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2012-01-11T03:38:00.001-08:00

Okonjo-Iweala denies masterminding fuel subsidy removal

2012-01-11T00:11:00.000-08:00

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala, has denied being the brain
behind the fuel subsidy removal policy
which led to a nationwide strike and
protests since Monday. In an interview with BBC, Okonjo-
Iweala laid the idea at the foot of
governors, who she said had been
pushing for the fuel subsidy removal
even before she joined the Jonathan-
led administration. She also denied claims that the World Bank and IMF
influenced the government’s decision,
saying they “have nothing to do with
this, absolutely nothing!” “This is an internal government
decision and President Jonathan has
made it very clear. Remember, six
months before I came, the governors
have all pushed for subsidy removal,”
she said. “Subsidy removal has two decades of
history, almost every government
from Babangida to Obasanjo has tried,
so it is not Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.” Sources say that the governors traded
the subsidy removal policy with the
government’s establishment of the
Sovereign Wealth Fund which was
established to mop up the excess
crude funds which the governors shared with the federal government,
monthly. The director general of the Governors
Forum, Ashishana Okauru, said
although he does not “know who did
what first”, the issue of fuel subsidy
removal “has been on the table” at the
governors’ forum. He however denied that the governors
made the decision in consideration for
their support for the Sovereign Wealth
Fund. Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor,
Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday in Port
Harcourt, said that the removal of fuel
subsidy would rescue the country’s
economy from collapse. “If you we don't support the President
to remove oil subsidy, we will not even
be able to buy clothes because the
dollar will escalate to N250 per dollar,”
he said. “That is what the thing is going to. So,
the President is not a wicked man, he
is on a rescue mission. I will plead with
labour to sympathise with both the
governors and the President, even
assume that we are bad people, for once trust us.”

Igbos will retaliate if…..Kalu

2012-01-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

Former Governor of Abia State Orji
Uzor Kalu has described the violence
in the North as been directed at Igbo. He urged southerners living in the
North, especially the Igbo to seek
external assistance to defend
themselves. Orji, in a statement yesterday,
regretted the seeming helplessness of
the Federal Government to protect its
citizens. He said his reaction to the killings of
Igbo was necessitated by the silence
of Igbo political intelligentsia. He said: “It is unacceptable that
whenever there is any disagreement
or crisis of any sort in this country, the
Igbo are targeted, whether the issue
at stake concerns them or not. “Whether the recent bombings and
slaughters in churches are attributable
to the hatred of western education or
making the country ungovernable for
the President or even the alleged
quest for revenge by the sect involved for the alleged extra-judicial killing of
its leader, none of these issues has
anything to do with the Igbo. “It is beyond sheer coincidence that
most of the killings are in churches
attended predominantly by the Igbo.
And the victims are innocent Ndigbo
who know nothing of and are in no
way connected with the issues for which they are being killed. “Everyday, Igbo in the North are
being slaughtered and the Federal
Government appears clueless, helpless
and incapable of coming to the
defence of these citizens. “Unfortunately too, Northern political
leaders have made statements and
interventions - at levels that further
question, the essence and founding
vision of one Nigeria. “If nobody will come to the rescue of
the Igbo, the Igbo will have no choice
but to protect themselves by
themselves. By their nature, the Igbo
are peace-loving and respect human
life, but if they continue to be pushed to the wall, they will have no choice
but to defend themselves. “Their reluctance to resort to revenge
killings is not out of cowardice but
because of their belief in the rule of
law in the hope that the Federal
Government will bring the
perpetrators to book and also to allow the attackers a chance for a re-think.
However, none of these seems to be
working. “All Igbo people in every part of this
nation, whether in politics or not,
whether in government or not,
whether resident in the North or not,
should realize that when the chips are
down, we shall all be victims. “Wherever we are, we must speak out
against these unwarranted killings,
even if our elected leaders have shied
away from their responsibility to us.
Wherever we are, the time has come
for us to be vigilant again. “While calling on the Federal
Government to live up to her
constitutional responsibility towards
security, let it be known to all and
sundry that the Igbo will no longer be
scapegoats for any crisis in any part of this nation. “Christians (Northern and Southern)
and all Southerners must also refuse to
be made scapegoats and must get
together to resist these unwarranted
attacks. If the attackers get help from
outside the country to attack, Christians and Southerners should
also do the same to defend, if help will
not come from within. “If we are singled out for attack again,
we shall no longer turn the other
cheek but shall demand an eye for an
eye,” he warned.

