Abuja
JUST IN: NIGERIA IN A FRESH WORD WAR WITH ZIMBABWE AND SOUTH AFRICA.
ABUJA— Barely a month after President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe made derogatory remarks about Nigeria and its citizens, the Federal Government, yesterday, reacted, describing Mugabe’s statement as “unstatesmanlike and dishonourable.”
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhoimoibhi, made the condemnation while addressing a two man delegation from Zimbabwe.
Mugabe had, during his recent 90th birthday luncheon hosted by the Service Chiefs and the Public Commission, described Nigeria and its citizens as corrupt.
Mugabe, while addressing the delegates at the occasion, said Zimbabweans were now almost behaving like Nigerians who, according to him, have to be corruptly paid for every service.
Reacting to President Mugabe’s derogatory remarks, the Permanent Secretary said the Federal Government was deeply concerned that a sitting President whose country Nigeria had assisted immensely during its liberation struggle and had enjoyed cordial relations with, could take “considerable time to vituperate about Nigeria, reflecting what we considered to be a strong aversion for our country.”
Uhoimoibhi said it was disheartening that not only did the utterance not reflect the reality in the country but that it came from a sitting president of a brotherly country.
He said: “We considered the remarks denigrating and unstateman like on Nigeria and Nigerians in general. We want to present the strongest protest on that statement. We thought it was most unkind and very dishonourable.
“So we take the strongest exception to it and we protest it for its partial inaccuracy, and also for the unfriendly attitude that it conveyed from the President towards Nigeria and Nigerians.
‘We ‘re proud Africans’
“Nigerians are Afrocentric people. We are very proud of the role we have played throughout our history to uphold the dignitary of the black race and the black man wherever he exists.
“We are immensely proud of our history in the liberation struggle. Nigeria, even though it was geographically different, distant from Southern Africa, was regarded as a frontline state.
“This was not a struggle that we fought half heartedly. We fought that struggle with all our heart, with our mind and every Nigerian citizen paid the prize for that struggle.
“Your pain was our pain; your struggle was our struggle. We believe your freedom is our freedom. But for the number one citizen of that country to regard Nigeria in a term in which the statement of the president was reported to have represented Nigeria with what was most unkind, hostile and unfriendly, we hope that this does not reflect a long-standing aversion for Nigerians.”
The permanent secretary, who gave the assurance that Nigeria would not change its Afrocentric policy, stressed that the country would continue to work for the good of all mankind and indeed the black race.
He said: “We have the utmost respect for Zimbabweans. You are welcome to our country but we are not happy and we are most unhappy indeed at this utterance.”
Slams South Africa
Ambassador Uhoimoibhi, who also reacted to the racist attack on Nigerians by South Africans, called on the South African government to checkmate such act.
He also enjoined South Africa to ensure that in line with “all appropriate actions consistent with commitment of South African government to international standard of behaviour and the cordial relations that exist between our two countries, those matters are dealt with in appropriate way.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any act of racism, xenophobia and discrimination perpetrated by whomsoever, and we are appalled that this incident occurred from a country we hold in a high esteem and which is a brother country to Nigeria.”
Receiving the memoir and the note from Uhoimoibhi for onward delivery to the Zimbabwean government, the Head of Chancery, Mr. Kunjeku, promised to deliver the message.
In a related development, there has been unconfirmed rumors of attacks on Nigerians living in Johannesburg, South Africa early this week.
Nigerians have always been the target of every xenophobic attack in Southern Africa despite the roles they played during the struggle for the freedom of this region.
BREAKING NEWS: Fani-Kayode dumps APC, unites with Jonathan for 2015
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), says he has just realized that President Goodluck Jonathan is a responsible leader.
The former minister was at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today to meet with Jonathan.
Addressing State House journalists after the closed door meeting, Fani-Kayode said he would never agree to the alleged plan by the APC to field two Muslims as presidential candidate and running mate for the 2015 general elections.
He said though he had been a critic of Jonathan’s administration, there was nothing wrong in resolving “issues” with the president.
Fani-Kayode later headed for the Office of the Chief of Staff to the president.
Since the news of FFK’s visit to GEJ got to the media, the social media has gone wild with several comments questioning the character of FFK. Here are some comments:
Umar Bukar · Architect at Landbase Associates
“I guess he headed to the Chief of staff’s office to collect his own share of our $20 Billion… Ok ooo Nigerian ‘s have always and will always vote along ethnic and religious lines even when Buhari ran with a pastor as his VP…”
Tanko Ayub · Top Commenter on daily trust
“Has he any electoral value? NO. Even in his ward. Attention was not given to him in APC. Food don dey table politician!”
Mallam Gandhi · University of Dundee
“An Empty sack politician. Probably he was in APC just to be an information conduit pipe. But when he realised he has no relevance in the party and have no access to vital party information that he share with his paymasters, he chose showing his true original face.”
Many have alleged that the talented poet may be looking for better paymasters.
20 BOKO HARAM MEMBERS KILLED IN ABUJA NEAR THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA
No fewer than 20 Boko Haram detainees have been shot dead in a shoutout that ensued this morning at the Department of State Security Service (DSS) in the Asokoro a district of Abuja.
Vanguard learnt that the shoutout erupted when some of the suspected terrorists attempted to free their members and leave the detention facility, which is by the precincts of the Presidential Villa.
