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Robert F. Kennedy’s Estranged Wife Mary Died at 52
Written By CKN NIGERIA on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 | 11:28 pm
Mary Kennedy, ex-wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., died Wednesday, a source told the Associated Press.
Kerry Lawrence, an attorney, confirmed her death, but he does not know the cause.
The Bedford, N.Y. police department said that at approximately 1:36 p.m. they responded to a call of a deceased individual found at the Kennedys' home. They are investigating an "unattended death." They are not releasing the identification of the body until family members have been notified.
ABC News says a spokesperson for Mary Kennedy's family released a statement, saying, "We deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant and creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her. Our heart goes out to her children who she loved without reservation. We have no further comment at this time."
After 16 years of marriage, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed for divorce from Mary Kennedy in May 2010. They have four children, and Mary Kennedy is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s second wife.
Mary Kennedy struggled with drug and alcohol problems, according to the AP. She was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, and her license was also suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol. Both incidents happened around the time of her divorce.
An unnamed source told Radaronline.com that Mary committed suicide. That information has not been confirmed.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly currently dating actress Cheryl Hines.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of former Sen. Robert Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy.
Former NLC President Pascal Bafyau Is Dead
The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr
Pascal Bafyau, is dead. He died on Tuesday night in Abuja at the age of 65
years. He hailed from Adamawa State.
Mr Tayo Haastrup, the Public Relations Officer of the National
Hospital, Abuja, confirmed to NAN that Bafyau’s remains were deposited at the
hospital morgue in the early hours of Wednesday.
Bafyau, after heading the NLC which he left in 1994, went into
politics and became a member of the defunct Social Democratic Party.He was one
of the strongest backers of Late Gen Sani Abacha’s regime.
Until his death, Bafyau was a member of the PDP
Picture Of The Day..Heaven Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Exclusive...Unbelievable...Cow With Two Heads Delivered At Iseyin
People who gathered at the Iseyin kraal to see a new wonder couldn't believe their eyes. A cow, after being slaughtered and disembowelled was discovered to be pregnant with a foetus having two heads.Mr Isiaka Oluwole who bought the cow from a Fulani rearer said it was the cow's second pregnancy. The first pregnancy was according to him, a success, as the cow was delivered of two calves last year...Wonders Shall never end...CKNElders Dancing Naked In Market Places..Buhari Replies Goodluck/PDP Again
“The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, has noted the
response of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, as President of Nigeria, to the altruistic
statement credited to our National Leader, General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB)
wherein he had stated inter-alia dire consequences for the perpetual riggers of
our electoral process in 2015. In the statement signed by Dr Reuben Abati,
Special Adviser to the President on Media, GMB was grotesquely characterized as
a sectional leader," CPC's National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin
said in the statement.
"First, GMB has been out of office as Head of Government for about 28
years, yet his relevance to the Nigerian nation is something firmly
acknowledged by a broad spectrum of Nigerians, including his adversaries. As
Head of State, his Oil Minister was Professor Tam David-West, a Kalabari man
from Rivers state. As a leader, he created the ambience for his ministers to
work unobtrusively and devoid of executive meddlesome-ness. But what do we find
with Dr Goodluck Jonathan? All the appointees as oil ministers in his two-year
reign thus far as President of Nigeria have been Nigerians of Ijaw extraction,
like himself!
"Secondly, in October 1, 2010, there was a bomb blast during the
year’s independence anniversary celebrations, with attendant deaths of many
Nigerians. Without waiting for any preliminary report from the Security
Agencies, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, as President, told a traumatized Nation, “it is
not MEND!” Meanwhile, MEND is the name for the militant group from Dr Goodluck
Jonathan’s ethnic extraction that had in the immediate past waged relentless
and potent insurgency against the Nigerian state but had been placated with
more slice of the Nation’s resources ceded to the region. Indeed, MEND impugned
the President’s statement and admitted responsibility.
"Third, so far as President of Nigeria, Dr Good-luck Jonathan has
shown very generous affinity for Nigerians of Ijaw stock in terms of
appointments and promotions in the Federal Public sector. There is a marked
lopsidedness that smacks of clannishness and ethnocentrism by the President!
