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Munich in lockdown in likely terrorist attack - at least 9 people killed

2016-07-22T23:50:00.000+01:00

Police forces in Munich, Germany are on a hunt for three gunmen, whom they believe conducted a terrorist attack at a shopping centre and McDonald's restaurant. Nine people have been confirmed dead. Reports say children where also targeted in the attack.

According to CNN report, the shooting broke out at a McDonald's restaurant across from the Olympia shopping mall about 5:50 p.m. (11:50 a.m. ET), police spokeswoman Claudia Küntzel said. Gunfire also broke out inside the mall, which is adjacent to the site of the 1972 Olympics, witnesses said.

Gunman dressed in black firing shots

Police described the attacks simply as terrorism, and said the gunman or gunmen are believed to still be in the city. Lynn Stein, who works inside the Olympia centre, told CNN a woman told her "masked gunmen dressed in black" had been seen running through the centre.

A gunman shouting 'Allahu Akbar' opened fire at children in McDonald's before rampaging through a shopping mall, killing at least eight people. Terrified shoppers were seen running for their lives from the Munich Olympia Shopping Centre, in the district of Moosach, after hearing gunshots. Witnesses said that the gunman screamed 'I'm German' and 'Allahu Akbar' before shooting at children (DailyMail reports).

All subway services in the city were halted after reports that the suspect fled into the subway, and police are appealing to people to clear the streets as they hunt for the gunmen.

We didn’t rob; we only collected our dues – Suspects

2014-12-29T08:33:00.003+00:00

The suspects

The police have arrested four suspected robbers at a Lagos market who claimed they did not steal from the traders, but only came to collect their dues.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects- Onyenge Osanie, Azuka Eboh, Ezelonwu Michael and Afolabi Shakiru- were nabbed by the police while they were looting some shops and robbing traders at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspects, who are four members of a ten-man gang, were arrested by operatives of the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad on December 20.

According to the police, the gang, which is led by a runaway suspect identified simply as Friday, made use of locally-made guns in their operations.

Our correspondent also learnt that most of the gang’s victims were phone dealers, and the gang allegedly carted away about 70 smartphones and Ipads which were worth about N1.5m.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, 35-year-old Osanie said the gang robbed the traders and looted their shops, because they refused to ‘settle’ them. He added that they only targeted shops of traders who had ‘offended’ the gang.

He said, “We usually work with phone dealers in the market who specialise in selling stolen phones. When we steal, they sell, and they then settle us. But later on, some of them defaulted, and we attacked their shops. It was not as if we robbed them, we only came to ask for our money.

“On that day, we had taken only 10 phones before the police apprehended us. I had initially escaped, but two gang members who were caught at the scene later brought the police to arrest me.”

Osanie, a father of three, said he regretted working with the gang, adding that if he was released, he would not indulge in robbery again.

Also, 27-year-old Eboh confessed that the gang did not only burgle shops, but also vandalised some property during the operation.

He said, “What we learnt initially was that a market chairman was coming to give out money but he later failed to show up. That was when we decided to deal with the traders. When we got to the shops, we broke their glasses and carted away expensive phones.

“I joined the gang because I did not have a job. I have been living in hardship with my family.”

Meanwhile, Michael, 22, said he had also gone with the gang on three occasions, adding that they took advantage of the traders’ ‘misbehaviour’ to rob them.

“I was working as a truck driver before I met them. I had gone out with the gang on three occasions to rob in the market. We only took advantage of the commotion of the market to rob them. It was not deliberate,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

“Investigations are still ongoing on the matter at SARS,” he added.

u go fear excuse o. we came to collect our dues.

punch

Wreckage of AirAsia jet carrying 162 people is 'spotted' in sea .

2014-12-29T08:20:00.003+00:00

The Pilot

An Indonesian official says objects have been spotted in the sea by a search plane hunting for the missing AirAsia jet.

Jakarta's Air Force base commander Rear Marshal Dwi Putranto said he was informed on Monday an Australian Orion aircraft had detected suspicious objects near Nangka island, about 160 kilometres south-west of Pangkalan Bun, near central Kalimantan.

It is 1,120 kilometres from the location where the plane lost contact.

'However, we cannot be sure whether it is part of the missing AirAsia plane,' Rear Marshall Putranto said.

'We are now moving in that direction, which is in cloudy conditions.'

It comes after aviation experts said the flight was flying 'about 160 km/h too slow' when it encountered bad weather conditions

The flight went missing at 6.17am local time on Sunday while travelling from Indonesia to Singapore with 162 people on board, speculation on what may have happened points to weather, speed and an older radar system.

On Monday, as the search the missing aircraft resumed, the head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency, Henry Bambang Sulistyo, said the plane was most likely 'at the bottom of the sea'.

'Based on the coordinates given to us and evaluation that the estimated crash position is in the sea, the hypothesis is the plane is at the bottom of the sea,' Mr Sulistyo told a press conference.

'That's the preliminary suspicion and it can develop based on the evaluation of the result of our search.'

The A320, while sophisticated, is not equipped with the latest radar, Mr Thomas said.

The radar used by the A320 can sometimes have problems in thunderstorms and the pilot may have been deceived by the severity of these particular ones.

The latest technology radars, which were pioneered by Qantas in 2002, can give a more complete and accurate reading of a thunderstorm, but they will be certified for the A320 until next year.

'If you don't have what's called a multi skilled radar you have to tilt the radar yourself manually, you have to look down to the base of the thunderstorm to see what the intensity of the moisture and the rain is, then you make a judgment of how bad it is. It's manual, so it's possible to make a mistake, it has happened,' Mr Thomas explained.

Meanwhile, the billionaire CEO of AirAsia described missing flight QZ8501 as his 'worst nightmare' as the massive air and sea search for the plane resumed at first light on Monday. Tony Fernandes spoke of his horror over the situation after the plane lost contact with air traffic control with 155 passengers and seven crew members on board at about 6.17am local time, a short time after the pilot asked to deviate from the flight path due to 'bad weather'.

Upon arriving in Indonesia, Mr Fernandez gave a press conference to family and friends of those on board the plane and said the focus should be on the search and the families.

'We have no idea at the moment what went wrong,' Mr Fernandes, who founded the regional low-cost carrier in 2001 when it was in debt and worth just 50 cent, said on Sunday.

'Let's not speculate at the moment.'

The 50-year-old built AirAsia from a small, heavily indebted company to a huge low-cost airline after buying it for just 50 cent in 2001. He later expanded into long-hail flights with the AirAsia X brand.