State of Emergency: Immigration moves to enforce border closure

2012-01-10T23:59:00.000-08:00

News By Victoria Ojeme ABUJA—Nigerian Immigration Service, yesterday, said it has put machinery in place to effect the closure of land borders of state and local governments affected by the Presidential declaration of partial state of emergency. President Goodluck Jonathan had, last week, declared partial state of emergency in 15 local government areas in four states (Bornu, Yobe, Niger and Plateau) in the aftermath of the Christmas day bomb attacks on a Catholic Church in Madalla, Suleja Local Government, Niger State by the Boko Haram. A statement, yesterday, by the Service Public Relations Officer and Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Joachim Olumba said: “Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, has set in motion machinery for total enforcement of the Presidential declaration of partial state of emergency in some states of the federation.” said it had deployed Deputy Comptroller-General in Charge of Operations, Dr. Babajide Brown, to oversee Borno State while Deputy Comptroller-General, Mr. Suleiman Umar, in-Charge of Investigation, Inspecto-rate and Enforcement, has been charged with the coordination of immigration operations in Yobe State. The statement “To this end, the Comptroller- General of Immigration has deployed her deputies to personally supervise the implementation of the state of emergency in the affected states with international borders. Dr. Babajide Brown, Deputy Comptroller General in-Charge of Operations was deployed to oversee Borno State, while Mr. Suleiman Umar, Deputy Comptroller-General in-Charge of Investigation, Inspectorate and Enforcement, has been charged with the coordination of immigration operations in Yobe State..'”

2012-01-10T23:56:00.003-08:00

2012-01-10T23:56:00.001-08:00

News By Henry Umoru ABUJA—AS part of moves to halt the activities of Boko Haram sect, the Nigerian Army have concluded arrangements to intensify training in counter- terrorist and counter-insurgency operations. Addressing journalists, yesterday, on the current security situation in the country, Director, Army Public Relations, Major-General Ralph Isa, disclosed that troops were now patrolling major highways and towns complimenting the efforts of already existing task forces. According to him, Nigerian Army troops on Operation Restore Order III recently raided a suspected terrorists’ hideout in Pompomari area of Damaturu in Yobe State where it discovered an ammunition dump and a number of AK-47 rifles and Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, adding that troops have continued to dominate the area with joint patrols. The Army spokesman, who noted that major challenges posed by the sect have been reported mainly in Borno and Yobe states, stressed that their primary targets have been mainly isolated offices of security agencies, a few Army patrol vehicles and some places of worship. Isah also disclosed that following information from arrested members of Boko Haram sect, Operation Restore Order I in Maiduguri conducted series of cordon and search operations in conjunction with other security agencies leading to the discovery of about 40 small arms and subsequent arrest of suspected members of sect. Speaking further, the Spokesman said that in Yobe, some members of the sect were making IEDs which unfortunately exploded in the process and thereafter attracted troops that did not hesitate to move to the scene and recovered 32 assorted arms and 339 ammunition of different calibers, among other items. He added that those arrested were cooperating and making useful statements that will provide the basis for future operations. On the ultimatums and panic movements across the country, General Isa explained that the Army and other security agencies in the country were fully aware of those text messages emanating from some groups threatening people of non-eastern and South- South origin to quit some geo- political zones in the country..

