15-year-old girl in court for killing mother, mother"s boyfriend

Police have charged a 15-year-old Brooklyn girl with the murders of her mother and mother’s boyfriend, saying she left the bodies in their Sheepshead Bay apartment for days and even went out partying one night.

Destiny Garcia has been charged as an adult with two counts of second degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of weapon, the abc7 has reported. Detectives said she confessed to the murders during questioning.

Police identified the victims Monday as 38-year-old Rosie Sanchez and her boyfriend 40-year-old Anderson Nunez.

The two were found at about 6.30pm inside their apartment on Batchelder Street in the Sheepshead Bay Houses.

Police said their bodies had been been in the apartment since last Sunday, December 27, and that Garcia lived in the apartment with them.

15-year-old girl in court for killing mother, mother"s boyfriend

20-year-old Nigerian student killed in Baltimore

Morgan State University is mourning a student following a Thursday night crash in Prince Georges County.

Maryland State Police say that around 10:30pm that night, officers arrived at the scene of a fatal head-on collision that claimed the life of 20-year-old Adedire “Dire” Ososanya.

State troopers at the scene confirmed that both vehicles were driving in opposite directions in the same area before the driver of a Cadillac DeVille lost control and collided with Ososanya’s Nissan Altima.

Ososanya attended Morgan State, the university confirmed.

On Friday, as many students were preparing to listen to commencement speeches and receive their diplomas, others were finding out about the loss of a fellow student.

The university issued the following statement in the wake of the tragedy, “On a day when so many of our students are celebrating their graduation and the start of a new chapter in their lives, we at Morgan State University find ourselves in a state of shock, saddened by the loss of this member of our family.

“Adedire was well liked by his fellow students, who elected him as Mr. Junior (class). He was a marketing major here at Morgan and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He had, in fact, completed nearly all of his coursework toward graduation and for his life to be cut short when he was so close to achieving that which he had worked so hard for is heart-wrenching.

“The entire Morgan family sends its condolences to Adedire’s family. His loss will be felt in every corner of this campus,” the statement added.

Ososanya, who was known to many as Dire, was a student leader and highly involved with different campus organisations.

Daniel Olumese met Dire in high school and told ABC2 they have been best friends ever since. Daniel, also a student at MSU, was one of a crowd of about 200 gathered in the academic quad to remember Dire Friday night.

“I’m not going to lie. I don’t really like it. I don’t like it a bit, because this isn’t fair. I see pictures of him with wings on his back and I’m like this isn’t how it’s supposed to be. We had plans. All of us had plans. We were supposed to go places. We were supposed to do things,” Olumese said.

Students took to social media Friday to recount their memories of the young man.

20-year-old Nigerian student killed in Baltimore

How Nigeria can overcome power challenges – U.S envoy

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for big private companies to invest in the power sector, saying that is the solution to the challenges crippling the nation’s energy industry.

American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle

The U.S, according to the ambassador, identifies the private power players as the solution to the several challenges facing the country.

Entwistle spoke during a visit to the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in Abuja.

He advocated a stronger private sector participation in the energy industry.

Entwistle said his country has assisted Nigeria in nuclear energy programmes.

He said, “What we have done in nuclear energy in the past with Nigeria has been related to safety and we are very committed to increase the power sector through our Power Africa Programme. That comes with increasing generation through the private sector.”

Reacting to Onu’s request for technology transfer in the area of biotechnology, he stated, “the U.S would want to see what the minister has in mind specifically. Anything that he sends to us we shall look at it with great interest and see what is possible that can be done as fast as possible.

The envoy said it is important for Nigeria to collaborate with the U.S government and tap from their experience and technology and boost trade cooperation among African countries.

Onu said his ministry will explore the excellent working relationship with the U.S.

How Nigeria can overcome power challenges – U.S envoy

US sends surveillance drones, 300 special forces to Cameroon

90% of Russian strikes not targeting IS, Al-Qaeda – US

A large majority of Russia’s military strikes in Syria have not been aimed at the Islamic State group or jihadists tied to Al-Qaeda, and have instead targeted the moderate Syrian opposition, the State Department said Wednesday.

“Greater than 90 percent of the strikes that we’ve seen them take to date have not been against ISIL or Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby.

“They’ve been largely against opposition groups that want a better future for Syria and don’t want to see the Assad regime stay in power.”

It was the first time that American authorities have offered any specific figures about the impact of Russian air strikes in the war-torn country.

The accusation came as Moscow — which says it is going after “terrorist groups,” including IS — ramped up its bombardments in Syria.

Washington, which supports the moderate Syrian opposition, has consistently said that the Russian action will only add more fuel to the fire and will benefit the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“So whether they’re hit by a cruise missile from sea or a bomb from a Russian military aircraft, the result is the same, that Assad continues to get support from Russia,” added Kirby.

“Assad continues to be able to have at his, you know, at his hands the capability of striking his own people, including those who are opposed to his regime.

“And that’s not a good future for Syria. It’s also, as we’ve said before, we believe a mistake for Russia, because not only are they going to be exacerbating sectarian tensions there in Syria, but they’re potentially exacerbating sectarian tensions in Russia itself.

“They’re putting themselves at greater risk.”

90% of Russian strikes not targeting IS, Al-Qaeda – US

Pope Francis "was target of arrested 15-year-old"s alleged Isis-inspired attack"

US authorities arrested a 15-year-old last month for allegedly plotting an Islamic State-inspired attack that targeted Pope Francis, according to ABC News.

Pope Francis

Francis is scheduled to visit the US from 22-27 September for the first time, in a tour culminating with an outdoor mass in Philadelphia after stops in Washington and New York.

The US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI disclosed the unidentified 15-year-old’s arrest in a joint intelligence bulletin 14 August, without mentioning that the pope was the target.

“The minor was inspired by Isil and sought to conduct a detailed homeland attack which included multiple attackers, firearms and multiple explosives, targeting a foreign dignitary at a high-profile event.

“The minor obtained explosives instructions and further disseminated these instructions through social media,” it said.

ABC News cited unnamed sources as saying the “foreign dignitary” referred to in the statement was Pope Francis, and that the boy was arrested near Philadelphia.

