Boko Haram speaks: Why we attacked THISDAY

Boko haram while claiming responsibility for Thursday's attacks, says more bombings are coming the way of the media - The Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, says it attacked THISDAY

Thursday to send a strong message to the media that it would no longer condone reports misrepresenting it in the press, or blaming it for acts it knows nothing about. Abul Qaqa, spokesperson for the sect told Premium Times, in an exclusive interview, that his organisation was fed up with the deliberate misinformation being peddled about it in the Nigerian and foreign media.

“We have repeatedly cautioned reporters and media houses to be professional and objective in their reports. This is a war between us and the Government of Nigeria; unfortunately the media have not been objective and fair in their report of the ongoing war, they chose to take side,” Mr. Qaqa said.

 

He identified three instances where he claimed his group was deliberately misrepresented by the media. The first, according to him, was the rumour of his capture by the Nigerian intelligence agencies.

“Some reporters are aware that I am Abul Qaqa, they know my voice through our long interactions and they also know the role of Abu Darda who heads the enlightenment committee and sometimes facilitates interviews; yet they (media) go by the unsubstantiated view of government that Abul Qaqa is in custody and I am the new spokesman or number two,” he said.
Premium Times had continuously reported that Abul Qaqa was not arrested contrary to reports and that it was Abu Darda, another member, that was arrested.
The second misrepresentation, according to Mr. Qaqa, was the reporting on the kidnappings of foreigners in the Northern part of Nigeria.

“Another issue was the recent kidnappings in the north; we were clear with our position as a group during a teleconference with reporters but we were shocked the next day when newspaper headlines added a lot of things which I never said during that interview.”
The third example, Mr. Abul Qaqa said, is the mistranslation of the video the group posted recently.
 “Another example is the recent video posted on YouTube by our Imam; I challenge every Nigerian to watch that video again. There is no place our imam either said he will crush President Jonathan or issued an ultimatum to the government in Nigeria; but nearly all papers carried very wrong and mischievous headlines.”
When asked why THISDAY appeared specifically chosen for the attack, Mr. Qaqa said THISDAY’s “sins” are more grievous.
 “It is not only THISDAY that has been engaged in negative media campaign, fictional stories and constantly promoting fake stories by the JTF to give an impression that they are making headway against us yet there is no time the media investigated further as an objective and responsible bystander in this war.
“But the sins of THISDAY are more,” he said.
“They once insulted the Prophet Mohammed in 2001 and we have not forgotten. They recently said our Imam executed me which is false. Here I am speaking to you, I am alive and healthy.”
Expect more media attacks
The group’s spokesman further warned of more attacks on the media.
“We have just started this new campaign against the media and we will not stop here, we will hit the media hard since they have refused to listen to our plea for them to be fair in their reportage,” he said.
Mr. Abul Qaqa also said his group  would give further information on biases by the media.
“In the coming days we will give details and instances where the media have not been fair to us and why we are going to attack them as well.”
Media should be neutral “The media in Nigeria are not a problem to us if they will do their job professionally without taking sides,” Mr. Abul Qaqa said.
“But each time we say something, it is either changed or downplayed. But when our enemy says something even without logical proof, it is blown out of proportion.”
"We have repeated asked some reporters to retract some stories or even give us the right of reply but none of these requests were given to us."

Breaking News .Assassin Plots Against Soyinka, Akinrinade Uncovered?

A group, the Yoruba Intelligence Network said it has uncovered a plot to assassinate some key Yoruba leaders by fifth columnists in a effort to arouse the Southwest region into  violence.
A statement by the head of the information bureau of the network, Kunle Aribisala said that prime on the list of the targets are Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka; former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Alani Akinrinade and former NADECO chieftain, Dr Amos Akingba.
"Information at our disposal indicates that the group behind the plot has chosen to strike against Dr Amos Akingba on Friday, said the network.
The Network also added that the fifth columnists in their build-up to the heinous acts have sold a dummy to Soyinka months ago through some fake security reports that Boko Haram was planning to eliminate him and other leaders which made him grant an interview to The News magazine where he raised the alarm.
The Network also said that in the last few months, the fifth columnists have tried all they could to create a Boko Haram scare in the South West through all kinds of false alarms.
"Their failure to achieve a precipitate action in the region is the reason they are now eager to eliminate these leaders to provoke violent reactions in the region"
The Network equally alleged that the news of a container expulsion at the Tin Can Port on Monday which was broken on AIT but suppressed in the media since then has forced it to cry out on these plots " part of the facts that we gathered was that an explosion would take place at Tin Can before these strikes"
It asked the people of the South West to look closely at a report planted in all newspapers in Nigeria a few days ago that a detention centre for Boko Haram members was to be built in Lagos.
"Who planted this story and to achieve what? Was it to prepare an excuse for strikes in the name of Boko Haram in South West? Are we seeing an orchestrated plan to create a war situation in the country by precipitating violence in a big nation like the Yoruba to achieve some sinister agenda by other people? These are posers to ponder on"
Courtesy Sahara Reporters

