Elections 2015: Jonathanians Vs. Buharists - By Oyede Saheed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHINKxtZjvGXBULd8yfV22cu2Gw69Q0IN2jT1rQULIjH9k1rzHf02qL8Xuu3PfOIdTlSmRBFaONDvAkHuFjgUxNrpRzsFD48fmM1h8iyEXSsMoJxdntnGPa70s2mP_B1WBsDC2lWWsVY/s1600/Buhari-and-Jonathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHINKxtZjvGXBULd8yfV22cu2Gw69Q0IN2jT1rQULIjH9k1rzHf02qL8Xuu3PfOIdTlSmRBFaONDvAkHuFjgUxNrpRzsFD48fmM1h8iyEXSsMoJxdntnGPa70s2mP_B1WBsDC2lWWsVY/s1600/Buhari-and-Jonathan.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>In 2011, a particular leading candidate came out with the ‘I have no Shoes’ campaign while the opposition kept screaming that Goodluck was not synonymous with good governance. Whether he really had no shoes and whether Goodluck is not synonymous with good governance is a debate for another day. Today, the opposition has grown bigger than what it used to be. Essentially, reducing the political debates ahead of 2015 Elections to two parties, the PDP and the APC.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ordinarily, I need not define who a Buharist is and who a Jonathanian is but for the benefits of non-Nigerians who may be reading this and for the purpose of this write up, Jonathanians are the fanatical and sympathetic supporters of President Jonathan of Nigeria while Buharists are the fanatical and sympathetic supporters of Gen Muhammadu Buhari- one of the leading opposition figures in Nigeria’s political settings.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When Buhari emerged as the APC presidential candidate for the 2015 Elections, the first congratulatory message from a political party came from the PDP with the tone of that message suggesting that there was more to it than met the eyes. The message was point blank: the only thing that has changed in GMB is his changing into a night suit. We recalled that one of the men paid to cry more than the bereaved for the president had come out crying to the world that if the opposition party survived beyond nine months, we should call him a Bastard. Trust Nigerians, they have given him an overdose of Bastard definition. The same man, some days ago, came out in his usual controversial manner to tell us that our dear president is the Jesus of our time. Most of the president’s supporters, in their attempt to defend him always end up confusing their audience the more. We find it hard to explain that the Federal Government of Nigeria couldn’t legitimately or illegitimately purchase arms from the black market let alone the International Market while Mr. Government Ekpemupolo an ex-militant succeeded in purchasing six warships for the purpose of defending Federal Government properties.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Several leading figures have lately attacked the president: Chief of them was the Nobel Laureate: Prof Wole Soyinka who likened President Jonathan to Nebuchadnezzar of the Bible. He literally took the insult to the corridors of power. (Although some online versions have it that our Dear Prof has finally and systematically endorsed our President by reminding us that he is the only candidate without any ties to the military) As if that was not enough, Former President Obasanjo gave Insult a direct access to Aso Rock with the publication of his Book – My Watch, thereby allowing insult to have an audience with the president. He not only called President Jonathan weak and incompetent, he detailed his incompetence while also revealing to us that we have five presidents in Nigeria and that President Jonathan was the weakest in the chain. Recall, a chain is as strong as its weakest point. As if that wasn’t enough, Governor Fashola of Lagos at the last APC convention listed out all the unfulfilled promises of our dear president.  Fashola noted that Mr. President’s list of unfulfilled promises is competing with his list of disappointments, though he wasn’t sure which list was longer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The president must be duly acknowledged as a man that has the ability to tolerate the opposition to a fault but my fear is that if he eventually wins his re-election, will he still be this tolerant of the opposition? One thing for sure, former President Obasanjo couldn’t have been this tolerant. I also have my fears about the opposition. Should APC win, will they be matured enough to manage their success? Will APC not eventually be the Botanical name for PDP in the long run? The implosion in Ogun state, the outright loss of Ekiti State, the logjam in Rivers and Edo state are a pointer towards that observation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Conclusively, President Jonathan deserves all the respect he can get and I have always maintained that Nigeria is a reflection of Nigerians. Whatever the outcome of the 2015 General Elections turns out to be, we hope that it will eventually reflect the wish of Nigerians.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Oyede Saheed is a postgraduate student of UNILAG and can be reached via email: chiefhumanbeing@gmail.com</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Source: SaharaReporters</b></div>

Elections 2015: Jonathanians Vs. Buharists - By Oyede Saheed

In 2011, a particular leading candidate came out with the ‘I have no Shoes’ campaign while the opposition kept screaming that Goodluck ...