2012-01-10T23:53:00.000-08:00

Boko Haram: Remain where you are, FG urges Nigerians News BY DANIEL IDONOR ABUJA — AS panic stricken Nigerians continue to flee perceived trouble spots following Boko Haram directives to Christian southerners to relocate from the North and Muslim northerners from the South to the North, the Federal Government has urged Nigerians to ignore the call and remain where they choose to live. This is the outcome of crucial security meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan with Vice President Namadi Sambo and service chiefs in attendance, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police, Mr Hafizi Ringim, has condemned the act of violence that characterised the organised labour protest against fuel subsidy removal in Kano, especially the hijack of the protest by miscreants who forced their way into Kano State Government House and burnt down over 30 vehicles. Minister of Defence, Alhaji Haliru Mohammed, who fielded questions from State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting said there was no cause for alarm, saying every Nigerian has the right to live wherever he wants. He said: “I will like to assure all Nigerians that they should continue to live where they are. All arrangements have been made by the security forces to protect all Nigerians to live where they are living.” Also speaking, IGP Ringim, said: “Unfortunately, some people are feeling apprehensive and there is nothing you can do about it. They have the right to move. But we want to give them assurance that we are ready, willing and determined more than ever before to provide them with necessary security to remain wherever they want to remain in this country.” Asked if the government was concerned about the loss of three lives in the protests, Haliru said “government is very concerned and all measures are being taken to end protest. IGP hails Labour for peaceful protest The police who commended Labour for their peaceful conduct during the protest said: “This meeting centred on the progress so far made by law enforcement with regard to what has been happening within the last few days and we are satisfied that the NLC on its own has been conducting itself in the best peaceful manner.” He, however, expressed deep concern over activities of miscreants, saying: “It is also believed that there are miscreants that are trying to hijack this process and make it violent and we are not going to allow it as law enforcement officers. “Over 30 vehicles were burnt in Kano Government House. Will you look at this and say this was the work of NLC? No, gentlemen. This was certainly not the work of NLC, this was the work of miscreants who wanted to burn, maim and loot and police have a responsibility to maintain law and order and that was what we did. “As far as I know, as far as the records are concerned, three people have so far lost their lives. However, if you have any other dead bodies, please bring them forward.” On a man killed in Lagos “I have ordered for investigation and that is what am supposed to do and after the investigation, I have made a promise that the result will be made public and whoever is found culpable will be charged to court.”

2012-01-10T23:50:00.000-08:00

News ABUJA — The Federal Government has directed all federal civil servants to report to work as from Wednesday. The Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bello Sali, who gave the directive in Abuja, today, said security officers had been deployed to the various government offices to ensure their security. He said government had discovered that many civil servants could not report for work due to lack of transport and, therefore, directed that the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies to provide staff buses for the transportation of workers to and from work. It was also learnt that some government agencies had opened fresh attendance registers with a view to punishing workers who failed to report for work..

2012-01-10T12:34:00.001-08:00

News ABUJA — The FederalGovernment has directed allfederal civil servants to report towork as from Wednesday. The Head of Service of theFederation, Alhaji Bello Sali, whogave the directive in Abuja, today,said security officers had beendeployed to the variousgovernment offices to ensure their security. He said government haddiscovered that many civilservants could not report forwork due to lack of transportand, therefore, directed that thevarious Ministries, Departments and Agencies to provide staffbuses for the transportation ofworkers to and from work. It was also learnt that somegovernment agencies hadopened fresh attendanceregisters with a view to punishingworkers who failed to report forwork.

