EBOLA SCARE: Nigerian musician, Flavour dropped from the World Creole Music Festival

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1sSDGaN" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1sSDGaN" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />As Nigeria continues to push for the 'Ebola Free' clearance from W.H.O, top Nigerian highlife singer and multiple brand ambassador, Flavour Nabania, a.k.a Flavour, has been dropped from the World Creole Music Festival,WCMF, slated to hold later this month in the Caribbean Island of Dominica following fears of deadly Ebola Virus.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The cancellation of Flavour’s contract was announced recently by Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the Prime Minister, “Until a firm grip is secured on this Ebola virus, the world has to pay special attention to region of its predominance.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />West Africa, as I said previously, is one such region. I have reviewed the file with respect to the contractual arrangements reached with Flavour’s band from Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />To date, a total of EC$147,000 has been expended on professional fees and international travel by this group.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />I readily acknowledge that the law is law and contracts negotiated can at best be re-negotiated,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

EBOLA SCARE: Nigerian musician, Flavour dropped from the World Creole Music Festival

As Nigeria continues to push for the 'Ebola Free' clearance from W.H.O, top Nigerian highlife singer and multiple brand ambassador...

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APC planning to frustrate my government - Fayose

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1pmhhhh" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://ift.tt/1pmhhhh" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused the All Progressives Congress-dominated state House of Assembly of planning to frustrate his government.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He described the closure of the Assembly by the Speaker, Adewale Omirin, as the party’s Plan B to frustrate his administration.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Information and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said the plan was to prevent the governor from appointing commissioners and special advisers as well as presenting and passing of the 2015 budget.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The statement read, “After failing to realise his ambition of becoming Ekiti State Acting Governor (hoping that Fayose’s inauguration would not hold), Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Wale Omirin, has ordered the lawmakers to go on one month recess.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The Speaker claimed that the seven Peoples Democratic Party members in the House were plotting to impeach him and for this, Ekiti must be held to ransom.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no plan by the state government to instigate the removal of the Speaker or anyone in the House of Assembly.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Fayose said the election and removal of the Speaker and other principal officers of the state House of Assembly was the prerogative of the lawmakers and not the duty of the executive.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

APC planning to frustrate my government - Fayose

Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused the All Progressives Congress-dominated state House of Assembly of planning to frustrate his g...

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Ikimi was PDP mole in APC – Tinubu

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1tfq5b3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://ift.tt/1tfq5b3" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, last week, responded to the allegations leveled against him by a former leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi, describing Ikimi as a liar. He said Ikimi who recently left APC was a mole for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ikimi had in a statement, accused Tinubu of being a dictator in the APC. He further alleged that on the eve of the party’s national convention in June, Tinubu had a meeting with the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, over an oil deal. He also accused Tinubu of conniving with the PDP leadership to double cross a former presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in 2011, by urging party leaders to work for President Goodluck Jonathan.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Tinubu, however said, he ordinarily would not have responded to Ikimi’s blackmail as he knews Ikimi’s style. He said Ikimi was never sincerely committed to the party, he was always playing out on PDP script.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Ikimi was PDP mole in APC – Tinubu

A former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, last week, responded to the allegations leveled against him by a former leade...

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Fight Boko Haram, Ohaneze tells Igbo in North

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1AkNryw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1AkNryw" width="320"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Abia State chapter, have urged Igbo people living in the North to stop fleeing the region because of Boko Haram, urging them to stay back and defend themselves.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />They spoke in reaction to the alleged selective killings of Christians, non-Muslims, and Southerners resident by the Boko Haram insurgents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Speaking with our correspondent in Umuahia, the Chairman of Ohaneze in the state, Dr. Emmanuel Okparanta, said “Ndigbo are very instrumental to the development of Nigeria, and nobody can chase us away from any part of the country because we are one Nigeria, and will continue to be one.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He urged Igbo people living in the North to be vigilant and wise in the face of the worsening security situation in the region.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The call re-echoed a position taken by the South-East governors in a their recent meeting in Enugu.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A source, who was at the meeting, had confided in our correspondent that though the governors encouraged the Igbo people and Christians living in the North to maintain peace with everybody in their host communities, they asked them not to fold their arms while being attacked.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “They should not fight but if there is any attack on them by anybody whatsoever, they should strongly defend themselves because this is one Nigeria and nobody has the right to intimidate anybody.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Also, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has asked Northern Christians not to flee but to remain steadfast in spite of the onslaught by the violent sect.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Chairman of the Fellowship in Abia State, Dr. Theophilus Anyimson, said Christians should be vigilant and more serious with prayers against any form of insurgency “but while they pray, they should also open their eyes and resist any attack against them”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“You should take up your arms and defend yourselves; don’t wait to be butchered. As we pray, we should not fold our arms and be killed; we should do whatever we can to defend ourselves”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The PFN also expressed faith in the ability of the Federal Government to contain the security threats in the country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Meanwhile,the Ohaneze Youth Council has described Boko Haram allegations against the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), as laughable and unthinkable.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Speaking with journalists in Umuahia, National President of OYC, Ikechukwu Isiguzoro, said it was illogical for anyone to think that Ihejirika, a Christian from the South could have any deal with a terror group like Boko Haram, whose only agenda was to decimate Christians and establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He further argued that Boko Haram suffered its heaviest casualty while Ihejirika held sway as COAS, adding that anyone associating him with the terror group was wrong.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Fight Boko Haram, Ohaneze tells Igbo in North

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Abia State chapter, have urged Igbo p...