Isil is an alternate acronym for the Islamic State, the extremist group also known as Isis which is engaged in atrocity-filled campaigns to establish a “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq.

The papal visit poses enormous security challenges for US authorities tasked with protecting a religious leader known for his popular touch and love of crowds.

In Philadelphia, two million people are expected to turn out for an open air Sunday mass outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, at the close of an event billed by the Vatican as a World Meeting of Families.

Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said Sunday that US authorities had broken up a threat against the pope, but gave no details.

“We’re monitoring very closely threats against the pope as he comes into the United States. We have disrupted one particular case,” McCaul told ABC’s This Week show.

The joint FBI-Homeland Security statement cited the case of the 15-year-old as an example of how “some youth are vulnerable to messaging from Isil”.

But ABC said its sources had said the boy did not pose an imminent threat, his plans were “aspirational”, and there were questions about his mental health.

Nevertheless, he was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely Isis, the government said.

Pope Francis "was target of arrested 15-year-old"s alleged Isis-inspired attack"

U.S did not give Buhari names of oil thieves - US embassy

The United States has yet to give the list of oil thieves to President Muhammadu Buhari, findings by our correspondents have shown.

Buhari and Obama

Sources at the US embassy said they were not aware of any exchange of documents between American officials and the President during the visit.

If there was such a list, a source said, it was not given to Buhari during the visit.

The source said, “Though President Buhari engaged in discussions on various issues with the US President Barack Obama, there was no exchange of documents between them.”

When contacted, the US embassy in Abuja declined comment on the issue. The Press Attaché, Sean McIntosh, said he had no comment on the issue. There had been media report that the US government had given Buhari two separate lists containing the names of corrupt Nigerians and crude oil thieves, adding that the President was taken aback when he saw the list.

The list was said to contain the names of top government officials who have been stealing the country’s oil, using their high offices to perpetrate the stealing and the other containing the names of illegal oil bunkerers.

The report further stated that the list given to the President by the US might compel him to probe the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, denied knowledge of any list of corrupt Nigerians reportedly handed over to Buhari during his visit to the US.

He said he would not be able to make further comment on the matter since he was not aware of the list.

“I have no knowledge of the list you are talking about so I can neither confirm its authenticity nor those listed therein,” he said.

U.S did not give Buhari names of oil thieves - US embassy

Buhari brought N2.7trn investments from US visit – Presidency

LAGOS — An estimated N2.7 trillion ($13.6 billion) worth of direct investment is part of the immediate benefits accruing from President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent state visit to the United States, the Presidency claimed yesterday.

Buhari and Obama

The presidency also affirmed that the visit cost the Nigerian treasury less than N220 million contrary to assertions in some sections of the media. It further explained that President Buhari’s son, Yusuf, did not receive any estacode for the trip even as it contended that great savings were made by members of the delegation against previous visits.

The five governors who were in the delegation, the presidency said, paid their way while permanent secretaries and other senior government officials only received their entitlements.

The presidency’s explanations followed news reports in some sections of the media that the visit was wasteful, cost N2.2 billion and was not in anyway beneficial.

In a statement, yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said besides the economic benefits, plans were already in motion to lift hindrances to the flow of military support for Nigeria’s war against insurgents in the North-East.

Some immediate  benefits

According to him, “some of the more immediate benefits of the President’s trip to the US include: the proposed $2.1 billion fund from the World Bank for the re-development of the northeast battered by Boko Haram; $5 billion from US investors in Nigeria’s agriculture sector; $1.5 billion investment in the Nigerian’s health sector; and another $5 billion investment from the US in our country’s power sector.

“Also, as things stand, the embargo on weapons sales to Nigeria is in the process of being removed. The trip to the US by President Buhari was definitely very successful and beneficial to Nigeria. Only those rabidly determined to find faults unnecessarily will cook up falsehood in a futile effort to rake up murk where none exists.

“It is very sad that in this age of free-flowing information and in this era of change, a media organisation would make itself available as a vehicle to peddle a lie of such low and ignominious quality.

“Contrary to the newspaper’s assertions, the total cost of the trip to the Nigerian taxpayer was at the most minimal, in line with the policy of this administration to cut waste and extravagance.

Buhari’s son didn’t receive estacode,  govs paid their way

“In point of fact, the total amount expended on the trip by the office of the President amounted to nothing near 10 per cent of the speculated figure.

“Owing to the free accommodation provided by the host government, all the personal staff who accompanied the President on the trip received reduced allowances.

“His son, Yusuf, received neither allowances nor estacode. The five governors on the trip each paid their way. Permanent Secretaries who travelled on the delegation did so in accordance with extant rules and none of them exceeded their estacode entitlements.

“Apart from the Nigerian pilot’s mischievous  mathematics, it is  shortsighted and misleading of the newspaper to have claimed that President Buhari’s trip to the US achieved nothing.

“Nigerian-US relations had suffered severely over the past few years. That relationship has now been reset. The benefits of this symbiotic relationship will become more and more evident as the Buhari administration continues to tackle the challenges of  corruption, security and the economy.”

 

Buhari brought N2.7trn investments from US visit – Presidency

US Trip: Dissecting Buhari’s Blame Game

“Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy law amendment by the US government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of civilians , in raping of women and girls, and in other heinous crimes. I believe this is not the spirit of Leahy laws. I know the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes” – Muhammadu Buhari.

The above remark credited to President Muhammadu Buhari, which he reportedly made in the course of delivering his speech at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) during his four-day visit to United States of America recently, has brought to the front burner the question of who between Nigerians and Americans are in the actual sense the people aiding and abetting the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate (?).

Buhari and Obama

But, meanwhile, before going the whole hog of dwelling on this clearly contentious issue, it is important to state the obvious about the foregoing remark credited to President Buhari. As the saying goes, there are things a woman is made to understand about her husband which she is invariably impelled not to communicate to him. Likewise, the obvious that General Muhammadu Buhari knows about the reluctance of the United States’ government to sell arms to Nigeria – ostensibly arising from the purported constraint imposed upon her by the Leahy law – is best likened to a fact a woman knows about her husband which she is impelled not to disclose to him. But, conversely, when and where a woman decides to be foolhardy by divulging such an apparently delicate fact to her husband, it then becomes incumbent on her to take full responsibility for whatever that comes with her foolhardiness.

