports of the talks emerged as Boko Haram was blamed for fresh attacks targeting the security forces, public buildings and a school in its northeastern stronghold.

Cameroon also said it had begun deploying 3 000 extra troops to buttress its border with Nigeria against the threat posed by marauding militants.

On Monday evening, Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the 223 girls still missing had been located but cast doubt on the prospect of any rescue by force.

The talks last weekend at Obasanjo's farm in southern Ogun state included relatives of senior Islamist fighters, intermediaries and the former president, the source said on condition of anonymity.

“The meeting was focused on how to free the girls through negotiation,” said the source, referring to the kidnapped schoolgirls, whose abduction has triggered global outrage.

Nigeria's response to the mass abduction has been widely criticised and the hostage crisis has brought unprecedented international attention to Boko Haram's five-year extremist uprising.

Obasanjo, who left office in 2007, has previously sought to negotiate with the insurgents, including in September 2011 after Boko Haram bombed the United Nations headquarters in Abuja.

Then, he flew to the Islamists' base in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, to meet relatives of former Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in police custody in 2009.

The 2011 talks did not help stem the violence and some at the time doubted if Obasanjo was dealing with people with the authority to negotiate a ceasefire.

The former head of state, who remains an influential figure in Nigerian politics, refused to take questions when reached by phone earlier Tuesday.

But the source told AFP that Obasanjo had voiced concern about Nigeria's acceptance of foreign military personnel to help rescue the girls.

“He said he is worried that Nigeria's prestige in Africa as a major continental power had been diminished” by President Goodluck Jonathan's decision to bring in Western military help, including from the United States.

Mustapha Zanna, the lawyer who helped organise Obasanjo's 2011 talks with Boko Haram, said he was at the former president's home on Saturday.

But he declined to discuss whether the Chibok abductions were on the agenda.

“I was there,” he told AFP, explaining that Obasanjo was interested in helping vulnerable children in Nigeria's embattled northeast.

Zanna had represented Yusuf's family in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the government following his death in police custody.

It was not clear if Obasanjo's weekend meeting had been sanctioned by the government.

Obasanjo backed Jonathan's 2011 presidential campaign but fiercely criticised him and his record as president in an open letter last December, and the two are widely thought to have fallen out.

According to the source, Obasanjo supported a prisoner-for-hostage swap that would see some of the girls released in exchange for a group of Boko Haram fighters held in Nigerian custody.

As a private citizen with damaged ties to the presidency, Obasanjo likely does not have the authority to negotiate any deal on the government's behalf.

Abuja has officially ruled out a prisoner swap but sent intermediaries to meet Boko Haram in the northeast to negotiate for the girls' release.

The source identified one of the envoys as Ahmad Salkida, a journalist with ties to Boko Haram who was close to Yusuf before his death.

Salkida did not respond to several phone calls and text messages seeking comment.

“There was contact but it was bungled by the government,” according to the source, saying Jonathan backed away from the deal after returning from a security conference in Paris earlier this month.

The conference saw Nigeria and its neighbours vow greater cooperation to tackle Boko Haram because of the potential threat to regional stability.

Cameroon, criticised in Nigeria for providing safe haven to the militants, said that 3 000 troops had been sent to the country's northern border with Nigeria.

“It's a significant number since the number of troops and police currently posted in the region is less than 1 000,” a police source told AFP.

Nigeria's chief of defence staff said that despite having located the girls, the risks of storming the area with troops in a rescue mission were too great and could prove fatal for the hostages.

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen raided the town of Buni Yadi after sundown on Monday, attacking the same area where scores of students were massacred in February.

They shot at soldiers manning a checkpoint, razed a police station and torched the home of a local leader and public buildings before opening fire on a primary school.

“When they started attacking, people began to flee. There were casualties on the part of the security personnel but I don't know how many,” said witness Kura Babagana.

Boko Haram

A delegate representing the Christian Association of Nigeria at the National Conference, Prof. Yusuf Turaki, on Tuesday in Abuja berated the northern political and religious leaders for the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

He said northern Nigeria was at the brink of collapse and ruin because of religious extremism, militancy, fanaticism and bigotry.

He spoke while making his contribution during the debate on the report of the Conference Committee on Religion.

Turaki said, “Mr. Chairman, the question I have to ask is: why has the Northern Muslim Umma, the traditional rulers and the political class allowed Boko Haram to grow from an insignificant religious movement into a militant religious force that has overwhelmed them? From my understanding of Islam and religion, herein lies the root of our problem in the North.”

The don, however, commended the three major recommendations of the Committee; first affirming Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, which “states that the government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion and second, making justiciable the provisions in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution on the Fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy; and the establishment of an independent Religious Equity Commission.”

He said, “My great concern on the state of religion in Nigeria lies in its definition and use, especially, religious extremism, militancy and fanaticism. The religious bodies, both Christian and Muslim have not done enough in fighting religious extremism among their adherents.”

“Even countries that are homogeneous, they can be torn apart by religious extremism, for example Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. Northern Nigeria is at the brinks of collapse and ruin solely on account of religious extremism, militancy, fanaticism and bigotry. When religion moves from the stage of faith to the stage of an ideology, all human forces of evil and wickedness are unleashed.”

According to him, what was needed was for “all Nigerians and public officers to have and imbibe a national code of conduct, ethics and core values, such as integrity, transparency, accountability, honesty, probity, hard work, humility, courtesy and humaneness”.

Four girls escape from Boko Haram

Nigerian teenager Deborah Peters, the sole survivor of a Boko Haram

attack on her family in 2011, holds up a sign referring to the abducted Chibok girls

Four more of the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram last month have escaped than previously thought, Nigeria's Borno state said on Wednesday, but 219 others were still missing and assumed held by the Islamist militants.