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OMG! See Americans Reactions To Police Officers Murder

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5GQ75SUfajqyjxLc0sy2riOn7JFuRuHBRpfmd3yimE_5K_Ew6ZrvLKc-WJbRyBkToacaMCy4DUdRWBm0fIWLp3XndPGK5HOxWlPJ_KqnBbySjFmt1Y1v8UIq_l7rsRrwmiMCS77nPDU/s1600/all-my-heroes-kill-cops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5GQ75SUfajqyjxLc0sy2riOn7JFuRuHBRpfmd3yimE_5K_Ew6ZrvLKc-WJbRyBkToacaMCy4DUdRWBm0fIWLp3XndPGK5HOxWlPJ_KqnBbySjFmt1Y1v8UIq_l7rsRrwmiMCS77nPDU/s1600/all-my-heroes-kill-cops.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>OMG! Is this what America has become? Celebrating the assassination of police officers? Hailing and saluting the killer? What a world! But who is to blame if not the police. The police that shoot and kill innocent and unarmed civilians and getting away with the senseless murder. The killing of unarmed black teenager Micheal Brown and the resultant nationwide protests are still fresh in our memory. Eric Garner too. Remember? And the killer-police officers are still walking as freemen.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> See how the American people have been reacting to <b><a href="http://nigerianewsroom.blogspot.com/2014/12/breaking-news-2-nypd-police-officers.html">the assassination of Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos</a></b>. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Images were screenshot from <a href="http://twitchy.com/2014/12/20/can-they-breathe-execution-style-killing-of-two-nypd-officers-celebrated-salute-the-shooter/"><b>Twitchy</b></a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXk4HNH3ndLd2m0ojcRdM_PuUyO3FAfyy5ASluMsIQ9TxnnoaXAxLU4eO27VpCrpBuS2tPauCmUGcHYVnBq4OGrjH45oce8TlttZGeA44Efvq3gs5CJTTg-tnM5hyphenhyphen2lGDVHGdmBOz4Y0c/s1600/NYPD+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXk4HNH3ndLd2m0ojcRdM_PuUyO3FAfyy5ASluMsIQ9TxnnoaXAxLU4eO27VpCrpBuS2tPauCmUGcHYVnBq4OGrjH45oce8TlttZGeA44Efvq3gs5CJTTg-tnM5hyphenhyphen2lGDVHGdmBOz4Y0c/s1600/NYPD+1.JPG" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgkonvhxwxAtck6iSg-rHmg8ijC4Gt4GrSTPePebRG2CP62RPkCfTwAQf0wt87IlfDrmOWhK7Z0ONU9Zbuuw2ayX3Hs1Po7x_LzTUjFMOOFZqskLxwTfkrcsQj-bUhnNrP0bQG2KfkLE/s1600/NYPD+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgkonvhxwxAtck6iSg-rHmg8ijC4Gt4GrSTPePebRG2CP62RPkCfTwAQf0wt87IlfDrmOWhK7Z0ONU9Zbuuw2ayX3Hs1Po7x_LzTUjFMOOFZqskLxwTfkrcsQj-bUhnNrP0bQG2KfkLE/s1600/NYPD+2.JPG" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYVq9uu8yD3VgM9Fg4LLagyLkn5R6pyY1FDpZODvjB9auRz6pcee-r8UkfBXP_q3PYbwCag_J9KUBJu027YJQG9XtpiCGL3sYNqBJt_API80sgwCqYSe320pcR83RZmYKxJL59DPytME/s1600/NYPD+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYVq9uu8yD3VgM9Fg4LLagyLkn5R6pyY1FDpZODvjB9auRz6pcee-r8UkfBXP_q3PYbwCag_J9KUBJu027YJQG9XtpiCGL3sYNqBJt_API80sgwCqYSe320pcR83RZmYKxJL59DPytME/s1600/NYPD+3.JPG" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUR7exDK4Sd7CnI-MtibQelbtuxCtWHDOicHQhdMa4tEbJPI-95e59D0VLE63YUS3scCq9Vbvv-WMnULIyAixECsnO5fOl69_FSqcEEkpBNRm06XLo0QaIMEPJmJFvLE37b2HvfXeSDc/s1600/NYPD+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUR7exDK4Sd7CnI-MtibQelbtuxCtWHDOicHQhdMa4tEbJPI-95e59D0VLE63YUS3scCq9Vbvv-WMnULIyAixECsnO5fOl69_FSqcEEkpBNRm06XLo0QaIMEPJmJFvLE37b2HvfXeSDc/s1600/NYPD+4.JPG" /></a></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <br /> <br />