Rochas ate his lunch by wrestling power out of the hands of Ikedi Ohakim

I read a Sun Newspaper article written by Godson Offoaro were he said that Rochas Okorocha the Governor of Imo State ate his lunch by wrestling power out of the hands of Ikedi Ohakim. I 'do bale' at Offoaro's style of trying to get another lunch pack, this time from the Prophet of Rescue, the man with shinning white buba and red cap by speaking sweet talks and shouting 'Ranka dede'. With the confidence of his gift of the pen, Godson Offoaro with the spirit of 'any government in power' invoked the highest hypocrisy by trumpeting and advertising sham accomplishments of the Imo State Governor. One of Okorocha's accomplishments according to the gospel of Offoaro is the tarring of roads. Missing in his claims is the poor quality of the roads that Okorocha has tarred.

Offoaro failed to tell us that our Governor poured 'coal tar' on sand to give the appearance that roads have been tarred. He failed to tell us that Imo State has a proper way of awarding contracts such that it must take a tender board to put up adverts for contractors to apply. He failed to tell us that Okorocha did not follow due process of putting up invitation for tender in awarding the so called road contracts. He failed to tell us that contractors were not invited, screened or shortlisted for the road contracts. He failed to tell us that the contracts were awarded to friends and relatives as their own share of Imo State cake .
Going against the law in other to compensate friends and relatives will end up inflicting more harm than good to the scheme and system of things. Why must we be pouring 'coal tar' on sand in Owerri when the rural areas where over 90 percent of 'Imolites' are living are not accessible? .It is only a professional sycophant that will feel duty bound to cheer a Governor to failure because of a lunch pack. Reading Offoaro , you will think that there were no roads and services before Okorocha came to power.We all know that Okorocha is currently battling to resuscitate his dwindling popularity. We all know that he has contracted many Spin Doctors to build fake mass support for his deceitful activities. But no amount of spin from his Spin Doctors will disguise the fact that he has not performed well so far.

Can the Spin Doctors erase the fact that Okorocha is looting our LGA funds? Okorocha sacked democratically elected LGA Chairmen and Councillors and appointed Sole Administrators for our LGA's. The Sole Administrators are his agents for diverting our LGA funds for his personal use. Today, the Councils in Imo State are dysfunctional. Nothing is happening in over 90 percent of Imo State Councils. Our LGA funds are held hostage and we are deprived the opportunity to function democratically. Instead of conducting Council election in Imo State our Governor says he is into LGA reforms and that our LGA's will soon be called Committee of Government Councils where each Council in Imo will be headed by a Traditional Ruler and members will be LGA Sole Administrators,Town Union Presidents,Women Leaders and Youth Leaders .
Okorocha's praise singers should please tell him that we don't need his unconstitutional Committee of Government Councils.We need LGA election in Imo State.They should tell him to stop looting our LGA funds. He must hands off Council funds so that our Councils can begin to thrive as expected. Unless our LGA's are free to govern self, we have no grassroots democracy. We must permit the LGA's to elect their own leaders, who in turn can embark on developing their areas. We must stop denying the people governance at the third tier.

Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor whose policies have been changing like the British weather. Okorocha has made so many promises that he did not fulfil. For example,he promised to pay 20,000 naira minimum wage to Imo State Civil Servants instead of the Federal Government approved 18,000 naira.He has since failed to pay the 20,000 naira minimum wage.During one of his showmanship events in Owerri recently, Okorocha with his gift of gab spoke to Civil Servants of the State telling them that Civil Servants in the State can beat their chest that their salaries come to them by 25th of every month and their 20,000 naira minimum wage has been paid,The Governor was interrupted with shouts of No! It is a lie! The Civil Servants shout Rochas down for telling lies yet professional sycophant are praising him.
Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor who has crippled all Ministries, Department and Agencies of government in the State by starving them of funds. Okorocha directed all Ministries in the State to generate money to run their Ministries themselves which has resulted to over taxing of Imo people. Okorocha's government now churns out multiple taxation and harsh levies on Imo citizens using indecent task forces and unethical conducts. The question is whether the Ministries can really fund themselves. LGA's cannot even generate enough revenues to run their affairs not to talk of Ministries. What is happening to the allocation of the State? Who is looting what?
Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor who since he came into office has not being able to create jobs for Imo youths rather he sacked 10,000 Imo State graduates in the State Civil Service. Okorocha has no reason to sack the workers other than he is anti-people and anti-workers .When decisions made and actions taken directly deflates job creation, the result is always more problems for the citizens .Imo State is regarded as the 5th richest state in Nigeria and it is not difficult to pay salaries to the 10,000. Tell me why we can't help these poor youths.