The girls were taking exams at a secondary school in the remote north-eastern village of Chibok on April 14 when the Islamist gunmen surrounded it, loaded 276 of them onto trucks and carted them off, according to official figures.

Fifty-three escaped shortly afterwards, say authorities in Borno state, which lies at the epicentre of Boko Haram's insurgency.

Education commissioner Musa Inuwa told Reuters by telephone the four had been reunited with their parents since then, but he declined to give further details of their escape or say when it happened.

A senior Borno state official said it was not clear when they escaped, and it may even have been several weeks ago. The parents had not contacted authorities when the girls returned.

“It was a little after the initial escapes, but we doubt it was a recent escape,” he said.

The girls' abduction shone an international spotlight on the militants, whose violent struggle for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria has killed thousands and turned them into the biggest threat to security in Africa's top oil-producing state.

From being a religious movement opposed to Western culture - Boko Haram means “Western education is a sin” in the northern Hausa language - the sect has emerged as a well-armed insurrection with a growing thirst for blood.

Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh said on Tuesday the military knew where the abducted girls were, but ruled out a rescue by force for fear of endangering them.

Most officials think any raid to rescue them would run a high risk that the girls would be killed by their captors. Boko Haram has repeatedly showed ruthlessness in targeting civilians.

The military has been bruised by criticism at home and abroad of its failure to protect the girls and its slow response to the hostage crisis. Badeh was quoted in the state news agency as saying the military was doing all it could to secure the girls' release.

“No matter the criticisms, the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to do what it had sworn to do,” he said. “You are aware that we have international partners working with us to release our girls and our girls will be released.”

'Haunted' president puts his faith in concert of nations

It was telling that the first significant applause that President Barack Obama received during his speech at the US Military Academy at West Point on Wednesday was when he told graduating cadets that theirs would be the first class since 9/11 that may not go to war in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Obama’s commencement address was in fact a foreign policy speech. It was the address of a defensive leader of a nation still reduced and scarred by the folly of its war in Iraq.
But it was not, as some have said, a foreign policy “reset”.

Barack Obama delivers the commencement address, in which he set out the limits of US intervention around the world. Photo: Getty Images

Indeed in restating his criteria for the use of US force, Obama leaned heavily on the speech he gave on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.
Again he said the US would not hesitate to use unilateral force if its people, its interests or those of its allies were threatened.
In other circumstances though, the bar is set higher. “When issues of global concern do not pose a direct threat to the United States, when such issues are at stake, when crises arise that stir our conscience or push the world in a more dangerous direction but do not directly threaten us, then the threshold for military action must be higher,” he said.

Future tense: members of the 2014 West Point graduating class listen to Mr Obama's speech. Photo: AFP

This will be no surprise to critics of his decision to keep out of Syria and to “lead from behind” in Libya, nor to those allies, including Australia, who have been pressured by the US to increase their defence spending in order to ease the burden on the United States' budget-starved military.
In these circumstances, said Obama, the US should create coalitions and support those nations directly involved. Obama also cited the significance of international bodies from NATO and the United Nations to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund as “force multipliers” that reduce the need for unilateral US intervention.
None of this will silence critics both from within the interventionist wing of the Republican Party – and increasingly from Washington’s legion of analysts and commentators – that Obama’s allegedly weak foreign policy is increasing global instability and has emboldened Russia and China.
The only new policy detailed in the speech was a call for Congress to back a $US5 billion fund to help combat terrorism and the suggestion that assistance may be increased to moderate elements of the Syrian opposition. Speaking on background, administration officials let it be known that this could include training by Special Forces and lethal military aid.
The Brookings Institution’s Robert Kagan, whose most recent essay was titled Superpowers Don’t Get to Retire, told NPR after the speech that he believed it was the codification of American retrenchment and would make America’s friends and allies feel less secure. “The tremendous emphasis on avoiding the use of force, I think, will resonate around the world,” he said.
Parents in the audience might have welcomed the President’s speech though.
He told the young men and women that since he announced the surge in Afghanistan, four of the school’s graduates had been killed and many more wounded.
“I believe America’s security demanded those deployments,” he said. “But I am haunted by those deaths. I am haunted by those wounds.”

1 dead, 3 hurt in airport shooting

Witnesses at Cape Town International Airport have spoken of the terror that gripped the travel hub after gunshots rang through the airport on Wednesday night – leaving a man dead and his girlfriend fighting for her life.

Two other people were wounded.

The volley of shots sounded shortly after 6pm on the mezzanine floor above the check-in hall on the airport’s first floor. There are at least four restaurants on the mezzanine, including KFC, Wimpy, Primi and Ocean Basket, outside which the drama erupted. Police cordoned off the area as well as the escalators leading to the restaurants.

There were reports the man was an off-duty policeman, and that he had shot his partner, who worked at Ocean Basket, before shooting himself.

Flights were not affected. On its official Twitter account, the airport said “other airport operations have not been affected”.

Airports Company SA (Acsa) spokeswoman Deidre Davids and police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk confirmed on Wednesday night that one person had died and three had been wounded.

It was not clear, however, whether the additional two were staff or patrons.

Speaking at about 8pm Van Wyk said three people had been taken to hospital.

“That is the preliminary information. I am on my way to the airport.”

A staffer at one of the stores in the area, who asked not to be named, told the Cape Argus: “I heard the gunshots – I thought maybe it was robbers. Customers and workers were running screaming out of the restaurant.”

The staffer later realised a man had shot his girlfriend just outside the restaurant.

