NIGERIA/MOROCCO ROW--DR JONATHAN ORDERS PROBE

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered detailed investigation of the alleged telephone conversation between him and King Mohammed the sixth.

In a statement forwarded to our news desk by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, Dr Jonathan expressed shocked and embarrassment at the dispute generated by the controversy, blaming it entirely on misinformation.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Dr Abati stressed that President Jonathan has neither spoken with King Mohammed the 6th of Morocco nor told anybody that he had a telephone chat with the Moroccan king.

Dr Abati however said President Jonathan had been speaking with some African leaders to elicit their support for Nigeria’s candidate for the position of President of the African Development Bank, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.

KING MOHAMMED VI

To this end, the Nigerian President directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contact their respective embassies, to enable him speak with the King Mohammed, the Algeria President as well as the President of Egypt.

Worried by the controversy, President Jonathan has therefore ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali to conduct thorough investigation of the claim which originated from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This is to identify those behind the misinformation, leading to an unnecessary diplomatic row with Morocco and another national embarrassment.

It is also to establish their motives.

President Jonathan equally ordered that prompt and adequate sanctions be taken against the culprits.

He also implored Nigerians to ignore what he termed the gimmicks of opposition elements, who have latched on the regrettable dispute, to denigrate the government of Nigeria and advance their quest for victory in the 2015 polls.

NIGERIAN MILITARY DISCOVER TERRORISTS BOMB MAKING FACTORY IN YOBE STATE

The ongoing cordon and search by troops in Buni Yadi,Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State has led to the discovery of a Bomb Making factory, where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by  terrorists were being produced.  A large quantity of IEDs including those commonly used by suicide bombers were recovered from the site.

The factory, which was located in a fertilizer company, has also converted some of the materials therein for production of all types of IEDs. Troops are still evacuating the materials which include a large quantity of suicide bomber vests from the facility to their base.  It is believed that the heavy calibre bomb used in blowing up the bridge between Damaturu and Buni Yadi was produced in the factory. 

 

The terrorists were sacked from Buni Yadi after a military assault that was conducted last Saturday.  The troops advance was delayed by the series of IEDs planted on the highway leading to Buni Yadi. Four soldiers died from such IEDs in the course of the operation to clear terrorists from the town.

This discovery is expected to degrade the capability of terrorists in the production of explosives, which they have been using lavishly in the area until they were dislodged from their stronghold. (DHQ)

INEC TEST RUNS PVC CARD READERS TOMORROW

The Independent National Electoral Commission will tomorrow, test run the much talked about Smart Card Readers for the 2015 general elections.

The field-test will hold in 225 polling units and 358 voting points across 12 Registration Wards in 12 states of the Federation.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, the exercise will hold in Port Harcourt City, Rivers, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state and Gassol in Taraba state.

Others are Kumbotso in Kano state, Bunza, Kebbi state, Kokona, in Nasarawa state and Shiroro, Niger state, as well as Ikeja, Lagos state, Aguata in Anambra state, Oshimili-South in Delta and Jama’are, Bauchi state.  The field-test is to verify the efficacy of the device.

INEC’s decision to use the PVC Card Reader for this year’s general elections is still a national debate.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN LEADS PHYSICAL TRAINING EXERCISE IN ABUJA SATURDAY

President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to lead government officials as well as other Nigerians on a physical training exercise in Abuja tomorrow (Saturday).

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the exercise is aimed at promoting sports and fitness in Nigeria.

The training exercise, which will commence at 7.00 am from the Presidential Villa, will include jogging, physical stretches and light aerobics.

It will end with a solidarity rally for President Jonathan at the Eagle Square organized by the Nigerian sports community.  

Prominent Sports personalities like Kanu Nwankwo, Mary Onyali, Austin Eguavoen, Chika Chukwumerije and Joseph Yobo.

The event will be broadcast live by the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA.