Obama Congratulates Nigeria at 54, Pledges Support Against Terrorism!

United States President Barack Obama has sent his greetings and that of the American people to Nigerians on the 54th independence anniversary of the country.

In a letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan, Obama acknowledged Nigeria's leadership role in Africa and at the United Nations (UN) towards promoting regional peace and stability.

The letter made available by the US Embassy in Abuja read in part: "At the heart of our enduring friendship is our shared commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, and economic development.

"We look forward to strengthening our relationship and working closely in the coming year, especially in promoting good governance and combating terrorism. As Nigerians observe this special day, we wish you a more peaceful and prosperous year." Obama added that the US was looking forward to strengthening its relationship with Nigeria in the coming year, especially on good governance.

In addition to Obama's congratulatory message, Senate President David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday urged Nigerians to sustain their faith in Nigeria and remain steadfast in the effort to promote peace and the unity of Nigeria no matter the challenges.

Mark, in a goodwill message to Nigerians to mark today's 54th independence anniversary, said the indivisibility of the nation was not negotiable as he recalled the nation's chequered political history since 1960, during which Nigeria went through a 30-month fratricidal civil war, various ethno-religious conflicts, adding that the crises were surmountable.

He dismissed as untrue the perception in some quarters that Nigeria had not made progress since independence, saying: "Let us cast our minds back a little and see the number of roads, schools, universities, health institutions, telecommunications infrastructure and a host of others.

"We may not have been where we want to be but we have made appreciable progress and we can do more. All we need to do is to strengthen our unity as one people with one mission and purpose.

"A stable democracy has offered us an opportunity to harness our abundant resources for good.

"Nigeria has passed through many challenges in the past and we came out of it. The security challenges; this Boko Haram can be defeated if we unite to fight them. I believe Boko Haram, terrorism or the insurgency is alien to us as a people. We have the capacity to defeat them and confine them to the dustbin of history."

He added: "We cannot correct perceived imbalances by taking up arms against our brothers, sisters and the nation. We must therefore continue to shun individuals or groups that encourage, preach and practise division among our people. We must shun every harbinger of hate and bond together as a people of common interest and destiny.

"As legislators we will continue to do our part to wit; provide the needed legislative framework for the executive arm of government to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.

"Let me use this occasion to remind our fellow country men and women that as 2015 elections approach, we must not lose sight of the fact that the election should not be seen as war. We must play the game according to the rules."

Source: ThisDay

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Death Row Soldiers Still in Underground Cells!

About a week after the 12 soldiers condemned to death by a military court-martial were moved to military facilities in Kainji in Niger State and Lagos, LEADERSHIP has again gathered that the soldiers are still being kept in an underground cell.

A source said last night that they were still in the cell waiting for their appeals to be fixed for hearing and determination.

The source further said that the soldiers are no longer being fed well compared to the way they were fed before they moved them to the cell.

"They no longer eat well since they were moved to the underground cell. They fed them better than now that they have been moved. We are waiting for the court to hear and determine their appeals," the source said.

Last week, a Nigerian newspaper exclusively reported that the soldiers had been moved to the military intelligence headquarters in Apapa, Lagos State and that they were facing inhuman treatment where they were kept.

The source, however, revealed last night that the inhuman treatment meted out to them initially had stopped.

The soldiers were tried and convicted for mutiny by a military court-martial about two weeks ago.

Since the verdict was passed on the soldiers, many Nigerians have been appealing to the military authorities to reduce their sentence, with some even appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan to temper justice with mercy.

We're Still Searching for Missing aircraft

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force last night disclosed that the situation remained the same with the missing aircraft: it is still trying to determine the whereabouts of its missing fighter jet.

"We are still searching for the aircraft. The search team is still at work. Every information received so far has not given us a clue about its location," the spokesman of the NAF, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said.

Two weeks ago, specifically on September 14, the Defence Headquarters, through its spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade, had announced that an Air Force Alpha jet involved in operations in north-east Nigeria was missing.

"An Alpha Jet (NAF 466) belonging to the Nigerian Air Force is missing around Adamawa State.

"The aircraft, with two pilots onboard, left Yola at about 10:45am on September 12, 2014, on a routine operational mission and was expected back by 12pm. Since then, all efforts to establish contact with the aircraft have not yielded any positive result. Search-and-rescue efforts towards establishing contact with the crew are ongoing," a statement issued by Olukolade had read.

We must unite to defeat Boko Haram- Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that lack of unity among Nigerians was the main reason why the country was yet to defeat the deadly terror group, Boko Haram, and contain its activities which had claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people.

He urged politicians and highly placed Nigerian to be mindful of their action, saying that while it was usual to struggle for political space, such actions should be done with caution taking cognizance of the fact that the country needs to remain strong and united for the good of all citizens.

Speaking at the interdenominational church service to mark the 54th independence anniversary of the country which was held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Jonathan cited the country's successful containment of the Ebola Virus disease as a battle won against a deadly disease because the country was united irrespective of political affiliations.