In like manner, instead of unnecessarily recanting and/or denying the conspicuously implicit indictment of the people and government of the United States of America over the issue of aiding and abetting the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists through the so-called application of the Leahy law, President Muhammadu Buhari should rather come out fully and be courageous enough to take full responsibility for his snide but obvious indictment of the American government, rather than creating a serious rejoinder job for his spokesman – Mr. Femi Adesina.

Though one really sympathizes with Mr. Femi Adesina over his currently tedious and extra-ordinarily onerous task of speaking for President Muhammadu Buhari – whose recurring verbal blunders and total lack of diplomacy have tended to compound the work of his spokesman all the time – it must be emphasized (at least for the sake of Adesina’s untenable defence of his principal’s latest gaffe) that it is only sheer hypocrisy or a deliberate attempt at mischief-making laced with petty sentiments that could make anybody to downplay the purport of President Buhari’s indicting allusion hurled at the people and government of the United States of America on the issue relating to Leahy law vis-a-vis the allegation of aiding and abetting the Boko Haram insurgency.

However, contrary to President Buhari’s perspective on the US government’s “unintentional” support for the Boko Harm insurgency via the strict adherence to the letters of the Leahy law, it needs not be belaboured that Nigerians appeared and/or still appear to be much more guilty of this kind of indirect attitude of aiding and abetting the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect than the seemingly infinitesimal amount of guilt being obliquely apportioned to President  Barack Obama and his compatriots.

To begin with, and going down memory lane a little, it will be too early for Nigerians to forget so quickly that one of the contributory factors that brought about the abysmal rise in the activities of Boko Haram insurgents was not unconnected with the highly unbecoming attitude of the people and leaders of the Northern Nigeria which dates back to the inception of the fundamentalist group. Apart from the widely reported “ungovernable” proclamations of the Atikus of this world, the wild allegations concerning the Igbo-Niger-Delta conspiracy theory against the North as levelled by the Nyakos of this planet, the Biafra-revenge thesis as harboured and postulated by a section of guilt-minded Northern elements, as well as the unfounded Jonathanian war-against-the-North  school of thought, other Arewa invented postulates abound which directly and/or indirectly aided and abetted the gory activities of the Boko Haram sect to the point of the dilemma we have found ourselves today.

More so, not even the widely reported assertion of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the erstwhile Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, at some point, about the sect’s activities could be forgotten. As senseless and useless as everything about the Boko Haram sect is, it still boggles one’s mind that Alhaji Tukur could reportedly be quoted in media as saying that the war being waged against the Nigerian state by these sons and daughters of bitch, was basically for justice. In fact, there is no gainsaying that this is part of the unguarded utterances which has always aided and abetted the sustenance of the   Boko Haram malady.

Whereas it is the norm in other climes, or in sane societies, for the populace – rulers and the ruled alike – to unite in the common fight against the terrorists (irrespective of ethnic, religious, political or ideological differences of the people/countries concerned), ours in Nigeria is well observed in the very opposite, as we have witnessed in the recent past. In this regard, it will be recalled that the All Progressive Congress had, before its recent Presidential victory, tended to blurt out all manner of words capable of being construed as disguised support for the Boko Haram insurgents. And until lately, as it were, if it was not the case of the  All Progressive Congress criticising the then PDP-led Federal government over the proscription and designation of the Boko Haram sect a terrorist group, it would be the issue of Alhaji Lia Muhammed, the spokesman of the APC, alleging that the same personnel of the Nigerian military whom we still have on ground today were reportedly killing “innocent” citizens in the North and thereby working beyond  the limit of their rules of engagement and committing human rights abuses in the process. And even making the matter worse, General Muhammadu Buhari, now the President of Nigeria, was reportedly throwing a tantrum at the then government of President Goodluck Jonathan because of the latter’s principled refusal to grant the Niger-Delta kind of amnesty programme to members of the Boko Haram Islamist terrorist group.

Yet here we are, in the final analysis, attacking the seemingly innocent Senator Patrick Leahy, the main brain behind the Leahy law in the United States of America. Much as it is most unfortunate and roundly condemnable that Senator Leahy could be referring to the personnel of the Nigerian Military as “murderers and rapists” for the simple reason that these armed patriots did their job of killing the Boko Haram terrorists and other sister vermin ceaselessly unleashing mayhem on the hapless people in Northern Nigeria, the truth is that, going by the events of the recent past in our polity, Mr. Leahy could safely be said to have taken this antics from where it was left by the Leaderships of the All Progressive Congress, the Northern Elders Forum and other hitherto disgruntled and unpatriotic elements that had cast all manner of aspersions on our Military and its personnel.

Indeed, it is a pity that the same yesterdays’ men and women who indulged in all manner of name-calling with a view to ridiculing the Nigerian Military during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan are today complaining about the US government’s unbecoming attitude, thinking that the latter would have been that foolish to forget their politics of double dealing, the ignominious aspect of their immediate political past or perhaps embrace them with a categorical promise of instant supply of arms ammunitions.

All said, the bitter truth is that if the US government could refuse to sell arms to Nigeria on the grounds of the frivolous allegations of human rights violations levelled against our responsible Military under the watchful eyes of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is well known for his strong aversion to bloodletting, one wonders how the opposite could be feasible in so short a period of time that the mantle of leadership of the country has just been exchanged with elements having some questionable democratic antecedents that make it somewhat difficult for them to be trusted to remain impervious to proclivities towards  aggression or violation of the fundamental rights of the citizenry.

Onyiorah Paschal Chiduluemije, a Journalist, writes from Abuja

US Trip: Dissecting Buhari’s Blame Game

U.S gave Buhari names of oil thieves - Source

The United States of America has handed over the names of Nigerian oil thieves to President Muhammadu Buhari, a member of the President’s entourage during last week’s visit to the US confided in The PUNCH on Tuesday.

“I can tell you that the President already has the list of names of the people engaging in the stealing of Nigeria’s oil. The list, when released by the President, will shock Nigerians. But let’s wait and see first,” the source said.