OMG! See Americans Reactions To Police Officers Murder

OMG! Is this what America has become? Celebrating the assassination of police officers? Hailing and saluting the killer? What a world! ...

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Osinbajo: APC, PDP Back To The Drawing Board

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR84bXzTz8E5VXipag0crWdfM3QpOtQ_kjfSxu3XlRmnfvsxtMn1XY7EwLXn8x9dIzgVjys8s-iUxxPog3-SxMQHvUSv94a7J1gaWKwXEtL2wFfeIzXOV3Ipw_a7GkJsAw-6Rng66p5s/s1600/APC-Vs-PDP-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR84bXzTz8E5VXipag0crWdfM3QpOtQ_kjfSxu3XlRmnfvsxtMn1XY7EwLXn8x9dIzgVjys8s-iUxxPog3-SxMQHvUSv94a7J1gaWKwXEtL2wFfeIzXOV3Ipw_a7GkJsAw-6Rng66p5s/s1600/APC-Vs-PDP-new.jpg" /></a></div> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>In this report written and compiled by seven seasoned journalists from the Punch stable, the <i>Sunday Punch</i> says the unexpected emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate to APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari has changed the calculations and permutations of the two major political parties in the country, the ruling PDP and the opposition APC. Both parties are reported to have gone back to the drawing board to thinker with their position zoning arrangements. </b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Below is how <b><i>Sunday Punch</i></b> reports the story:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The country’s two major political parties the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Party have kick-started a realignment of forces in order to upstage each other in the forthcoming 2015 presidential election.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The realignment is said to be one of the fallouts of the emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as the vice- presidential candidate of the APC on Wednesday.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Both parties, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, might have changed their zoning formula to ensure that the selection of Osinbajo would not hurt their chances at the polls.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Osinbajo, a former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, is a native of Ikenne, Ogun State in the South-West. His wife, Dolapo, is a granddaughter of the first Premier of the Western Region and foremost Yoruba politician, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It was learnt that the PDP was jolted by the APC’s choice of Osinbajo as the running mate of its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Following the zoning of the APC vice presidential ticket to the South-West, the ruling party is said to have revisited its zoning formula. The plan, sources say, is to zone some of the top positions in government to the zone as part of measures to woo the region in the 2015 presidential election.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that besides the speakership of the House of Representatives, which the PDP reportedly agreed to zone to the South-West, the party also, planned to cede some key positions to the zone.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But even as the PDP makes its move, the APC is also said to have gone back to the drawing board to ensure that the selection of Osinbajo by Buhari does not affect its fortunes in the South -South and South-East.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the APC might zone the Senate Presidency and the Speakership of the House of Representatives, to the South-East and the South-South, if it wins the 2015 elections. The two regions were being considered for the posts because the North and South-West have the President and Vice-President slots.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> While Jonathan is widely believed to enjoy massive support in the two regions, some of the APC’s most prominent powerbrokers, including a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State are from the two regions.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Amaechi was one of those considered for the vice-presidential slot before Osinbajo was selected and Okorocha had contested for the presidential ticket and lost to Buhari.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A change in the formula might also be a plan by the party to ensure that members of the two parties from these regions are given a sense of belonging.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A chieftain of the APC, who pleaded anonymity, said even though the zoning of positions was yet to be finalised, leaders of the party have agreed on a new arrangement in principle.