Why Obasanjo Should Leave Jonathan Alone

The Ex-Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diep-reye Alamieseigha, yesterday spoke on Obasanjo's controversial letter to President Jonathan saying the former President Olusegun Obasanjo should allow President Goodluck Jonathan freely run his administration without interference.

Speaking in Yenagoa, he said though Obasanjo deserves Jonathan’s respect, the president needs the support and encouragement of all Nigerians to run the country successfully.
He said, “No man is infallible, there is no man on this earth that knows everything about governance. Even if  you have tested power severally, one is still bound to make mistakes. Governance is a very complex thing. The office of president if you are not careful only those who want to tell you what you want to hear will have access to you. I cannot say the content of the letter is entirely rubbish as a Nigerian’’.
“You should know that President Jonathan must step on some toes for him to achieve success in the reforms he is embarking upon. He has done certain things that only courageous people can do. The pains for the ultimate realisation of the Nigerian dream can only last for a while’’.
“We must concede that at least Jonathan has achieved some great feats. But those things that he has not done well, he should be encouraged and advised in the right way and with good intention and not staying outside to command him as if the president is your subject that you can just sit anywhere to control. Leadership is like a relay race, Goodluck Jonathan should be allowed to run his race’’, Alamieyesieya maintained.
Meanwhile Alamieyesieya does not agree that Obasanjo’s letter is capable of truncating the ambition of Jonathan for a second term, insisting than Nigeria is bigger than Obasanjo.
“Obasanjo is not Nigeria, he alone cannot tell the citizens what to do. Remember he lost an election in his own village. That is how unpopular he is, even up till today or tomorrow. But Nigerians still voted for him. His disposition cannot significantly affect the electoral fortunes of Jonathan.
“Its God who gives power, if God so desires that Jonathan should continue in office then his aspiration will come to fruition. Jonathan has done much more than any other president has done. Let us support and encourage him instead of trying to pull him down by whipping up sentiments’’, Alamieyeseigha said.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/54987.html

President Jonathan To Contest In 2015 - Tukur Confirms

People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Bamanga Tukur has confirmed the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election for the office of president come 2015.

Although the president has not publicly announced his interest to contest in the next presidential election, there had been concerns by opposition parties and some members of the ruling party on the president's interest in seeking re-election claiming Jonathan's body language and political developments across the country reveal his 'real interest'.
As a result Jonathan has had many against him running in 2015 and working towards stopping the president, even some strong members of the ruling PDP including governors had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with an aim to wrest power from Jonathan and the ruling party.
Tukur finally declared on Thursday for the first time a local event held in Abuja since the beginning of the crisis rocking the PDP that the Nigerian leader has been chosen as the ruling party's presidential candidate for  2015.
Urging party faithful not to be deterred by the exodus of some of its key members, the ruling party leader maintained that PDP remains insurmountable as the strongest and biggest party in Nigeria and Africa, according to Abuja-based local Leadership Newspaper on Friday.
"Don't be deterred by some people saying they are leaving the party. People leaving the party are individuals, not the party. It does not mean if they leave the party, the party leaves. No, the party remains. PDP is the only party in Nigeria that fields a candidate in every election that is held. Don't be deterred; don't be afraid, you are part of the ruling party," said the party leader who further tasked officials to play their roles wisely in making sure that Jonathan wins the 2015 election.
With this declaration of Jonathan's interest to re-contest in 2015 elections, another round of controversy may however be raised.
Just as the president continues to keep mum on his second term ambition, there seems to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking Nigeria's ruling party for more than six months now
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/54238.html

BREAKING NEWS: Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Responsible For Maiduguri Attacks, Vows To Attack United States Of America

Leader of the Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has today claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Composite Group Air force Base in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital that occurred on 2nd December.

Shekau spoke in a 40 minutes video which was obtained by newsmen through intermediaries spoke in Arabic, Hausa and Kanuri  in which he claimed victory over Nigerian forces and vowed to extend what he described as “Crusade” to the shores of the United States of America.
The Boko Haram terrorists had attacked the 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force in Maiduguri, destroying five aircrafts and many buildings as well as the 333 Artillery Regiment also in Maiduguri where many buildings and vehicles were destroyed and burnt.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Army had insisted the military troops were able to inflict serious casualties on the terrorists and claimed that 25 insurgents were killed but the Boko Haram leader, Shekau in the new video said he only lost seven of his men but killed “many soldiers”.
Shekau said, "This message is intended as a glad tiding. Allah the Almighty has given us victory in the attack we launched inside Maiduguri (which was) called Borno in ancient times.
"We stormed the city and fought them (and) Allah blessed us with lots of booty. Three of our men carried out suicide bombings, three of our men died from bullets, one of them died from friendly fire and not from your bullet. May Allah accept them as Martyrs and may we attain such honour.
"Useless, stupid America! If you could do anything you would have done it in your country. Vagabond. You are boasting you are going to join forced with Nigeria to crush us, bloody liars. You couldn't crush us when we were carrying sticks. Is it today when we storm your  barracks and commandeered your things one after the other.
"By Allah we will never stop. Don't think we will stop in Maiduguri, tomorrow you will see us in America itself. Our operation is not confined to Nigeria, it is for the whole world,” Shekau said.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/54151.html