"On corruption and sleazy tendency, the Jonathan administration
transcends all others before it! Nigerians are still befuddled by the
impeachable show of arbitrariness by the regime in expending N2.67 trillion on
fuel subsidy instead of the appropriated N240Billion in the 2011 appropriation
act. As expected, the regime has attempted all manner of subterfuge to give
Executive cover for the indicted people in the scam, who were the bank-rollers
of the President’s electioneering campaign. Could it be that the missing money
was funneled deliberately to the Jonathan Presidential Campaigns, with the
acquiescence of the President?
"GMB was quoted as saying that the Jonathan-led Federal Government is
the greatest Boko-Haram. Understandably, this elicited an awful response from
the President. ...The presidential spokesman defined Boko-Haram as “Western
education is sin” and went on to posit the administration’s investment in
Education. How awkwardly inane could that be?! It is common knowledge that
Boko-Haram has become the euphemism for subtlety in devious schemes that cause
mass killings of the innocents! As GMB aptly stated, Boko Haram has three
variants, with varying degrees of severity and murderous content: the original
Boko-haram that seeks to avenge the extra-judicial killing of its Leader by the
Nigeria Police; the Boko Haram that pursues criminality for monetary gains and
of course, the Political Boko-haram that is bent on setting the stage for
ethno-religious pogrom in the Nigerian nation. It is the Political Boko Haram,
with its extremely lethal content, that the Jonathan-led Federal Government
represents!" the statement concluded.
In January 2012, Dr Good-luck Jonathan told a bewildered nation, still
smarting from murderous Bombings, that his government has been infiltrated by
Boko Haram.
In February 2012, a serving PDP senator from Borno South (Mohammed Ali
Ndume) was arrested for being a member of Boko Haram.
In March 2012, Ndume deposed to an affidavit before a Federal High Court
wherein he stated that Vice-President Namadi Sambo was aware of his activities
with Boko Haram.
In April 2012, General Andrew Owoeye Azazi , the National Security
Adviser, averred that there was indisputable proof that Boko Haram is PDP. As things
stand, President Good-luck Jonathan is the national leader of PDP.
In April 2012, Henry Okah (while standing trial on Terrorism charges)
deposed to an affidavit before a South African court that President Good-luck
Jonathan was the sponsor of the October 1, 2010 bombing at Eagle square. It is
on record that as governor of a Niger-delta state, Dr Good-luck Jonathan
(together with his brother governors) had used the MEND to command the
attention of the Nigerian state.
As a Party, we are aware of the role played by Jonathan’s PDP in the way
the People’s post-electoral angst (at the subversion of their electoral will)
was turned into murderous ethno-religious mayhem.
We are also aware about how the Jonathan administration has consistently
used the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of his
fellow Niger-delta Nigerian, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, to demonize GMB in the
despicable attempt to veil the murderous intent of the administration.
Meanwhile, with the hullaballoo that Dr Jonathan and his PDP elements have
unwittingly caused within the Polity, should it be interpreted that there is a
real effort towards ensuring that the 2015 election is also rigged as before in
giving vim to the PDP Leaders’ claim of ruling Nigeria for 60 years? As a
Nation, we are witnesses to the manner in which rigged elections have foisted
on the Nation cluelessness in governance and rapacious impudence; it is indeed
a dreary road to tread.
We insist that it is never ignoble to lose elections because President
Abraham Lincoln, before being reputed to be the best American President that
ever existed, was known to have lost elections several times. GMB, though lost
Presidential elections three times to the rigging collusion of the Nigerian
presidency and the electoral umpire, took the loss each time (like Abraham
Lincoln) with equanimity!
In the meantime, we shall continue to trumpet the sterling qualities of
the Buhari brand which is still a rarity among the Political players in our
nation’s season of anomie. We stand unwaveringly by the statement credited to
GMB!
God bless Nigeria”.
Rotimi Fashakin (Engr.)
National Publicity Secretary, CPC
(Wednesday, 16th May, 2012).