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “Apart from the Senate Presidency and the Speakership of the House of Representatives, there is also the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and key ministries that can be given to the zone that didn’t get the President and VP slot.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Also speaking to our correspondent, the South-East Zonal Publicity Secretary of the APC, Osita Okechukwu, said the PDP might not be able to get as many votes as it got during the 2011 elections.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “We will stop the jumbo votes they (PDP) give themselves in these areas. In 2011, General Muhammadu Buhari did not have agents in these places; today the mega platform that we have, which is the APC, has the capacity and will deploy agents there.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “For example, in Imo there were about 1.4 million voters, they claimed that 1.3 million voted for Jonathan, meaning there was over 90 per cent voters turn out which has never happened anywhere in the world.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “In Rivers, out of about 1.9 million voters, they claimed 1.8m voted for Jonathan. This kind of turnout was not recorded in Kano or even Lagos. People are wiser now. We will not allow this kind of fraud this time around.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Prior to now, there have been complaints from some stalwarts of the PDP that President Goodluck Jonathan had marginalised the South-West in his appointments. Jonathan is from the South-South while his deputy, Nnamadi Sambo is from the North–West. The Senate President is from North-Central while the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, hails from the North-West.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are from the South-East.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Although the PDP zoned the speakership of the House to the South-West in 2011, its candidate, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, lost to Tambuwal.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>SUNDAY PUNCH</i> learnt that the president’s move to pacify the South-West which voted massively for Jonathan in the 2011 was the reason he held meetings with some Yoruba leaders recently.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> President Jonathan had at the Yoruba Unity Summit in Ile-Ife, Osun State on November 28, 2014, reportedly said it pained him that the South-West lost the speakership in 2011.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He had said, “The last time, it was difficult for me because I insisted that the Southwest must get the Speaker. Of course, I couldn’t go through with it because some of us within the Southwest didn’t want it, based on some personal reasons. I am still suffering from that till today.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to 2011 election statistics, the South-West which had 14.29m registered voters was second to the North-West, which had 19.8 million registered voters.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> North-Central had 11.62 million voters, while 10.7 million people registered as voters in the North-East. South-East and South-South had 7.02 million and 8.9 million voters respectively.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Chairman of the PDP in Ekiti State, Mr. Idowu Faleye, said the President planned to give appointments to the Yoruba if he wins in 2015.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Jonathan is going give more key positions to the region. Looking at the percentage of votes captured in the last election, even he was shocked that the Yoruba did the best they could at that time,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However, the Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the PDP in the South-West, Buruji Kashamu, said Jonathan had compensated the South-West for the loss of the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives zoned to the South-West by appointing someone from the region as his Chief of Staff.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “If they (APC) like, they can choose their presidential candidate, the vice presidential and all their governorship candidates from the South-West. The only thing that I know is that APC is a one-man show. We, the Yoruba, are not dull and foolish. We know what is good for us,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Credit: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/osinbajo-apc-pdp-change-zoning-formula/">Sunday Punch</a></b></div>

