Nigerian Times

President Jonathan Embraces Mutual Capitalism and Partnership, So Should Our Public leaders and Institutions President Jonathan plans to use more than ‘ government-help-only’, to pursue various avenues for development in education, healthcare, road care, electricity and other areas in order to build a very strong national enterprise and economic foundation for our emerging democracy. Recently, the President showed everyone that in any area of national development, as in university development a quicker realization of a project is more of a possibility with the aid of the government and private sponsorship. He successfully urged individuals and corporate entities to support the new federal university in Otuoke, in the State of Bayelsa, an idea that is beneath what could be called mutual or communal capitalism. It is true that some existing public institutions like universities are in a state of deteriorating condition, partly because a typical Nigerian university is stubbo...

Photo Credit: Press S TV, 2011. Nigeria: Post election violence suspects escape from Jail The AFP reported Saturday that 12 of the suspects detained over the post-election violence have escaped after riot broke out in an overcrowded jail in northern Nigeria. The controller of prisons in Adamawa state, Andrew Barka said 18 of the 600 arrested this week escaped but six were later captured. "There was heavy congestion. The living conditions have worsened since the suspects were brought in," Barka told AFP. "Therefore yesterday they went on riot, burning a section of our (training) workshop and injuring two wardens. Some of them tried to escape by scaling over the fence," Barka added. Arrested suspects of the post election violence in Nigeria in April, 2007 The following is the rest of the report. Rights groups estimate that more than 1,000 people have been arrested since the riots broke out after last weekend's election won by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan...

21 Apr 2011 21:04 Africa/Lagos Nigeria: emergency aid for people fleeing violence in the north ABUJA, April 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society are responding swiftly to the urgent needs of thousands of people displaced in the city of Kano and elsewhere in the north of the country following post-election violence that erupted on 17 April. "At least 12,000 displaced men, women and children are assembled in six locations in Kano," said Otchoa Datcharry, head of the ICRC office in the city. ICRC and Nigerian Red Cross staff have installed a 5,000-litre water storage bladder, and distributed 2.5 tonnes of emergency food rations (crushed cassava, sugar and bread) and 25,000 litres of water to 9,000 people. "Four more water storage bladders will be installed in coming days," added Mr Datcharry. In Bauchi, the ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross distributed 600 kilograms of food ...

The causes and consequences of the recent post election violence in Nigeria The incessant ethnic, religious and political attacks on lives and properties in many states in Nigeria are caused by the appalling intellectual and political ignorance among majority of Nigerians. If the terrorists unleashing their grievances on both their perceived enemies and innocent people have been educated and informed on the sanctity of human life, the values and virtues of peace and stability for mutual benefit of all the citizens, they would not have committed the terrifying and horrifying atrocities in their own regions and other places they have attacked. The ruling political class is guilty of exploiting the ignorance of the poor majority in their power struggle and once they have secured their own families and properties, they no longer care about the fate of the victims of their political battles. • They have misappropriated the public funds for health care and abandoned the broken down public he...

The Nigerian military must not use excessive force to quell riots and demonstrations taking place around the imminent announcement of presidential election results, Amnesty International said today. “We are extremely concerned about the escalation of violence in northern and central Nigeria by protestors and urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure that excessive force is not used against protesters,” said Tawanda Hondora, Amnesty International’s deputy director for Africa. “Political leaders on all sides must act responsibly and tell their supporters to stop all acts of violence and human rights abuses.” Rioting and violent attacks have been reported in the north and centre of the country, including Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The security forces' response to this unrest must not lead to further human rights violations. The police and military must respect human life and use proportionate means to police demonstrations...

In all contests, there will be winners and losers, no matter whose ox is gored. What makes any leader great is not only the feat of a victory, but the courage to overcome the agony of defeat. Those who ignore an ill wind should be ready for the whirlwind. I said the issues of these elections are corruption, security and energy, but the political aspirants thought their ego was all that matters. Where is the joy of victory in the house of anarchy? I said these primitive natives are not ready for democracy. How can you practice Democracy, when you violate her virtues? Goodbye to all that, but I know that without President Goodluck Jonathan and his kith and kin across the Niger, the People's Democratic Party(PDP) would have lost woefully. And after him, who is next? There cannot be trust where there is no truth and there cannot be peace where there is no justice. Those who do not want peace will end up in pieces. When all have been said and done, we would be gone, but the echoes of...

President Goodluck Jonathan Mr. President, Congratulation for Winning the Presidency, but we must now win the National Security Battle and here is how to do it in Nigeria. Mr. President, let Security Revolution becomes a top agenda for the new Presidency and here is how to we can aggressively execute it in Nigeria. Sir, we must do this with full boldness or chutzpah and we must leave no stone unturned irrespective of sentiments. Sir, remember time is short as there is so much to do. Just ask your friend, President Obama he will tell you the term runs fast! The Nigerian society will soon see the promises of the new Presidency. The new president and the in-coming administration should aggressively pursue strategies and methodologies that could put a real control to problems of national security and anti-democracy as they relate to assassinations, armed robberies, bombing, arson, corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure, financial waste, institutional slothfulness, and ethnic/religi...

Post election violence in Nigeria: Photo Credit: BBC News 18 Apr 2011 19:14 Africa/Lagos Nigeria / Presidential election being held as attacks on media increase ABUJA, April 18, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Reporters Without Borders has recorded more than 30 attacks on media freedom so far this year, despite reforms and the promises of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the free flow of news during the campaign for the 9 April parliamentary elections and today's presidential election. Nigeria has one of the poorest media freedom ratings in Africa and is 145th out of 178 countries in the 2010 Reporters Without Borders worldwide Press Freedom Index. It is a dangerous place for journalists to work. The country does have a diverse media and a flourishing Internet scene however and the senate passed a law last month giving public access to official information as long as it does not affect national security. But threats, intimidation, physical attacks and unlawf...