Controversies Trail Genevieve Alleged Daughter's Pictures..See All The Other Pictures
Controversies has continued to trailed the alleged picture of what has been termed as Nollywood's actress Geneieve Nnaji love Child ..The picture which has been making the rounds in social media for a while was said to have been unveiled recently at a function attended by mother and child..but in a swift reaction to CKN Nigeria post by some of the lady in the picture friends..They opined that the lady in the picture is neither Gene's daughter or a relation,but rather a look alike who is Miss Tourism 2012 NENGI WARIKOKO ..Some other pictures of the duo were also sent to us including a newspaper interview where the lady in question denounced her relationship with the Diva..While the controversy ranges,it will be good to hear from the world class actress on the true position of things in order to put this to rest once and for all..We ll keep you posted as usual..CKN
This Is The Man Funke Akindele Will Marry As a Second Wife
Geneieve Nnaji Finally Caught On Camera With 15 Years Daughter
In a rare picture,Nollywood superstar 32 years Geneieve Nnaji finally unveiled her 15 years daughter..Though it is a known fact that the actress had a daughter when she was 17 years,no one has for sure has been able to pinned her down with the child ..Several pictures were circulated in the past which turned out to be false..But this is authentic,the resemblance is unmistakeable,they were caught at an event recently..CKNRevealed...The Real Reason Why Obama Became 1st American President To Endorse Same Sex Marriage
Most Americans
suspect that President Obama was
motivated by politics, not policy, when he declared his support for same-sex
marriage, according to a poll released on Monday, suggesting that
the unplanned way it was announced shaped public attitudes.
Sixty-seven
percent of those surveyed by The New York Times and CBS News since the
announcement said they thought that Mr. Obama had made it “mostly for political
reasons,” while 24 percent said it was “mostly because he thinks it is right.”
Independents were more likely to attribute it to politics, with nearly half of
Democrats agreeing.
The
results reinforce the concerns of White House aides and Democratic strategists
who worried that the sequence of events leading up to the announcement last
week made it look calculated rather than principled.
Mr.
Obama, who had said since late 2010 that his position on the issue was
“evolving,” finally proclaimed his support for same-sex marriage only
after Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. did so first in a television
interview.
“If
Biden hadn’t said something, I don’t think he would have said anything either,”
Larry Gannon, 48, a graphic artist from Norwalk, Calif. and an independent,
said in a follow-up interview.
Holly
Wright, 67, an independent from Smithfield, Va., who works in the food
industry, said she believed that Mr. Obama had concluded that more Americans
approved of same-sex marriage. “He believes it will help him win the election,”
she said. “In other words, say what the majority of the people want to hear.”
The
survey results made it clear that the president was wading into a divisive area
of American life, one that may not top the nation’s priority list but still has
the potential to hurt him at the margins in elections in November. About 4 in
10, or 38 percent, of Americans support same-sex marriage, while 24 percent
favor civil unions short of formal marriage. Thirty-three percent oppose any
form of legal recognition. When civil unions are eliminated as an option,
opposition to same-sex marriage rises to 51 percent, compared with 42 percent
support.
The
poll showed that relatively few voters consider same-sex marriage their top
issue amid continued economic uncertainty, and more than half said it would
make no difference in their choice for president. But among those who said Mr.
Obama’s position would influence their vote, more said they would be less
likely to vote for him as a result; in a close race, even a small shift in
swing states could be costly.
The
political consequences of the president’s announcement have absorbed
Washington, with strategists on all sides poring through data to try to
anticipate what it might mean in the fall. Many surveys have shown rising
support nationally for same-sex marriage, especially among younger Americans.
However, voters in more than 30 states have passed measures banning such
unions, most recently those in North Carolina last
week.
Mr.
Obama’s team is counting on the notion that whatever he might lose in votes or
intensity of support will be offset by increased excitement among young voters
and his liberal base. His probable Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, a former
governor of Massachusetts, is banking on the idea that Mr. Obama’s position
will turn off enough supporters of traditional marriage, including
African-Americans, to help tip the race his way.