Mr Fernandes later posted a tweet on his Twitter account on Monday afternoon saying: 'Keeping positive and staying strong. My heart bleeds for all the relatives of the crew and passengers. Nothing is more important to us.'

A massive search and rescue operation was launched on Sunday but was suspended for the night due to unworkable conditions. The fishing boats and official vessels that were sent out by Indonesia's national search and rescue authority, along with helicopters and Hercules aircraft from Singapore, set out again at sunrise on Monday morning.

'We have resumed the search for the missing AirAsia plane at 6.00 am (7am Singapore time). We are heading to east Belitung island,' deputy operations chief of the national search and rescue agency Tatang Zainuddin told AFP.

'We are sending out four aircraft today [Monday] to help locate the AirAsia plane. We hope we can find it soon. There will also be help from various search and rescue offices in the cities around the area,' Mr Zainuddin said.

Three planes from Singapore are expected to help in the search, plus a landing ship tank and submarine support and rescue vessel are on standby.

The Australian Defence Force deployed a RAAF AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft to assist on Monday.

Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin said the aircraft had 'a well-proven capability in search and rescue and carries maritime search radar coupled with infra-red and electro-optical sensors'.

The scenes of anguish were reminiscent of those in March 2014, when Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 lost contact with air traffic control several hundred miles north of Singapore. No trace of the craft has been found.

The pilot of the plane has been named as Captain Iriyanto, while the co-pilot is believed to be Frenchman Remi Emmanual Plesel. A picture of the pilot has been posted on social media by his daughter Angela Ranastianis. His nephew praised Capt Irianto as 'a very caring person'.

dailymail

Fire consumed my Bachelor, Master’s degrees – Sambo tells INEC

2014-12-29T08:03:00.000+00:00

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his Bachelors and Masters degrees certificates in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, were consumed by fire.

The incumbent deputy to President Goodluck Jonathan and well as vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general elections, made the declaration in the documents he filed with INEC. The documents, among others, are displayed at the commission’s office in Abuja. Sambo’s papers were received and stamped in INEC headquarters between December 10 and 18, 2014.

The VP’s declaration was validated by two letters from the ABU.

The first letter, signed by one Alhassan Garba for the institution’s registrar under the title, “To Whom it may Concern: Mohammed Namani Sambo,” read, “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Bachelor of Science (Architecture) with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) in 1976 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.”

The second letter, also signed by Garba for the ABU registrar, read, “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Master of Science (Architecture) on May 25, 1978 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.”

dailypost

Baby falls off mum’s back on Okada, crushed by truck

2014-12-24T08:02:00.002+00:00

A heavy duty truck, conveying crates of soft drinks, yesterday, at the Okorodafe Roundabout in Ughelli, Delta State, crushed a four-month-old baby girl, who had fallen off the back of her mother travelling on a commercial motorcycle, popularly known as Okada.

According to witnesses, the mother of the baby, who is in her 30s and simply identified as Ese, was said to have been struggling to adjust the wrapper with which she strapped the baby to her back, while the Okada was in motion.

One of the witnesses, identified as Efemena Okiemute, told Vanguard that the baby fell on the middle of the road and was immediately crushed by the truck, which was directly behind the Okada.

When Vanguard visited the scene, officials of Ughelli Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were seen clearing the remains of the dead baby from the road

Police arrest man for abducting friend’s daughter

2014-12-24T07:33:00.002+00:00

A suspected abductor, Mathew Alhaji, has been apprehended by policemen attached to Warewa Police Station, Ogun State, for abducting his friend’s daughter (name withheld).

Our correspondent gathered that Alhaji and Mr. Agbotome Denis, who adopted the victim, had been friends for two years.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect abducted the 13-year-year-old girl, around the Arepo area of the state on Sunday, December 14 while she was hawking fura.

Our correspondent also learnt that the victim and her sister, Taiye, had left home around 9am on the fateful day, but the latter came back at 1pm.

Her parents said they became confused when she did not return home at about 4pm.

PUNCH Metro, however, learnt that the victim had almost sold all the wraps of her goods when Alhaji offered to give her a ride home in his car.

The suspect, who was said to be in his 30s, reportedly threatened to kill her when she raised the alarm that the car was not heading for her residence on Isijola Avenue, OPIC Estate.

However, Alhaji was said to have freed the victim last Sunday, seven days after she was locked up in a room.

It was learnt that the suspect was eventually arrested on the same day after the family reported the incident at the station.

Speaking with our correspondent, the victim said her abductor left her in isolation all day although he did not touch her.

She said “Two wraps of fura were left in my tray when Alhaji saw me and offered to take me home. They were three inside that car, but I do not know other two. I told him not to bother that I wanted to collect money from some customers along the way home, but he insisted and promised to stop by for me to do so.

“As we moved on, I complained that that was not the route to my house. He shut me up and vowed to kill me if I shouted. He threw my tray away and took me to a room.

“He would place food before me and lock me up in the morning until he came back in the evening. He did not do anything to me. When he eventually released me, I was unable to locate home. It was my mother’s friend that saw me wandering around and took me home.”

Denis, a national of Benin Republic, said he could not fathom the rationale behind his friend’s action.

“He always comes to our house and all my children know him as my friend. There is no misunderstanding between us and I do not know why he did that,” he said.

The Ogun State Police Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed Alhaji’s arrest, adding that he would be prosecuted.

He said, “Yes, the man Mathew Alhaji, as he is called, was arrested by the police for abduction.

“He is in our custody. He will be charged to court soon.”

punch

SERAP asks UN to stop execution of 54 soldiers

2014-12-24T07:19:00.001+00:00

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the United Nations to help stop the execution of 54 soldiers sentenced to death by the Nigerian Army on December 17.

A General Court Martial set up by the Army authorities had sentenced the 54 soldiers to death by firing squad for alleged offences of mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny.

But SERAP, in a petition dated December 23 and addressed to a group of five UN special human rights rapporteurs, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, described the mass death sentences imposed on the soldiers as “unjust and incompatible with fundamental human rights.”

The five special rapporteurs are Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Christof Heyns; Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Juan Méndez; and Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-recurrence, Pablo de Greiff.

Others are Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mads Andenas; and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson.

A statement by SERAP on Tuesday quoted its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, as saying that the mass trial of the soldiers did not guarantee the highest standards of fairness, due process and justice.

Mumuni urged Al Hussein and the five investigators to publicly express concerns about the “lack of clarity of the charges” under which each of the soldiers was sentenced to death.