A source in the security industry told the Cape Argus the man was an off-duty policeman and the woman had been his girlfriend – but this was not officially confirmed.

The alleged policeman was said to be from Lentegeur in Mitchells Plain.

“She worked behind the bar at Ocean Basket,” the staffer said. “There were three gunshots – one for the woman and two for himself.

“He’s lying there still – he’s wearing navy trousers.”

It was understood that the woman had been still been alive after the single bullet hit her. She was raced to hospital.

By late on Wednesday night, the restaurants on the mezzanine floor had all been ordered to shut.

“We’re all traumatised,” the staffer said.

“I couldn’t do my work… I just walked out. I couldn’t even look at the body… It was very, very stressful,” the shaken staffer said.

“We’re told it was a husband who shot his wife. She used to make sushi here in front.

“It’s a policeman, but he was not wearing uniform. When they took out his wallet they saw he was a policeman.

“It happened right here in front of us, in the shop. So we can’t go out until they’ve moved the body,” the staffer said.

By 8pm, staffers from some of the restaurants were still on the scene, many in a state of shock.

Staff had been told their stores would not re-open until Thursday.

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Lagos govt has spent N4tn since 1999 – Afenifere Spokeman - Odumakin

The spokesperson for the apex pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, on Wednesday said the Lagos State Government, since 1999, has spent about N4tn with little to show for it in terms of development.

Odumakin, who was a guest speaker at a colloquium organised by the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, said the All Progressives Congress-led government of the state have implement policies that served only the rich, making it increasingly difficult for the poor to survive in the state.

He said former Governor of Lagos, Bola Tinubu, failed to fulfill most of the promises he made during his inauguration in 1999.

Odumakin said the Tinubu promised to create jobs, improve housing, build good roads, develop an efficient transport system, establish industrialisation, and give Lagosians life abundantly, but fell short on each of the promises.

Odumakin noted that Lagos has been governed by the same tendencies since 1999, adding that the state needed a vibrant opposition.

He said, “Between the tenure of Tinubu and Fashola, Lagos government has spent close to N4tn in the last 15 years. Are there enough justification for that amount of money? As far as I’m concerned the last governor of Lagos State was Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who 31 years after, still remains the reference of governance in Lagos State.”

Odumakin said Lagos government have managed to build some roads in the past 15 years, but noted that majority of roads in Lagos are in bad shape.

Odumakin, who is a delegate at the ongoing National Conference, said he was at the PDP event, mainly because it had to do with advancing the cause of Yoruba people.

The Chairman of Lagos PDP, Tunji Shelle, lamented what he called the exclusion of the poor by the Lagos State Government, and said the PDP was ready to take over governance in the state.

John Kerry said accused National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden

Secretary of State John Kerry said accused National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden had "damaged his country very significantly, " and called on him to "man up and come back to the United States."
Snowden has taken refuge in Russia after being the alleged mastermind behind an extensive series of leaked secrets involving the inner workings of one of America's most secretive spying programs.
In a recent interview with NBC, Snowden claimed he was "trained as a spy, " and that he chose to remain in Russia because he feared an unfair trial back home, and because the U.S. decided to "revoke my passport."
Kerry, in an interview with "CBS This Morning," was dismissive of those comments.
"The bottom line is this man has betrayed his country, sitting in Russia where he has taken refuge," Kerry said. "You know, he should man up and come back to the United States."
Kerry argued that he should make his case openly and freely in the U.S. criminal justice system.
"Instead he's sitting there taking pot shots at his country, violating the oath that he took," Kerry said.
Snowden, as well as his family and friends, have argued he could not get a fair trial in the U.S. because of all the public denunciations by members of Congress, but even that the Justice Department has acted publicly under a presumption of guilt. As an example, they cite the letter Attorney General Eric Holder wrote to Russian officials seeking Snowden's extradition, in which Holder promised the former analyst wouldn't be executed.
Kerry added Wednesday to the Obama administration's intense criticism of Snowden, saying he had "hurt operational security."
"He has told terrorists what they can now do to (avoid) detection," Kerry said. "I find it sad and disgraceful."

Kwankwaso mediates as plot to impeach Nyako thickens

Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and his Adamawa counterpart, Murtala Nyako, Monday held a closed door meeting with members of Adamawa House of Assembly over alleged rift between the latter and state lawmakers.
Newsdiaryonline reports that the meeting held at the Presidential Lodge of Government House, in Yola, started around 1600hours and lasted for several hours.
It was gathered that meeting was to be attended by Governor Magatakarda Wammako of Sokoto but the plane that conveyed him could not land at Yola Airport due to rainstorm.

Adamawa lawmakers were led to the meeting by the Speaker, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri. He, however, refused to speak to newsmen at the end of the meeting, rushing to a waiting car which sped off,
Kwankwaso, who is believed to have spoke on the need to allow peace to reign, appealed to the lawmakers to drop plans of removing his colleague from office.
Queried on his mission in the Northeastern state, the Kano chief executive simply replied: “I am here to see my senior brother. We had some good discussions that are very much relevant to Kano and Adamawa states.”
Last week’s defection of the only three All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in assembly to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has fuelled speculations that unless a miracle happens, it may only be a matter of time before Nyako is ousted.
It would be recalled that the trio of Kwankwaso, Wammako and Nyako, last year joined the APC, after dumping PDP, the platform that brought them to power.

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Court Fixes Hearing on Suit Against APC Registration for July 3

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday fixed July 3 for hearing in the suit filed by the African Peoples Congress (APC) seeking to declare as illegal the registration of All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2013.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the plaintiffs, Chief O. M. Ikegwuonu and 29 others who are acting on behalf of the African Peoples Congress, through their counsel, Mr. Ikoro. N. Ikoro, told the court that there were two pending applications dated July 8, 2013 and May 15, 2014 respectively.