The source said Buhari was taken aback when he saw the names on the list and that the list given to the President by the US might compel him to probe the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A Presidency source also confirmed that Buhari had such a list but that “the President has been keeping the list to himself.”

The source, who told our correspondent about the list in the President’s possession, said the US gave Buhari two separate lists – one listing the names of top government officials who have been stealing the country’s oil, using their high offices to perpetrate the stealing; and the other containing the names of illegal oil bunkerers.

The President had said last week that some ministers in the cabinet of Jonathan were stealing as much as 250,000 barrels of Nigeria’s crude daily.

The Presidency source, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said Buhari had vowed that those whose names appeared on the list would not go scot-free.

“The President will probe all of them and make sure they return whatever fortune they had made from their thievery,” the source said.

The source said the President was already tinkering with the idea of constituting a panel to investigate those on the list with a view to arriving at how to deal with them based on the findings of the committee.

However, it was gathered that, unlike the usual probe panels, the President would likely set up a special security team to handle the probe.

The PUNCH learnt that the names on the list of oil thieves are a mixture of highly placed government officials, and retired and serving military officers.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress said on Tuesday that it supported the probe of the Jonathan administration by Buhari in the light of mind-boggling corruption that had been uncovered by the Federal Government.

“Some people have insinuated that the Buhari administration should ignore the massive looting of our patrimony and move on. We say no responsible government can afford to do that, because it will amount to endorsing corruption and impunity,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The APC said billions of dollars had been skimmed off by “pathologically-corrupt public officials” in the oil sector alone, wondering how the government of the day could meet its obligations to the citizens if it refused to recover the huge funds taken away by thieving officials

Mohammed’s statement read, ‘‘It is an irony that those who are suggesting that the Buhari administration should turn a blind eye to the incomprehensible looting are the same ones accusing the government of not doing anything.

“It is even a cruel irony that the same party that presided over what is fast emerging as the worst governance in the history of our country is the same one that is daily bad-mouthing an administration that is cleaning up its mess.

‘‘Where does one start from? Is it the fact that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to remit N3.8tn to the Federation Account or the mind-blowing stealing of 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day?

“Is it the fact that the NNPC itself does not know how many bank accounts it had or into which ones the payments for Nigerian crude are made? Could anyone have imagined that a government minister would steal the unprecedentedly-huge amount of US $6bn of public funds as being alleged?

‘‘How does any sane person rationalise the fact that $1bn was unilaterally and illegally withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account just because, as the immediate past Minister of Finance has disclosed, the President ordered the withdrawal? What about the billions of naira waivers recklessly approved to dubious importers by the Jonathan administration?”

It added, ‘‘Is it not clear now that the stealing and the profligacy – more than anything else, including the fall in oil price – helped to drastically reduce the monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about N800bn to about N400bn , thus pauperising the states and the local governments, and by extension the citizenry?

“Against the background of the stunning revelations, what message will any government be sending to its citizens and indeed the global community by looking the other way, when it could still recover some of the looted funds for the benefit of the people?

“This is why we are supporting the Buhari administration’s probe decision and we are calling on all Nigerians to support ongoing efforts to get to the root of the matter.”

The APC said it was clear that the Jonathan administration had deliberately delayed giving the then incoming Buhari government the handover notes so as to avoid being asked critical questions pertaining to the looting under its watch.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party said it was on the same page with Buhari in the fight against corruption, but that due process must be followed.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Tuesday, said the clarification became necessary so as to remove any misconception that it was against the decision of the present administration to probe some past officials of government because they were PDP members.

Metuh said, “The PDP supports the decision of the Federal Government to fight corruption in our country.

“However, we make bold to state that it should not be disguised to victimise innocent citizens. Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and no citizen, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliation, should be denied access to due process and the rule of law in the process.”

He added, “Furthermore, we make bold to state that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. In that regard, therefore, we advise members of the APC blowing the horn ahead of the cart to keep quiet because many of them have been major beneficiaries of corruption and sleaze associated with themselves and their allies, especially one of them who as a disguised errand boy of a well-known APC leader is a major beneficiary of the largesse of perpetrators of corruption.

“Apart from Mr. President, who for now, is not associated with any sleaze or corrupt activity in this democracy, most APC leaders are still those who as governors, ministers and labour leaders have been the worst corrupt set of Nigerians ever to bestride the political landscape of the country.

“It is a great miscarriage of perception therefore for the APC leaders who are perpetrators of sleaze and corrupt acts to attempt to deceive Nigerians with imaginary holiness in this anti-corruption war by the President.”

Consequently, he called on the President, as the leader of the APC to remove the log in the eyes of his party while “we support his commitment to remove the speck from the eyes of others.”

U.S gave Buhari names of oil thieves - Source

Buhari doesn"t understand whole lot about government - White House Insider

By Anthony Ogbo, Examiner

The concealed fragments of President Muhammad Buhari’s exorbitant visit to the United State are beginning to emerge, and stakes are not looking too good. Authentic sources reveal that the White House is completely disappointed about a total lack of preparedness by the Nigerian contingent to discuss vital issues about both countries. The Obama administration also decried a poor presentation of policy needs and updates made by the Nigerian leader. “May be we are not reading from the same script, but the overall message by Barack is that they should go get themselves together, then get back with us,” a White House insider told our newsroom. “We are just being polite about this because your President doesn’t seem to understand a whole lot about government,” confided another source.

Buhari and Obama

The White House was disappointed that Buhari’s contingent had no presentation about working with the United States to salvage their crumbly economy. For instance, the Nigeria’s economy under Buhari has no prospects at the moment. The currency’s exchange values is worsening while the President visited without any economic crew. Nigeria has a mono-economy that is dependent largely on oil, and the United States has since suspended oil importation from Nigeria. US imports from Nigeria, mostly crude oil and other petroleum products, rose from more than 24 billion dollars in 2005 to over 38 billion in 2008, but dropped sharply to less than four billion last year largely because of America’s shale energy revolution. Yet President Buhari rendered no concerns about the impending economic consequence of these developments.

