Boko Haram Is Your Baby, Buhari Fires Back At Jonathan

Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, slammed President Goodluck Jonathan, describing the virulent sect, Boko Haram, as a creation of the present administration.
President Jonathan, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe had on Tuesday challenged General Buhari to persuade members of the sect to accept dialogue as a means of ending the orgy of violence in the North.
General Buhari, who apparently was angered by the Presidency’s attempt to link him with the sect, asked Jonathan to leave him alone and find ways of resolving the Boko Haram crisis, which he said, was borne out of the failure of his government.
Buhari, who fired back at Jonathan through the National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, noted that it was wrong for the Presidency to accuse him of not calling Boko Haram to order when he did not have any relationship with the members.
He also faulted Okupe, for referring to Buhari’s presidential ambition as inordinate, saying that the attack was ill-motivated.
Fashakin said: “It is unfortunate that a presidential aide referred to the legitimate desire of a statesman as inordinate. Away from the uncouth posturing of Dr Okupe, it is apparent that this fellow is conflating two unrelated issues and scenarios.
“If the people that initiated and executed the Niger Delta problem decided to resolve it, what can anyone do about it? The Niger Delta problem is totally different from the Boko Haram palaver.
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Naija.com

Akunyili supports death penalty as punishment for corruption

Former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili has expressed support for capital punishment for corrupt practices in order to transform the country.
Akunyili said this while speaking as a guest lecturer at the 7^th lecture of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Bells University of Technology, Otta, Ogun State, where she presented a paper titled ‘National Transformation: The Challenge of our Time’.
She said that the desired change in the country was being prevented by social vices such as corruption, insecurity, poor leadership among others.
She said, “In China, it is death penalty for corruption. I believe if we are really serious about fighting corruption, there is the need to insert harsher clauses to make corruption less attractive, just like they do in China.
“Once, one, two, three, four corrupt people are executed for corruption, some others who have such tendency will definitely fall in line.”
Akunyili said that government refusing to punish corruption was as good as it promoting corruption.
“We just have to find a way to decisively fight corruption before it completely ruins this beautiful country,” she added.
Akunyili, who made her name as former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) also suggested that the Nigerian government emulate the British and American governments by introducing a social security scheme for unemployed youths.
She noted that these governments paid a stipend to their unemployed so that their middle class and rich would be secured.

She added, “It is common sense that the rich will remain unsafe in the midst of a hungry and angry majority. Government in the Western world understands that the negative energy vibrating from such people is enough to create discomfort.”
She suggested that the government could start with a scheme for the physically challenged and aged, such as the social security scheme for the aged introduced by the Ekiti State Government, which she commended.
“To me, being a good leader means being a principled leader, and being principled simply means being a man or woman of your words, being guarded by the right moral compass, doing the right thing anytime, anywhere and even in the face of threats of any type. It is simply leadership by example,” she stated.
She added that when a leader compromised his position by sharing filthy lucre with his or her subordinates, he or she has lost the right leadership authority and  incapable of instilling any discipline in the work force.
She said, “When I was in NAFDAC, if I had allowed officers in the ports or the registration desks and other sensitive areas to make returns to me, we would not have been able to record any success in sanitising the food and drug sector.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Isaac Adeyemi, said the institution invited Akunyili because of her pedigree and contributions to the nation’s development.
 DailyPost

Keshi set to recall Eneramo, Lukman Haruna

Coach of the Super Eagles Stephen Keshi, has given hints that he is likely to recall Michael Eneramo and Lukman Haruna, for next month’s friendly match against Mexico.
Nigeria will face the North Americans on May 31 in Houston, Texas, as they stepped up preparations for the FIFA Confederations Cup, that will be played in Brazil in June.
“We need to get some players who could add value in our rebuilding process,” Keshi said. “Haruna and Eneramo are some of the players we are considering at the moment but we still have about a month to decide that.”
Haruna, who plays for Dynamo Kiev, has not played for Nigeria since 2010, while Eneramo last made an appearance in 2012 – an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.

Eneramo made it clear that he would be delighted to get a recall.
“I will be glad to return to Eagles. I have been there before and didn’t disappoint. I am ready for the call. I will give my best to the team as usual. I am waiting for the call,” Eneramo, who plays for Sivasspor in Turkey, told MTNFootball.com
Haruna on his part, said: “I think I have not enjoyed myself in terms of glory and consistency in the Super Eagles and that is why I will be back for glory with the Eagles. I know it’s just a matter of time before I’m back.”
DailyPost

Lagosians Get Free Bus Ride For April

Residents of Lagos State will enjoy free BRT rides throughout the month of April, RLG Communications Nigeria Limited said on Tuesday.

The easily identifiable BRT buses and will ply Ikorodu – CMS, Okokomaiko – Mile 2 and Ajah – CMS routes, said Taiwo Latilo, RLG Nigeria Chief Operating Officer.

“We therefore enjoin Lagosians from all walks of life to feel free to enjoy this service wherever they see the buses,” Latilo said.

Latilo explained that the decision to provide free buses for Lagos residents is based on the belief that their business is more likely to do well in a flourishing society where citizens are happy.

“Lagosians should therefore see the free bus service as a gift and a promise from us to always put them first,” Latilo said.

He however urged interested residents to be orderly in boarding the buses and allow as many people as possible to benefit from the opportunity.

“They should also avail themselves of the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the road traffic signs as will be explained by our representatives on the buses,” Latilo said.

Speaking on the RLG initiative, Mr. Adeoye. Irelewuyi of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, said everything is set for the free bus ride to be successful.