The
situation remains so uncertain in part because, as the poll showed, the public
is deeply conflicted on the issue. Consider the responses to two questions:
Just 32 percent said the federal government should determine whether same-sex
marriage is legal, rather than leaving it to the states. But 50 percent favored
an amendment to the federal Constitution allowing marriage only between a man
and a woman and overruling state laws to the contrary.
Mr.
Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage appeared to have little effect on
Americans’ view of the issue. More influential seems to be the increasing
familiarity with people who are gay and lesbian. In a 2003 Times/CBS News poll,
44 percent of respondents said they had a colleague at work, close friend or
relative who was gay, compared with 69 percent in the latest poll. Those who
did were more likely to support legalizing same-sex marriage than those who did
not.
“I
might have been against it a long time ago, but then after meeting people who
were gay, I changed my mind and had a different position,” said John Cornett,
70, a Democrat in Georgetown, Ky.
The
new nationwide poll is based on telephone interviews conducted from May 11
through 13 on landlines and cellphones with 615 adults.
With
less than six months until the election, Mr. Obama remains in a tight race with
Mr. Romney. A month ago, a Times/CBS News poll showed the two tied at 46 percent each; the latest survey
had the Republican challenger at 46 percent to the president’s 43 percent, an
edge that was within the margin of sampling error of plus or minus four
percentage points.
Mr.
Obama’s vulnerable standing in the poll came despite rising optimism about the
economy. About a third of voters said it was very or fairly good, the most
since January 2008. More than a third said it was getting better, compared with
a quarter who said it was getting worse. Jobs and the economy remain by far the
most dominant issue, with 62 percent naming it their top priority and 19
percent their second highest. By contrast, just 7 percent chose same-sex
marriage as the most important issue and 4 percent as the second-most
important.
While
most respondents said the candidates’ position on the issue would not affect
their vote, about 4 in 10 said it would, and that played against Mr. Obama.
Twenty-six percent of respondents said they were less likely to support Mr.
Obama as a result, while 16 percent said they were more likely to. Many of
those who described themselves as less likely to vote for Mr. Obama were
Republicans who might not have anyway, but in a tight race, even small numbers
can matter.
The
sample size of the new poll was too small to break out comparisons by race, but
aggregating four Times/CBS News surveys that asked the question over the last
year opens a window into a racial dynamic that could be challenging for Mr.
Obama.
Over all, black and
white Americans divided on same-sex marriage in roughly similar numbers. But
black Democrats were more skeptical than white Democrats. Forty-five percent of
white Democrats supported legalizing marriage for gay couples, compared with 36
percent of black Democrats, while 35 percent of black Democrats opposed any
legal recognition, compared with 28 percent of white Democrats.
Minister For Youth Dev Reacts To Our Exclusive Story On Non Payment Of Corpers Salary
Two days ago,we exclusively reported our investigation on the none payment of salaries of Youth Corpers across the country (the story was eventually carried by all news media)..The Minister of Youth Development and holding minister for sports Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi has reacted to the story and called for patience as his ministry and the NYSC are doing everything possible to sort out the problem..This was the Press Statement from the office of the minister..
Press Release
Transition to better accounting system caused delay in corps members’ allowance
The attention of the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has been drawn to the controversy and speculation in the media over the delay of the April allowance of corps members.
The Minister has been informed that this delay is not unique to corps members but also affects some civil servants in the employ of the Federal Government.
“It is not deliberate but as a result of the transition to the new and more secured Integrated Payroll Payment System, as part of Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” he said.
The Minister has however been assured by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that by this weekend all administrative issues pertaining to the allowance of corps members would be sorted out and they could look forward to receiving their April and May allowances.
He regrets whatever inconvenience this delay might have caused our loyal and dutiful corps members, and urged them to continue to serve Nigeria selflessly.