The death sentences, Mumuni added in the petition, failed to meet the basic requirements of fair trials, noting that the UN rights experts should urgently request the Nigerian government and its military authorities to quash the capital punishment imposed on the 54 soldiers.

The SERAP petition partly read, “It is not right or fair to try everyone in mass proceedings, and that such unfair trial should not send someone to the gallows. Imposition of mass death sentences is in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a party. This Covenant limits the circumstances in which a state can impose the death sentence.

“Under international law, cases involving capital punishment such as the present one require the full and scrupulous respect of the guarantees of highest standards of fairness, due process and justice.

“Besides, the issues raised by the soldiers suggest lack of transparency, accountability and general deficiencies in the way the security budget and arms purchases are decided and controlled.”

The body expressed confidence in the ability of the UN rights experts to “individually and jointly” weigh it upon the Nigerian authorities to exercise their legal authority to “commute the death sentences” and pardon the 54 soldiers.

“You have consistently and jointly taken similar actions in the past, including with respect to Egypt, and we respectfully urge you to follow this path in this case and continue your record of working to end the death penalty in all countries,” SERAP urged the experts

punch

President Jonathan To Buy New Executive Jet

2014-12-24T07:13:00.003+00:00

President Goodluck Jonathan wants to ride yet another new aircraft, and he has asked the National Assembly to approve the purchase. The request is part of the 2015 budget presented to the National Assembly in Abuja last week by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

It will be the fourth such purchase since he took office in 2010.

To make the acquisition of the gleaming new toy fit for the electoral stomp an attractive proposition, the presidency will trade in one of the planes currently in the presidential fleet. But the purchase will still gulp N400 million as deposit to the manufacturer.

Towards combating the insurgency in the country, the appropriation bill contains a N1,308,400,600 proposal to be spent on NICEP II security elements phase II by the NSA; N2,093,861,553 for maritime border security solutions (Falcon Eye); N2,093,861,553 for North-East border security solutions and N850 million for the DSS to buy more firearms and ammunition for all the service formations.

Defense, which comprises the Ministry of Defense, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, has a vote of N358,466,078,698.

Similarly, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), comprising the National Intelligence Agency, the Department of State Security, the Presidential Air Fleet (which manages the presidential fleet of aircraft), has a budgetary proposal of N84,128,320,723.

The bill also shows a proposal of N215,635,713 for foodstuff and catering equipment for the presidency, suggesting that the equipment is replaced every year. Furthermore, the presidency will spend N26,663,050,469: N12,917,727,634 on personnel, N11,165,322,836 on overhead, N24,083,050,470 on recurrent expenditure, and N2,579,999,999 on capital projects.

The budgetary provisions further show an estimate of N150 billion for the National Assembly, and N73 billion is budgeted for the judiciary.

For the Ministry of Finance, there is a proposal of N1,727,288,461,558, a large proportion of which is dedicated to a what is called the "Service Wide Vote".

The "Service Wide Vote" is explained as a vote created to serve all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for emergency purposes not captured in MDAs yearly budgets, but for which funding has been provided.

Funds are disbursed from the Service Wide Vote with approval from the National Assembly through appropriation, and the Minister of Finance approving the request from demanding MDAs for the funds.

In the proposals, the education sector has an estimate of N492,034,986,591, and health, N257,543,773,757.

In everything we are doing, there is God o

I’m being threatened for opposing Buhari’s ambition – Sheik Gumi

2014-12-24T07:06:00.001+00:00

Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, on Tuesday disclosed that he has been threatened for not supporting Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Kaduna-based cleric raised the alarm on Tuesday in a Facebook post titled, “PDP v APC: It’s Not about Religion.”

“People like me who had all along been critical about the government can no longer speak or express personal opinion if it is not in support of Gen. Buhari,” said Shiekh Gumi.

“Just this morning, around 2.30a.m., my three male children individually got threatening phone calls from a private number. People can vote for whoever they choose, whether a Christian or a Muslim”

Gumi recently criticized the choice of a lawyer and pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Yemi Osinbajo, as Buhari’s running mate, saying, “It’s now the Church not just Christians that have their feet engrossed in the APC.”

Below is Mr. Gumi’s full message

PDP v APC: it’s not about religion.

Surely there is religion in politics and politics in religion. However the 2015 PDP v APC is not about religion. It’s a time bomb and God is not the author of mischief.

Security members have clamped down on APC members and took away their computers, while some irrational youth are threatening the lives of PDP members with their families in the North. PDP posters are vandalized in some places.

People like me who had been all along critical about the government dear (dare) speak or express my own personal opinion if it’s not in support of Gen. Buhari.

One must be bribed or a PDP agent. Just this early morning around 2.30am my three male children individually got threatening phone calls from a private number who are Hausa speakers.

Already a ‘cult’ is formed.

All these are harbingers of what is coming up when anyone of the contestants is declared loser. With intimidation from both sides, it shows that a truly one hundred percent free and fair election will be an illusion.

Yet it’s the only one eye we have so we have to do with the cake half-baked.

What is now paramount and of highest priority is peace and stability. Every life must be protected; minorities – Muslims and Christians – should be secured also, without putting an extra burden on the already exhausted military and police.

It’s good that both presidential candidates of the PDP and APC have re-emphasized that the 2015 presidential contest is not a religious one. The two parties have also reiterated the same. Therefore, the 2015 elections is not a Crusade v Jihad and consequently there is no martyrdom.

The only ethical obligation on the clergy of both religions, Christians and Muslims, is to explain it to their congregations to avoid violence. Nigeria doesn’t need another religiously tainted war. The Boko Haram has already tormented all.

APC was ‘demonized’ by elements in PDP as a “Janjaweed” party to the extent that they were pushed to take a pastor instead of a nominal Christian as their vice presidential candidate. This in turn has nationally brought another dangerous innovation and dimension into the dirty game of power struggle.

Now men of religion will surely be messed up and ‘dirtied’. Next as Muslims become sensitized too, a Sheikh will soon be on the list and a u-turn to another religious conflict – inter-faith and extra faith will ensue. Thanks to the recklessness of both parties that have proven no matter what they claim; are still self -centered and egocentric.

The choice of a pastor to deputize for Gen. Buhari is meant to shake to the core the Christians who were made to see the candidate as a religious fanatic and also the Muslims alike who saw the General as having some Islamic aura. It should then effectively neutralized the ‘demonization’ of PDP as a Christian party. It’s now the Church not just Christians that have a foot engrossed in APC. A privilege the Mosque cannot be said to enjoy in any of the two parties.