Osinbajo: APC, PDP Back To The Drawing Board

In this report written and compiled by seven seasoned journalists from the Punch stable, the Sunday Punch says the unexpected emerge...

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BREAKING NEWS: 2 NYPD Police Officers 'Assassinated'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_NSu2NBclJK-cg6W1SaNtUX6FtRLY6G9WfuVsGl19NJFtd-nbCHUqkk0riAFvcgjxdEDReyKreEw_dPHay-kut2_m97H5A0ANvR0EV1CHgKeZwtCmvBaJxX_Nf5gos2Q75BEhxmd5kc/s1600/NYPD+Killing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_NSu2NBclJK-cg6W1SaNtUX6FtRLY6G9WfuVsGl19NJFtd-nbCHUqkk0riAFvcgjxdEDReyKreEw_dPHay-kut2_m97H5A0ANvR0EV1CHgKeZwtCmvBaJxX_Nf5gos2Q75BEhxmd5kc/s1600/NYPD+Killing.JPG" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>New York (CNN) - Two New York City police officers were shot and killed ambush-style Saturday afternoon as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn, Police Commissioner William Bratton said.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The gunman approached the passenger side of the patrol car and opened fire several times, fatally wounding officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, authorities said at an evening press conference.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> They were "shot and killed with no warning, no provocation," Bratton told reporters. "They were quite simply, assassinated."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Both were shot in the head, Bratton said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The families of the fallen officers rushed to Woodhull Medical Center on Saturday, as dozens of police officers gathered in a show of support.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The officers -- one with two years' experience, the other with seven years on the job -- were normally assigned to downtown Brooklyn, but were working a "critical response" detail in an area with higher crime, police said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Police identified the shooter as Ismaaiyl Brinsley. He was found dead in a nearby subway station from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The gunman arrived in New York from Baltimore, but had a residence in Atlanta, Bratton said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Police were investigating posts he allegedly made on social media.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The shooting occurred near Myrtle and Tompkins avenues in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called the attack "an unspeakable act of barbarism."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Neighborhood residents were jolted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "This can't happen. If you mad at somebody, be mad at the person that you are mad at. Now, we have two families that (are) missing somebody for the holidays," Shaniqua Pervis told CNN affiliate WABC.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Where is your humanity? I know it's a war going on and shoutout to Eric Garner's family and everybody else who lost somebody, but you're not at his house, on his lawn. This is two (officers). You don't even know if (they were) good or bad. I don't condone this, and I'm not with it."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The woman was referring to the controversial July death of an unarmed black man after New York police officers on Staten Island wrestled him to the ground, with one of the officers wrapping his arm around Garner's neck in a chokehold.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer in the Garner case, as well as a separate grand jury's refusal to indict an officer in a controversial police shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, led to nationwide protests against the police.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a statement, activist the Rev. Al Sharpton said the Garner family was outraged by news of the shootings.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, in connection with any violence or killing of police, is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases," the statement said. "We have stressed at every rally and march that anyone engaged in any violence is an enemy to the pursuit of justice for Eric Garner and Michael Brown... The Garner family and I have always stressed that we do not believe that all police are bad, in fact we have stressed that most police are not bad."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Last Saturday, two New York officers were assaulted on the Brooklyn Bridge during demonstrations that have been mostly peaceful. Police arrested four people.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Tensions between the community and police have heightened around the country since the Brown and Garner deaths.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "This could not have come at a worse time," City Councilman Robert Cornegy told CNN affiliate PIX.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> So far, police have not commented on the motive for the Brooklyn shootings, except to say the officers were not engaging the shooter in any way when they were shot.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The city's police union and Mayor Bill de Blasio have sparred over the treatment of officers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association recently sent a form for members to sign requesting the mayor not attend funerals of anyone killed in the line of duty, accusing de Blasio of "consistent refusal to show police officers the support and respect they deserve."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The mayor's office expressed disappointment with the PBA.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Incendiary rhetoric like this serves only to divide the city, and New Yorkers reject these tactics," the city said in a letter. "The mayor and the speaker both know better than to think this inappropriate stunt represents the views of the majority of police officers and their families."</div> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>Source: <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/20/us/new-york-police-officers-shot/index.html">CNN</a></b>

BREAKING NEWS: 2 NYPD Police Officers 'Assassinated'

New York (CNN) - Two New York City police officers were shot and killed ambush-style Saturday afternoon as they sat in their patrol car...

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Goje Sent Assassins After Me, Gov Dankwambo Claims