Signed
Julius Ogunro
Special Assistant (Media) to Hon. Minister
New On CKN....CKN Damsels ..Send Your Pictures For Publishing
Do you think you have what it takes to be a damsel..Are you interested in making it big in the showbiz industry.Do you believe you are a lady of class..Do you want to expand your beauty beyond your immediate border and across the globe..Do you want the world to know about you?..Then,we are providing you the platform to showcase your God giving beauty as we introduce our weekly pictorial column,CKN Damsel ..All you need to do is send portrait coloured picture of yourself to us with your full names,numbers and email (No address please) to cknnigeria@gmail.com..Start sending now,you may be the next biggest thing to happen to the world..CKN
New On CKN Nigeria..We Will Start Publishing Articles And Readers Opinions From Next Week
From next week ,we will be providing opportunities for our readers who are interested in writing opinions and articles on various topics to air their views..This will cut across all strata of human endeavours..We will also publish your wedding,anniversary ,graduation,events pictures as the case may be..All articles must be short and concise..We deserve the right to edit such articles to meet our in-house standard..All articles must carry the name,photograph,phone numbers and email address of the writer..Kindly send your articles and opinions to cknnigeria@gmail.com...Thanks and God bless..CKN
Bob Dee Is 52 Today..The Profile Of An Amazon
Dele
Momodu (born
Ayòbámidélé Àbáyòmí Ojútelégàn Àjàní Momodu; May 16, 1960) is a Nigerian Journalist/ Publisher. He is the publisher of Ovation
International a magazine that has given publicity to many Africans.
Early life
Ayobamidele
meaning "my joy has followed me home'[1] is the last of three siblings.
He lost his Dad at the age of 13 relying on his Mum, and relatives for support.
Dele was taught by his late Mum, who died on the 18th of May 2007[2] not to despair even when times
are tough, this was exemplified by her continual support of him even when
others had written him off, She had given him up to a third chance at passing
his WAEC ( Senior Secondary Exams ) Although
his Mum's source of income was from petty trading, and with two older children
to care for, she laboured hard to sustain her family, and in the words of Dele
Momodu 'She didn't give up on me'.[
[Education and Career
Dele
Momodu is a graduate of University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife) 1982, Dele holds a degree in Yoruba and a Masters degree in English Literature in
1988. He lectured at the Oyo State College of Arts
and Science in Ile-Ife, between 1982-83
while on National Service. Between 1983-85, he was private secretary to the
former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, ChiefAkin Omoboriowo. In 1986, Dele Momodu served
the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade
Sijuwade Olubuse II, managing the Motel Royal Limited owned by the
monarch. Following Dele's resignation from the Motel Royal, he went on to study
for his post-graduate degree in English literature. He was during this time
contributing articles to the likes of The Guardian, Sunday Tribune and other
Nigerian based publications.
Involvement
with MKO Abiola
In
May 1988, Dele Momodu got his first job as Staff Writer with the African
Concord magazine, owned by late Chief Moshood
Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. A year later, he was transferred to
Weekend Concord as a pioneer staff. He wrote the first cover story for the
paper in March 1989. He also contributed to other publications such as the
National Concord, Sunday Concord, Business Concord and the Yoruba newspaper,
Isokan. In May 1989, he became Literary Editor, within six months he became
News Editor of the Weekend Concord. Between May 1990 and September 1991 edited
May Ellen Ezekiel's Classique, a celebrity magazine an appointment which made
him the highest paid editor in Nigeria. He resigned and tried his hands on
doing business as a bread distributor for his mentor Chief Moshood Abiola, who
owned the 'Wonderloaf'. Following this, Dele Momodu started a public relations
outfit, Celebrities-Goodwill Limited, which managed the accounts of Chief
Moshood Abiola, Dr Mike Adenuga, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie and other distinguished
Nigerians.
Exile
In
1993, Dele resigned to join the Moshood Abiola Presidential Campaign
Organisation, Dele Momodu was arrested and detained at Alagbon Close in Lagos,
after the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election by General Ibrahim Babangida. He was severely punished
for his views but was undeterred. He was to be arrested in 1995 and charged for treason by the Sani AbachaGovernment. He was accused of being
one of the brains behind the pirate radio station, Radio Freedom later changed
to Radio Kudirat, after the cold-blooded murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. Dele
Momodu managed to escape masquerading as a farmer through Seme border into
Cotonou, in Benin Republic, from where he fled to Togo, Ghana and
eventually to the United Kingdom.[4] For three agonising years, Dele
could not re- enter his homeland, Nigeria.