2012-01-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

January 10, 2012, 7:57 pm News Port Harcourt – Rivers Governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, says the removal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan is to rescue the country’s economy from collapse. Amaechi stated this while addressing a rally organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and civil society groups in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He said Jonathn has good intentions for the country in spite of the deregulation of the petroleum sector. ‘’ If you we don’t support the President to remove oil subsidy, we will not even be able to buy clothes because the dollar will escalate to N250 per dollar. ‘’ That is what the thing is going to. So, the President is not a wicked man, he is on a rescue mission. ‘’ Let me tell you, which president will not be taking that kind of a decision in this very difficult moment of Nigerian history. ‘’ There is Boko Haram going on, we know you will come out, you will demonstrate, you will cripple the economy, which President can do that if he is not seeing danger in front. ‘’ It is not a wrong decision, because you must convey this message to our leadership of labour in Abuja that they must join us.’’ Amaechi said that his administration would focus on Agriculture to employ more people. ‘’ So, I will plead with labour to please bear with the President. You do not have two countries, you have just one country. ‘’ The challenge of this country today is the sectarian killings in the country and labour should not be part of it by doing what they are doing now because if you confuse the sectarian killings to the oil subsidy crisis ,we will run into trouble. ‘’ I will plead with labour to sympathise with both the Governors and the President ,even assume that we are bad people, for once trust us.’’ Earlier, the NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Chris Oruge, had told the Governor to convey the workers rejection of subsidy removal to the president. ‘’ We want you to carry our message to our brother , the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that labour’s request is that the N65.00 should be reverted to and than you invite labour to a dialogue. ‘’ It is not that we do not have respect for our brother. People are suffering. We have come here to express our deep feelings against the removal. We are peace loving people.’’ In his remarks, the TUC chairman,Comrade Chika Onuegbu, urged Gov. Amaechi to use his position as the chairman of the Nigerian governors forum to persuade President Jonathan to revert to the old price of fuel. Onuegbu said Nigerian people rejected the subsidy removal and the increase in pump price of fuel. ‘’ On behalf of the Nigerian people, we want to appeal to Mr President to listen to the Nigerian people and listen to us and revert the price of fuel to N65.00 per litre. Congress, I hope I have said your mind.’’ (NAN)

2012-01-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

January 10, 2012, 7:52 pm Sports LONDON (AFP) – Thierry Henry is determined to extend his Arsenal goalscoring record after making a fairytale return for the Londoners in the FA Cup victory over Leeds. The 34-year-old delighted the Emirates on Monday by scoring the winner in his first game since rejoining the Premier League giants on a two-month loan deal from the New York Red Bulls. Henry, Arsenal’s all-time leading goalscorer who recently had a statue erected outside the Emirates in his honour, is now hoping to add to his tally as the Gunners battle on three fronts. “I never thought I was going to play for Arsenal again or score a winner,” Henry said. “I love the club and I hope I can do more. “I hope it won’t be the last one. The feeling I had when I scored was amazing.” “I rejoined the club as a fan; before I wasn’t. Scoring a goal when you support the team, now I know how some of the guys who played for Liverpool or Man United or Chelsea felt when they scored a goal for the club they support. “When it comes to Arsenal something happens with me, sometimes in a bad way, but most of the time in history in a good way.” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described Henry’s return as a “little bit of a dream.” “It was a little bit of a dream, because it was a story about football you would tell some young children,” Wenger said. “Unfortunately it is not often like that in our game, but sometimes it happens.”

2012-01-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

HEADLINE January 10, 2012, 6:32 pm News LONDON (AFP) - Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka warned on Tuesday that his country was heading towards a civil war, blaming political leaders who spread religious intolerance. Asked whether he agreed with President Goodluck Jonathan that the current unrest was worse than the 1960s civil war, he told the BBC World Service: “It’s not an unrealistic comparison — it’s certainly based on many similarities. “We see the nation heading towards a civil war.” Soyinka was also asked whether the unrest threatened the state of Nigeria itself, and replied: “It is going that way. We no longer can pretend it’s not. “When you’ve got a situation where a bunch of people can go into a place of worship and open fire through the windows, you’ve reached a certain dismal watershed in the life of that nation.” Soyinka said the issues raised by Islamist group Boko Haram, which was blamed for violence targeting Christians in the north of Nigeria and has sparked fears of a wider religious conflict, had been brewing for some time. “There are people in power in certain parts of the country, leaders, who quite genuinely and authoritatively hate and cannot tolerate any religion outside their own,” he said. “When you combine that with the ambitions of a number of people who believe they are divinely endowed to rule the country and who… believe that their religion is above whatever else binds the entire nation together, and somehow the power appears to slip from their hands, then they resort to the most extreme measures. “Youths who have been indoctrinated right from infancy can be used, and who have been used, again and again to create mayhem in the country.” He added: “Those who have created this faceless army have lost control.” Soyinka, a dramatist and essayist, became Africa’s first Nobel laureate in literature when he won the prize in 1986..

