Thursday, 29 May 2014
The minister made the remark during a post Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Maku decried the situation where some protesters were casting aspersions at the federal government instead of the abductors.
He held that the Bring Back Our Girls protest had been hijacked by the opposition party.
He said that the opposition party was playing politics with the abduction and the general security situation in the country.
Maku contended that Borno, Yobe and Adamawa where the Boko Haram insurgents operated mainly were under the control of opposition party.
“The money we are spending is to maintain security in states controlled by that party. So why do you come back and start playing politics?
“We are busy spending money to maintain security in those states. What have they done about it because 90 per cent of all insurgency is in states controlled by that party?
“Ninety per cent of those campaigning to bring back Chibok girls are members of that party, but the media will look the other way.
“Honestly, if we want this country to grow, we must ask the relevant questions”, he said. (NAN)
Chibok Girls: Why We Met Obasanjo In Abeokuta – Shehu Sani
After his seeming indifference to issues of national importance on the backdrop of his scathing open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan last year, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejoined efforts to open a new channel of communication with Boko Haram, Executive Director of the Civil Rights Congress, Comrade Shehu Sani has said.
Sani said yesterday that some Boko Haram contacts had audience with Obasanjo to explore a new channel of negotiation with the sect members with a view to rescuing the over 200 abducted Chibok girls.
The rights activist noted that the Federal Government’s indecision to swap the girls or use force to secure their release is unhelpful.
Sani also urged Nigerians not to vilify Ahmed Salkida, the journalist, who negotiated the botched backdoor deal between the government and Boko Haram, but had to flee the country when he was falsely accused by government of being a sympathizer of the Islamist sect.
In a statement in Abuja, Sani said Salkida should be commended for his initiative to free the girls.
He said: “This statement is in response to the reports and the enquiries on the Abeokuta meeting with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some family members of the Boko Haram group: This is to confirm that the meeting actually took place and I was part of it.
“The meeting was solely aimed at exploring the possibility of opening a new channel for dialogue or negotiation with the sect members towards securing the release of the abducted Chibok girls held in captivity for over a month.
“The meeting appraised the reportedly collapsed back door deal that was later cancelled by the government. I wish to also confirm that the report of the intervention of Mr. Ahmed Salkida in negotiating the release of the Chibok girls is credible.
“I personally introduced Salkida to the Government and spoke about him in many of my previous interviews. He has tried his best in the past and of recent to help in resolving the insurgency through dialogue but was on all occasions frustrated by the government.
“Mr. Salkida should not be vilified but should be appreciated. Mr. Salkida’s attempt could have actually seen to the release of the abducted girls.
“The meeting in Abeokuta was aimed at repackaging and salvaging the dialogue option: It was generally agreed that the initiative cannot take off without the consent of the government”.
Sani insisted on the option of negotiating with the insurgents in the nation’s best interest.
He added: “It’s significant for Nigerians to note that negotiation is the only safer option to get the girls back home. The consequence of the use of force to rescue the girls is clear.
“The indecision whether to swap or to storm is also not helpful. Our children are our precious seeds for tomorrow’s harvest. We cannot celebrate democracy day with our children in chains.
“The ongoing insurgency is now part of our history and the challenge before us is not to allow it to be our fate. With national solidarity and resilient spirit we shall overcome”
Plot To Impeach Oshiomhole, His Deputy, Speaker Thickens
A clandestine plot to impeach Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, his deputy, Pius Odubu and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe, has reportedly thrown the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into confusion.
The impeachment plot, spear-headed by four APC lawmakers, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is purportedly being bankrolled by an Abuja-based politician from the state.
According to LEADERSHIP reports, the lawmakers, who are expected to execute the plot, might have been paid N30million each with additional offer of N20million later.
One of the defected lawmakers, Hon Friday Ogierakhi, when contacted on the development, however, denied the allegation, saying they were never induced by anybody to dump the APC for PDP, stressing that the move was based on principle.
“We have heard the allegation; it is not true; it is a sign of a drowning party”, he said.
It was learnt that the plot was hatched with the aim of giving the PDP an easy ride to victory in the state House of Assembly and National Assembly elections come 2015.
Furthermore, if the plot to impeach the trio succeeds, one of the lawmakers, who recently defected to PDP, is expected to be elevated from Speakership position to governor.
In a swift reaction yesterday to the plot, the majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr Philip Shaibu, stated, “We are aware of their plots but they will fail. My joy is that we have lawmakers here who believe strongly in the developmental strides of the Comrade Governor, so they can never be part of such plot to impeach the governor.
“We are very much aware of all the moves they are making to destabilise the state, to ensure that the Comrade Governor does not continue his developmental efforts but they are wasting their time”, he added.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
A VIrtual Tour Of Kim & Kanye's Honeymoon Resort
Congratulations to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who, in case you spent all weekend with zero Wifi and missed it, got married in Florence. While we're not as excited about the dress or the guest list, we were thrilled to hear that the couple would be honeymooning in what's sure to be one of the hottest travel destinations of 2014...provided you can afford it. Click through our slideshow for a virtual tour of Castlemartyr Resort—the sumptous grounds, the opulent guest rooms, and of course, the spa
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