Ikoro, however, withdrew one of the applications wherein he sought to restrain INEC from registering the All Progressives Congress as a political party since INEC had already registered it.

“This matter was pending in court but INEC went ahead to register the All Progressives Congress. So, it is no longer relevant,” he told the court.

Subsequently, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, struck out the application since INEC did not oppose the withdrawal.

On the second pending application, Ikoro informed the court that it was ripe for hearing, but counsel to the INEC, Ibrahim Bawa, objected to taking the application.

Bawa said: “We are in court today to argue on the motion on notice that sought to restrain INEC from registering APC, which has been struck out.

“The application dated 15 May 15, 2013, is praying the court to declare as illegal the registration of APC as a political party by INEC, since the matter was before the court.”

Ikoro had in the court processes argued that “Section 66 (a) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, stated clearly that when a suit is pending before the court, all parties in the matter should maintain status quo, awaiting the full determination of the suit.”

The plaintiffs’ counsel pleaded with the court to timeously determine the matter, saying it was in the national interest.

After listening to counsel’s submissions, the trial judge, Justice Kolawole said: “Plaintiffs motion dated May 15, 2013, is adjourned to 3 July, 2014, for hearing.”

The African Peoples Congress had in March 2013 approached INEC to be registered as a political party, but was turned down which subsequently led to the association dragging INEC

Australia may follow US timetable and withdraw from Afghanistan by end of 2016

Australian troops are expected to pull out of Afghanistan entirely by the end of 2016 in line with the United States which has announced its own planned withdrawal to this timetable.
In Washington, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday ended months of speculation by announcing all combat troops would leave the country by the end of 2016.
He declared ''it's time to turn the page on a decade in which so much of our foreign policy was focused on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq''.
This was the first time the US has put a definite date on what is effectively a final withdrawal after a decade-and-a-half of war.
Australia closed its main base at Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province in December, but still has about 400 troops in Kabul and Kandahar, in training and support roles. Forty Australian troops have been killed in Afghanistan and 261 wounded in the war.
Defence Minister David Johnston welcomed the Washington announcement and said that a decision about the future of Australian forces in Afghanistan would be made ''later this year in consultation with the United States and our other partners in Afghanistan''.
But it is widely assumed that there is little likelihood that Australian troops would remain in Afghanistan without a substantial US force in the country.
Australia is now covered by the International Security Assistance Force agreement to allow its troops to operate in Afghanistan but this runs out at the end of this year.
Senator Johnston said Australia had pledged to contribute to a post-2014 NATO-led ''train, advise, assist'' mission, subject to an agreement that covers troops to operate legally in Afghanistan.
Mr Obama has been trying to negotiate a new agreement with Kabul for US troops to continue working in the country but has so far been unsuccessful - a deal that would also cover Australia.
The timetable he laid out on Tuesday night, Australian time, depends on that deal being struck with Kabul.
Under Mr Obama's announcement, the US will scale back its 32,000-strong force to 9800 troops by the end of 2014, and further cut that number in half during 2015. By the end of 2016, only a small force will remain to protect the embassy and help the Afghan government with sundry security matters.
Mr Obama said the withdrawal from Afghanistan would allow the US to focus resources on countering terrorism threats across the Middle East and Africa.
Bringing troops home will let the US ''respond more nimbly to the changing threat of terrorism, while addressing a broader set of priorities around the globe'', he said.

PDP Receives Defecting APC Lawmakers

Members of the Adamawa state house of assembly who defected from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), were on Monday received by the PDP executives in the state.
At the event, the deputy governor, James Ngilari, who refused to dump the PDP for the APC, said the defection of the house members was the beginning of peaceful politicking in Adamawa state.
Adamawa state chapter of the People's Democratic Party received formally to its folds, all the APC members of the House of Assembly who dumped the party for the PDP. The occasion which was witnessed by the state deputy governor, Bala James Ngilari, attracted a huge crowd and party supporters from different consistuencies who thronged the party secretariat amidst song and dance in commemoration of what many describe as auspicious moment in the political struggle of the PDP in Adamawa state since the exit of the governor from the party to the opposition party, APC.
State party chairman, Chief Joel Madaki, while addressing the members and their teeming supporters promised a level playing ground will be accorded to all aspirants in future elections.
Adamawa state House of Assembly speaker, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru, who led the house members to the secretariat informed the party executives that he had come along with all the 25 members who are now members of the PDP to pledge an unalloyed support and solidarity to the Joel Madaki-led PDP structure in the state.
Ahmadu, said, "We ensure at the house of assembly that all the manifestos and promises we made to our people must be delivered.”
The deputy governor, Bala James Ngilari, described the moment as a climax of good things that have come to salvage Adamawa state from the doldrums.

Chibok Girls

Nigeria's military chiefs and the president are apparently split over how to free nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted by Islamic extremists, with the military saying use of force endangers the hostages killed and the president reportedly ruling out a prisoner-hostage swap.
The defense chief, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, announced Monday night that the military has located the girls, but offered no drtails or a way forward. "We can't go and kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back," he said.
Previous military attempts to free hostages have led to the prisoners being killed by their abductors, including the deaths of two engineers, a Briton and an Italian, in Sokoto in March 2012.
A human rights activist close to mediators said a swap of detained extremists for the girls was negotiated a week ago but fell through because President Goodluck Jonathan refused to consider an exchange. The activist spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the activist is not permitted to speak to press.
Britain's Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, said two weeks ago that the Nigerian leader had told him categorically he would not consider a prisoner swap.
Community leader Pogu Bitrus of Chibok, the town from which the girls were abducted on April 15, says authorities are speaking with "discordant voices" and the president appears under pressure to negotiate.
"The pressure is there if his own lieutenants are saying one (thing). Because if they cannot use force, the deduction is that there must be negotiation," Bitrus said. "And if their commander-in-chief, the president, is saying that he will not negotiate, then they are not on the same page."