Weeks before the visit, the U.S. had communicated the significance of the visit as an opportunity to the Buhari’s regime to boot up the relations between the two countries. Under Jonathan’s administration for instance, U.S. relations with Nigeria dropped, with officials raising concerns about the government’s ability to fight Boko Haram, particularly after the kidnapping of some 200 Nigerian schoolgirls. “We informed them early enough and even asked to assist them to make considerable argument to earn exceptional U.S. support to the regime, especially in areas of security and commerce, but they blew it,” another source confided.

To make it worse, President Buhari shocked his hosts with his vastly publicized comment that the US has “aided and abetted” the Boko Haram Islamist militant group by refusing to provide weapons to Nigeria. This comment, it was gathered angered some members of the Obama administration who now raise doubts about President Buhari’s earnestness in collaborating with the U.S. in solving his security problems.

Another blunder was made when President’s Buhari, in defense of his cabinet-selection delays, published an op-ed in Washington Post, wrongly accusing President Obama of equally delaying his cabinet selection in the initial stage of taking office. Wrote Buhari, “It is worth noting that Obama himself did not have his full Cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States did not cease to function in the interim.”

“I don’t know where he got that information,” said Oshiokpekhai Utu-Orbih, a Nigerian attorney and writer based in the United States. “I am still trying to come in terms with the rationale of the above statement in the said article other than the fact that President Buhari has gone to press to lie against his host in a bid to justify his dictatorial rule over Nigeria,” Utu-Orbih said.

Utu-Orbih wrote in his own column, “After the historic election of 2008, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America on January 20, 2009. On January 21, he appointed Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State; on February 2, 2009, he appointed Eric Holder as Attorney General, then Ken Salazar as Secretary of Interior on 20th January 20. Obama continued with Tom Vislack, Agriculture January 21; Ray LaHood , Transportation January 23; Stephen Chu, Energy, January 20, and Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security, January 21. I can go on and on. Must Buhari rewrite the American history because of his disdain for constitutionality?”

President Buhari had reportedly stormed the U.S. with about 229-man delegation considered the biggest in Nigerian democratic history. This contingent it was gathered, cost Nigeria about N2.2billion. Most disappointedly, the list of delegates and their level of preparedness created more doubts about the President’s commitment to issues of foreign policy and commerce: a claim echoed in Buhari’s speech during the visit – a poorly composed treatise, substantially lacking, with no connections to the objectives of his exorbitant diplomatic voyage. Obama ceremoniously praised his guest, stating that he would discuss how the two nations can cooperate on counter-terrorism and how the US “can be helpful in addressing some of the corruption issues that have held Nigeria back”. But his message also signaled a “no-deal” agreement until Buhari brings forth a credible request for collaboration and assistance, or show some seriousness in handling his current mandate

Buhari doesn"t understand whole lot about government - White House Insider

Fani-Kayode accuses U.S of supporting Boko Haram

Former Director of Media and Publicity of Goodluck Jonathan’s National Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who now prefers to be called Olufemi Olu-Kayode, on Saturday, July 25, 2015, said the refusal of U.S. to sell arms to the Nigerian Army was because it was assisting the Boko Haram militants.

He also accused the U.S. government of being slow in tagging Boko Haram as a terrorist group till the group had caused soo much havoc in the land.

His words: “The U.S. government helped Boko Haram immensely by refusing to classify them as a terrorist organisation until 2014 and by refusing to sell us arms to fight them. Worst still, they imposed an international arms embargo on us (Nigeria) so that we could not buy arms from anyone else.

“Why did the U.S. not invoke the Leahy Act against Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Kenya, Yemen, Ukraine and Iraq for human rights violations? Why is it only Nigeria that they have refused to sell arms to and that they have imposed an international arms embargo on even though we are fighting a civil war against a relentless and evil enemy?

“U.S. Senator, Patrick Leahy, the convener of the Leahy Act, has called our Armed Forces “rapists and murderers”. He is nothing but scum- a typically confused, ignorant, petty-minded and racist yankee.”

Fani-Kayode however, accused

Leahy of “only rehearsing what he heard from Liar Muhammed.” He said when APC wanted power, it threw caution into the winds, stressing, “now it has come to hurt the party.”

Fani-Kayode accuses U.S of supporting Boko Haram

US court approves same sex marriage nationwide

The United States Supreme Court on Friday delivered a historic ruling legalising same sex marriage across the country.

In the historic judgement, Justice Anthony Kennedy said gays, like every normal human, have the right to be happy.

She said, “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than they once were.

“Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

Friday’s Supreme Court ruling now makes the US the 21st country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage across its territory. Following the latest development, couples of same gender would now be accorded every rights and privileges enjoyed by normal unions.

Reacting to the development, President Barack Obama congratulated the gay community in the US, saying the ruling had changed the country.

“I just wanted to say congratulations. Americans should be very proud, because small acts of courage slowly made an entire country realise that love is love. The situation has changed our country,” he said.

US court approves same sex marriage nationwide

Alleged spying: WikiLeaks calls for legal action against US

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told French television Wednesday that the time had come for legal action over US snooping after leaked documents revealing Washington had spied on three French presidents sparked fresh outrage.

Speaking on TF1, the anti-secrecy campaigner urged France to go further than Germany: by launching a “parliamentary inquiry” into the foreign surveillance activities and refering “the matter to the prosecutor-general for prosecution”.

German prosecutors had carried out a probe into alleged tapping on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone, but later dropped the investigation due to a lack of hard evidence.

Assange also said other important revelations were coming.

“I think from a policy perspective what is to come is much more significant than what we have published so far,” he said.

“But now the question really for (President François) Hollande and the French leadership is what are the opportunities in their response to address this situation.”

France expressed anger earlier Wednesday after leaked documents labelled “top secret” appeared to reveal US spying on Hollande and his two predecessors, Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac, between 2006 and 2012. The disclosures were published by WikiLeaks along with French newspaper Liberation and the Mediapart website.

France’s foreign minister summoned the US ambassador for a formal explanation in response, while Hollande spoke by phone by with US President Barack Obama, who gave fresh assurances that spying on European leaders had ended.

But Assange accused the US of playing “word games”, as it did after revelations of US eavedropping on Merkel.