Obasanjo's Touching Tribute To Nelson Mandela

Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the late Nelson Mandela as a man who raised the beacon of human struggle to lofty heights of nobility.

Obasanjo, who addressed journalists in his home in Abeokuta on Friday, said Mandela’s life was an example of what people should all aspire for.
“In all situations, he lived nobly and died in nobility. Let us bear in mind that we all have the opportunity to act nobly in whatever position we find ourselves,” he added.
He described Mandela’s death as a monumental loss to all human races and called on all to emulate the life and times of the great leader.
“His demise is a loss to his family who will miss a caring patriarch; the people of South Africa who will miss a guide, Africa who will miss a role model and the world who will miss a leader.
“When we teach our children lessons for tomorrow, let us remember lessons Mandela gave the world in forgiveness and forbearance,’’ Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo, who eulogising Mandela, recalled the times when he was voted to become South-Africa’s post-apartheid president.
“During the first non-racial democratic elections in 1994, I was on election observation assignment in South Africa and was there for his campaign and when he cast his vote.
“He was devoid of bitterness or anger against anybody except the hated apartheid system.
“He went on to win the election and more importantly led South Africa to the extent that the country was able to cast aside its apartheid legacy and take its place in comity of nations.
“Certain that his task was completed, Mandela modestly refused to seek re-election after his first term in office as his presidency elapsed.
“I still recall his pragmatic words when he said to me ‘Olu, show me a place in the world where a man of 80 years is running the affairs of his country.
“This, to me, reflects an unequalled sense of modesty for a man who spent 27 of the prime years of his life in prison for a just cause.
“Yet he still kept a calm and peaceful disposition to those who took away his freedom for all those years of his life,’’ he explained.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53791.html

"I'm Just A Poor Jobless Pensioner, Would You Hire Me?" - Remembering Mandela's SENSE OF HUMOR

6 December, 2013

Foreign

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Nelson Mandela was many things to many people, but his sense of humor, his dry wit and his remarkable ability to render someone speechless with a well-placed one-liner, is a separate topic worth to be remembered.
He was not the kind of man to fall over in laughter or to guffaw loudly. He did not make silly gaffes, inappropriate innuendos or stupid jokes. Instead, just like the rest of him, his humor was dignified, statesmanlike and perhaps a little old-fashioned.
Some of Mandela's jokes were well-used and a bit cheesy, but that did not detract from their simplicity and effectiveness.
He had a small arsenal of one-liners he used for different people.
If he met a married couple, he demanded to know from the lady, "When did you propose to your husband?"
Of course, for Mandela, with his early 20th century, patriarchal value system, it was hugely amusing to imagine anything as audacious as a woman asking a man to marry her. And of course, his question was always met with nervous, unnaturally loud laughter that broke the ice.
Either way, Mandela won over foes, disarmed critics and charmed the media with his cutesy, gee-whiz humor.
Besides the jokes, he could also lather complete strangers with devastatingly flattering compliments. He often said to those whose lives are not distinguished by public office or marked by accolades, "I am so honored to meet you."
More often than not, he would poke fun at himself with classic comic timing. He would often start off a speech by thanking everyone for coming to listen to "such an old man."
Later, after he stood down after one term as South African president, he won over a group of staid, white South African businessmen by telling them, "Nowadays, I am just a poor pensioner. I am jobless. Maybe you could hire me?"
Self-mockery was a typically savvy Mandela ploy to ensure that people would relax around him.
The cult of Mandela had become so pronounced that celebrities, world leaders and ordinary people often became tongue-tied and gibbering when they met him.
So, joking about his failings or mistakes was just another way of Mandela saying: "Chill! I'm cool. Relax."
Mandela walked with a ramrod gait, straight-backed and stiff. Over the years,many people meet him for the first time, and without exception, they came away from the encounter amazed at how tall and regal-looking he was.