Ovation
International
Dele
Momodu started Ovation International in 1996 while still in
exile. After the death of MKO Abiola in
prison and subsequently, the death of his persecutor, Sani Abacha, Dele ended his exile.
Family
and Personal Life
Dele
Momodu is married to Mobolaji Abiodun Momodu.[citation needed] They
have four children known as Pekan, Yole, Eniafe and Korewa.[citation needed]
Presidential
Ambition
Dele
Momodu was the Presidential candidate of the Candidate of the National
Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2011 General Election..
I'll Kill My self If You Don't Dissolve My 15 Years Marriage..Igbo Man Begs Court
A 44-year-old civil servant, Mr Vitus Egemonu, on
Tuesday, pleaded with the Grade `A’ Customary Court, Agege, Lagos, to divorce
his marriage of 16 years over his spouse alleged disobedience, lack of respect
and threat to life.
The father of five children, aged
between six years and 15 years, and who lives at No. 9, Olowo Street, Papa
Ashafa, Agege, Lagos, told the court that his voice had not been heard in his
home in the past 10 years.
“For the past 10 years, my wife has
been moving from one church to the other, claiming that it was God that sent
her to be doing so.
“She carries the bible from morning
till night and has not obeyed what it says about a wife being submissive to her
husband.
“She has refused to cook at home
for the past 15 months, meaning that I have not eaten at home since then, all
in the name of church programmes, bible colleges and fellowships,’’ he said.
Egemonu also told the court that
his wife, Victoria, had fought with almost all the tenants in their house, all
in the name that God told her that they were all witches and wizards.
“I was a bachelor when I rented the
house we are now. I have not fought with anyone in the house, until my wife
came in.
“She always fights with our
landlady and calls her a witch. My wife told the woman that she used her
daughter’s foetus for money; now we have been given a quit notice to move out.
“She brainwashed my daughter such
that the girl looked straight in my eyes and said the Lord told her that this
year will be a year of joblessness for me,’’ he said.
Egemonu also told the court that
his wife said God told her that she should not be celebrating Christmas or put
on any red clothes.
Pictures Of 100 Widows Wedded Out At N10,000 Each In Kano
These were some of the pictures of some of the widows that were wedded out in Kano State on Tuesday at a sum of N10,000 each..This was conducted in the open with a mammoth crowd witnessing the event..CKNJournalists Vow Not To Practise In Plateau State Over Insecurity..Gov Jang,It's Not Our Fault
Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang
has flayed plan by journalists to boycott the state government’s activities.It
will be recalled that journalists resolved to boycott the government’s
activities because of the insecurity confronting the state in the last four
years. The journalists claimed that their lives were no longer safe. But the
governor faulted the journalists’ stand, saying such position does not reflect
an objective assessment of the issues in the state.
Speaking through his Director of Research and Documentation, Mr
Chris Kwaja, Jang advised the journalists not to allow their personal interests
to becloud their sense of judgment on issues concerning the state.
He said: “The same media is aware that the secu-rity of the state
is directly under the control of the Federal Government. The journalists
themselves are aware that members of the Special Task Force (STF), who are
maintaining peace in the state report directly to the Chief of Defence Staff
and not the governor.
“Instead of the journalists to seek explanation from the Federal
Government and demand to know why attacks have persisted despite the state of
emergency and other security measures put in place, they are not doing that.
This is not fair and it is quite surprising to us.
“The media will do well to demand explanation from the Federal
Government handling the security situation in the state on why it has been
difficult for it to provide adequate secu-rity to the people.”
Buhari Loves Blood...PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, yesterday accused the presidential candidate of the Congress for
Progressive Change, CPC, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of inciting the public and
seeking the blood of innocent Nigerians to attain his political desire.
The party also warned the
former Head of State not to plunge the nation into unnecessary war.
