Photo: Parents at school gate to pick kids after bomb scare in Abuja

Frantic parents pictured at the gate of Government Secondary School (GSS), Gwagwalada in Abuja following a bomb scare at the School yesterday January 14th. (Photo source: Leadership)

South African politician attacks Jonathan, call him “irresponsible” for silence over killing in Baga

South African politician attacks Jonathan, call him “irresponsible” for silence over killing in Baga
South Africa’s eccentric youth leader and federal lawmaker, Julius Malema, has launched a blistering attack on President Goodluck Jonathan over his handling of the massacre in Baga, Borno State, describing the Nigerian president as “irresponsible” and suggesting South African intervention against the extremist Boko Haram sect.
Mr. Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters Party, criticised Mr. Jonathan for rushing out public condemnations of the terrorist attack on a newspaper in France when he has remained silent until date on the bloodbath in Baga, a troubled town in his own country.
READ ALSO: Defence HQ says number of people who died in Baga are not more than 150
The youth leader said the South African National Assembly will consider a motion on a possible intervention in the bloody campaign by Boko Haram that has claimed thousands of lives and has worsened in the last weeks.
Boko Haram seized Baga, a fishing community on the northern tip of Borno State by Lake Chad, sacking the military base there and killing soldiers and hundreds of civilians.
Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Malema mocked Mr. Jonathan using his first name, Goodluck.
“Eh Goodlook, or Goodluck or whatever his name is or badluck I don’t know …He is quick to release statement about the killing in Paris; but don’t (doesn’t) say anything about the killings in his own country. That’s an irresponsible leadership,” Mr. Malema said.
“We are really saddened by what is happening in Nigeria. It is highly disturbing.  And we need South African Government to intervene and we will be raising the matter in the Parliament.
“We will make the Parliament to debate it as an urgent matter and pass the resolution for South African intervention in Nigeria,” he said.

OSHOALA: I WANT TO PLAY IN EUROPE BUT…

Africa Women’s Player of the Year award winner, Asisat Oshoala tells SAB OSUJI in this interview that she’s comfortable playing in the Nigerian league. The Rivers Angels FC star also reveals her delight winning double African honours and dedicates the awards to God and her teammates. Excerpts…

Congratulation for winning the two CAF awards as young player of the year and footballer of the year as well.
First of all I will say thank you for congratulating me.
What does these awards mean to you as a young player?

I’ll say the awards mean quite a lot to me. It means a lot to my career as well. Reason is that I don’t see it as if I’ve reached the peak (of my career). Its rather the beginning of a journey in my career as a footballer. Not the climax I must say. Its some kind of challenge, a motivation to step up and be a better player always.
Every player aspires to play in Europe, are you not feeling same way especially after becoming the best in the continent?

To be sincere with you, I’ve a lot of clubs knocking on the door for me to move. But truth is that I’m not yet decided, I’m not in a hurry to move, either on the local scene or out there in Europe. I’m not yet decided if, when and where to go. Make no mistakes about it, the Nigeria (women’s) league is a good league because if a player from the domestic league could emerge as the Best Player in Africa it tells the whole story that what we’ve here is a very good league. However talking about leaving Africa now I’m yet to decide and I’m not in a hurry to do that at the moment.
You won two awards in the Canada 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. You won the MVP at the AWC same year. You also won the Nigeria League and Federation Cup last year and today you started the new year (2015) with two awards, what’s the significance of this?

I don’t think there is anything special about it. I believe things happen the way and time God plans them. Its God’s doing and I’m happy for it. Its just that some how its a challenge for me to continue to work hard. But winning the League and Federation Cups last year was great.
Did you expect to win these two awards tonight?
I’ll only say thank you to those who voted for me to win. As a player, I always go out there hoping to do my best and also expect to win in every single game. To win two awards today I must say was not in my hands to decide. So I’m happy and grateful to have won.
Tell me Asisat, who do you want to dedicate the awards to?