2012-01-10T11:18:00.001-08:00

January 10, 2012, 3:52 pm Sports LONDON (AFP) – Thierry Henry isdetermined to extend his Arsenalgoalscoring record after making afairytale return for the Londonersin the FA Cup victory over Leeds. The 34-year-old delighted theEmirates on Monday by scoringthe winner in his first game sincerejoining the Premier Leaguegiants on a two-month loan dealfrom the New York Red Bulls. Henry, Arsenal’s all-time leadinggoalscorer who recently had astatue erected outside theEmirates in his honour, is nowhoping to add to his tally as theGunners battle on three fronts. “I never thought I was going toplay for Arsenal again or score awinner,” Henry said. “I love theclub and I hope I can do more. “I hope it won’t be the last one.The feeling I had when I scoredwas amazing.” “I rejoined the club as a fan;before I wasn’t. Scoring a goalwhen you support the team, nowI know how some of the guyswho played for Liverpool or ManUnited or Chelsea felt when they scored a goal for the club theysupport. “When it comes to Arsenalsomething happens with me,sometimes in a bad way, but mostof the time in history in a goodway.” Arsenal manager Arsene Wengerdescribed Henry’s return as a“little bit of a dream.” “It was a little bit of a dream,because it was a story aboutfootball you would tell someyoung children,” Wenger said.“Unfortunately it is not often likethat in our game, but sometimes it happens.”

2012-01-10T09:33:00.000-08:00

An analytical piece by Tobi Akiode.He has obliged to sharing this with as many Nigerians as possible. Pls share with frends and the public in general ITS NO MORE ABOUT SUBSIDY ALONE: # # The American President has only 2 aircraft, our president has 9in his fleet and voted money recently to buy 1 more! # # The British prime Minister has only 2 official cars, our president has 23 in his pool and only recently voted 300m naira to buy 2 more bullet/ bomb proof ones! # # Senators in the US earn about$ 6,000 dollars monthly and dats about what a university professor,or a director in a state dept, or a doctor wt 20yrs experience, or a teacher wt 25yrs experience earn too, but in Nigeria a senator earns245million Naira per annum! Dats d salary of 25 vice chancellors, or 50 medical doctors, or 60 directors, or 500 schl teachers! # # The US, almost d size of Africa with about 500million people have 24 ministers, and 32 govt parastatals and commisions, Nigeria has 42 cabinet ministers, and over 50 government parastatals! # # America with about 500million people and more mileage to drive consumes 39million litres of petrol daily, Nigeria with 150million people 60% out of which live in remote areas, yet our govt tells us we consume about 35million ltrs of petrol daily! IS SUBSIDY REALLY THE PROBLEM OF NIGERIA? 'When you marry an illiterate woman as a wife, you will definitely make stupid decisions like jonathan'-wole soyinka spoke!

2012-01-10T09:24:00.001-08:00

January 7, 2012 51 The 36 Governors of the Federation have insisted that the President must not rescind its decision on the removal of subsidy on petrol. Speaking to State House correspondents after their meeting with the President which held in the Presidential Villa late yesterday, the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state said that as far as fuel subsidy is concerned the government will not reverse its decision to withdraw it. He called on Nigerians to see their sufferings now as the sacrifice they have to pay to ensure that the oil industry is fully deregulated so that government can save money for other development purposes. The Governors said that Nigerians should rather monitor what the government wants to do with the money instead of going on the streets to demonstrate. The Governors called on the Nigeria Labour Congress to obey the court order restraining them from carrying out the threat to go on protest, encouraging labour to go on a dialogue with the government because strike will cause more hardship for the masses.