Therefore both parties are a group of Nigerian Muslims and Christian’s joined together for a common. Each with its winning slogan and strategy. Each can only promote his/her religion on personal basis but the union is purely secular and worldly. The essence of our democratic union.

So no Muslim or Christian should be demonized for joining any of the parties. Muslims and Christians should all freely choose which party they like without any compromise on their religious obligations. It’s a matter of mundane desires and preferences. No party is holy or is making brief for the Almighty God.

Therefore, you as a voter, take all precautionary steps, legal and practical, to vote and protect your rights. But never violence.

As for Islam for which I speak for, since there are Muslims on both sides, any Muslim who will kill or die fighting another Muslim will be condemned to Hell for eternity. Likewise, whoever that will also kill another non-Muslim Nigerian because of the constitutional treaty of peaceful coexistence between Nigerians will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.

In a Hadith narrated by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Noble Prophet said: “when two Muslims fight each other with their swords, the killer and the killed are in Hell”

In another Hadith, the Noble Prophet said: “whosoever will kill any soul of non-Muslim under peace treaty will never smell the fragrance of Paradise which can be found from a distance of forty years,” narrated by Al-Bukhari.

Islam abhors mutiny and treason which are culpable felonies, deception, and breach of trust, rigging, lying, material and spiritual corruption. And one may not need to ask which Nigerian or party is not a culprit to any of these divine offences? Therefore the word is let us take it easy and live in peace.

This democracy has been unconstitutionally raped repeatedly by the military might and polls rigging, yet your civility, patience and prayers had always been our only remedy and the strength of our unity.

Therefore don’t kill or expose yourself to political violence for naught. This world is going to end. And the day you die, you will only be judged by Divine ruling not by the Nigerian Supreme Court decisions.

Whoever calls you out to violence ask him to show up himself and his children first. This way we can altogether avoid post-election violence, chaos and anarchy.

Let us remind ourselves, we saw that when Boko Haram takes over a village both Muslims and Christians run helter-skelter for their lives to Federal government controlled areas. Meaning there can be a situation worse than what you are in now.

Therefore, thank God and never allow yourself to be used in violence in anticipation of a better life, while you will end up lamenting over our previous situation as bad as it may appear. The near event draws nigh. There shall be none besides Allah to remove it.

May God bring peace, security and stability to our country. Amin.

Dailypost

News In Brief

2014-12-24T06:59:00.002+00:00

1. The Nigerian Army has sentenced three officers and 13 other soldiers to two years’ imprisonment each over Boko Haram abduction of the over 200 schoolchildren from their hostel in Chibok, Borno State. The soldiers, included a Lieutenant Colonel, a Captain and a Second lieutenant. The officers include Col. A. O. Ojo, Capt. O. O. Ogunrinde, and 2nd Lieutenant ,V.I. Godknows.

2. Relatively, The Nigerian military has announced the restriction of vehicular movement in both Maiduguri, the Borno state capital and Damaturu, the Yobe state capital following security report at its disposal. According to the latest order, vehicular movement in the states will be prohibited as from 6pm on Wednesday, December 24, to 7am on Sunday, December 28, 2014.

3. The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has announced that N54, 415,386.70 had so far been raised as his campaign funds donated by ordinary Nigerians through direct deposit and sale of cards. He was optimistic that the financial support he was receiving from Nigerians would boost his campaign. Buhari said this at a press briefing on the Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Crowd Funding Platform, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

4. Rivers state governor and the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday said only a strong leader like Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) could address the rising issues of insurgency and corruption in the country. He called on Nigerians to vote out Jonathan in next year’s election for the betterment of the country.

5. President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said Nigerian actors and actresses were the greatest ambassadors of the country. He said had consistently brought glory to the country through their movie roles. He was speaking while playing host to Legends of Nollywood, led by Mr. Paul Obazele, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

6. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that there was no over-voting at its Lagos Governorship primaries as alleged by former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, in his suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The party’s denial is coming through a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to Obanikoro’s application.

7. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has appealed to the United Nations to intervene in the move by the Nigerian military to sentence 54 soldiers to death for an alleged offences of mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny. SERAP, in a petition dated December 23 and sent to a group of five UN special human rights rapporteurs, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said the sentence was against the fundamental human rights stipulated by the UN, asking it to prevail on the military not to carry out the execution of the officers.

8. The All Progressives Congress has said that it’s still studying the proposal by former Minister of Foreign Affairs and elder statesman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi that the party signs an agreement of no-violence after the 2015 election with the PDP, saying it will react to the proposal as soon as it is carefully analyzed. The party was reacting through its publicity secretary, Lai Muhammadu.

9. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC of deviating from issues-based campaign to attacking its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan. It said it will continue to adhere to issue-based campaign, describing the recent comment on Gen. Buhari whom it termed a semi-illiterate as a compliment.

10. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned the general public to watch out for agents of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) who are looking for willing Nigerian youths to recruit as fighters. NOA Director General and Coordinator, National Information Center (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri gave this warning in a statement he issued on Tuesday, asking members of the public to be at alert and ignore such recruitment move.

Dailypost

MH370: Missing Malaysia Airlines plane 'shot down' by US Air Force

2014-12-23T19:22:00.000+00:00

Mark Dugain, former CEO of Proteus Airlines, believes the mystery Boeing 777 was shot out of the sky by the US Air Force fearing another September 11 attack.

The Frenchman's claims emerged in a recent edition of Paris Match, where he explains how he spoke with residents in the Maldives after the event. He said locals told him of how they saw a "huge plane" with "red and blue stripes on a white background” had flown over them at a "low altitude".

And others, on the island of Baarah, showed him photos of devices seized by Maldives military that experts believed was a Malaysia Airlines fire extinguisher. From his experience, Mr Dugain believes the plane was travelling past the island of Diego Garcia, where a US Navy base is situated, when it came down.

He added that the plane's computers were probably being controlled in a remote hacking, which caused it to change its path. He also claimed a fire on board may have triggered the fire extinguishers to drop. The mystery plane was carrying 239 people when it went missing on March 8. None of the passengers or staff have been found.

Mr Dugain is not the first big aviation name to speak out about a potential conspiracy theory. Emirates president and CEO Sir Tim Clark made world headlines in October claiming search teams should have found some sort of wreckage. And he said it "raises a degree of suspicion".