“What does it matter if they say that they’re not going to spy on Hollande personally if they’re spying on everyone he talks to?” Assange asked.

“Every single one of these intercepted phone calls that we have published is Hollande talking to someone else, Sarkozy talking to someone else, one of the members of the French government. What does it matter if they say that they’re not going to spy on Hollande personally if they’re spying on everyone he talks to?”

Alleged spying: WikiLeaks calls for legal action against US

Kashamu"s house arrest, extradition based on US request - FG

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), said on Saturday that the house arrest which the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency placed on the Ogun-East Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, was informed by a recent extradition request by the United States of America.

Adoke told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Saturday that the request came last week.

On May 6, the minister had disclosed to one of our correspondents that there was no extradition request for Buruji by the US.

Adoke said this while responding to a suit filed by Kashamu to restrain the NDLEA and 13 others from extraditing him to the US.

“The request came shortly after I spoke with you. It came last week,” he said.

He said immediately his office received the request it was passed to the appropriate organ of government for implementation.

The implementation process involves filing an extradition request before the appropriate division of the Federal High Court.

Responding to further inquiry, he confirmed that he was referring to the NDLEA as the appropriate organ of government to take up the extradition request.

“Of course, it is a drug-related offence and the appropriate government agency that handles such cases is the NDLEA,” Adoke said.

The NDLEA confirmed the confinement of the movement of Kashamu to his Lagos residence on Oladipo Street, Lekki Phase 1 pending his appearance in court on Monday (tomorrow).

The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Michael Ofoyeju, said the action was to perfect his extradition to the US for drug-related charges.

In a statement sent via email to one of our correspondents by the spokesperson for the agency, Michael Ofoyeju, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, was quoted as saying the operation was in line with the legal process of extradition.

The statement further quoted Giade thus, “The agency has commenced extradition procedures against Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu in line with the laws of country. He has been in contact with his attorneys and will appear in court on Monday.”

He also confirmed that the residence of Kashamu was raided by the operatives of the agency at about 5am on Saturday.

No fewer than 10 operatives of the agency were said to have invaded the Lagos residence of Kashamu, around 5am on Saturday to effect his arrest following a purported extradition request from the United States on drug- related charges.

They were said to be heavily armed and were ruthless.

As soon as they stormed his residence, Punch Newspaper reported that some of the NDLEA operatives brought out a yellow tape and cordoned off the area, while others went straight to the gate.

After they (operatives) reportedly knocked on Kashamu’s gate, his security men were alerted about their mission.

Kashamu’s security men at this point demanded the arrest warrant from the NDLEA men but they could not produce any.

Based on this, they were prevented from entering the residence.

However, this action was said to have infuriated the NDLEA officials who stormed the compound after destroying the gate.

The media aide to Kashamu, Austin Oniyokor, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Saturday, explained that the NDLEA operatives after they had forcibly entered the compound, headed for the living rooms and began to destroy all the doors one after other, in a desperate move to arrest Kashamu.

An NDLEA source said they (operatives) closed in on the bedroom of the PDP chief who was said to have threatened to commit suicide if the agency tried to extradite him to the US forcibly.

Oniyokor described the latest onslaught on his principal as a confirmation of the alleged plot to illegally abduct him despite the pending suit against his abduction.

Oniyokor, however, accused a Peoples Democratic Party leader, Chief Bode George, as being behind the onslaught against his boss, “in a bid to score cheap political points.”

He said he is doing this through his wife who is the Director-General of the agency.

“We urge all well meaning Nigerians to prevail on NDLEA, Chief George and his wife to toe the path of the rule of law and follow due process.

“Nigeria is not a Banana republic. The United States being the bastion of democracy, the rule of law and due process, should not lend itself to this kind of illegality.”

However, George, who spoke to one of our correspondents from the United Kingdom On Saturday, described the allegation as a ‘huge joke.’

The PDP leader said he did not have the power to give his wife orders because she was not the chairman of the NDLEA and the agency adheres to due process.

He said no right thinking Nigerian would believe that he was behind Kashamu’s ordeal because his name had never been mentioned before now. He added that he had never been involved in Ogun State politics before and wondered how Kashamu’s detention could benefit him (George).

He said, “I don’t understand what this is all about. How does Kashamu’s arrest affect the price of milk? My wife is not the chairman of the NDLEA, so how can I give her orders when she has a boss? Also, that agency always follows due process.

“I am happy that the NDLEA has issued a statement to the effect that Kashamu’s arrest has nothing to do with me or politics. I do not dabble into Ogun State politics.

“Kashamu is like a younger brother to me and he is not known to speak in such a manner. I am sure it is his media adviser that concocted this falsehood.”

Kashamu"s house arrest, extradition based on US request - FG

Boko Haram remains a threat to us, says US lawmakers

The United States’ House of Representatives has said that Boko Haram is still a threat to the American country.

Abubakar Shekau

At a hearing held on Friday by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, while passing the amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act to combat Boko Haram, the US’ lawmakers stated that the insurgents’ activities could not be ignored despite the heat they currently are experiencing from the Nigerian troops.

The Chairman of the committee, Ed Royce, said, “Boko Haram is notorious for their vicious kidnappings, killings, and pillaging throughout northern Nigeria. But the story is beginning to change – these terrorists are starting to feel some heat. The Nigerian military has higher morale, and the Africa Union task force is cutting off Boko Haram’s supply lines and reclaiming towns. The pieces are coming into place to destroy this terrorist group; the forces fighting Boko Haram just need crucial support to get the job done. Passing this amendment reaffirms US’ support for the forces on the front lines combating Boko Haram.”

Another member of the committee, Carolyn Maloney noted that the Islamist group needed to be dealt with completely.

Maloney said, “I am proud to stand with Chairman Royce in support of his amendment to clearly affirm that Boko Haram presents a threat not just to one nation, but to the world. Combatting Boko Haram is and should remain a national security priority – and we must remain vigilant in fighting this enemy.”

The amended act titled, ‘Report on United States efforts to combat Boko Haram and support regional allies and other partners’, the US’ lawmakers noted that since the terrorist group remains a national security threat to the country, Washington should continue to work closely with all its allies in combating the insurgents.