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr5mP_Kf3W5fj32a601Iibo1sQyP1lBqVizCBRrWtRT6ki8AQT-zcvbDcq1uVI1DyB29iBlfRoERaRhN9JZ1l64uLCFdHXrXLTN3Q5HvkY51Bj8qeuOm9vZw4G1gbFCdHE2r44DnNdko/s1600/Dankwambo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr5mP_Kf3W5fj32a601Iibo1sQyP1lBqVizCBRrWtRT6ki8AQT-zcvbDcq1uVI1DyB29iBlfRoERaRhN9JZ1l64uLCFdHXrXLTN3Q5HvkY51Bj8qeuOm9vZw4G1gbFCdHE2r44DnNdko/s1600/Dankwambo.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has accused his predecessor in office, Danjuma Goje, of sending political thugs, known as "Kalare Boys" to assassinate him when he visited Kashere town on a courtesy call to the federal university there.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The governor was reacting to a statement released by the All Progressives Congress [APC] on Saturday in which it accused Mr. Dankwambo of clamping down on APC members in the state and ordering the destruction of properties of the former governor and also arresting members of his family.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Dankwambo visited Kashere, the home town of Mr. Goje on Thursday.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> During his visit, Gov. Dankwambo personally ordered the removal of all APC billboards and posters in the town, ordered the police and the army to break into Senator Goje’s family house, where they broke down doors, teargassed and arrested his relations, including children.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The governor also ordered the same security forces to break into the family house of Senator Goje's wife, where they similarly destroyed doors and teargassed the occupants, including the 90-year-old father of Senator Goje's wife and the Senator's wife's 70-year-old stepmother, while all her sisters and brothers were arrested", the APC said in its release by its spokesperson, Lai Mohammed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Governor Dankwambo, however, denied the allegation, saying on the contrary, Mr. Goje was the one who ordered an attack on him.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The governor’s spokesperson, Junaid Mohammed, who spoke to <i>PREMIUM TIMES</i> over the telephone said: "what happened on Thursday was simply a case of assassination attempt on His Excellency, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Mohammed also said Mr. Dankwambo was in Kashere on a courtesy call to the Federal University on the invitation of the Vice Chancellor.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He also said the governor’s visit was conducted peacefully at the University, but trouble started when he decided to visit the palace of the traditional ruler of the town.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "As is the tradition, the governor decided to visit the palace of the Emir to pay homage, but our convoy was attacked by Kalare thugs near the roundabout right in front of the Police Station.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "The vehicle I was travelling in was the one that was first attacked because we were in front of the governor’s car, but they did not spare the governor’s vehicle and threw all sorts of objects at it. They destroyed the side glass where he was seated.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "In all of this, the governor ordered that no one should be maltreated", Mr. Mohammed said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He also denied that the governor ordered the arrest of members of Mr. Goje’s family.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said all those who are presently in custody were simply invited by the police, who as expected, launched an investigation into the incident.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "You know the police will not allow an attempt on the life of even a sitting Local Government Councillor, not to talk of an executive governor. So they have begun investigation into the matter and have therefore, invited some persons in that regard,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Mohammed also debunked insinuations that Mr. Dankwambo was planning to relocate the University from the town.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said the governor, while serving as the Accountant General of the Federation, alongside many indigenes of Gombe State in the Federal cabinet, lobbied President Jonathan for the citing of the university in the state.<br /> <br /> <b><a href="http://nigerianewsroom.blogspot.com/2014/12/gombe-state-governor-clamps-down-on-our.html">Click here to READ APC's ACCUSATION OF THE GOVERNOR</a></b></div> <br /> <br /> <b>Source: <a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/173592-how-my-predecessor-sent-assassins-after-me-gombe-governor.html">Premium Times</a></b>

Goje Sent Assassins After Me, Gov Dankwambo Claims

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has accused his predecessor in office, Danjuma Goje, of sending political thugs, known as ...

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Nobody Can Cage Me, Alao-Akala Replies Folarin

