Obama makes telephone calls to President Jonathan and Buhari

As posted on US Embassy Nigeria Facebook page...

PDP Queries Buhari’s Indifference To Burning National Issues

Press statement from the PDP. Read below..

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep concerns over the apparent indifference of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to burning national issues threatening the unity and stability of the country.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Wednesday said “while well-meaning Nigerians and the international community are celebrating the peace fostered by the patriotic action of President Goodluck Jonathan in conceding defeat, General Buhari and his party, the APC have been moving around the country instigating division, engineering crisis and heightening tension in the polity”.

“Whereas General Buhari had assured Nigerians that he would be the President of the entire nation and not of a political party, his actions in the last one week show otherwise as he has continued to display sectionalism and insensitivity to matters inimical to the survival of our democracy and wellbeing of Nigerians.

“Instead of settling down to plan a smooth transition and design ways of deepening democracy in appreciation of the mandate given to him, General Buhari has tacitly encouraged his men to foment crisis and cause panic in the bid to muzzle personal freedom and impose a reign of terror in the land.

“For instance, Gen. Buhari has remained indifferent to the crisis in Ekiti where outgoing APC lawmakers who are supposed to be campaigning for the renewal of their mandates on Saturday have been mobilized to Oshogbo in Osun state by the APC to perfect an ignoble plot to remove a democratically elected government in the state.

“APC’s ambition in Ekiti coupled with its odious triumphalism in the aftermath of the Presidential election have led to avoidable confrontations and near breakdown of law and order in the state as the people rise to defend the mandate freely given to the PDP.

“In continuation of this display of arrogance in victory, Buhari’s men in Lagos have dragged the revered traditional institution into the political fray with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu threatening death to supporters of the PDP, an action that has brought outrage from Nigerians with General Buhari playing the ostrich.

“It is indeed unfortunate that while his men are causing crisis and threating Nigerians, General Buhari, instead of calling them to order displays his insensitivity by jetting around the country campaigning for his party.

“If this sort of insensitivity and arrogance of victory are foretaste of what to expect in a Buhari presidency, then our dear nation and its people are headed for a long trek in the wilderness”, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the PDP in reaction to reports of defection from its fold described the defectors as political Trojans, who from within have ceaselessly worked against the interest of the party and now fear that they would face sanctions for their actions.

Stating that it would not miss such fair weather members, the party commended the courage and steadfastness of all its supporters and members who have remained committed to the course and urged them to go a step further by emulating Senate President David Mark and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in speaking out publicity in favour of the PDP, its ideals and visions of the founding fathers.

The PDP said adequate machinery is already in motion to reorganize and to reposition itself to regain power in the next four years since it is obvious that the APC lacks what it takes to effectively lead the nation.

It therefore called on Nigerians to use the Saturday’s election to demonstrate their commitment to democracy by voting enmasse for the PDP bearing in mind that a vote the party is a vote for the unity and stability of the country.

Signed:

Olisa Metuh

National Publicity Secretary

Photos: President Jonathan visits Gen T. Danjuma at his home

President Jonathan paid a private visit to former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma at his home in Abuja today April 8th. The purpose of the meeting was not made known but according to presidential media aide, Reuben Abati who shared the pics, Danjuma praised President Jonathan for conceding defeat after results of the Presidential elections was announced in favor of his opponent. "The manner in which Pres. Jonathan conceded victory is totally unAfrican, it's very important for Africa" Danjuma said. Another photo after the cut...

Ini Edo covers April issue of Genevieve magazine...

This month, Genevieve magazine cover features Nollywood actress and producer, Ini Edo, who recently premiered her latest movie, “While You Slept”. In a very rare interview with Genevieve, the actress sheds more light on her new movie, her recent separation and future plans.



Photography: Yetunde Baba Eko. Make-up: Bimpe Onakoya...

This viral photo of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is hilarious

Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, 91, who is rumoured to be lining up his 24 year old daughter to replace him as president of the country, looked like he wore weave and earrings as he arrived in South Africa yesterday morning for a state visit. His first trip in 20 years. But on close inspection of the funny photo, you'll see that the hair and earrings belong to a woman standing directly behind him.

Man with earphone on crushed to death by train in Lagos this morning

An unidentified young man with earphone on, was killed this morning April 8th by a passenger train at Cappa area of Oshodi, Lagos.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who was inside the train reports that the man was standing on the rail track oblivious to the fast approaching train. The NAN correspondent reports that the Ogun-Lagos-bound mass transit train was leaving its Oshodi station to Mushin when the accident occurred.

The train had as usual, sounded its horn repeatedly as it was approaching the railway crossing at Ilupeju Bye-pass for clearance of its track.

According to an eyewitness, the man who had his earphone on was apparently carried away with either the call he was receiving or listening to music.

Obviously the man was not aware of the approaching train even as it blasted its horn, perhaps because of the earphone. Before he knew it, he was already hit by the train and was not given any chance to escape. Immediately he was hit, the body was mangled as the train dragged it underneath,’’ the eyewitness said.

NAN reports that people standing by the rail track that saw the incident raised their hands over their heads in a show of pity for the deceased.

"The man has suddenly and unwittingly lost his life to sheer carelessness,’’ a passenger said.

NAN reports that it was not the first time a moving train would crush to death people standing on the rail track because of having their earphones on.

Among them was a lady in 2006, killed at Shogunle GRA railway crossing, while another one was killed in 2007 at Oshodi.

Source: NAN

Kenyan govt freezes accounts of suspected financiers of Al-Shabaab

The Kenya Government has frozen the bank accounts of 86 entities and individuals suspected to be financiers of terror group, Al-Shabaab following the killing of 147 people in Garissa on April 2nd.



According to the spokesperson of Kenya's Interior Ministry, Mwenda Njoka, the move is designed to choke the flow of money to the Islamist terror group Al-Shabab. Owners of the 86 accounts have also been put on a government watch list. Al-Shabab has carried out multiple attacks in Kenya in recent years, and has warned that more will come unless Kenya withdraws its troops from Somalia.