Boko Haram Threatens To Invade Cameroon

Boko Haram, has threatened to declare war on Cameroon if she does not cease to support Nigeria’s military campaign against it.
In recent times, the sect has been at the receiving end of a massive onslaught by the army in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. Members of the sect have reportedly fled these attacks and were said to have relocated to safe havens in Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
However, efforts by the sect to make Cameroon a safe haven have been countered by Cameroonian troops who launch regular attacks against the fleeing militants.
Camer.be, a Cameroonian daily, says the leader of the sect, Imam Ibn Muhammad Abubakar, wrote to President Paul Biya recently to complain about the attacks. According to the paper, Abubakar threatened to unleash terror on the country should it continue to lend support to the Federal Government’s military campaign.
In the letter, Boko Haram, which has renewed its attacks on villages and cities in the north eastern part of Nigeria, said it had no problems with Cameroon. But it added that the situation could change soon as the Central African country was interfering in matters that did not concern it. The newspaper reports in French but its story was translated by one of our correspondents.
“Boko Haram is ready to start a war with Cameroon and all those around the world trying to oppose it,” the paper quoted the letter as saying. The letter was written in Hausa, the language that Boko Haram has been using to communicate with journalists. It is widely spoken in some parts of Cameroon.
The letter reportedly came a day after newspapers in Cameroon reported a bloody clash between members of the sect and the Nigerian Army at Limani, a Cameroonian city.
During the clash, Cameroon deployed troops comprising soldiers from her 32nd Motorised Infantry Battalion, the country’s police and gendarmes to assist Nigerian soldiers.
The newspaper reports that the Boko Haram leader expressed displeasure with the deployment of the Cameroonian soldiers especially.
According to the newspaper, about 400 members of the sect were involved in the clash which witnessed massive exchange of fire and air attacks, leaving the city damaged.
In the past few weeks, there have been joint operations launched against Boko Haram insurgents by Nigerian and Cameroonian troops, in the border villages that link the two countries.
The paper reports that over 30 Cameroonians and Nigerians were wounded while five were killed in a joint operation during January attacks. But it did not state the number of militants killed. It also reports that many people have fled these areas especially the border village of Amchide.
Similarly, on January 15, Nigerian soldiers engaged the sect at Djakana in Cameroon.
The newspaper claims that President Goodluck Jonathan and President Biya held a secret meeting on January 27 to discuss the Boko Haram menace.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was in Yaounde following the drama in Limani, wanted to get his counterpart (Biya) to give him the rights to pursue Boko Haram to Cameroon.
“Sources added that Jonathan may come to Etoudi (a Cameroonian city) for an agreement allowing the Nigerian Army to cross the boundaries of the border in Cameroon where Boko Haram members flee to.
“No one can yet say that the Nigerian President got what he wanted as negotiations were confidential.”
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said although he was not aware of Boko Haram’s threat to Cameroon, terrorism was not restricted to Nigeria.

PDP Denies Bribing Defectors

Olisa Metu

The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday dismissed as a lie the statement by the All Progressives Congress that federal lawmakers were being induced with millions of dollars to defect to the ruling party.
The PDP said the allegation was coming from “a sinking party.”
The PDP’s reaction was contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.
It will be recalled that the APC, in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had accused the PDP of using public funds to bribe some of the federal lawmakers who had defected from the ruling party to the APC.
Mohammed alleged that, in an unprecedented show of desperation, the PDP had allegedly rolled out a mouth-watering package promising each senator who returns to the PDP $2m; $1m to each member of the House of Representatives, and $10m to each ‘leader’ who abandons the APC for the PDP.
It said the price tag for the federal legislators from Rivers State was even higher, which he put at $5m each.
Metuh however said that all well-meaning Nigerians were indeed worried by the statements and actions of the APC which he said were aimed at destroying Nigeria’s democracy and plunging the nation into chaos.
He said that in alleging that lawmakers were being financially induced, the APC sought to create doubt in the minds of Nigerians regarding the integrity of duly elected persons and the entire democratic institution.
He said, “Though this is a preposterous and cheap thesis by the APC to explain away the collapsing fraud upon which its membership is built, it is nonetheless a vicious attack on the citadel of democracy and we call on the leadership and members of the National Assembly not to view the allegation as a mere political statement.
“We urge the National Assembly to insist that the APC withdraws the allegation and apologise to the legislature and the entire nation.
“The truth is that the APC has reached its peak. Diminishing returns has set in and the party can only go down further.”
Reacting to PDP’s demand for the withdrawal of its allegation, the APC said it stood by its statement.
In a telephone interview with our correspondent, in Abuja, on Wednesday, Mohammed said, “We stand by our story. This is not the first time they (PDP) are inducing legislators in order to compromise them. And we know this will not be the last time.”