He said, "When I listen to some comments by some highly placed individuals, I feel sorry for this country. There are some of us who, while struggling to get what we desire, we have even forgotten that we cannot get that if we destroy our country. So, if we come together, while pursuing whatever achievement we want - I believe that we don't have any other country than Nigeria - I am sure we will overcome Boko Haram.

"We were able to defeat Ebola because all Nigerians agreed together in waging a war against the disease. That is the strength of unity," the president added, even as he observed that some of the challenges the country was facing "whether kidnapping or the greatest problem we are having - which is terror - is because all of us have not united to fight these challenges".

Noting that the Armed forces has done well and only needed the encouragement from Nigerians to do better, Jonathan commended the security services for doing their best in spite of their challenges, including sabotage.

The president further declared Nigeria is great because of the strength and resilience of its people and not due to its oil and abundant natural resources, noting that "Nigeria is a poor country if you look at the resources and the population."

On his part, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said that all the problems facing Nigeria were self-inflicted, including corruption and insurgency.

Galadiman Kano, Is Dead!

The Galadiman Kano, Tijjani Hashim, one of the most powerful members of the Kano emirate council, is dead. 

Acording to information, he died in the early hours of Monday in Abuja.

The late Hashim was a a very close ally of the late Premier of the north and Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello. He served as a regional minister under the Sardauna.

As the Galadima, Mr. Hashim was the most senior prince in Kano Emirate and was by birth, like the current emir, Sanusi II, an heir to the throne of the Emir of Kano when the late emir Ado Bayero died.

Although his father was never an emir, Galadima's  grand father, Abbas, ruled Kano from 1903 to 1919.

Mr. Hashim was arguably the most powerful member of the Kano emirate council and was close to virtually all presidents and head of state of northern extraction.

He was 79.

George Clooney Is Married!

 George Clooney is officially taken. 

The 53-year-old married Amal Alamuddin in Venice, Italy over the weekend.

So, how did this accomplished, beautiful woman steal the heart of Hollywood's most eligible bachelor.

They were first spotted together last October, followed by an engagement this past April. 

Their tale was like one straight out of one of Clooney's movies, where an acclaimed actor who had said for years he’d given up on marriage finally meets the one.

Boko Haram Kill Pastor, Teacher, 18 Others, Razes Churches in Borno!

Some suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram sect attacked Shaffa and Shindiffu villages of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno state killing pastor Eliud Gwamna Mshelizza of the Living Faith Church, a teacher (name withheld) at Government Girls Secondary School Shaffa and other 18 others mostly Christians.

The terrorists also razed down about 10 churches such as E.Y.N No:I, E.Y.N No: II and III in Shaffa and Shindiffu villages including befitting houses mostly belonging to Christians as well as destruction of a clinic and some staff quarters and structures at the Government Girls Secondary School in Shaffa.

Unfortunately when the terrorists were about to leave Shindiffu and proceed to Turaku village another Christian community to continue their deadly act, military troops from Adamawa axis and Biu Military barracks who were on their trail ambushed them and killed almost all of them.

The attackers according to fleeing residents invaded Shaffa at about 8pm on Wednesday and wrecked havoc before storming Shindiffu Village on Thursday morning at about 11am.

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Woman beheaded at Oklahoma food processing plant!

Oklahoma law enforcement officials said a 30-year-old man identified by officials as Alton Alexander Nolan reportedly beheaded a woman after a workplace dispute late Thursday afternoon at a Vaughan Foods processing plant in Moore, about 10 miles south of Oklahoma City. He also reportedly tried to kill another woman. 

A sheriff's deputy shot the suspect, he was taken a hospital and is expected to survive. Information says there were no immediate indications of a link to terrorism. 

Lagos Begins DNA Test To Identify Synagogue Church Casualties!

The Lagos State Government has begun DNA test to identify bodies of victims of the Synagogue Church building collapse. Emergency rescue officials put the death toll of the incident at 115.

The government called for DNA samples from relatives of the deceased to be able to sort out the dead bodies before releasing them to their loved ones for burial.

The government said relatives and family members of victims, both locally and internationally, must come forward to donate samples for the test.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris disclosed this on Friday at Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, He said early submission of samples would aid forensic identification and DNA analysis of recovered bodies.

He said the state government considered it necessary to start forensic identification and DNA analysis of the recovered bodies in view of the need to identify each of them.

He appealed to family members, especially parents, children and siblings of nationals who believe their relations died in the collapsed building to visit the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja from Friday, 26 September, to submit samples that could aid the forensic identification and DNA analysis of recovered bodies.

The commissioner explained that those eligible to give samples for the forensic identification and DNA analysis in order of preference include parents, children and siblings of the deceased.

Majority of victims of the disaster were identified as South Africans. The South African government said 84 of its citizens died in the incident.

Officials of the Lagos State Government said authorities of the church did not obtain approval before adding four more floors to the two-storey building.

Families of affected victims have threatened to sue the General Overseer of the church, Prophet Temitope Joshua, for preventing rescue workers from moving in immediately to save lives when the building collapsed.

The Federal Government has already set up a committee to investigate the incident.

Joshua had claimed that Boko Haram attacked his church citing a strange aircraft which hovered over the building several times before it collapsed, but many Nigerians dismissed his claim.

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