Daily Digest Online

  As the bitter feud between Former Governor of Ogun State and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun festers, the All Progressives Congress faction loyal to the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has refused to comment on the statement credited to a former governor of the state and national leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba, that he had foreclosed reconciliation with Amosun. The APC in Ogun has been bedevilled with internal crisis which has led to the emergence of parallel executive councils. One of the groups is loyal to Gov. Amosun while the other pitches its tent with Osoba. Osoba explained that not even the intervention from traditional rulers, nor the national leadership who might suggest harmonization of the executive in any format would make him change his stance, insisting that he would not accept apology from them or the governor.

Former Lagos state governor & father of billionaire oil magnate, Femi Otedola, Sir Michael Otedola, who passed away earlier this month has been laid to rest at his home town, Epe, today. Guests included President Jonathan and his wife Patience Jonathan, Governor Babatunde Fashola and his wife Bimbola; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Aliko Dangote; Folorunsho Alakija; Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie; former governor Peter Obi; Abike Dabiri, former military Administrator of Lagos, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Ministers for Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke and Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina, amongst other. While paying tribute, President Jonathan said: “He has left his marks on the sands of time, even though he ruled Lagos State for just 23 months but was able to leave an indelible mark which has been tremendous in the development of the state and Nigeria.”  Otedola died e...

The leader of #Bring Back Our Girls Campaign group , Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, has slammed President Goodluck Jonathan over his failure to visit the families and relatives of abducted 164 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. According to her, “The inability of President Goodluck Jonathan to visit Chibok shows the insensitivity of the federal government, to the plight of the relatives of the abducted girls”.

Former Oyo State governor and strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Rasheed Ladoja, is at this time not a happy man, having just lost one of his sons in a ghastly auto crash in Lagos over the weekend. Adebola Ladoja, who was driving a Volkswagen Golf car, was heading towards Lagos Island around 3.30pm when a DAF truck said to be on top speed lost control and rammed into his car, crushing it and killing Adebola on the spot. Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident and said the late Adebola's corpse has been deposited at the mortuary.   So sorry about that, sir.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared as unfortunate the comments credited to Information Minister Labaran Maku, that the FG was spending significantly on security in three of the APC-controlled states, noting that such statements implied that the office of the president is vacant. The honourable minister, while speaking at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), had drawn the attention of Nigerians to the entire money federal government had spent to maintain security in states controlled by the APC. According to the Party, Maku by that statement has proved that President Goodluck Jonathan is only the president, leader and chief executive officer (CEO) of PDP and not of Nigeria. In a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by its national publicity, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC described Maku’s comment as “a tragic and insensitive statement from an honourable minister of the Federal Republic about children, s...

There has been reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has had close talks with families of Boko Haram members in Abeokuta, aimed at opening a new channel of dialogue with the sect. This was revealed by Mallam Shehu Sani, who is President of Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria. Mallam Sani, who said he was part of the meeting, added that the meeting was also aimed at finding a way of releasing the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.   His words: “ This is to confirm that the meeting actually took place and I was part of it. The meeting was solely aimed at exploring the possibility of opening a new channel for dialogue or negotiation with the sect members towards securing the release of the abducted Chibok girls held in captivity for over a month.”

  The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar has assured Nigerians that they can have a hitch free celebrations tomorrow, May 29 (Democracy Day), as effective security measures have been put in place towards safeguarding lives and property. A statement by the spokesman of the force (CSP) Frank Mba said, the IGP has directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Intelligence, Command Commissioners of Police the Commissioners of Police in-charge of the various Police Special Squads such as the Counter Terrorism Unit, Police Mobile Force and Special Protection Unit (SPU) to be on "high alert and ensure effective and strategic deployment of all Police personnel". The IGP, while promising the citizenry of the total commitment and focus of the Nigeria Police along with other security agencies towards ensuring the safety and security of the citizenry at all times, called on all ...

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has warned the Federal Government against the use of force to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. In a statement signed by its Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, the militant organization urged the government to negotiate and agree to the option of prisoners swap as demanded by the abductors of the girls. “From our experience, it is impossible for any forceful commando-type rescue in forests or creeks to be successful," the statement read. "The Israelis encouraging such a move should understand that Sambisa Forest is a different kettle of fish from Entebbe International Airport,’’ it said.

  There has been reports that four out of the 68 Chibok school girls currently held by the Boko Haram insurgents have escaped from captivity. The Chairman, Chibok Local Government Area, Mr. Bana Lawan, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders meeting for validation of draft humanitarian response plan for the abducted girls. The meeting was organized by the National Emergency Management Agency. Lawan, who was represented by the Director for Personnel and Management, Mr. Musa Elijah, said the number of escapees had risen to 57 as against 53, while 164 girls were still held by the terrorist group. He said, “The people of Chibok are anxiously waiting for the safe return of their children. Except for the unfortunate situation where two of the parents have passed on. They were known to have BP (blood pressure) issues, although I am not a medical expert, but they will not be opportuned to welcome back their daughters."