A large-scale search has been ongoing over the Indian Ocean, where experts believe the plane may have come down. Officials believe the search, which was meant to conclude by May 2015, may not be complete until 2016.

DailyStar

Mel B's daughter Phoenix 'hates stepfather' after he allegedly 'scared her with a gun'

2014-12-23T12:27:00.000+00:00

MEL B's husband Stephen Belafonte is said to have once scared her eldest daughter Phoenix with a gun.

According to US court papers filed during The X Factor judge's custody battle with Jimmy Gulzar, the 14 year old "hates" her stepfather. Mel's mum Andrea Brown made the allegations in 2009 and described her eldest grandchild's feelings towards the film maker.

In the reports obtained by the Daily Star, she said: "Phoenix told me Stephen had a gun and that he had scared her with it.

"While at Danielle’s, Phoenix said Stephen told her that when she was 16, he is going to throw her out of the house."

Andrea – who no longer talks to her daughter Mel – also went on to detail how strange it was to hear her granddaughter talk like that. She added: "I was shocked at this time to hear Phoenix say she hated her stepfather Stephen and I dismissed this as a result of her having to share mum with him and sister Angel.

"But Phoenix has never spoken like that about Mel’s other partners."

The files have emerged as the Spice Girl plans to spend Christmas away from her husband and her three-year-old daughter Maddison.

Mel is also still recovering from her mystery illness at her London home.

Buhari to meet, invite 22 aggrieved PDP aspirants to APC

2014-12-23T11:46:00.002+00:00

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), will soon hold a meeting with aggrieved governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State.

The aspirants, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are considering defecting to the APC following the circumstances that surrounded the emergence of the eventual winner of the governorship primary, Udom Emmanuel.

They had earlier shunned invitation by the APC governorship candidate in the state, Umana Umana to join him in the opposition. But the contestants may take the option as a way to protest the manner in which the national leadership of the PDP is handling election that produced the former Secretary to Awka Ibom Government.

The meeting with Buhari is being facilitated by one of the APC governors in the South-South region.

The agenda, it was learnt, was to bring together all those who are opposed to the alleged imposition of Udom Emmanuel by Governor Godswill Akpabio on the people of the state. It is expected that the aspirants will at the planned special reception, adopt Buhari as their sole presidential candidate in next year’s election.

Court Jails Parents Of Toddler Who Hit Him So Hard Till He Died

2014-12-23T11:39:00.003+00:00

Toddler Levi Blu-Cassin died after being stamped on, kicked/punched by his parents who are drug addicts. Levi, 22 months, was found unconscious at his home in Chelmsey Wood with his intestine spilt into two and later died from the injuries.

His parents Danielle Cassin and Mark Piper where however jailed yesterday by a Birmingham Crown Court. The judge described them as 'selfish, neglectful and manipulative' and sentenced them to 9 years in prison each.

Govt, puts Lagosians on red alert over Ebola -

2014-12-23T11:05:00.002+00:00

The state government has advised Lagosians to be at alert and be mindful of what they do, eat and drink during the Yuletide celebrations even as it urged residents to call the Ebola Help line or the Local Government nearest to them in case of any suspected case during the season.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who gave the advice weekend urged residents to observe good personal and environmental hygiene as well as follow advice given by the State Government on the prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease.

According to Idris, “Presently, there is no active case of Ebola in the country but Ebola is still a threat in neigbouring West Africa countries and this puts the nation at risk. This is why we need to be on the alert and observe a high degree of personal and environmental hygiene especially during this season of celebrations to prevent the disease from resurfacing in the country again”.

He further advised citizens to take basic precautionary measures against the disease by washing their hands with soap and water frequently, particularly after touching sick people; avoid direct contact with body fluids like saliva, vomit, stool, semen, vaginal fluids and urine of suspected persons and avoid eating fruits half eaten by animals.

The Commissioner also urged citizens to cook all foods particularly meat thoroughly before eating, clean all surfaces that have been contaminated with body secretions with bleach or detergents and desist from sharing sharp objects such as needles and razor blade.

“Please, do not defecate or urinate indiscriminately and notify the health authority of anyone coming from any West African Country into your community. Be assured that the Lagos State Government is still carrying out active search for cases while follow-up on rumoured cases are on- going and we will keep providing you with update and disease prevention messages”, Idris stated.

The Commissioner added that signs and symptoms of Ebola include unexplained fever that does not respond to usual treatment, intense weakness, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea which may be accompanied by bleeding from body openings like the ear, nose, mouth and anus.

Idris posited that Ebola Virus Disease is not a death sentence stressing that a sizeable number of those who contracted the disease are still alive adding that herbal remedies have not been proven to be efficacious.

While urging health workers to keep observing the universal safety precautions when dealing with patients, the Commissioner noted that early detection of the disease and care can save lives.

When laboratory confirmation of the country’s first Ebola case, in Lagos, was announced on 23 July, the news rocked public health communities across the country. There were panics amongst Nigerians. Not only because of the virus but because of the country’s population, for a disease outbreak, it is also a powder keg. The number of people living in Lagos is around 18 million and

Lagos is one of Africa’s largest city, also characterised by a large population living in crowded and unsanitary conditions in many slums.

Second outbreak site

The question before the State Government according to the State Commissioner for health, Dr Jide Idris was “How can contact tracing be done under such conditions?” This was the main concern raised at the beginning, shortly after the first confirmed case was announced.

However, with the assistance from WHO, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and others, government health officials reached 100 percent of known contacts in Lagos and 99.8 percent at the second outbreak site, in Port Harcourt.

Federal and State governments in Nigeria provided ample financial and material resources, as well as well-trained and experienced national staff.

Isolation wards were immediately constructed, as were designated Ebola treatment facilities, though more slowly. Vehicles and mobile phones, with specially adapted programmes, were made available to aid real-time reporting as the investigations moved forward.

How Ebola outbreak started in Nigeria

The Ebola virus was imported by Late Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian – American on 20 July via an infected Liberian air traveller, who died 5 days later. At the departure airport, he was visibly very ill, lying on the floor of the waiting room while awaiting the flight.

He vomited during the flight, on arrival and, yet again, in the private car that drove him to a private hospital. The protocol officer who escorted him later died of Ebola.

At the hospital, he told staff that he had malaria and denied any contact with an Ebola patient. As was learned later, his sister was a confirmed case who had died from the disease in Liberia. The traveller visited his sister while in hospital and attended her traditional funeral and burial ceremony.