First and foremost, I’m dedicating the awards to Almighty God. God comes first in everything in my life. Secondly, I’ll dedicate the awards to teammates both at the club level and national teams. Football is a team sport, you don’t play it alone. So without my teammates at the club level I wouldn’t have played well for me to be noticed and selected for the national team. The same way, without my teammates at the national teams, I wouldn’t have done anything. I also dedicate it to my fans who support and pray for me always. I can’t thank them enough. So the award is for all of us.
Finally, you had the singular honor of witnessing the FIFA Ballon D’Or Award ceremony in Switzerland on Monday. How did that make you feel?

To be honest with you, I felt very happy about it, it was a very impressive ceremony and I enjoyed every bit of it.
It was amazing, it was such an important date in my life and I’ll live to cherish it so much. To be present witnessing the FIFA Ballon D’Or live, I tell you, I was very happy about it and I commend FIFA for giving me the opportunity.

3 popular Nigerian artists and former president may die in 2015 - Apostle Suleiman

Let me start by saying 'We reject it in Jesus name, Amen'. But according to popular Abuja preacher and founder of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Suleiman Johnson, 3 popular Nigerian artists & former president Shehu Shagari may die in 2015. He said this in his 2015 new year message/prophecy.

He also said that the 2015 election will also be as bloody as the June 12th 1993 elections. You guys believe in prophecies?

Lagos APC Flags Off Campaign

 The Lagos state chapter of the All Progressive Congress(APC), yesterday flagged off its statewide campaign at the Old Airways Ground (AVMCC) field in Ikeja.
The mega rally which had in attendance big wigs of the party in the state witnessed a massive crowd that came from all the nook and crannies of the mega city.
Present at the rally were former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola and his wife, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Lagos state Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, former Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Olufemi Pedro amongst others
See pictures below (Photos courtesy Nairaland.com, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and Twitter):

Governor Fashola introduces APC Governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to the crowd

The mammoth crowd at the event

Busty Actress Foluke Daramola & Hubby Campaign for Buhari -

When such a bodacious stuff is on the road for Buhari...just know that this election is serious. Lolz!

Photos: Jonathan and Buhari sign violence-free polls pact

President Goodluck Jonathan, General Muhammadu Buhari (ret) and 12 other presidential candidates has signed an undertaking to ensure free and fair polls as well as run issue-based campaigns for the forthcoming general elections in the country.

They gave their words at a workshop: “2015 General Elections: Sensitization workshop on Non-Violence”. Jonathan and Buhari put aside their electoral fisticuffs and embraced excitedly upon arriving for the workshop as the two leading contenders for the office of President.

Apart from the duo, the chairmen of the two dominant parties, Adamu Mu’azu (PDP) and Odigie Oyegun (APC), also hugged themselves in a bid to send a signal to their supporters to shun violence.

This came as all the 14 presidential candidates of the various parties contesting the election also signed a peace agreement to ensure free, fair and credible polls.

The peace agreement otherwise known as “Abuja Accord” by the organizers of the event essentially barred the contestants from making inciting speeches in whatever guise that could cause the eruption of violence before, during and after the elections.

The Accord
The accord read: “We the undersigned presidential candidates of the under-listed political parties contesting in the general elections of 2015; desirous of taking proactive measures to prevent electoral violence before, during and after the elections; anxious about the maintenance of a peaceful environment for the 2015 general elections; reaffirming our commitment to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; desirous of sustaining and promoting the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity; determined to avoid any conduct or behaviour that will endanger the political stability and national security of Nigeria; determined to place national interest above personal and partisan concerns; and reaffirm our commitment to fully abide by all rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria, hereby commit ourselves and our party to the following:

*To run issue-based campaigns at national, state and local government levels; in this, we pledge to refrain from campaigns that will involve religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling; both ourselves and agents acting in our names.

*To refrain from making, or causing to make our names or that of our party, any public statements, pronouncements, declarations or speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence, before, during and after the elections.