Controversial Muslim Cleric, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has accused the Nigeria Military and its foreign collaborators for shielding the wanted leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. Speaking on Sunday, El-Zakzaky, who claims to know the whereabouts of Shekau, said: "Abubakar Shekau is presently being kept safe in a military camp, Let no one be fooled, there is nothing like Boko Haram." The Cleric accuses foreign powers for attempting to "balkanize Nigeria and steal its resources", adding that: "They did it in Iraq as they went in search of weapons of mass destruction which they never found but plundered the country."

Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has alleged that 'evil forces' are behind the ongoing spate of terror in the country, stating that their goal is to bring down his government. While speaking at the 2014 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja over the weekend, the president said:  "...All these distractions are planned to bring this government down and since they failed, terror will also fail. We have been witnessing terror attacks for two years plus, but the Chibok incident has added a major dent on the security of the country...With your prayers, our girls will be seen by our security personnel. Terror will not stop this country from progressing. We know that these terrorists are human and they are evil men. Definitely, they are among those we categorize as evil forces."

The All Progressive Congress, APC, will establish a national airline in the country if the party wins the 2015 general elections.  Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano state made this known during a dinner organized by the state government to mark the commencement of Ethiopian Airlines operation at MAKIA, held at Government House weekend. The governor said the move is part of the party’s conscious move to strengthen the national economy and make life better for all Nigerians, lamenting  that Nigeria does not have a national carrier. Kwankwaso said: “Airline business is a very lucrative business for both the public and private sectors because it contributes immensely to economic growth and stability of countries besides being a safe, quick, efficient and reliable means of transportation.”  Okay, let's wait and see...

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa'ad Abubakar III has tasked the Federal Government to address issues of inequality towards Muslims, which, according to the Sultan, is a key factor in fueling insurgency in the country, even as he called for followers of the faith to unite against Boko Haram extremists.   He said: “Terrorism has no place in Islam...We must rise up, as always, with one voice to condemn all acts of terrorism, condemn those terrorists wherever they are and try our possible best as Muslims to ensure peace reigns in our community.” He added that: " Terrorists are everywhere. They are among us but we don’t know them....The person sitting next to you might be one of those terrorists. You don’t know...We have to close ranks as Muslims, we have to close ranks as Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic or political divide, and not play politics with insecurity.”   The Sultan, o n Friday, announced a national day of “prayer for peace...

In spite of the appalling state of insecurity in the country, one man seems to believe strongly that the government is winning the war on terror, and that terrorism will soon be a thing of the past in Nigeria. He is Senate president, David Mark. He should know, being a retired Military officer himself. While speaking on the state of security in the country in light of the incessant bomb blasts and abductions going on, Mark vows: “… This government cannot negotiate with criminals and this government will not exchange people for criminals... This government will, at no distant time, bring the issue of Boko Haram and insecurity in the northern part of this country to a long term and logical conclusion. If Boko Haram and their supporters are not ready for peace, we will be glad to deal with them in the manner people deal with terrorists and insurgents. It is not by negotiation." Tough words...!

This is most  horrific . According to authoritative sources, a two-year-old boy was recently beheaded in Ogun State, while his mother, who had been raped by the said ritualist, was made to watch the horror!  The suspect, Mamodu Bashir Ibrahim, in his 30s, wrecked the havoc at Mowe area of the state. He reportedly killed the boy and then severed his head and sold it afterwards. According to police sources, the suspect had fled the scene immediately he killed the boy and cut off his head, but was later arrested after a manhunt. “Police operatives deployed to the area placed him under surveillance with the help of the members of the community before he was arrested at Mowe where he was hiding. The suspect has confessed to the crime and he is assisting the police in their investigation," said the police.

In a desperate measure to combat the wave of insurgency in the country, the FG has disbursed some N130.7 billion to the defence sector in the last four months, from January to April, according to Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.. This is coming on the heels of recent reports in dailies, that the military cannot tackle the menace of terrorism in the country because of inadequate funding. In a statement to newsmen earlier today, Okonjo-Iweala said: “Defence spending is top in everything; you know that military establishment need new things to assist them in their work and ours will not be different." She added that, "To be specific, they have about N968.127 billion and we have disbursed N130.7 billion between January and April 2014.’’ The minister further explained that N3.8 billion approved by the President was being processed and would soon be released, adding that there were other additional spending.