We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again - President Obama

Nelson Mandela now “belongs to the ages,” President Barack Obama said last night in mourning the late South African leader and icon.

“We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,” he said as he talked about how the political powerhouse inspired him.

“He no longer belongs to us; he belongs to the ages,” Obama said in brief remarks at the White House.

“We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela ever again,” the president said. “So it falls to us, as best we can, to carry forward the example that he set.”

Obama paid tribute to Mandela shortly after the South African government announced the former president’s passing at the age of 95. Obama paid tribute to Mandela in personal terms, noting that his first political action was a protest of South Africa’s apartheid policies.

“I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s life,” Obama said. “Like so many around the globe, I cannot imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set.”

He added: “So long as I live, I will do whatever I can to learn from him.”

Kofi Annan’s statement on Nelson Mandela passing away

“The world has lost a visionary leader, a courageous voice for justice, and a clear moral compass. By showing us that the path to freedom and human dignity lies in love, wisdom and compassion for one another, Nelson Mandela stands as an inspiration to us all.

I shall never forget his expansive smile and gentle demeanour, nor his steely determination and wonderful sense of humour. I have lost a dear friend. While I mourn the loss of one of Africa’s most distinguished leaders, Madiba’s legacy beckons us to follow his example to strive for human rights, reconciliation and justice for all.”

Nelson Mandela: The Soul Of Africa Has Departed, And There Is Nothing Miraculous Left In The World-Wole Soyinka

In a rare and short tribute to former South African president and anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka had this to say "
 "The soul of Africa has departed, and there is nothing miraculous left in the world."

A woman sodomizes for alleged stealing, This is pathetic

                                                          This injustice is too much, where is this world turning to?

Jonathan to ASUU: Go back to work or get sacked

President Goodluck Jonathan has told university teachers to choose between returning to work on Wednesday, or get sacked.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe, sent the President’s warning to the lecturers yesterday at a news conference.
The President’s aide described the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as rigid and insensitive, adding that ASUU was out to undermine the Presidency and subvert the Federal Government.
Okupe said: “The negative disposition of the ASUU leadership is unarguably a pre-conceived and calculated treacherous plot pointedly intended to undermine the Presidency and subvert the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“This is clearly a hallmark of a leadership that is determined to employ subterfuge in an attempt to hold government, students and their parents and other stakeholders to ransom in a reckless and irresponsible display of insensitivity, lawlessness and absolute lack of patriotism and even the fear of God.
“Unfortunately, all this is perpetuated using unsuspecting but otherwise loyal, patriotic and responsible members of ASUU whose families are also sad victims of this reprehensible and callous attitude of their leadership.
“From all indications therefore and other information available to government, it has become obvious that this is no longer an altruistic strike borne out of good intentions and aimed at improving the welfare of students and staff of the universities and the standard of our educational institutions.
“Rather, it is an evil programme motivated by selfish political interests and motivations within the polity.”
The government lamented what it described as ASUU’s intransigence despite the various concessions made to the lecturers, stressing that the teachers have pushed the government to the wall.
“Given the fact that government had reached agreement with ASUU to make available N100 billion for the provision of infrastructure on campuses of 61 universities covered in the needs assessment of universities, with a further commitment of another N200 billion over the next two years, and N40 billion of the N90 billion Earned Allowances demanded by the lecturers one would have expected them to reconsider their stand.
“This was despite the fact that the ASUU leadership in the meeting with President Jonathan failed curiously to articulate the basis of the calculation of the demanded N90 billion earned allowance, which has been on the table since 2009.
“It becomes crystal clear therefore that the Federal Government has shown good faith and commendable commitment by acceding to most of the demands of ASUU.
“This ordinarily ought to be a thing of pride and an outstanding achievement to the ASUU having been able to secure these unprecedented concessions as a direct benefit of the prolonged and painful five month strike.
“Given this dangerous and invidious tendency, no right thinking government sworn to protect the welfare of its citizens will fold its arms and watch the situation deteriorate any further.
“History has shown that when governments worldwide are pushed to the wall, they take whatever lawful steps that are necessary to protect the interests of its people and the state over which they govern.
“This is why we make bold to state that there is absolutely nothing dictatorial, draconian or undemocratic in the order by the Federal Government for striking lecturers to return to work or face dismissal.
“You may wish to recall that on the 5th of August 1981, Ronald Reagan then American President, sacked 11, 345 air traffic controllers after a two-day strike. Reagan took the decision after the striking workers turned down an 11 per cent wage increase he had offered them.”
Okupe stated that the demands of the ASUU leadership unwittingly questioned the integrity of the President, adding that the ASUU leaders went into negotiation with the government with a mindset.

Source: The Nation

Bayelsa Govt Sends 250 Youths To Asari Dokubo’s University In Benin Republic For Training

The Bayelsa Government has sent 250 youths from the state on automobile technology, cinematography, photography and design in a bid to patronize the academy set up by former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, one of President Jonathan’s supporters for his re-election bid in 2015 polls.
The scheme was announced in Yenegoa at a reception for 200 Bayelsa graduates of a six- month agricultural training programme at the Songhai Integrated System, Cotonou.
The training programme will be held at the Amachree Royal Academy, Benin Republic, which is owned by ex-militant leader,  Alhaji Asari Dokubo.
Although the cost of the contract was not disclosed, SaharaReporters gathered that the scheme is calculated to empower Dokubo for the job of harassing Mr. Jonathan’s opponents before the 2015 Presidential Polls.
It will be recalled that the ex-militant leader had a brush with the authorities in Benin Republic last week, but was released days later following the intervention of Nigeria leader Goodluck Jonathan.
At the reception, which also doubled as a send-off orientation for the 250 youths going for the vocational training, Dickson declared his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, and charged them to take their training seriously.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Thomas Commander, congratulated the graduates for the successful completion of the programme in spite of some challenges.

He expressed the state government’s desire to engage some of the graduands, but disclosed that those who intend to be self-reliant, would be encouraged and supported by the government.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Parkinson MacManuel, said the 250 trainees would depart for Benin Republic on Dec. 1

Source: sahara reporters

Walkout on President Jonathan, a coup - Tukur

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, says that last August’s walk-out on President Goodluck Jonathan by dissenting party members during the controversial convention of the party amounted to a coup d’etat.
Tukur made the remark in a response to the assertion of the Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, that Mr. Tukur is a ‘virus’ that must be removed from the party.
A statement signed by Lamido’s Media Adviser, Prince Oliver Okpala, however said that Tukur agreed to being a virus, but described him as a “positive virus” in the party.
"Tukur agreed with Governor Sule Lamido that he is a virus in the party but a necessary virus for the entrenchment of democratic culture, discipline and good governance in the party and the country.
"He hoped that Governor Sule Lamido will soon catch this necessary virus for the good of the PDP and the country."
The National Chairman remarked that the virus that Lamido identified is a necessary virus in any democratic political structure for sustenance and continuity of the country’s nascent democratic dispensation.
He said if the virus had spread enough the likes of Governor Lamido would not have walked out on the President of the country and other party chieftains during the party’s last convention.
The actions of the governors, he said, amounted to a political coup and secession which should be condemned by every right thinking Nigerian as an insult on the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Source: Sahara reporters