As malaria is not transmitted from person to person, no staff at the hospital took protective precautions. Over the coming days, nine doctors and nurses became infected and four of them died.

vanguard

Bomb Blast Rocks Bauchi Market Hours After Killing 19 In Gombe

2014-12-22T19:14:00.003+00:00

Another bomb explosion has occurred at a market in Bauchi hours after killing 19 this morning at a bus station in Gombe. According to eyewitnesses the bomb exploded near a police outpost inside the market as traders were about closing for the day. The explosion occurred around 5:30pm and witnesses say, at least 15 people have died. Bauchi police spokesman also confirmed the explosion.

Donate Your N21.27bn Campaign Money To Improve Electricity! Buhari Group Tells Jonathan

2014-12-22T14:56:00.001+00:00

The Buhari 2015 Support Group Centre have asked president Jonathan to spend the N21.27bn donated by businessmen, multinationals and PDP governors to finance his 2015 presidential election campaign, on electricity.

The group said Nigerians have witnessed the worst power supply in his regime and says instead of spending the money to campaign on his re-election, the president should spend it to improve power supply for Nigerians.

It will be recalled that the oil and gas sector, doled out N5bn; road and construction, N560m; power, N500m and Chief Tunde Ayeni and his associates, gave out N2bn at the event which took place on Saturday at the Presidential Villa.

Jonathan leading a visionless govt –Osinbajo

2014-12-22T13:46:00.004+00:00

Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has described the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government as “inadequate and visionless.”

The former Attorney-General of Lagos State said it was unfortunate that in spite of the fact that Nigerians had given “so much” to the present administration, they have got nothing in return for their sacrifices.

Osinbajo argued via his Twitter page that the APC presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is a “strong character” that brings to the table a ray of hope for millions of Nigerians.

According to the Ogun State-born serving pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigerians should, as a matter of urgency, join the “common sense revolution” that would alter the status quo come February 2015.

“My fellow citizens, thank you all for your support. I am honoured to serve. Nigeria is great and her citizens give so much, yet get nothing in return from today’s inadequate and visionless leadership.

“When strong character like GMB (Buhari) is leading, it provides inspiration that change is possible and hope is not lost. Join the common sense revolution that GMB leads for a new Nigeria!

“To serve is an urgent task. One all must answer! Are you ready?” he asked in a series of messages on Twitter.

Also, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, argued that the 2015 presidential election afforded Nigerians the opportunity of choosing between integrity and corruption.

“APC vs PDP: The choice is between integrity-competence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo versus the incompetence and corruption of the shoeless ones,” the Kaduna APC governorship candidate said on Twitter.

But a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has disagreed with Osinbajo over his claims that the APC is poised towards taking the country to greater heights.

Describing Osinbajo as a “friend and brother,” Fani-Kayode said since he learnt of his nomination as Buhari’s running mate, he had been feeling a deep sense of pity for him.

In a Facebook post entitled, “A word for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,” the former minister accused Osinbajo of “jumping into bed” with the enemies of democracy.

“I have known Yemi (Osinbajo) for a number of years and I must say that he is not only a very pleasant and civilised person with a warm and gentle disposition, but he is also a cerebral lawyer with a brilliant mind. I have immense respect for him.

“Yet, sadly, ever since I heard about his nomination and announcement as Buhari’s running mate I have felt nothing but sheer pity for him and a deep sense of pathos.

“A gifted servant of God who is a favoured spiritual son of Rev. Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, has jumped into bed with one of the most consistent enemies of democracy and Nigeria?

“This is very sad. The truth is that each and everyone of us, including my friend Yemi, will ultimately have to answer to God for the choices that we make and we must live with the consequences of those choices,” Fani-Kayode argued.

Meanwhile, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, has begun an aggressive online campaign to mobilise funds for the Jonathan 2015 re-election.

To this end, the party has launched a website, www.pdpfund.org, a fundraising platform to raise money online.

The PDP stated on the website that it would begin receiving what it described as voluntary “small money donations” that would provide ordinary Nigerians the opportunity of contributing to the President’s campaign.

“Support the Transformation Agenda. Donate to the PDP. We hold nothing against those who prefer to donate anonymously to the PDP Fund.

“Whether it is one naira or one million, we encourage PDP Fund donors to register their donation on www.pdpfund.org for necessary acknowledgement. Small money donations that can be made from the comfort of your home online and on the web or on mobile devices are coming soon.

“The PDP cannot be indebted to one man or a group of financiers, the many who said they would give to the PDP hold us by our promise to defend democracy,” the presidential fundraising said.

Punch

Graduate robber promises to embrace God if released

2014-12-22T13:36:00.001+00:00

A suspected car thief, Amucha Chike, who was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnap Unit of the Enugu State Police Command, has promised to attend a thanksgiving church service and embrace God if released.

Chike, 27, who said he was a graduate of Agriculture Economics from the Abia State University, Uturu, and has completed his National Youth Service Corps programme, blamed the devil for his ill-fated venture into crime.

The suspect, who hails from the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, said he wished to use his university degree to seek an honest living.

The Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, explained that Chike had on June 16, 2014, snatched a Toyota Camry at Independence Layout, Enugu, after the owner left the key in the ignition after parking to open his gate.

Chike allegedly jumped into the car and drove off, warning a lady who was inside the vehicle to lie down, or he would shoot her dead.

The said lady was eventually dropped along the way, before Chike proceeded to Owerri, Imo State, where he kept the car in a dealer shop, before selling it for N700,000.

Having sold the car, Chike moved to Benin City, Edo State, to relax and enjoy the proceeds of the stolen car, but unknown to him, the police were already on his trail.

He was eventually arrested on November 29 in Edo State, while having dinner in an undisclosed restaurant.

Following his arrest, the stolen vehicle was recovered.

Chike, who is currently helping the police in their investigations, urged youths to avoid crime.

He said, “I am ashamed of myself. I am still surprised at how the police traced me to Edo State and arrested me.

“Youths should eschew all manner of crimes and criminality and embrace good virtues and God will embrace them someday but involvement in crime and criminality will destroy their future.”

The suspect added that he needed prayers and deliverance.

punch

Nigerian Government into Yahoo Yahoo

2014-12-22T12:49:00.000+00:00

Saw this video online and I think it is worth sharing.

BREAKING NEWS!!! Bomb explosion rocks Gombe Motor Park

2014-12-22T12:17:00.000+00:00

Scores of people are feared killed after an explosion ripped through a crowded motor park in Gombe town, Gombe State, residents have said.