The Presidency also yesterday
said that the prediction by Buhari of blood-shed in 2015 was sad and
unfortunate.
A statement by the Special
Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that
the Federal Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan was not Boko Haram as
claimed by Buhari
PDP was reacting to statement
credited to Buhari in which he was quoted to have called for a bloody revolution
if the 2015 general election was rigged.
The PDP National Publicity
Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, while addressing a press conference yesterday in
Abuja stressed that it was Buhari’s failed political desire to rule the nation
that was pushing him to take such an unpatriotic stand.
Describing the statement as
relishing in “funeral train”, the ruling party noted that Buhari was yet to
recover from the loss he suffered before and during the 2011 presidential
election.
The party said: “While PDP
cherishes freedom of speech, assembly and association as the custodian of
Nigeria’s democracy, we at the same time know that such freedom goes with
im-mense responsibilities.
“We condemn in no uncertain
terms this shameful call for the spill of blood of innocent Nigerians to
acquire political power.
“We appreciate Buhari’s
frustration and antagonism towards the PDP. He has lost three times at the
polls. But is Buhari really a democrat? Why is the blood of innocent Nigerians
the only thing sufficient to quench his thirst for power?
“The utterances of Buhari, a former
military Head of State is truly undemocratic, unpatriotic and unstatesmanly.”
The party blamed the crises and
killings which followed the last general election to Buhari’s “reck-less and
unguarded statements”, saying that “the 22-man panel of enquiry led by Sheikh
Ahmed Lemu confirmed that Buhari’s provocative remarks played a significant
role in the bloody violence that led to the death of at least 200 people,
gruesomely injuring thousands and the displacement of more than 40,000 people.
“The panel categorically stated
that Buhari’s pre-election utterances were misconstrued by his supporters to
engage in the condemnable mayhem that greeted the aftermath of the presidential
election. “Rather than apologise to Nigerians for the violence, Buhari is again
engaged in another build up of massive bloodletting and destruction.”
The PDP noted that Nigerians
should be worried over the ex-Head of State’s quest for power by all means,
pointing out that “Buhari is suffering from combat withdrawal syndrome.”
“We, therefore, urge the
Federal Government to allow him to lead the ECOWAS military contingent to Mali
or Guinea Bissau to enable him an opportunity to exorcise the bloodletting
demons apparently haunt-ing him,” the PDP added.
On the accusation of PDP
lacking in transparency and social justice, the ruling party challenged Buhari
to prove to Nigerians that only PDP members were corrupt.
“Before he does that, we want
to remind him that the various sector probes going on at the National Assembly,
most of which were initiated by PDP leg-islators, are enough testi-monies that
the PDP government will not tolerate inefficiencies and waste in government
operations.
“Maybe it is high time Buhari
confessed to Nigeria the truth about the miss-ing 28 suitcases,” it added.
PDP explained that as a country
ruled by military governments for more than half of its 50 years as a nation,
political reforms need not be revolutionary, cit-ing advanced democracies which
were still evolving political reforms.
The PDP stated that: “Political
reform is a journey, not a destination. Even the richest and most
technologically advanced countries in the world continue to evolve and make
progress in political reforms.
“Nigeria, the second-largest
economy in the Af-rican continent, is indeed making a decisive stride towards
political, economic and legal reforms if only the likes of Buhari will al-low
us be.
“Unfortunately, bad losers like
Buhari are deter-mined to truncate the journey in this right direction by
advocating violence and civil unrest. “The April 16, 2011 presidential
election, which Buhari is still agonising over, was, according to official
results from the INEC, won by the PDP’s candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan,
with 57 per cent of the vote.
“All international and domestic
observers hailed the presidential election as credible. The Africa Union, the
ECOWAS, the Euro-pean Union, the European Parliament, the U.S. Nation-al
Democratic Institute, the U.S. International Republican Institute and the
Commonwealth Secretariat ob-server teams acknowledged the election as
transparent and credible.
“For once, the world agreed
that Nigeria had taken a credible step towards political stability.
“Buhari should stop see-ing PDP
as the evil genius behind his failure. He was the architect of his own misfortune,
as he and his