“Combating Boko Haram is in the national security interest of the United States; the United States should support regional partners, including the African Union-authorised Multinational Joint Task Force, through training and advice and the provision of key enablers to strengthen operations against Boko Haram.

“Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary of State shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on an assessment of the threat of Boko Haram to United States national security interests; a description of United States’ efforts to combat Boko Haram, including the authorities to carry out such efforts and the roles and missions of the Department of Defence and Department of State; a description of military equipment, supplies, training, and other defence articles and services, including by type, quantity, and prioritisation of such items, required to combat Boko Haram effectively and the gaps within regional allies to engage in the mission to combat Boko Haram,” the report said.

The House committee also asked the US government to provide the list of military equipment, supplies, training, and other defence articles and services that the government had provided, “is providing, and plans to provide to regional allies and other partners to combat Boko Haram.”

Boko Haram remains a threat to us, says US lawmakers

We still maintain $7m bounty on Boko Haram leader, Shekau

The United States is still maintaining the $7 million (N1.4 billion) bounty it placed on the leader of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Abubakar Shekau

The US Department of State on Wednesday issued a list of 71 most-wanted terrorists in the world with bounties totalling $375m (N74.6bn) as “rewards for information that leads to (their) arrest or conviction.”

Rewards for Justice, a State Department’s anti-terrorism programme, had first offered the amount as a reward to persons with information on the whereabouts of the Boko Haram leader in June 2013.

The President Barack Obama-led administration, in the fresh list, placed a whopping $25 million, the single largest bounty, on Ayman al-Zawahiri, suspected to be one of the doctors and advisors to Osama bin Laden, the late leader of al-Qaeda.

Al-Zawahiri is suspected to have played a role in bombing of the US embassy in 1998.

Four Islamic State terrorists appeared on the list with a total of $20 million bounty on them.

They were Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli ($7 million); IS’s official spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani ($5 million); Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili alias ‘Omar the Chechen’ ($5 million); and Tariq Bin-al-Tahar Bin al Falih al-’Awni al-Harzi ($3 million).

A senior leader of the IS, Abu Du’a alias Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; and al-Zawahiri’s deputy and self-proclaimed leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Nasir al-Wahishi, and four others had $10 million bounty placed on each of them.

Shekau was among the three with $7 million bounty. Others were a senior leader of al-Qaeda in Iran, Muhsin al-Fadhli; and Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli.

Forty six terrorists had $5 million placed on each of them. They include a founder of Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahidin and a senior leader in al-Shabaab, Ibrahim Haji Jama; an expert in chemical weapons and explosives in al-Qaeda, Ali Sayyid Muhamed Mustafa al-Bakri; and the Operational Commander of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Othman al-Ghamdi.

Eleven terrorists, including only two women on the list, have a $3 million on each of them. The women, Zerrin Sari and Seher Demir Sen, are members of a Turkish military/political party and the terrorist group, Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front.

The second in command of a radical Ahl-e-Hadith Islamist organisation, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki; and an explosives expert in the Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin group, Abdullah Nowbahar, have a $2 million bounty on each of them.

With a $1 million bounty each were a senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf group based in Philippines, Radullan Sahiron; and an explosives expert in the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist organisations, both in the Philippines, Abdul Basit Usman.

We still maintain $7m bounty on Boko Haram leader, Shekau

Resist Sponsors of Violence, US, UK Advise Nigerians

Ahead of the general election, the United States and the United Kingdom on Friday urged Nigerian voters to resist “those who attempt to incite violence; come together as one to defend the country against terrorist threats and to build the shared prosperity and enduring freedom all Nigerian citizens deserve.”

President Goodluck Jonathan and United State Secretary of State, John Kerry

The two countries, in a document co-authored by US Secretary of State, John Kerry and British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Philip Hammond, which was exclusively released to THISDAY last night, stated that around the globe, Nigeria’s friends would be united “in hoping that the vote will be peaceful, transparent, and fair and that – win or lose – all sides will respect the outcome.”

Kerry and Hammond said: “Nigeria’s more than 70 million voters will soon go to the polls to choose their country’s leader for the next four years.  Whether the victor is incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan or opposition challenger General Muhammadu Buhari is entirely for Nigerians to decide.

“There are good reasons why the international spotlight is firmly fixed on Nigeria during this critical period and why we have come together to support an open and credible electoral process.  Nigeria is Africa’s largest democracy and what happens there will have an impact well beyond its borders.  A successful election, free from violence and with wide participation, accurate vote counting, and responsible leadership from the candidates would inspire the region and spur future progress and prosperity.  It would also be a historic show of support by Nigerians for democratic values and an equally firm rejection of the brutal terrorist group, Boko Haram, and others who advocate or perpetrate violence.”

As friends and democratic partners of Nigeria, Kerry and Hammond urged that the voting for president and parliament should go forward as scheduled on March 28 and that there should be no further delay of this crucial vote.

They continued: “We are heartened by the fact that Nigerians from across the political spectrum appear to recognise the necessity of inaugurating a new president by the constitutionally mandated deadline of May 29.  Obviously, we share Nigerians’ concerns about violence, both related to elections and more generally. In 2011, more than 800 people died in post-election clashes, and a recent survey shows that half of Nigerians are concerned about political intimidation this time around.

“The good news is that President Jonathan and General Buhari have repeatedly and publicly stressed their commitment to non-violence before, during, and after Election Day.  Both candidates have affirmed their intent to act solely through legal channels in pursuing any concerns that might arise regarding the fairness of the vote.  It is imperative that they – and their backers – live up to this pledge.  Elections should be decided at the ballot box and, if necessary, in the courts; not through efforts to coerce others.  Respect for the constitutional process and the independence of Nigeria’s Independent National Election Commission, INEC, is the right approach, and the only one that offers a sustainable way to address Nigeria’s many challenges.”

Kerry and Hammond said the countries they represented strongly support the pledges articulated by Jonathan and Buhari. They said the elections must be decided in accordance with the rule of law.

“It follows that any person who incites violence at any stage in the electoral process, or who seeks power through unconstitutional means, should be held accountable and should understand that the consequences will be severe, both domestically and internationally.