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state, the birthplace of the Boko Haram extremists and the northeastern state from which the girls were abducted, said recently: "We impress on the federal authorities to work with our friends that have offered to assist us to ensure the safe recovery of the innocent girls."
Nigeria's military and government have faced national and international outrage over their failure to rescue the girls seized by Boko Haram militants from a remote northeastern school six weeks ago.

Jonathan finally accepted international help. American planes have been searching for the girls and Britain, France, Israel and other countries have sent experts in surveillance and hostage negotiation.
A Boko Haram video has shown some of the kidnapped girls reciting Quranic verses in Arabic and two of them explaining why they had converted from Christianity to Islam in captivity. Unverified reports have indicated two may have died of snake bites, that some have been forced to marry their abductors and that some may have been taken across borders into Chad and Cameroon.
Amnesty International said the authorities failed to act even though they were warned hours before Boko Haram militants staged the abductions.
Similar accusations against Nigeria's security forces are now coming out about the twin bomb attacks in the central city of Jos that left more than 130 people dead on May 20.
Traders in the Terminus market that was attacked say police failed to act after traders warned them about an abandoned vehicle hours before the bombings.
"Our members reported to the police that they noticed the presence of the (Peugeot) J5 bus parked early morning on that fateful date, and we don't know the owner," said Kabiru Muhammad Idris, a member of the traders welfare committee at the market. He said police only removed the plates of the bus, and didn't check its contents.
His testimony was backed by other traders but denied by Plateau state police spokeswoman Felicia Anslem.
"No one informed the police about the J5 bus that was allegedly parked," Anslem said.
A second explosion followed the bus bomb as first respondents arrived.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, though Boko Haram is suspected.
Boko Haram — the nickname means "Western education is sinful" — believes Western influences have corrupted Nigerian society and wants to install an Islamic state under strict Shariah law. Nigeria's population of 170 million people is divided almost equally between Christians and Muslims.

Cameroon, Chad Deploy Troops to Fight Boko Haram

Cameroon and Chad have sent a thousand troops to their borders with Nigeria to fight the Islamist group Boko Haram. The troops were deployed shortly after leaders from the two countries met in Yaounde and declared war against the violent group.
These are soldiers of Cameroon's rapid intervention battalion singing in excitement as they leave Yaounde, capital of the West African country, for the border with Nigeria. They headed out barely a day after Presidents Idriss Deby of Chad and Paul Biya of Cameroon announced they are waging war on Boko Haram.
Colonel Didier Badjeck, spokesperson of the Cameroon military told VOA that the soldiers will work with the local people to find out who members of the violent group are, since the soldiers are aware they will be fighting an enemy that uses unconventional tactics.
"We have occupied the field so that the response should be more spontaneous. I want to say that we need total collaboration from the public. This will encourage us in the field to know exactly that people are thinking about us and are supporting their defense forces. We specially await information from the population," said Badjeck.
Before the soldiers left, Cameroon's defense minister, Edgard Allain Mebe Ngo'o met with Chad's minister of national defense, Benaindo Tatola, in Yaounde. Ngo'o said Chad had also deployed troops to work together with Cameroonian forces on the borders with Nigeria. He also said troops from the two countries will cross into Nigeria and fight Boko Haram in collaboration with Nigerian forces.
Nigeria has often accused Cameroon of not doing enough to fight Boko Haram even though the terrorist group frequently crosses into Cameroonian territory. Cameroon has been attacked several times by Boko Haram.
Earlier this month, rebels from the violent group attacked a military post in Kousseri, Far North, Cameroon and freed one of their members being held there. They also attacked the locality of Waza in North Cameroon and stole 12 vehicles, kidnapped 10 Chinese workers and killed a Cameroonian soldier.

Nigeria Unfolds Plan to Build Largest Gas Industrial Park in Africa

President Goodluck Jonathan

In its commitment to boost gas processing in Nigeria, the federal government yesterday said it had put machinery in place to construct the first and largest multi-billion dollar gas industrial park in Africa.

Making this disclosure at the opening of a three-day National Conference and Exhibition on Gas Resources, organised by the Senate Committee on Gas in Abuja, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, said the park would be sited in Delta State.

Alison-Madueke, who was represented at the occasion by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, added that the proposed park would consist of other industries which would produce items such as fertilizers, petrochemical, methanol, and other related products.

“As part of our infrastructure blueprint, we have entrenched the concept of gas processing facilities, with a view to extracting the various constituents of natural gas such as the Liquefied Petroleum Gas and ethanol, among others. These will help grow LPG availability for domestic use, whilst the ethane will help fuel the growth of petrochemical industries and the residue gas will then be used as feedstock for fertilizer, methanol and so on,” she said.

According to her, successive administrations in the country had failed to explore gas production and instead concentrated greater effort on crude oil in Nigeria, noting that gas had been treated as a nuisance by-product of oil production.

“This mindset governed how the gas sector was handled initially, hence, pricing of gas was deliberately low because it was aimed at disposing an unwanted product,” she added.