A journalist based in the state, Mallam Tildee, told PREMIUM TIMES that the blast occurred at Dukku Motor Park early Monday.

Mr. Tildee said he was on his way to the scene of the blast and would be able to give casualty figure later.
The spokesperson of the police in the state, Fwaje Atajiri, could not be reached for comments.

A similar blast had occurred in November at the Gombe line motor park, killing scores of commuters, drivers and traders.

Details later.

New video shows Boko Haram killing captives in dormitory

2014-12-22T11:40:00.001+00:00

Militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, has vowed that “from now on, killing, slaughtering, destruction and bombing’’ would be its religious duty anywhere it invades.

The group, in a new video released to journalists on Saturday, showed its armed members mowing down civilians lying face down in a dormitory.

The setting of the latest video appeared to be a long school dormitory furnished with bunk beds which an unnamed leader of the group claimed was in Bama, a town 40 miles north of Gwoza, Borno State.

The leader of the sect was heard saying that they were killing ‘infidels’ or non-believers.

The Mailonline which published a story on the chilling video , reported that there were “so many corpses the gunmen had difficulty stepping to reach bodies still twitching with life.”

It quoted the Boko Haram leader as also saying that they had made sure the floor of the dormitory was turned red with blood to show “how it is going to be in all future attacks and arrests of infidels “

According to the Mailonline, the start of the video shows the Islamists enter the building where the victims, mostly adult males, lay.

It added that the video came two days after fleeing villagers reported that the extremists were rounding up elderly people and killing them in two schools in Gwoza.

In it, the unnamed sect leader, who noted that Prophet Mohammed advised prisoners should be held, not killed, said, ‘‘we felt this is not the right time for us to keep prisoners.’’

He added that that was why the group would “continue to see that the grounds are crimsoned with the flowing blood of prisoners.’’

According to him, even though those killed may call themselves Muslims, the sect considers them as “infidels.”

Previously, the militants had told residents of villages and towns that they would kill only enemies since they wanted people to live peacefully in an area they dubbed an Islamic caliphate.

The sect had in its last video, threatened to attack the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, for mobilising support against it.

Sanusi had in statements asked Kano State residents as well as vigilantes to arm and defend themselves against future terror attacks following a recent attack by suspected members of the group on the Kano Central Mosque.

The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, condemned Sanusi and adherents of most Islamic sects, describing them as infidels who had abandoned the Islamic doctrine.

Shekau had said, “Before I start talking to my brothers who believed in me and the religion of Allah, not the religion of democracy, not that of western education, those who believed in the religion of the Quran not that of the constitution and not religion of the Emir of Kano.

“We do not practise the religion of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, not the religion of Jonathan, not the religion of Obasanjo, not the religion of Atiku, not the religion of Babangida, not the religion of Obama, not the religion of Bush, not the religion of Clinton, but the religion of Allah.

“Now listen to me Emir of Kano. I am talking to you and only you because of your recent utterances. Let me inform you now that you are late (dead), you should know that you are only the King of Kano, King of Central Bank, King of money, you are only Sanusi Lamido.”

He also said, “Emir of Kano Sanusi, you are late, that our triumph is just for a period of time so you said. Even your predecessors who are renowned idol worshippers in Islamic history like ‘Abujahal’ could not succeed in fighting Islam.

“Yes, you can say that our success is for a period of time, because you are a king of Bank and a loyal citizen of your country.

“Because you are made the Emir of Kano, that is why you got angry and was calling on the vigilante groups and hunters to attack us. Let me tell you that the hunters and the vigilante groups will fail and you will also fail.”

Culled

Pastor on the run over death of two brothers during spiritual bath

2014-12-22T10:49:00.000+00:00

LAGOS — The Police in Lagos have arrested a member of New Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ajah area of the state over the alleged death of two men during a spiritual bath, weekend.

The deceased identified as Abiodun and Ayinde Oniru, of same parents and one of their step-brothers were alleged to have been taken to the church by their father and step-mother last Thursday for spiritual cleansing.

However, after three days, it was reportedly suggested that they should complete the cleansing with a spiritual bath. But their step-brother reportedly refused and left the stream located in Ogombo area of Ajah, leaving Abiodun and Ayinde of ages 23 and 20 respectively behind with their step-mother and Pastor of the church identified as Pastor Samuel Olusoji.

Things reportedly took a tragic dimension, following report that Abiodun and Ayinde drowned during the spiritual bath. The case was said to have been reported at Ogombo police division, consequent upon which a team of policemen stormed the church.

Police sources said on sighting the policemen, Saturday, some members of the church located on 739, Ori-Oke Ibulun Ilasan Street, Jakande Ajah, including the Pastor, took to their heels.

Unfortunately for the church’s secretary, he was arrested and whisked into the police waiting van.

Police sources hinted that the corpses had been deposited at Mainland Hospital mortuary, Yaba, where autopsy would be done.

A police source said: “We are still on the trail of the senior Pastor of the church. He is currently on the run. He has questions to answer.

“Meanwhile, the autopsy report will form basis for our investigation. It is only then that we can be able to establish the cause of their death.”

vanguard

Femi Fani Kayode advises Osinbajo.

2014-12-21T14:06:00.000+00:00

Article from former Aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode...

I am glad that the APC eventually took my advice and saw the wisdom in not fielding a muslim/muslim ticket for the 2015 Presidential election even though I hear that, right up till the last minute, they almost did.

I congratulate my friend and brother Professor Yemi Osinbajo on his nomination as the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC and running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

I have known Yemi for a number of years and I must say that he is not only a very pleasant and civilised person with a warm and gentle disposition but he is also a cerebal lawyer with a brilliant mind. I have immense respect for him.

Yet sadly ever since I heard about his nomination and announcement as Buhari's running mate I have felt nothing but sheer pity for him and a deep sense of pathos. My counsel and words for him are as follows:

Woe unto the children of light that secretly delight in darkness and that seek to thwart the counsel of God for their nation by joining hands with the sons of Boko and the daughters of Haram.

The bible says ''what fellowship is there between light and darkness?'' It says ''what does God have to do with Belial?'' It says ''what profiteth a man to gain the world and lose his soul?''.

A respected Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a devout and committed Christian and an intellectually-sound, well-bred and well educated Professor of Law accepts to be running mate to a closet fundamentalist, a bloodthirsty, cruel and murderous military dictator and a die-hard believer in the philosophy of ''born to rule''? This is serious.