“After an election, it is natural to focus attention on the winner, but in any democracy, the unsuccessful candidates also have critical roles to play.  No one expects any political leader to retreat from firmly-held policy positions or beliefs, but a losing candidate owes it to his or her country to acknowledge defeat as soon as the popular verdict is clear, to urge supporters to accept the outcome, and to advocate unity in the face of national threats.  That is the kind of leadership Nigeria needs.

“A free, fair and peaceful presidential election does not guarantee a successful democracy, but it is nevertheless an essential ingredient – especially now in Nigeria.  This is a country rich in resources and blessed by a creative and dynamic population.  Its leaders can be extremely effective as evidenced by their swift action to prevent Ebola from establishing a foothold in their nation – thus saving thousands of lives. Overall economic growth rates are healthy and parts of the country are doing well.  And yet, Nigeria has been held back by local tensions, a wide disparity between rich and poor, the lack of an adequate safety net for the disadvantaged, shortages of electricity, a rigid bureaucracy, and widespread corruption.

“These challenges have made the country vulnerable to internal conflict including the kidnappings, murders, and other atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram. Nigeria’s next government will need the support of all its citizens to address these challenges, and its unity will make it easier, on the security side, for regional neighbors and the larger international community to provide necessary help,” said the two men.

Resist Sponsors of Violence, US, UK Advise Nigerians

Buhari as President, a disaster, he plans to implement sharia all over - Former US Ambassador

A former spokesman for four United States Ambassadors to the United Nations, Richard Grenell, has said that if former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, emerges as the next president of Nigeria in next Saturday’s elections, it would be a disaster for the entire African continent.

General Buhari

Grenell, who made the declaration in a piece titled: Nigeria on the brink, and which was published in the Washington Times, a US based publication, of Thursday, March 19, 2015, described Buhari as working tirelessly to enthrone Sharia law across the country, which he said would further pose a major challenge to the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and the continent at large.

He said, “Western foreign policy observers pre-occupied with the rise of ISIS in the Middle East should wake up to the reality unfolding in Nigeria. Opposition candidate General Buhari wants Sharia law throughout Nigeria. In fact, he wants it everywhere.

“Is this an indication that Buhari supports violence because the end goal of the terrorist attacks throughout Nigeria and Africa is an Islamic state? It is a legitimate question that should be asked by leaders of the Obama administration.

“Boko Haram has pledged its allegiance and support to ISIS. The Northern Nigerian based Islamic terrorist group wants Sharia law throughout the country and beyond. They are also actively terrorising Chad, Niger and Cameroon with their goal of an Islamic state.

“Buhari has also spoken sympathetically about members of the terrorist group Boko Haram, has cautioned against a rush to judgement on its members and has personally been selected by the terrorist group to lead its negotiations with the Government of Nigeria.

“Buhari’s election as Nigeria’s head of state would be a disaster for Africa. It would also signal trouble for the West’s fight against ISIS and terrorism throughout the Middle East.”

According to Grenell, incumbent president and Buhari’s main rival at next Saturday’s election, Goodluck Jonathan has made commendable inroads in strangling Boko Haram to submission in recent weeks and so deserves the support of the Barack Obama led United States administration and the rest of the world.

“The Nigerian economy has been growing faster than South Africa’s. Imagine what Nigeria could do for Africa if it was also free of Boko Haram’s violence. The Obama Administration should be doing more to ensure Africa’s most populous country doesn’t slip away,” he said.

Speaking further, Grenell said that with the election in Israel over, the West must quickly turn its attention to Nigeria where the outcome of next Saturday’s presidential elections could have a profound impact on the future of Africa.

“Islamic radicals have Africa on their target list and young Nigerians are reported to be interested in ISIS’ messages. Nigeria is at a tipping point. The West, and specifically the Obama Administration, needs to wake up to the growing problem,” he said.

In October 2014 during an interview with TheCable, an online news platform, Buhari had said that he was not a religious fundamentalist or extremist as his opponents had alleged and that all those trying to hang such malicious tag on him were merely attempting to demonise and tarnish his image.

“Nigerians will always uncover impossible room for manoeuvre for politicians. In 2003, I chose Chuba Okadigbo as my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, I picked Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I chose even a pastor, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

“Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what else can I do? The era of short-changing people in the name of religion should stop,” he had said.

Buhari as President, a disaster, he plans to implement sharia all over - Former US Ambassador

US, Qatar support FG’s Safe School Initiative with $4m

The United States Government and the Government of Qatar have made a donation of $2m each to the Safe School Initiative of the Federal Government.

The safe school initiative is a project aimed at meeting the education needs of thousands of children affected by the ongoing conflict in the North-East, specifically in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The donation of the US was made by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle and was received by the Minister of FINANCE, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Qatar had earlier made its donation through the Qatar Foundation.

The US ambassador said his government was proud to support the initiative owing to the fact that the program would help to reduce the negative impact of insurgency in the north-east region.

He said, “The US government is proud to support this initiative. Nigerian children who have been affected by the insurgency do not also need to see their hopes for education sacrificed.”

Speaking at the event, Okonjo-Iweala said, in a bid to complement the efforts of the federal government, a Multi-Donor Trust Fund had been set up within the United Nations system.

The $4m, the minister stated, would be transferred into the MDTF which is being managed by the United Nations Development Program and UNICEF.

She explained that the fund would co-finance projects and programs of the SSI alongside the Nigerian fund.

Since the launch of the fund last year, the federal government had committed the sum of $10m while Germany, African Development Bank have each donated 2m Euro and $1m.

Other donors include Norway-$1.5m; United Kingdom-1m pounds in technical assistance and $10m by a coalition of Nigerian business leaders.

The minister said, “The US government, through United State Agency for International Development has made a donation of $2m into this MDTF and we are here to witness the signing of the MoU between the UN and the US government.

“The government of Qatar, through the Qatar Foundation, has also made a contribution of $2m into the MDTF.”

Providing more update on the initiative which was set up last year during the wake of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the minister said about 1,007 students have now been enrolled in various schools across the country through the project.

US, Qatar support FG’s Safe School Initiative with $4m