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrxQENkNigk7gWc0zBecJW4WNfVgoquLn2MmdLoIu2UmNbJweMEvG6Gh_OTm0wAP9M30ju207qmD0kk8b2pmw0u9bMgVDX_kP0Mz0LxQrejM6IrzBkGtNbUNzvUxTqmWVJN3wyphI6v8/s1600/Alao-Akala6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrxQENkNigk7gWc0zBecJW4WNfVgoquLn2MmdLoIu2UmNbJweMEvG6Gh_OTm0wAP9M30ju207qmD0kk8b2pmw0u9bMgVDX_kP0Mz0LxQrejM6IrzBkGtNbUNzvUxTqmWVJN3wyphI6v8/s1600/Alao-Akala6.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, tells Olufemi Atoyebi of the <i>Punch</i>, in this interview, that he will break the second-term jinx in the state. He also responded to a boastful claim by the governorship candidate of the PDP, Senator Teslim Folarin that he (Folarin) knows how to cage him (Alao-Akala).</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b>After being in the Peoples Democratic Party for more than 10 years, why did you decide to walk away?</b></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There is nothing much to say except that I have walked in the path that God has outlined for me. When you are with God, you are in the majority. Everything you have read about me and the PDP in the last few weeks can be described as injustice meted out to me. If it was impossible for our party to conduct free and fair primary elections, why must I remain in it? What they did and the way a candidate was nominated was not what we agreed upon. We had a clear understanding of how the primary election was to be conducted. But, the rule was changed in the middle of the game.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I was shocked when the party said less than 10 per cent of those who were supposed to make up the delegates list would be used for the primary election. That was far from the channel to be employed in picking a popular candidate. I was not forced to leave the party but I decided that I don’t have to waste my time where ward congresses were repeatedly cancelled. PDP in Oyo was not fair because a level playing ground was not provided for all. Despite our complaints, the party turned a deaf ear and I had to move on.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b>Why didn’t you accept the proposal of one of the big parties that wooed you, instead of the Labour Party?</b></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That is true but don’t forget that I am a leader and I have to listen to my people. The decision was beyond me because politics is about the people, not the individual. If you don’t follow the wishes of your followers, you are going nowhere.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Will you consider returning to the PDP, if you win with LP ticket, just as Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko did recently?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When we get to the river, we shall cross it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>How did your close associates react to your defection?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> My friends were aware of what was going on in the PDP. They called me and I gave them updates on what was going on behind the scene. They advised me to take a decision before it was too late. They are happy with my decision.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>What was the reaction of the Presidency to your defection?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> My friends among them called me and wished me good luck.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>LP does not have a presidential candidate, are you ready to work for President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I will only obey my party’s desire when the time comes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>After you left the PDP, Seyi Makinde also left for Social Democratic Party. What will you say about PDP’s position today?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> We are not bad losers. If things were done normally, the party would remain strong. You cannot impose someone who has told me that he would write the delegates list that would be used. We were supposed to elect them, not write their names.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b>You are going to the poll, just like Makinde, Rashidi Ladoja, and the incumbent governor in the state, Abiola Ajimobi. Does it mean that the second-term jinx is about to be broken in Oyo?</b></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> With due respect to others, we are about to see the end of that jinx and by the grace of God, I will be the first person to break it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>PDP had said it would not worry about your defection and that <a href="http://nigerianewsroom.blogspot.com/2014/12/i-know-how-to-cage-alao-akala-says.html">it has a strategy to cage you</a>. Are you ready for the fight ahead?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Unfortunately for them, I am older in the game. Nobody can cage me because, as a security officer, I have caged someone before. We have started separating boys from men.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>If you had lost the primary fairly, would you have stayed back at PDP?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I would have exhibited good sportsmanship and congratulated whoever won. I have done it before, what is new in accepting defeat? If the party was fair to me, why should I be stupid enough to reject the result of a free and fair election? I would have worked for the winner to the end.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Why are you interested in becoming Oyo State governor again?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I have always dedicated my life serving mankind. When I was in government, people enjoyed my time and those people are the ones calling me back.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b>There were meetings called by the PDP elders involving you and other aspirants while the stalemate lasted in the party. Would you like to share what transpired at the meetings?</b></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That is no more necessary because events have overtaken those meetings. Whatever I say now will not reverse what has happened. That was a time when we thought that we could reason together and move the party forward but that was not to be.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Does it mean that the National Working Committee of PDP refused to listen to aspirants’ complaints?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Some of us know our onions. We cannot be going to Abuja to tell the party what stuff we are made of. We have the Abuja politicians among us. They run there to tell them things they only want to hear. Since I am a native man and a grass roots politician, I remain at home with my people. They will not listen to people like me in Abuja because they will have the impression that I am coming with local ideas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Are you saying the so-called Abuja politicians installed the governorship candidate of PDP in Oyo State?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you study the way the whole exercise was done, you will arrive at the answer. We have a situation whereby the rules were changed midway into the game. We have rules guarding the ad hoc committee, why did the party refuse to let it be? By all means, they were bent on favouring one person. This is not from the Presidency but from the party. Oyo is not alone in this problem, some other states are also having the same issue. In Ebonyi, members moved en masse to LP to protest the same kind of injustice I complained about. If there is justice, things will work better in the PDP.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>What are the mistakes you made while in government that you want to correct if you have the chance to rule again?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Nobody is perfect in life and we learn everyday. Those things we failed to achieve will be done now and those things we did well will be improved. Having stayed out for some years, I have known better. This is a state where you cannot just bring a novice to run the government.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Why do you think you are the person to beat in this race?</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I have been tested and trusted. People know who I am and what I can do.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b><a href="http://nigerianewsroom.blogspot.com/2014/12/i-know-how-to-cage-alao-akala-says.html">Click here to READ SENATOR TESLIM FOLARIN'S INTERVIEW</a></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Credit: Sunday Punch</b></div>

Nobody Can Cage Me, Alao-Akala Replies Folarin

Former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, tells Olufemi Atoyebi of the Punch , in this interview, that he will break the second...

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