Trouble started around 6am during the normal handing over and taking over of duties by DSS detainees’ handlers.
A competent source said that as soon as one handlers opened the gate leading to the cell where the detainees were being kept, ten suspected terrorists rushed out, snatched the handler’s rifle and used it to shoot him.
Seeing the attack, some DSS handlers are reported to have retreated so as not to be killed by the rampaging suspected terrorists.
The source said after shooting the first handler, the ten suspected terrorists began to escape into different locations within the massive security compound.
Alarmed by the effrontery of the suspected terrorists, the DSS quickly deployed its men to quell the uprising, resulting in heavy shooting that claimed the lives of some of the suspects.
Many DSS operatives and Boko Haram detainees were also injured in the ensuing stampede.
The shot DSS operative, whose name could not be immediately ascertained, was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital. A source said the shot operative was in a fatal state but had not died.
It was learnt that the DSS, which is highly embarrassed by the incident, had begun investigation into why the detainees handler decided to go and open the cell gate alone without being accompanied by others, as is the standard practice.
“The whole episode occurred around 6:30 am and 7am on Sunday during the normal handing over and takeover of detainees.
“The standard rule is that you cannot go alone to open the gate leading to the detainees’ cell but as soon as the man opened the gate, he was attacked and he tried to run away and was shot.
“The shot operative has been taken to hospital,” the source said.
The uprising led to the deployment of soldiers to the DSS headquarters and around the Presidential Villa.
Commuters and vehicles passing through the Aso a Drive, were searched by armed soldiers and DSS operatives.
Marylyn Ogar, the Spokeswoman for the DSS, confirmed the attempted jailbreak, which she said had been stalled by security agents.
She said, “What happened was that the suspects’ handlers went to feed the detainees here but suddenly they attacked him with their handcuffs, disarmed him and started shooting.
“The military was quickly called in before they could do any harm and that is responsible for the shootings you heard.
“It was an attempted jailbreak but it has been brought under control.”
DORA AKUNYILI: SICK BEYOND RECOGNITION…PICTURES AND HER OFFICIAL STATEMENT
The former minister of Information and Communications, who was also one time dreaded Director of NAFDAC (The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control) in Nigeria has recently been sighted in public domains in a bad shape. Here is part of her official statement made available to the media: ” While it is true that I recently came out of a major sickness, for which I thank Almighty God for delivering me, I have since been declared fit by my doctors and returned to my normal activities. I shed much weight in the course of the sickness – which is normal – but I am well now and only need time to re-grow some flesh. There is nothing to worry about either my health or my present stature. I know that God has kept me alive for a purpose, this National Conference being part of that purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, I am well now, fit, strong enough and ready for this all-important National Conference and I look forward to collaborating with other delegates to chart the way for a better Nigeria.”
Already the social media has been flooded with speculations as to the cause of Mrs. Dora’s sickness as many associate her sickness with spiritual attacks while many others relate her looks with symptoms of some incurable viral diseases.
it is true that I recently came out of a major sickness, for which I thank Almighty God for delivering me, I have since been declared fit by my doctors and returned to my normal activities. I shed much weight in the course of the sickness – which is normal – but I am well now and only need time to re-grow some flesh. There is nothing to worry about either my health or my present stature.
“I know that God has kept me alive for a purpose, this National Conference being part of that purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, I am well now, fit, strong enough and ready for this all-important National Conference and I look forward to collaborating with other delegates to chart the way for a better Nigeria.”
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/well-fit-ready-national-conference-akunyili/#sthash.HqiUvACi.d
it is true that I recently came out of a major sickness, for which I thank Almighty God for delivering me, I have since been declared fit by my doctors and returned to my normal activities. I shed much weight in the course of the sickness – which is normal – but I am well now and only need time to re-grow some flesh. There is nothing to worry about either my health or my present stature.
“I know that God has kept me alive for a purpose, this National Conference being part of that purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, I am well now, fit, strong enough and ready for this all-important National Conference and I look forward to collaborating with other delegates to chart the way for a better Nigeria.”
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/well-fit-ready-national-conference-akunyili/#sthash.HqiUvACi.dpuf
“While it is true that I recently came out of a major sickness, for which I thank Almighty God for delivering me, I have since been declared fit by my doctors and returned to my normal activities. I shed much weight in the course of the sickness – which is normal – but I am well now and only need time to re-grow some flesh. There is nothing to worry about either my health or my present stature.
“I know that God has kept me alive for a purpose, this National Conference being part of that purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, I am well now, fit, strong enough and ready for this all-important National Conference and I look forward to collaborating with other delegates to chart the way for a better Nigeria.”
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/well-fit-ready-national-conference-akunyili/#sthash.1VxsoY9b.dpuf
“While it is true that I recently came out of a major sickness, for which I thank Almighty God for delivering me, I have since been declared fit by my doctors and returned to my normal activities. I shed much weight in the course of the sickness – which is normal – but I am well now and only need time to re-grow some flesh. There is nothing to worry about either my health or my present stature.
“I know that God has kept me alive for a purpose, this National Conference being part of that purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, I am well now, fit, strong enough and ready for this all-important National Conference and I look forward to collaborating with other delegates to chart the way for a better Nigeria.”
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/well-fit-ready-national-conference-akunyili/#sthash.1VxsoY9b.dpuf
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AFRICA THISDAY 