“We want to thank RLG for making life better for an average Lagosian and we are happy to work with them,” he said on the behalf of the FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Nseobong Akpabio.

RLG, a subsidiary of AGAMS Group of Companies, is a pan African company engaged in the production of communications equipment such as mobile handsets, electronic notebooks, tablets, laptops, LCD TV monitors, and has been trying to break into the Nigerian market since it moved in from Ghana.

The company is completing an IT factory in Osun State, which will be commissioned in June, Latilo said.

RLG has offices in Ghana, China, Nigeria and The Gambia, with far advanced plans to expand into the West African sub-region, and subsequently into the rest of the African market.

TalkOfNaija

Obama San Francisco Fundraiser Addresses GOP Relationship: 'We Can't Have Perpetual Campaigns'

By Jeff Mason

SAN FRANCISCO, April 3 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama used a set of fundraisers on Wednesday to assuage supporters' concerns about a controversial pipeline and his commitment to climate change, while urging them to drive Republicans out of power in Congress in 2014.

The Obama administration is expected to decide later this year whether to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would run from Canada's oil sands to Texas. Environmentalists oppose the project, saying its carbon emissions would contribute to global warming. Supporters say the pipeline is necessary to increase U.S. energy independence.

On a fundraising swing to boost Democrats' chances of winning back the House of Representatives, Obama highlighted his administration's achievements and pledged to work with Republicans. But climate change was clearly on his mind.

"Despite a very aggressive agenda on the other side to block action, we've been able to double fuel-efficiency standards on cars, we've been able to take mercury out of our air, we have been able to reduce carbon emissions in this country," he said at the first of two fundraisers on Wednesday night.

That fundraiser, a cocktail reception priced at $5,000 a person, was held at the home of billionaire former asset manager Tom Steyer, an ardent opponent of the pipeline project.

Obama did not mention Keystone, but came back repeatedly to the topic of global warming, calling it one of the biggest challenges the world faced.

He also told donors he expected Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, would become the chamber's top official again in the future.

To make that happen, Democrats must take control of the House by wining 17 seats in 2014. The fundraising trip to California was meant to help that effort by filling Democratic coffers.

Obama is trying to get Republican support for key policy priorities including immigration reform and deficit reduction in Washington. His broad comments - which were not especially critical of the opposing party - appeared to be designed not to antagonize negotiating partners on Capitol Hill.

"My intention here is to try to get as much done with the Republican Party over the next two years as I can, 'cause we can't have perpetual campaigns," he said.

But in the same set of remarks, he urged Democrats to do everything they could to help Pelosi take back power from Republican John Boehner, the current speaker of the House of Representatives.

"I expect that she is going to be once again speaker of the House," Obama said of the California Democrat. (Editing by Peter Cooney)
HuffingtonPost

Police To Blame For Rise In Politically-Motivated Killings – Fayose

Ayo Fayose, former Ekiti State governor,  yesterday accused the police of culpability in the rising wave of politically motivated killings in the state following their refusal to prosecute those fingered as master-minds of such killings in the past.
Fayose, who recently declared his intention to run in the state’s gubernatorial polls next year, also described the current administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi as the worst in terms of politically-motivated killings since the advent of democracy in 1999.
Fayose also alleged that the state government was working to influence the police with a view to cover up the killing of Ayo Jeje.
But the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, described Fayose’s comment as a figment of his own imagination, saying people of the state know who the real killers are.

Ekundayo, who said that there was no iota of truth in the allegation that the government is attempting to cover up the Erinjiyan murder, absolved Fayemi of any criminality under any guise as alleged by Fayose.
Fayose, who spoke with journalists on the spate of politically-motivated killings in the state, also accused the police of foot dragging on the various petitions levelled against some government officials over their alleged involvement in past killings.
Fayose said, “I was invited by the DIG four months ago when my supporters and I were attacked by the ACN’s thugs at different places during political meetings. The DIG collected files about past killings in Ekiti but after four months, nobody has come out with any report. It was Fayemi that invited the DIG and the IG wrote on the letter that the DIG should handle the issue but nothing has been done and that is why the impunity is continuing.
InformationNigeria

Shock As DSTV Station Airs Mandela’s Obituary

Shock and outrage have greeted Tuesday's accidental airing of the death hoax of revered South African former president, Nelson Mandela, fondly called Madiba.
The Universal Channel (shown on DStv channel 117) had aired a programme 'Remembering Nelson Mandela', apparently from an already prepared file on the global icon.
The channel on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV cable network platform had accidentally aired the obituary to its millions of viewers who took to the social networks to express their shock and grief. Mandela's health had relapsed last week following infection of his lung. But latest reports from the hospital indicates that his condition is improving.
But realising its gaffe, the cable network has expressed its dismay at the technical error, noting that it was a glitch and not intentional as claimed in some quarters. It tendered apology.
The statement released by the Universal Networks International which programmes the Universal Channel on DStv reads in part: "Like any international broadcaster, Universal Networks holds obituaries ready for every major statesman in the world.
"Universal Networks wishes to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology for the airing of such an announcement for Nelson Mandela which was broadcast last night on the Universal Channel due to a technical error by our team.
"We unreservedly apologise to the Mandela family, to Universal Channel viewers and to DStv subscribers for the alarm and offence caused by this error. Our thoughts and best wishes are with Madiba and his family for a speedy and full recovery."
When contacted, DStv Head of Communications, Mr. Segun Fayose, said he would send a mail to that effect.
Naij.com