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Adamawa Impeachment: I will return to my seat – Nyako

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1ALOgTa" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://ift.tt/1ALOgTa" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Forty days after being removed from office, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) has expressed hope that he will return to his post since his traducers did not follow the laid down procedure in ousting him.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nyako, who has already filed an appeal at the Appeal Court against his impeachment, said there were justifiable reasons to prove that he was unjustly sent packing from his office by his opponents, who breached all the rules all in their desperate bid to get him out.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nyako in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, by his media adviser, Mr. Sajoh Ahmed, said he was confident that the court would return him to office since the process leading to his forceful and undemocratic sack was illegal.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The former governor said he was optimistic the Nigerian judiciary, which is blessed with men of integrity and honour, would not find it difficult to restore him to his position given the gamut of evidence that his opponents violated all the provisions of the law in edging him out for political reasons.<br/><br /><br/><br />He said he was confident that since the judiciary had in the past upturned the removal of governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau, Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo and Peter Obi of Anambra, it would not be difficult for him to be restored since he was forced out of office by desperate elements.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />While remaining upbeat about his return to office, Nyako urged his supporters in the state to embrace the current reality and prepare for the October 15 by-election, which he believes would be a repeat of the case in Anambra State when Andy Uba assumed office after winning an election, only to vacate office after 16 days when the courts returned Peter Obi.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>I can’t support PDP</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nyako also vowed to remain within the APC and support only APC candidates in all elections at all levels and at all times.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said his faith in the APC was bolstered by the fact that the party has proved to be truly democratic and progressive by the manner it has handed over its nomination process to the people at the grassroots as opposed to those who hand over the process to some unknown political godfathers in Abuja or the state capitals.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The former governor denied claims that he was supporting a certain PDP governorship aspirant for the forthcoming by-election, saying that his support remains with the APC at all times.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said: “Anyone who supports a PDP candidate in the state has done so in exercise of his or her democratic rights as citizens but not as a result of a directive from Admiral Nyako or in support of his political position.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“This clarification is necessary in order to debunk the rumour being peddled by some mischief makers in Adamawa State.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Adamawa Impeachment: I will return to my seat – Nyako

Forty days after being removed from office, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) has expressed hope that he will return to his post since his tradu...

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Man nabbed for defiling landlord’s 9-yr-old daughter

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1thXUZp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://ift.tt/1thXUZp" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Officers of the Lagos State Police Command are currently quizzing a 28-year-old man, identified as Julius Sylvester, for allegedly defiling his landlord’s nine-year-old daughter (names withheld).<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was gathered that the incident occurred at Obafalabi Street, Ojudu Berger, Lagos State.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that Sylvester used to send the girl on errands before the ugly incident.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to reports, at about 4pm that fateful day, Sylvester sent the victim to buy food from a local food vendor. When she came back with the food, he reportedly pulled her pants and had carnal knowledge of her. After the incident, the girl was said to have come out of Sylvester’s room walking with difficulty.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />However, trouble started when the victim’s mother on noticing how she was walking asked questions. After a little persuasion, the victim told her mother what transpired.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The victim’s mother told Vanguard: “I noticed that something was wrong with the way my daughter was walking and I questioned her. She told me that she was playing with her friends when the suspect called her to buy food for him then forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“When my husband came back from work, we reported the incident at the police station and the suspect was picked up.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Because the government hospital was on strike we had to go to a nearby hospital for test and treatment.”<br/><br /><br/><br />Medical test on the victim confirmed that the suspect actually penetrated her, an action said to have affected her urinary tract.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Panti for further investigations.<br/><br /><br/><br /><div><br/> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Man nabbed for defiling landlord’s 9-yr-old daughter

Officers of the Lagos State Police Command are currently quizzing a 28-year-old man, identified as Julius Sylvester, for allegedly defilin...