2012-01-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

January 5, 2012, 3:25 am News By Daniel Idonor ABUJA -THERE is intense pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack his security chiefs in the wake of increasing insecurity, resulting from widespread operations of Boko Haram Islamic sect, which has been interpreted as a cover for the removal of the President from office by a powerful group from a particular region. A presidency source told Vanguard that in the recent past, President Jonathan has come under intense pressure to drop the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Service Chiefs as part of the solution to end the menace of Boko Haram and its sponsors. The source said: “The presidency is not unaware of the antics of this powerful group from a section of the country strategising on different fronts, especially with a sermon that Boko Haram was a northern challenge that requires a northern solution. “The President can not be hoodwinked into believing that only people from one ethnic group can provide Nigerians with adequate security. After all, all those heading the various security outfits merited their promotions to their current ranks and appointments. “In fact, the move and pressure on the President is seen by a lot of us as a prelude to unseat Mr. President since it is clear that Boko Haram was a mere political weapon to bring the Jonathan Presidency to its knees. “Otherwise, how would you explain such a long but suspicious silence by top political leaders from the region, while Boko Haram continues to maim and kill innocent Nigerians? “Yet they suddenly broke their silence with a demand for the removal of the NSA and the service chiefs. “I don’t think this pressure on the President is right because they want the security chiefs out so that they can be replaced by their cronies.”

2012-01-05T09:24:00.001-08:00

Special Report By Jean Herskovits GOVERNMENTS and newspapers around the world attributed the horrific Christmas Day bombings of churches in Nigeria to “Boko Haram” – a shadowy group that is routinely described as an extremist Islamist organization based in the northeast corner of Nigeria. Indeed, since the May inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the Niger Delta in the country’s south, Boko Haram has been blamed for virtually every outbreak of violence in Nigeria. But the news media and American policy makers are chasing an elusive and ill-defined threat; there is no proof that a well-organized, ideologically coherent terrorist group called Boko Haram even exists today. Evidence suggests instead that, while the original core of the group remains active, criminal gangs have adopted the name Boko Haram to claim responsibility for attacks when it suits them. The United States must not be drawn into a Nigerian “war on terror” – rhetorical or real – that would make us appear biased toward a Christian president. *Alledged Boko Haram members and their late leader, Yusuf Getting involved in an escalating sectarian conflict that threatens the country’s unity could turn Nigerian Muslims against America without addressing any of the underlying problems that are fueling instability and sectarian strife in Nigeria. Since August, when Gen. Carter F. Ham, the commander of the United States Africa Command, warned that Boko Haram had links to Al Qaeda affiliates, the perceived threat has grown. Shortly after General Ham’s warning, the United Nations’ headquarters in Abuja was bombed, and simplistic explanations blaming Boko Haram for Nigeria’s mounting security crisis became routine. Someone who claims to be a spokesman for Boko Haram – with a name no one recognizes and whom no one has been able to identify or meet with – has issued threats and statements claiming responsibility for attacks. Remarkably, the Nigerian government and the international news media have simply accepted what he says. In late November, a subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security issued a report with the provocative title: “Boko Haram: Emerging Threat to the U.S. Homeland.” The report makes no such case, but nevertheless proposes that the organization be added to America’s list of foreign terrorist organizations. The State Department’s Africa bureau disagrees, but pressure from Congress and several government agencies is mounting. Boko Haram began in 2002 as a peaceful Islamic splinter group. Then politicians began exploiting it for electoral purposes. But it was not until 2009 that Boko Haram turned to violence, especially after its leader, a young Muslim cleric named Mohammed Yusuf, was killed while in police custody. Video footage of Mr. Yusuf’s interrogation soon went viral, but no one was tried and punished for the crime. Seeking revenge, Boko Haram targeted the police, the military and local politicians – all of them Muslims. It was clear in 2009, as it is now, that the root cause of violence and anger in both the north and south of Nigeria is endemic poverty and hopelessness. Influential Nigerians from Maiduguri, where Boko Haram is centered, pleaded with Jonathan’s government in June and July not to respond to Boko Haram with force alone. Likewise, the American ambassador, Terence P. McCulley, has emphasized, both privately and publicly, that the government must address socio-economic deprivation, which is most severe in the north. No one seems to be listening. Instead, approximately 25 percent of Nigeria’s budget for 2012 is allocaated for security, even though the military and police routinely respond to attacks with indiscriminate force and killing. Indeed, according to many Nigerians I’ve talked to from the northeast, the army is more feared than Boko Haram. Meanwhile, Boko Haram has evolved into a franchise that includes criminal groups claiming its identity. Revealingly, Nigeria’s State Security Services issued a statement on Nov. 30, identifying members of four “criminal syndicates” that send threatening text messages in the name of Boko Haram. Southern Nigerians – not northern Muslims – ran three of these four syndicates, including the one that led the American Embassy and other foreign missions to issue warnings that emptied Abuja’s high-end hotels. And last week, the security services arrested a Christian southerner wearing northern Muslim garb as he set fire to a church in the Niger Delta. In Nigeria, religious terrorism is not always what it seems. None of this excuses Boko Haram’s killing of innocents. But it does raise questions about a rush to judgment that obscures Nigeria’s complex reality. Many Nigerians already believe that the United States unconditionally supports Jonathan’s government, despite its failings. They believe this because Washington praised the April elections that international observers found credible, but that many Nigerians, especially in the north, did not. Likewise, Washington’s financial support for Nigeria’s security forces, despite their documented human rights abuses, further inflames Muslim Nigerians in the north. Jonathan’s recent actions have not helped matters. He told Nigerians last week: “The issue of bombing is one of the burdens we must live with.” On New Year’s Eve, he declared a state of emergency in parts of four northern states, leading to increased military activity there. And on New Year’s Day, he removed a subsidy on petroleum products, more than doubling the price of fuel. In a country where 90 percent of the population lives on $2 or less a day, anger is rising nationwide as the costs of transport and food increase dramatically. Ethnic and religious differences Since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, many politicians have used ethnic and regional differences and, most disastrously, religion for their own purposes. Northern Muslims – indeed, all Nigerians – are desperate for a government that responds to their most basic needs: personal security and hope for improvement in their lives. They are outraged over government policies and expenditures that undermine both. The United States should not allow itself to be drawn into this quicksand by focusing on Boko Haram alone. Washington is already seen by many northern Muslims – including a large number of longtime admirers of America – as biased toward a Christian president from the south. The United States must work to avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy that makes us into their enemy. Placing Boko Haram on the foreign terrorist list would cement such views and make more Nigerians fear and distrust America. Jean Herskovits, a professor of history at the State University of New York, Purchase, has written on Nigerian politics since 1970.