The same man who told us that Imo will have problems in paying salaries to the sacked 10,000 workers is the same man that is now boasting everywhere that Imo State has money and went ahead to declare free education for tertiary schools in Imo state. Governing Imo State is not Rochas Foundation, neither is it Baba Sala's nkwobi and pepper soup joint were we dish out alms to the poor. Promising free education to Imo tertiary students is playing to the gallery. Free education for Imo tertiary students as announced by Okorocha few days ago is another Nollywood drama.It is another deceit. I say so because Okorocha will never sustain the free education for tertiary schools. He knows that sustaining the free education policy in tertiary schools in Imo State will make Imo to run into difficult financial circumstances. What Okorocha should have done is to reduce tuition fees. The Governor is responsible for the State's fiscal health, and cannot afford to run negative balances. He must restore taxpayers' confidence that their naira are being used wisely and in the best interests of all people.He should be honest to the people and stop playing to the gallery.

The professional sycophants should tell Okorocha to sack his present cabinet if he wants to succeed. The fact of the matter is that Okorocha's cabinet which is his toolbox has unfit tools in it and he needs better tools. His unfit tools are the cause of his administration's political missteps. He should do away with the unfit tools in his toolbox and get better ones. Some of those in his cabinet are spent forces. They have no ideas on how to lift the state to an enviable height. I am of the view that his cabinet is overdue for a shake-up. Sacking his cabinet has become very imperative in order to inject fresh blood that will correct all his administrative missteps.

What is the Commissioner that collected 5 million naira bribe from his classmate as reported in the media still doing in government. What about the Commissioner that was slapped by a sex hawker at a high flying night club in Owerri.What about those that advised Okorocha to relocate IMSU sited in Owerri to of all places,Ogboko his village in Orlu zone.Okorocha should surround himself with people with sound ideas of how to put 'Imolites' into jobs; people who have the passion and capacity to develop the state; people who can look him in the face and challenge him on the workability of the state, people that will remind him that the sycophants around him will not remember him beyond the present if he does not leave behind concrete and credible achievements.

Kenneth Uwadi, Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria

Woman Rapes Pastor at Gunpoint

A pastor was allegedly forced to be intimate with a woman under duress from two male accomplices.The latest report of an attack on a man hitch hiker by people hunting for sperms for ritual purposes has prompted police to issue a warning to men to avoid traveling at night alone, or without reliable transport.

Police said the pastor was offered a lift by the suspects driving a Toyota Ipsum model at Karoi town, west of Harare, around midnight last Friday. The car’s occupants were said to be two men and a woman. They drove towards Harare, but suddenly stopped at a secluded place and ordered the pastor to have sexual intercourse with the woman.

He reportedly refused, but was threatened with unspecified harm by the men, forcing him to be intimate with the woman without protection. “We strongly suspect that the woman was wearing a female condom, although the complainant has not indicated whether protection of the female type was used,” police spokesperson Clemence was quoted as saying by the reporter.

After the act, the suspects forcibly took $30 from the pastor’s pockets and drove off, leaving him stranded. A number of attacks blamed on “sperm harvesting syndicates” have been reported in Zimbabwe in the last two years. via 247nigeriannewsupdate

Obasanjo resigns as PDP BOT chairman

 
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has resigned  as  chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP.

In a statement he personally signed and  made exclusively available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, Obasanjo said he had sent the letter of resignation to the chairman of the party.

``I have formally sent in my letter of resignation as the Chairman of BOT of PDP to the National Chairman of the party as prescribed in the party’s constitution,’’ he said.

The former president added: ``‘I have formally requested the President to allow my bowing out and to issue a short statement to that effect.

 ‘‘By relieving myself of the responsibility for chairmanship of BOT of PDP, I will have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me.’’

He further said that the step would give him time ‘‘to give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share’’.

Obasanjo said his exit would afford him more time to develop ‘my Presidential Library and to mobilising and encouraging investment in Nigeria and Africa.’

He noted that before the last general elections, he believed that if PDP produced the President, it would be time for him to reduce his partisan political activities.

Obasanjo recalled that he was actively involved in bringing forth ‘my successor president from PDP in 2007.

`‘In 2011, I was in the vanguard of working for PDP to produce a president for Nigeria. God answered our prayer.” (NAN)