Allison-Madueke, explained further that the perceived low value for gas impeded the development of infrastructure around the product adding that the dominant legislative framework for the industry was essentially based on crude oil production and not gas. She also said in compliance with global best practices, the federal government had planned to ensure that gas exploration becomes the hub of the country’s economic activities as it is the case in other countries.”

“Gas is fast evolving as the preferred fuel in view of its relatively more impressive environmental credentials and lower cost of supply than alternative liquid fuel. Natural gas has the capacity to transform an economy. We have seen successful examples all over the world. Qatar, which has the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world, has its growth anchored on natural gas. Also, Trinidad and Tobago saw transformational changes in its GDP and employment rate as it exploited its modest natural gas resources,” she noted.

Further, she disclosed that Saudi Arabia, besides being the world’s largest oil producer, had positioned itself as the world’s hub for petrochemicals while Russia had exploited its enormous gas resources to transform its economy as she argued that the federal government in the last three years, had begun “the most aggressive implementation of a nationwide gas infrastructure blueprint to connect the product with all key supply sources and markets across the country.”

She added: “Today, we have completed and inaugurated almost 500 kilometres of new gas pipelines and equally developed a network code which governs the flow of gas across the nation’s pipeline network and provides rules for open access among others. I believe these interventions have combined to begin to boost investors’ confidence in Natural Gas, in Nigeria.”

In his address, Senate President David Mark, who was represented by Senate’s Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abu Ibrahim, emphasised the need to evolve fresh strategies to generate wealth and employment through the development of gas sector as he assured stakeholders in the sector that the National Assembly would ensure the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) with a view to guaranteeing gas revolution that would boost living standard for all Nigerians.

Fayose accused Fayemi of Threatening Traditional Rulers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose has accused the State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi of threatening traditional rulers in the State not to receive President Goodluck Jonathan when he comes to Ekiti State for the Flaf-Off of the PDP gubernatorial campaign.
Fayose alleged that Governor Fayemi sent a text message to the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Obas and the Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti, Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola, telling him to make sure that first class Obas in the State do not attend the reception scheduled for the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.
According to a release issued by the Director General, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, “Fayemi sent text message to the Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti that the Obas must not receive President Jonathan.”

The governorship candidate, who described the Fayemi’s action as childish and petty, said; “It is regrettable and ridiculous that a State governor would go to such ridiculous and childish level just because of an election that he has already lost.”
While describing the APC government as enemy of Ekiti progress, Fayose said; “Meeting with President Jonathan by first class Obas in Ekiti State is a rare opportunity for representations on the State developmental demands from the Federal Government to be made by the Obas.
“Such a meeting is an opportunity for our Obas to tell the President what Ekiti people want from the Federal Government. But because of parochial partisan politics, Fayemi is threatening the Obas not to come to Ewi’s palace to receive the President.
“This is no doubt shameful, childish, petty and wicked!
“We are however confident that our Royal Fathers are not robots that can be tossed around by Fayemi. They are not useless Obas as shamelessly alluded by Fayemi’s godfather, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our Obas are men of honour and integrity, who can never allow anyone to use them to settle political scores.”

JJ Watched Super Eagles in Training

The Nigerian national team the Super Eagles, kicked off in earnest their preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a first training session at Fulham FC Mortspur Park training centre.
The players who looked quite cool in their new kit with a sponsored logo at the front of green top and black shorts, were watched by former Nigerian world cup skipper Austin JJ Okocha.
Okocha who will also be an analyst for SuperSport TV during the world cup was accompanied by his elder brother and former super eagle Emmanuel. The former Bolton Wanderers of England captain said he was there in a private capacity but the players looked boosted by his presence. They shook hands and joked with him before training started.
When asked by this reporter if he was having itchy feet and want to be at the world cup JJ replied "no way, how many world cups will one person play in"?
Big Boss Stephen Keshi stood apart watching and bellowing instructions and encouragements to the players as the players were taken through their paces in drills led by Daniel Amokachi.
The players look very fit but most clearly is that they are very focused. Absolutely determined to do themselves justice before the final squad is announced.
Returnees Osaze Odemwegie and Joseph Yobo looked properly at home, heavily involved in the banter before the proper work started.
The Stoke City striker looked in good shape when the team broke out to an 11-a-side set up. One slalom run and strike reminded anyone in doubt that his qualities are still there. The talent of the man has never been an issue.
After the exercise drills and work out the team broke out into a full match scenario. Oboabona and Omeruo resumed their partnership in central defence for one side while Egwuekwe partnered Yobo for the other side.
Ramon Azeez of Almeria looked very sharp and seemed very comfortable in his surrounding among the African champions. One turn in the centre-circle saw him lose three defenders and release Obinna Nsofor wide right. Brilliant.
At the end, Stephen Keshi felt "very satisfied on the work out seeing it is our first training session, the players have rested after a long season and they will get sharper"
Earlier in the day the team had been invited by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain for lunch.

China police arrest Xinjiang 'terror gang'

The arrests followed last week's deadly attack on an Urumqi market street

Police in China's Xinjiang region have arrested a "terror group", following a spate of attacks blamed on extremists, state media report.

Five suspects were detained and 1.8 tonnes of material for explosive devices seized, Xinhua said.

Police said the suspects intended to bomb crowded locations in Hotan in south-western Xinjiang.

The arrests come days after an attack in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi killed 39 people and injured more than 90.

Authorities say they are holding a suspect in connection with the attack, in which two vehicles drove into shoppers at a market and attackers threw explosives. Four other attackers reportedly died at the scene.

Urumqi residents gathered on 23 May to mourn the victims of the attack

That attack followed a bomb and knife attack at Urumqi's south railway station in April, a March stabbing spree in Kunming in Yunnan province, and a October 2013 incident in which a car ploughed into a crowd and burst into flames in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Authorities have blamed separatists from the region's Uighur Muslim minority for these attacks.