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Security agents move suspected mastermind of the kidnap of Chibok girls to Abuja

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><b><a href="http://ift.tt/1oaLj7n" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://ift.tt/1oaLj7n" width="400"/> </a> </b> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Security agencies have moved a suspected Boko Haram leader, Babuji Ya’ari, who was alleged to be one of the masterminds of the kidnap of female pupils from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014, to Abuja.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Investigations by our correspondents on Wednesday showed that the Boko Haram leader was moved to Abuja early this week from his Maiduguri base, where he was arrested.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A top security source, who disclosed this to one of our correspondents, said that Ya’ari was being interrogated in connection with the abduction of the Chibok girls.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said that security agencies were trying to get from him, information that could assist in the release of the girls, who had been in Boko Haram custody for more than 70 days.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The source stated, “I can tell you that the suspect has been moved to Abuja. He was brought to Abuja early this week. He is being interrogated in connection with the abduction of the girls.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“What is important to the Federal Government now is how to secure the release of the girls. He has made useful information that will assist security agencies.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the source, the General Officer Commanding 7th Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. M.Y. Ibrahim, was also at the Defence Headquarters for a strategic security meeting, which might not be unconnected with the arrest of Ya’ari and the ongoing investigation into the abduction of the Chibok girls.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The suspect, who was said to be a businessman, was reported to be under intense interrogation, and he is expected to provide vital information on how the abduction was carried out, and give a clue on the location of the girls in Sambisa Forest and other hideouts where the girls were being kept.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, could not be reached for comments last night as he did not respond to calls to his phone. Also a text message sent to him on the transfer of the terror kingpin did not elicit a response.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But Olukolade had in a statement on Monday identified Ya’ari, as a leader of a youth vigilance group, popularly known as the Civilian JTF.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He had said that Ya’ari used his membership of the Civilian JTF to gather information to aid the activities of the insurgents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Olukolade said Ya’ari also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, who was killed by insurgents at Tesan Alade, along the Biu-Garkida Road on May 30, 2014.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said that the arrested Boko Haram spy chief was responsible for the coordination of several devastating attacks on military formations and the detonation of several bombs in Maiduguri since 2011.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The statement partly read, “A terrorists’ intelligence cell headed by a businessman who participated actively in the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok has been busted by troops.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The man, Babuji Ya’ari, who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as Civilian JTF, which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“His main role in the group is to spy and gather information for the terrorist group.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations in the town.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Olukolade said that the businessman gave the information that led to the arrest of some female members of the cell, including one Hafsat Bako, who was said to have escaped to Gombe State to avoid being arrested but was tracked down by security agents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Security agents move suspected mastermind of the kidnap of Chibok girls to Abuja

Security agencies have moved a suspected Boko Haram leader, Babuji Ya’ari, who was alleged to be one of the masterminds of the kidnap of ...

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Nigeria’s break-up less likely - Wole Soyinka

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1oaLiAv" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://ift.tt/1oaLiAv" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has said that Nigeria is suffering greater carnage at the hands of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, than it did during the country’s 30-month civil war.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Soyinka, however, said the Boko Haram insurgency had made the country’s break-up less likely.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said this in an interview with <i>Reuters</i> on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Soyinka said the horrors inflicted by the Boko Haram insurgents had shown Nigerians across the mostly Muslim north and Christian south that sticking together might be the only way to avoid even greater sectarian slaughter.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nigeria fought a bloody civil war between 1967 and 1970 to stop the secession attempt by the Igbo of the present South-East zone.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Nobel laureate said, “We have never been confronted with butchery on this scale, even during the civil war.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“There were atrocities (during Biafra) but we never had such a near predictable level of carnage and this is what is horrifying.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A million people died during the Biafra war, though mostly through starvation and illness, rather than violence.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram’s five-year-old struggle to carve out an Islamic state from its bases in the North-East has become increasingly bloody, with near daily attacks killing many thousands.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The conflict’s growing intensity has led Nigerian commentators to predict it may split the country, 100 years after British colonial rulers cobbled Nigeria together from their northern and southern protectorates.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I think ironically it’s less likely now. For the first time, a sense of belonging is predominating. It’s either we stick together now or we break up, and we know it would be not in a pleasant way,” Soyinka said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14 drew unprecedented international attention to the insurgency and pledges of aid from Western powers, but violence has worsened.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The sect’s fighters frequently massacre whole villages, gunning down fleeing residents and burning their homes.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The insurgents on Sunday returned to the Chibok Local Government Area, attacking churches and worshippers during worship in Kwada, Kautikari and Kanagau communities. On Tuesday, the insurgents bombed a popular market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, from where the sect started off its campaign of violence in 2009.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Soyinka said fewer people were shrugging off Boko Haram’s menace.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It’s almost unthinkable to say: ‘well, let’s leave them to their devices.’ Very few people are thinking that way,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Attacks spreading southwards, including three bombings in the Federal Capital Territory since April, showed it was not a just a northern problem.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Soyinka said, “The (Boko Haram) forces that would like to see this nation break up are the very forces which will not be satisfied having their enclave.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“(We) are confronted with an enemy that will never be satisfied with the space it has.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“When the spectre of Sharia first came up, for political reasons, this was allowed to hold, instead of the president defending the constitution.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He sees both Christianity and Islam as foreign impositions.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We cannot ignore the negative impacts which both have had on African society. They are imperialist forces: intervening, arrogant. Modern Africa has been distorted,” he told Reuters.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He added that while the leadership of Boko Haram needed to be “decapitated completely”, little had been done to present an alternative ideological vision to their “deluded” followers, driven largely by economic destitution and despair.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Nigeria’s break-up less likely - Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has said that Nigeria is suffering greater carnage at the hands of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, than ...

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