2015: Why Jonathan may lose as an incumbent

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For those who are upbeat about the chances of the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan winning re-election if he decides to run, I have bad news for them. The President may not only lose in 2015, he could lose by a landslide even with the incumbency factor perceived to be in his favour. Let’s even consider a massive defeat of an incumbent impossibility; he could still be edged out by a narrow margin. Indeed all evidence point to the first shocking defeat of an incumbent in a presidential election in the country. For the first time ever, it seems the incumbency effect may not matter. While I acknowledge the usual arguments about the incumbent advantage; 2015 may yet prove to be an exception.
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Federal Government of Nigeria to review the nature of its relationship with the U.S & SA

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By Egheomhanre Eyieyien

Time has come for the Federal Government of Nigeria to review the nature of its relationship with the United States of America and South Africa. The U.S. has become adversarial in its relationship with Nigeria in recent times. Despite its avowed commitment to supporting Nigeria in its war against terrorism, the U.S. Government has repeatedly blocked our bid to buy weaponry in that regard. And statements by ranking American officials have been needlessly critical of Nigeria.

African leaders unite against Boko Haram

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The Lake Chad Basin Commission Heads of State and Government as well as the representative of the Republic of Benin, on Tuesday in Niamey, Niger Republic, resolved to fight in synergy against the Boko Haram sect wherever it rears its ugly head in the region.

This was one of the resolutions of an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the LCBC, attended by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The sect had so far killed about 13,000 Nigerians since it started his campaign of violence in Nigeria, especially in the north-eastern part of the country.

Asari-Dokubo took part in $9.3m arms scandal –APC

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The All Progressives Congress says ex-militant, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, was involved in the $9.3m arms deal which led to the arrest of two Nigerians and an Israeli in South Africa.

The party, therefore, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to explain to Nigerians what Dokubo-Asari was doing on the plane where the money was found and confiscated by the South African authorities.

But Dokubo-Asari had distanced himself from the $9.3m botched arms deal.
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Nigeria donates $3.5m to Liberia, others

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The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Wednesday said Nigeria had already donated $3.5m as part of its intervention in the affected countries.

Chukwu said the sum was made up of $500,000 to each of the countries and the balance to the common ECOWAS Fund for the disease.

He also said 591 health practitioners had volunteered to join the international force that would go to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to help in the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease.

He said the volunteers registered with his ministry at three points in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.
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Donetsk Republic Estimates War Damage at $1 Bln

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The cost of Kiev's military crackdown will weigh heavily on the besieged region of Donetsk, with war damage estimated at about $1 billion, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said Wednesday.

US in De Facto Alliance With Iran to Fight IS Threat: Expert

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 The United States has de facto formed an alliance with Iran to fight the Islamic State (IS) movement, despite the strong reluctance by US officials to admit it, the former director of the Iraq program at the National Security Council told RIA Novosti.

"We are in a unique position where, in the extremely short term, our interests and Iran's inside Iraq are almost identical," said Douglas Ollivant during a New America web discussion on Wednesday.

"So, de facto we're in an alliance with Iran. Now, I don't expect anyone in a position of power in the US government to ever say that," he said, continuing that much of the realities and facts of the region are "politically inconvenient to say."

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Ukraine SITREP October 8th, 16:00 UTC/Zulu: The calm before the storm?

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Military situation

The situation in the Ukraine and Novorussia is a very tense and could lead to a major resumption of hostilities.

The Junta Repression Forces (JRF) have used the ceasefire to lick their wounds, get reorganized, concentrate their forces, bring in much needed reinforcements, prepare defensive fortifications and bring in new units.  The Novorussian Armed Forces (NAF) have done the same but, unlike the JRF, the NAF suffer from a lack of equipment, possibly made worse by a reduction of the flow of weapons, in particular heavy ones, from Russia (the so-called voentorg).  In terms of personnel, the influx of volunteers to the NDF has remained steady and strong.
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Australian Air Force Launches First Airstrikes Against IS Positions in Iraq

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The Australian Air Force has launched its first airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq, the country’s Defense Ministry said in a statement early on Thursday.
“Overnight the Australian Air Task Group operating in the Middle East attacked its first target in Iraq. Two bombs were dropped from an F/A-18F Super Hornet on to an ISIL facility,” the ministry said.
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US Aggressive Policy Toward Russia Could Trigger Nuke War: Nuclear Disarmament Advocate

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown a great deal of restraint in the face of provocations by the United States and NATO directly at the Russian borders, but a conflict between the two greatest nuclear powers remains a very grim perspective, Dr. Helen Caldicott, an author and nuclear disarmament advocate told RIA Novosti.

"Putin... I think he is being very restrained at the moment," Dr. Caldicott said during a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that US attempts to create an enemy image around Putin are "totally inappropriate."