Police said the Hotan group were led by a man named Abliz Dawut, who along with other members constructed bombs the night after the 22 May attack.

Nigerian defence chief says military has located abducted girls

Nigerian Protesting Against Boko Haram
Nigeria’s military has located nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram but fears using force to try to free them could get them killed, the country’s chief of defence said Monday.

Air Marshal Alex Barde told demonstrators supporting the much criticized military that Nigerian troops can save the girls. But, he added, “we can’t go and kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back.”

He spoke to thousands of demonstrators who marched on the Defence Ministry headquarters in Abuja, the capital. Many were brought in on buses, indicating it was an organized event.

Asked by reporters where they had found the girls, Barde refused to elaborate.

“We want our girls back. I can tell you we can do it. Our military can do it. But where they are held, can we go with force?” he asked the crowd.

People roared back, “No!”

“If we go with force what will happen?” he asked.

“They will die,” the demonstrators said.

Barde said no one should criticize the military.

“Nobody should come and say the Nigerian military does not know what it is doing. We know what we are doing,” he insisted.

Nigeria’s military and government have faced national and international outrage over their failure to rescue the girls seized by Boko Haram militants from a remote northeastern school six weeks ago.

President Goodluck Jonathan was forced this month to accept international help. American planes have been searching for the girls and Canada, Britain, France, Israel and other countries have joined the international effort.

Jonathan’s reluctance to accept help for weeks is seen as unwillingness to have outsiders looking in on what is considered a very corrupt force.

Soldiers have told The Associated Press that they are not properly paid, are dumped in dangerous bush with no supplies and that the Boko Haram extremists holding the girls are better equipped than they are.

Some soldiers have said officers enriching themselves off the defence budget have no interest in halting the five-year-old uprising that has killed thousands.

Soldiers near mutiny earlier this month fired on the car of a commanding officer who had come to pay his respects after the death of 12 soldiers. The soldiers were unnecessarily killed by the insurgents in a nighttime ambush, their colleagues said.

The military also is accused of killing thousands of detainees held illegally in their barracks, some by shooting, some by torture and many starved to death or asphyxiated in overcrowded cells.

More than 300 teenagers were abducted from their school in the town of Chibok on April 15. Police say 53 escaped on their own and 276 remain captive.

A Boko Haram video has shown some of the girls reciting Islamic prayers in Arabic and two of them explaining why they had converted from Christianity to Islam in captivity. Unverified reports have indicated two may have died of snake bites, that some have been forced to marry their abductors and that some may have been carried across borders into Chad and Cameroon.

Boko Haram — which means “western education is sinful” — believes western influences have corrupted Nigerian society and want to install an Islamic state under strict sharia law, though the population 170 million people is divided almost equally between Christians and Muslims.

Monday 26 May 2014

Ukrainian President Elect Plans to Visit Russia in June to Discuss Ukrainian Crisis

Petro Poroshenko - Ukrainian President Elect.
Petro Poroshenko, who is leading the presidential election results in Ukraine, told journalists Friday that he hopes to meet with Russian leaders in early June to discuss the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
“Russia is our biggest neighbor and taking into account that we have to stop the war and bring peace to Ukraine and stability to the eastern part of the country, it is impossible to do without Russian officials, without meeting with the Russian leadership in the first half of June,” Poroshenko said.
According to the presidential hopeful, the meeting, its agenda and necessary documents, should be thoroughly planned.
“It is not just to shake hands and leave. We are well-acquainted with Mr. Putin and expect serious results from this meeting,” Poroshenko added.
He added that he hopes Russia will support his plan to stabilize the situation in eastern regions of Ukraine.
“I hope the Russian position will support my approach to resolve the situation in the east,” Poroshenko said.
The politician said that his first act as president would be to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine, bring peace to the region and create more jobs in Donbas so that unemployment would not push people into participating in street protests.
An early presidential election in Ukraine was held Sunday amid a large-scale military operation launched by the new authorities in Kiev to crack down on protesters refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the government. According to the Central Election Commission, billionaire Petro Poroshenko leads in the race, taking nearly 54 percent of the vote with over 60 percent of ballots counted.

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Tsarnaevs used Christmas lights to make bomb fuses

The accused Boston marathon bombers used Christmas lights and model-car parts to make the explosives, prosecutors said in court documents obtained by CNN Wednesday.

"The Marathon bombs were constructed using improvised fuses made from Christmas lights and improvised, remote-control detonators fashioned from model car parts," federal prosecutors said in a motion filed Wednesday. "These relatively sophisticated devices would have been difficult for the Tsarnaevs to fabricate successfully without training or assistance from others."

To obtain explosive fuel for the bombs, the filing says, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev "appeared to have crushed and emptied hundreds of individual fireworks containing black powder."

CNN first learned of the new court documents on Twitter.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, is accused of planting the bombs at the finish line of the 2013 race, along with Tamerlan, who was killed during the manhunt that paralyzed Boston. He has pleaded not guilty to killing four people and wounding more than 200.

U.S. surveillance team sent to neighboring Chad

The 80-member military team will remain in Chad "until its support in resolving the kidnapping situation" in Nigeria is no longer needed, the White House said Wednesday.

Devastating Nigeria attacks show twisted ambition of Boko Haram

A large part of northern and central Nigeria is now at the mercy of intensified attacks by Boko Haram, and the group seems to be embarking on a new phase of its campaign against the Nigerian state -- piling further pressure on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The last four days have seen devastating bomb attacks in Jos, in central Nigeria, as well as a suicide bombing in Kano - the largest city in the north. Two more villages in the state of Borno, Boko Haram's stronghold in the northeast, came under attack, with at least 30 civilians killed. There have also been two bomb attacks in the federal capital, Abuja, in the last five weeks.

What alarms analysts is the way Boko Haram and its supporters are able to carry out multiple attacks on targets far apart, all within days of each other. Jos and Kano are more than 300 miles from Borno.

The double car-bomb attack against a market in Jos on Tuesday, which killed 118 people, according to the National Emergency Management Agency, is typical of its strategy beyond Borno: to strike soft targets in places where sectarian tensions are already high, with massive force. The use of two bombs some 30 minutes apart copied an al Qaeda tactic.

Jacob Zenn, a long-time observer of Boko Haram, says its aim is likely to stretch Nigeria's beleaguered security forces, possibly by combining with another Islamic militant group: Ansaru.

"In 2012, one of Boko Haram's goals was to launch attacks in the Middle Belt and southern Nigeria via the Ansaru networks - in order to spread Nigerian forces thin in Borno," Zenn told CNN. "We may be seeing a similar tactic employed now."

Women in Abuja, Nigeria, hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, May 14, one month after nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. The abductions have attracted national and international outrage.

Nigerians protest over kidnapped schoolgirls

HIDE CAPTION

Photos: Nigerians protest over kidnapped girls

Terror rules in northeastern Nigeria

U.S. troops join missing girls search

Zenn says Ansaru networks carried out more than 15 bombings in Jos, Kaduna and Abuja between 2010 and 2012, even though the attacks were attributed to Boko Haram. Those networks, he believes, have now been reactivated.

Zenn, an analyst at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington, says Boko Haram recruits who have trained in Borno - disaffected young Muslims from across the Middle Belt region - may be returning home to "carry out attacks against their enemies -- whether rival Christians or the government."

John Campbell, a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and now a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, agrees that Ansaru seems to be reappearing but adds that little is known about the group and its leadership.

What is known is that Boko Haram and Ansaru have plenty of money to recruit and finance operatives -- through bank robberies and kidnappings.

Campbell says Boko Haram has become adept at bank robberies and stealing weapons from government armories.

Zenn believes Ansaru's connections to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have helped fill its coffers. In 2012 it kidnapped a French engineer, Francis Collomp. AQIM also held four French hostages - who were freed in late 2013 - reportedly for a ransom payment of $27 million. A few weeks later Collomp escaped, or perhaps was allowed to escape, provoking speculation that Ansaru had been in on the deal and shared the ransom money. Last year, Zenn says, Ansaru received part of a $3 million ransom paid to secure the release of a French family kidnapped by Boko Haram in northern Cameroon.

Weeks after the April 14 kidnapping of 276 Nigerian girls, worried families and supporters have blamed the government for not doing enough to find them. Their cries have spread worldwide on social media under the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. From regular people to celebrities, here are some of the people participating in the movement.

'Bring Back Our Girls!'

HIDE CAPTION

Bring Back Our Girls

Boko Haram has Nigeria living in fear

Nigerian Muslims speak out

The challenge for the Nigerian security forces grows by the day. According to locals quoted in the Nigerian media, Boko Haram fighters were able to spend several hours unchallenged looting and killing in the village of Alagano early Wednesday. The village is only a few miles from the school where the girls were abducted in April, and supposedly in an area where there is a heightened military presence.

One option to squeeze Boko Haram would be better military coordination with neighboring states, where the group takes refuge and resupplies itself. On Tuesday, President Jonathan announced plans to bolster a Joint Task Force - with a battalion each from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. But Zenn says that "thus far all initiatives of this sort have absolutely flunked. It's supposed to exist already in the Multinational Joint Task Force but, because of language issues, mistrust and lack of funding, doesn't really work."

There is also a larger question looming in a country that has had military rule for more than half its life as an independent state. Nigeria has had civilian rule since 1999, but Zenn says there is now a risk that "the still less than 20-year old democracy experiment in Nigeria may be coming to an end, since there are increasing reports of military defections and mutinies."

"With the potential for instability ahead of the elections [due in February next year], the military may step in in one way or another," he adds.

Campbell says the surprise is that the military hasn't moved before now, given the deteriorating situation. But he says it is a much smaller and weaker organization than 10 or 15 years ago; the top brass has been thoroughly politicized and is close to the Presidency. The nightmare scenario, he says, is a mutiny by junior officers. But Campbell cautions that the Nigerian military is little understood by outsiders, which incidentally makes foreign assistance to improve its performance more difficult to deliver.

There is another larger danger for Nigeria stoked by the Boko Haram campaign: a version of ethnic cleansing. Thousands of Christians have already fled areas like Gwoza in Borno, and Campbell says that sectarian divisions and violence have divided the city of Jos into predominantly Muslim and Christian districts. After Tuesday's bombings, which were likely calculated to inflame religious tension, Christian youths began setting up roadblocks around their neighborhoods. The Kano attack was also in a Christian neighborhood.

In another sign that sectarian tensions are spreading, some Christian groups have demanded that the next Governor of Lagos - the country's commercial capital and the city least prone to religious conflict - be a Christian.

For now, Campbell says, Boko Haram has the wind in its sails, after a series of devastating attacks in recent months that have humiliated the government and military. The abduction of the schoolgirls has brought it international notoriety and attention.

Far from seizing the opportunity to outline demands for greater autonomy and resources for northern Nigeria, Boko Haram seems set on two goals: the destruction of the Nigerian state and what it -- and it alone -- sees as creating God's Kingdom on Earth.