Nigeria To Play Greece And USA In World Cup Warm-Up Event

Nigeria will play friendly internationals against Greece and the United States in June as part of their warm-up for this year's World Cup.
The African Champions will play Greece in Philadelphia on 3 June then face USA in Jacksonville, Florida on 7 June. The matches will be part of the Super Eagles' final preparations as they set up camp in the United States before leaving for Brazil. The fixtures form part of Major League Soccer's "Road to Brazil" event.
Eight teams will play matches across North America between 27 May and 10 June. Top-ranked African side Ivory Coast, Honduras and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the other World Cup teams involved while Bolivia and El Salvador, who are not going to Brazil, are also included.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is keen to finalise another competitive friendly for the three-time African champions at home in May before they fly out to the United States.
Before that, Nigeria will take on Mexico in Atlanta, Georgia on 5 March where coach Stephen Keshi hopes to give some fringe players a chance. Brazil 2014 will be Nigeria's fifth appearance at a World Cup finals.
The Super Eagles face Iran in Group F before taking on Bosnia-Herzegovina, and will finish against Argentina in a bid to reach the last 16, as they did in both 1994 and 1998. The West Africans will hope to avoid falling at the first hurdle - a fate they suffered in both 2002 and 2010.
Despite losing both their opening group games in South Africa, the Super Eagles could still have reached the last 16 had they beaten South Korea in their final game, but were held to a 2-2 draw to finish bottom of the pool.
Their best outings at the tournament were in 1994 and 1998 when they reached the knockout round of 16.

My Successor Will Be Tougher –Mbu

Mbu

THE past Police Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Joseph Mbu, has stated that those that called for his redeployment were not fair to him.
He also said contrary to insinuations, he was not in the state to do anybody’s bidding.
The police commissioner, who was recently posted to the Federal Capital Territory, spoke in Port Harcourt on Saturday when he joined the new state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike.
The former state police boss urged his successor to ensure that vehicles with tinted glasses were thoroughly searched, adding that occupants of such vehicles could be political assassins.
He said he was leaving the state with his head high because the state did not record any political assassination during his stay as the police commissioner.
“I did not come here with a script as alleged by few propagandists. I have discharged my duties with diligence and for the past one year, there has been no political assassination in Rivers State.
“Our sworn allegiance to the Nigeria Police Force must be upheld at all times. In the past one year, Rivers State under my command did not record any political killing and I carried out my job in the state with diligence and in consonance with professional ethics,” he said.
In his remark, Ogunsakin maintained that the ban on political rallies would continue until 90 days to the election.
The new state police commissioner, however, added that any group that wished to gather should get police clearance five days before their meeting.
Ogunsakin said his visits to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and the Minister of his Education marked the beginning of visits to stakeholders in the state.
Responding, Wike said the Peoples Democratic Party would support the new commissioner of police in protecting lives and property.
On the ban on political rallies, the minister said the PDP would go to court over the ban if it became necessary.
He said, “We will give you all the support you will require to make your job successful. There was a time when the police was used to intimidate and arrest people in this state until we went to court to seek redress before we could hold political meetings.
“I have never met Mbu in my life. The propaganda by other people that he was acting the script written to him by me was most unfortunate. You cannot influence Mbu in any way. That is why Rivers people protested the plan to redeploy him from the state.
“Let me appeal to you; the new CP, to please, ensure that lives and property in the state are well protected. Those of us who live in Abuja should not be afraid of coming home because of one crisis or the other.”

Gov. Amaechi Says Wike Is An Arrogant And Ungrateful Junior Boy

Amaechi                                                    Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has again hit the Supervising Minister of Education, Barr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, describing him as arrogant and ungrateful.
 Amaechi stated this yesterday, at the thanksgiving service held in honour of the Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, in Bera, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the minister was arrogant to claim that he (Wike) made him (Amaechi) governor, pointing out that the Education Minister was among the political “friends” he helped.
Governor Amaechi revealed that Wike used the names of his children to swear that he would not betray him, saying that he lacked political relevance in the state.
The governor told the congregation that a notable cleric earlier prophesied to him not to nominate Wike as minister, that he would betray him at last.
“Nyesom Wike is a junior, junior boy. He is arrogant before the governor, by saying that he made me governor. I told you that I fasted for 10 months. Nyesom Wike is suffering from inability to show gratitude.
“I believe in prophecies. Apostle Suleiman said I should not nominate Nyesom Wike as a minister; that he would not only betray me, but would try to destroy me.
“Wike swore with the names of his children before Chuma. People, who do not have character, you don’t give them political power. Nyesom Wike, Dakuku Peterside and Magnus Abe are among those I helped that passed through our friendship,” Amaechi said, disclosing that during his tenure as Rivers State Assembly Speaker, he made Wike who was a council chairman at the time as chairman, Council of Chairmen. Continuing, Amaechi said: “Nyesom Wike is nobody in politics. The Commissioner for Information and Commissioner for Education, speak better English than him. What is his political history without the rest God did them through me? He wants to be governor. We are waiting for him. They are spending money and nobody is asking where they are getting the money from.”
He, however, thanked God for sparing the life of Senator Abe from the hands of the police, saying that his survival is a proof of his person.