2012-01-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

CAN, Okogie condemn Boko Haram’s threat News By Our Reporters Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, have condemned the ultimatum by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to Christians living in the North to leave the area within three days. They described the threat as illegal and unwarranted as the group lacked any legitimacy to make such a demand. Meanwhile, in an apparent move to address several security challenges in the country, particularly, Lagos State, religious leaders, yesterday, met to work out modalities to stop the spread of bombing and violence perpetrated by Boko Haram Islamic sect from spreading to other parts of the country. The meeting, held at Governor’s Office Complex, Ikeja, was attended by religious leaders, including the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Primate Ola Makinde; National Imam of Ansar- Ul-Deen, Mr. Abdulraham Ahmad; Rev Josiah Udofia and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Latifat Okunnu, among others. Speaking with newsmen after discussing the state security challenges with Governor Babatunde Fashola, Makinde admitted that the increasing spate of bombings, especially in some northern states made the meeting expedient for the religious leaders and the state government. National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a separate statement, said his attention had been drawn to several text messages and claims to the effect that Boko Haram had given a three-day ultimatum to Christians in the region to quit and northerners living in the South to return. He urged Christians in any part of the country to disregard the ultimatum, remain calm and go about their lawful duties without fear of intimidation from any illegal group and faceless individuals. Oritsejafor berated the group for making the threat, which he said reminded one of events leading to the Nigerian civil war, saying that the nation had come a long way that it no longer needed anybody beating war drums in any part of the country. He said: “After the last civil war which resulted in the death of millions of Nigerians, mostly young people, including women and children, on both sides of the divide, we must learn to live together as one indivisible nation created by God. God must have His reasons for creating the nation with all the diversities— which are actually supposed to be a source of strength.” To the Christian community in the country, Oritsejafor said: “You must be vigilant and report any strange movement to the authorities who have been saddled with the responsibility of securing lives and property of every Nigerian in any part of the country.”

2012-01-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

ALL IT TAKES

2012-01-04T16:10:00.000-08:00