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Spain Health Authorities Euthanize Ebola Patient's Pet Despite Protests: Official

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Madrid health authorities have euthanized Excalibur, a dog belonging to the Spanish nurse suffering from the Ebola virus, EFE news agency reported Wednesday, citing officials.

“Unfortunately we had no other choice,” Madrid regional government health spokesman Javier Rodriguez said.  The report was confirmed by Partido Animalista – PACMA, a Spanish political party focused in the animal rights.

“We confirm the bad news. Excalibur was killed. From the bottom of the heart, we thank you for your support. We will keep working," the organization said on its Twitter page.

Another Passenger Check to Be Introduced in US Airports Due to Ebola Threat: White House

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Additional measures to prevent the Ebola virus from entering the United States will be introduced in five airports of the country: in New York, Washington, Chicago and Atlanta, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday.

"Additional layer of screening will be put in five airports across the countries. These five airports are the destination of 94 percent of individuals who travel to the US from the tree countries that are currently affected by Ebola right now," Earnest said.

"We continue to have a lot of confidence in screening measures that are already in place. By far the most effective measures that are already in place are… the screening that takes place in these tree countries in West Africa," the spokesman said. "Preventing those individuals, who already exhibiting the symptoms of Ebola from boarding the plane is the most effective measure that would counter and has countered the spread of Ebola."

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Another US Patient With Signs of Ebola Hospitalized in Texas: Reports

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A sheriff’s deputy who had been in the apartment of the deceased US Ebola patient and contacted his relatives was taken to a Texas hospital on Wednesday after exhibiting symptoms of the lethal virus disease, CBS cited Dallas officials as saying.
“The deputy expressed concern and we directed that deputy to the Dallas County Health & Human Services for care. We now wait for further information as medical staff attends to the deputy,” the Dallas County Sheriff's office said Wednesday as quoted by CBS.
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US Deploys 100 Marines to Liberia to shoot and kill "Ebola"- Department of Defense

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 One hundred members of the US Marine Air Ground Task Force are being sent to Liberia to provide interim re-supply and transportation support in the wake of the Ebola virus outbreak, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Wednesday.
"They are being sent down there as a bridging capability," DoD Spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said.

The Marines are being sent ahead of the US Army team slated to be deployed to Liberia later this month to battle the Ebola virus outbreak.
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Presidency slams RichestLifeStyle Website, threatens Author with libel, defamation

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Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati just released this statement:

We have noted with consternation the listing of President  Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by a website – RichestLifestyle.com - as the sixth richest African President with an estimated net worth of $100 Million U.S. Dollars. 

The Presidency condemns the totally unwarranted inclusion of President Jonathan in the publication titled “Africa’s Richest Presidents 2014” as another attempt to unjustifiablyportray the President as a corrupt leader and incite public disaffection against him. We categorically assert that there is no factual basis for ranking President Jonathan as the sixth richest African Head of State with a net worth of about $100 Million U.S. Dollars.   As is well known, President Jonathan has ever been a businessman or entrepreneur, but a life-long public servant. 
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Sad News Of the Year: US Ebola Victim Thomas Duncan has Died

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Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola within the US has died. Thomas Eric Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, was being kept in isolation in a Dallas hospital and claimed was receiving experimental drugs. According to BBC,  a statement released by Texas hospital officials, reads:

"It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 am."

Delta state govt. allegedly destroys over 200 motorcycles

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The Delta state government on Sunday Oct. 5th allegedly burnt over 200 motorcycles it confiscated from those who flouted the state's newly introduced ban on motorcycle riding in some parts of the state. Two weeks ago, the State government banned Okada in some parts of the state, including Ika South, Ika North and Sapele.

The ban was however flouted by some motorcycle riders who got their machines seized by officials of the state. The seized motorcycles have now allegedly been burnt at the Mosogar end of the Gammon Bridge in Sapele.

Ekiti governor-elect Ayo Fayose's new pics released ahead of swearing-in ceremony

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 Ayo Fayose hits the studio hours ago along with his men for a brand new photoshoot before his swearing-in ceremony. He'll officially be sworn-in because the governor of Ekiti state on Thursday, October 16, 2014 in Ado-Ekiti. See more photos following the jump...

Court sacks Adamawa state acting governor, orders reinstatement of ex dep. governor

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An Abuja Federal High court has sacked the acting Governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri from office and ordered the immediate reinstatement of the former deputy governor of the state, Mr Bala Ngilari, (pictured above), as governor.

Ngilari had on July 14th tendered a letter of resignation to the state House of Assembly during the impeachment process of his ex boss, Murtala Mohammed who was impeached on July 15th.

South African organization demand $1million refund from Nicki Minaj

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A South Africa organization, The ANC Youth League - wants rapper Nicki Minaj to pay back the R10million (about $1million) they paid her as part payment for a show that was canceled.
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