A gifted servant of God who is a favored spiritual son of Rev. Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God has jumped into bed with one of the most notorious troublers of the faith and one of the most consistent enemies of democracy and Nigeria? This is very sad.

Rev. Enoch Adeboye is undoubtedly one of God's greatest and most respected generals on the planet and one of the Church's most humble and best-loved precious gems, yet one of his spiritual sons has surely let him, and indeed the Kingdom of God, down by choosing to play ''man Friday'' and second fiddle to an individual that represents everything that is troubling, unsettling and repugnant to the modern world and to the 21st century? What a tragedy.

A learned Professor of Law and a senior member of the Nigerian bar who is the leading authority on the law of evidence and who has written numerous books on that topic chooses to play number two to a man that failed all his exams at military college and that never went to a decent school or to any university? Jumping Jehoshaphat.

It is only in Nigeria that this sort of thing can happen. Poor Yemi. Look at what the Haramites have done to him and look at what they have reduced him to. Is there anything that these creatures from hell will not do? Is there anyone that they will not use and is there any norm that they will not defile, pervert, debase, violate and corrupt in their ignoble quest for power and as a consequence of their insatiable lusts and manifest greed?

The truth is that each and everyone one of us, including my friend Yemi, will ultimately have to answer to God for the choices that we make and we must live with the consequences of those choices. It is no wonder that the Redeemed Christian Church of God has disassociated itself from a false claim that the Church and, by implication, Rev. Adegboye himself, was supporting the Buhari/Osibajo ticket. Thankfully they have come out to say clearly and categorically that this is not so. One can always trust Adegboye to do and say the right thing because he is a man that is truly ''after God's heart''.

Yet the denial of an endorsement and tacit support from his Church is just the first of many shockers and unwelcome surprises that Yemi will be served with in the next few weeks. He will get shock after shock and surprise after surprise until the battle is over and circumstances compel him to go back to his very lucrative legal practice.

Yet before he does that he should learn a thing or two from one of his esteemed colleagues and yet another Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the courageous Pastor Bosun Emmanuel. Bosun said the following words in his famous sermon titled 'The Nigerian Church' which went viral just a few months ago.

He said, ''woe be unto any believer who joins hands with the enemies of God in an attempt to bury the Church and destroy the gospel''. This was a timely admonition and these are strong and wise words from a true servant of God who is under no illusion about what is going on in the politics of Nigeria and who is brave enough to say it as it is.

Yet whether we choose to heed Bosun's words or not I am absolutely certain of one thing: those that have aligned with the servants of satan and the children of darkness and that seek to thwart God's counsel for our nation shall not prevail.

Boko Haram abducted 185 women in Borno state on December 18th and they killed no less than 52 innocent people. Despite that some people are still supporting Buhari and his army of desperate Haramites? What a people, what a country.

Those that say that Buhari has changed simply because he chose a Pastor as his running mate are ignorant. Did he not have a Pastor as his running mate in his last outing in 2011? Did he not still say that it was his intention to ''spread sharia throughout the country'' and that ''an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north''?

Did he not oppose a state of emergency in the north eastern states and say that it was unfair for the military to kill Boko Haram members? Did he not say that instead of killing them they should forgive them, pamper them and treat them in the same way that the Niger Delta militants were treated?

Did the spokesman of his party Alhaji Lai Mohammed not say that the proscription of Boko Haram by the Federal Government was ‘’unjust’’ and ‘’unconstitutional’’? How does the fact that Buhari has opted for a Christian running mate change any of these things?

In any case he only opted for a Christian running mate because he was compelled to do so as a consequence of the hue and cry that the prospect of a muslim/muslim ticket had already started to generate. Are those that cite the fact that he has a Christian running mate as evidence of his new-found love for Christians aware of the fact that during the American civil war a small, ignorant, misguided and deluded group of negro slaves actually fought on the side of the southern confederate forces in an attempt to keep slavery in place?

Did that suggest that the leaders of the southern confederate ‘’secession’’ states suddenly changed their minds and fell in love with the blacks that they had enslaved and treated like animals? Is Buhari's claim of not being partial to his own hausa-fulani tribe not a little far-fetched? Did he not lead a northern delegation to Alhaji Lam Adesina, the late Governor of Oyo state, just a few years ago when some Fulani herdsmen were slaughtering Yoruba farmers on their own land and ask him ‘’why are YOUR people killing MY people?’’ Apparently Buhari believed that the aggressors that had invaded the land and farms of others and that killed all the occupants had a right to do so simply because they were fulani. Yet some people still claim that the man is not a tribalist.

Ignorance and lack of knowledge is a terrible affliction but in this context it is not only terrible but also very dangerous. Buhari’s choice of a Christian Pastor as his running mate means nothing and changes nothing about him or his entrenched views and ancient mindset.

It rather provides clear evidence of his sheer desperation to win power at all costs and it is a reflection of his obvious and deep-seated deceit. Let the truth be told even though the heavens may fall: Christian Vice President or no Christian Vice President, Buhari's heart remains as dark as ever.

We shall meet him in the field: let God's will be done.

Gunman kills two US policemen

2014-12-21T12:43:00.000+00:00

Two New York police officers have been shot dead by a gunman who then killed himself, officials said.

The officers were killed without warning on Saturday as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn, Police Commissioner William Bratton told a news conference, flanked by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Although we’re still learning the details, it’s clear that this was an assassination, that these officers were shot execution style,” said de Blasio.

Bratton named the gunman as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, and said he fled into a nearby metro station after the shooting and died there from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Police said Brinsley had shot and wounded his girlfriend in Baltimore before driving to Brooklyn.

Bratton added that the gunman had made online posts that were “very anti-police”.

The shooting comes at a time when police in New York and nationwide are being heavily criticised for their tactics following the chokehold death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who was stopped by police for selling cigarettes illegally.

US media reported a possible link between Brinsley, who was black, and anger over the death of Garner, based on a social media posting.

A post on Saturday on the site Instagram that appeared to be by Brinsley showed a silver pistol and said, “I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours … Let’s Take 2 of Theirs.”

The post included hashtags for Garner and for Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager who was killed in August by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

Hundreds of people protesting against police violence filled the Mall of America in Minnesota on Saturday, chanting “Black lives matter”, causing part of the mall to shut down.

Demonstrators around the country have staged protests since a grand jury decided on December 3 not to indict the white officer involved in Garner’s death, a decision that closely followed a Missouri grand jury’s decision not to indict the officer who killed Brown.