Today's News In brief..

Good morning again.... below is the news in brief..and it is poacked full!
Enjoy..

Xenophobia: FG summons envoys from South Africa


Following the outcry against the xenophobia attacks on Nigerians and other migrant workers in South Africa, the Federal Government on Saturday summoned its two senior diplomats on tour of duty in South Africa.
They are the acting High Commissioner in Pretoria, Ambassador Martin Cobham and the Deputy High Commissioner in Johannesburg, Ambassador Uche Ajulu – Okeke.
It was however not clear whether they would be recalled since there had been agitations by Nigeria and civil rights activists that the country’s envoy should be queried and summoned to give explanation on the attacks.
A statement from the Public Communications Division of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH in Abuja, said the summon was at the instance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali.

“The invitation is in connection with the on-going xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants,” the statement said.




Tinubu has begged me for forgiveness-Bode George.

 
'You and Tinubu are believed to be archenemies but a member of your party, Buruji Kashamu, has described him as a role model for Yoruba and the architect of modern Nigeria. How do you see Tinubu now?'

When a punch corespondent asked him the question above, below is the answer he gave.(in part)

Initially, he thought I hated him so much and convolutedly conspired to use a judge to put me in prison. Whatever you sow, you will reap. The Supreme Court said the judgment was a conjecture which means it never existed. They did not know they were helping me to go and rediscover myself. Of course it was painful. We later met at the Adamasingba Stadium Ibadan, at the burial of my good friend, Alao Arisekola. The Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, who is a younger brother of mine, sprang up and said, ‘Why are you and Tinubu not greeting each other?’ and I said Bola is on a different planet from mine. Oba Otudeko was also there and he said, ‘today at the burial of our mutual friend, Arisekola, we should end our hostility’ and I told them that he was involved in the conspiracy to lock me up. They called Bola, he shook my hand and said he was sorry. It was in public. Since then, if we meet in public, we greet each other but our concepts of politics are different.

Aso Rock exit: Jonathan to live in luxury island villa


Come may29th 2015, president Jonathan would have formally vacated the Aso villa, where he has been for the past years. he will be returning to his hometown, Otuoke in Bayelsa state. 
He is said to be returning to some luxury island with the art of the state villas. this is going to be the new home of our soon to be former president, GEJ.
The mansion is said to be located at the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
On the long road to the gates, soldiers and members of other security agencies, apparently on sentry duty, walked on the grounds
Behind the gates, shoving their heads above the walls are no fewer than eight different structures apparently for different purposes: recreation, security posts and guard quarters. A visitor to Otuoke will not be penalised for calling the place a fortress.
Activities in this place, a source within said had been at a lull until a couple of weeks ago. And it is largely believed that come May 29, after the expiration of his tenure, President Jonathan would relocate to the place.


Patience Jonathan’s attitude cost us defeat — PDP chief
Bayelsa State publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Osom Makbere, has said President Goodluck Jonathan lost the March 28 presidential election due to international and domestic conspiracies.
Makbere, who is also a lawyer, stated this in an exclusive interview in Yenagoa on Friday.
He said the divisions in the PDP fold and the overbearing attitude of the President’s wife, Dame Patience, also contributed to the president’s loss.


Police arrest Senator, sister, 25 others in Imo

Senator Hope Uzodinma representing Imo West and his sister were arrested for alleged electoral malpractices at Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State on Saturday by a combined team of policemen and soldiers.
The Senator who was later released on self-recognition, allegedly mobilised hoodlums who set bonfires on the road to prevent the security men from taking away the suspects.
It took a reinforcement of soldiers and men of the Department of State Security to rescue the policemen and take the suspects to the Police Headquarters in Owerri, where they were detained.
Also, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Job Doma, arrested 25 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Imo State for alleged thumb printing of ballot papers during the election rerun exercise on Saturday.
Some of the suspects were said to have been picked after a tip off at Osu Primary School, Omuma, where they were allegedly engaged in massive thumb printing for one of the political parties.

Impeachment: APC lawmakers ask court to charge Fayose with contempt
The 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly have urged a Federal High Court, Abuja, to establish a contempt charge against Governor Ayodele Fayose for allegedly manipulating its ruling.
They warned that impunity and manipulation of facts of his impeachment case in the media could not save him.
The lawmakers were reacting to media reports on the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja which refused Fayose and seven Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers’ request which sought to bar APC lawmakers from continuing impeachment process against the governor.
Special Adviser to Speaker Adewale Omirin, Wole Olujobi, said in a statement on Saturday that the APC lawmakers were surprised that the governor and his men could deliberately misrepresent the fact of the ruling to mislead the public.

I will serve Nigeria in different capacity — Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday asked leaders in all spheres of the Nigerian society to make sacrifice in order to move the country forward.
This was as he urged the country’s past and current leaders emulate former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and the former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.
The President spoke at the fifth presidential prayer breakfast held inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Gas explosion in alagos injures three.

A gas explosion in Lagos State which occurred on Saturday has left two people injured.
A fire fighter was also affected by the explosion while trying to put out the fire.
The explosion took place in the afternoon at a gas station, Allen Gas in Isolo, Ago Palace Way.
Reports on various social media platforms had said a lot of people died in the explosion but the National Emergency Management Agency told SUNDAY PUNCH that no lives were lost.
The Public Relations Officer of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, told our correspondent that only three people were injured in the fire. He added that two gas tankers destroyed in the explosion.


Two soldiers die in Jos barracks blast
Two soldiers were killed and another injured when a blast occurred at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, 3 Armoured Division, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, Plateau State on Saturday. Another soldier was said to have sustained injuries.
The blast, which occurred around 10.45am, was said to have been caused by the destruction of old explosives in an old ammunition armoury.
Some soldiers were said to be clearing the stock when some of the explosives went off.
The blasts, which were heard many kilometres away created panic in Jos and Bukuru metropolis as rumours went round that the barracks was under attacks by some insurgents.
Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Texas Chukwu, who confirmed the development, said there was no iota of truth in the insinuation that the barracks was under attack.