PRESIDENT JONATHAN URGES MUSLIMS TO REDEDICATE THEMSELVES

AS RAMADAN BEGINS, PRESIDENT JONATHAN URGES MUSLIMS TO REDEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE VIRTUES OF PIETY, TOLERANCE AND FAIRNESS TO ALL

President Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan salutes all Muslims in Nigeria as they begin this year's Ramadan fast.

As they join fellow adherents of the faith in other parts of the world in undergoing the strictures and spiritual purification of the annual Ramadan fast against the background of security challenges in the country, President Jonathan urges all Nigerian Muslims to offer special prayers during the period for greater peace and security in the nation.

The President seizes the opportunity of the commencement of the Ramadan fast to reassure the entire nation that the Federal Government continues to work tirelessly to curb insurgency, terrorism and other criminal acts which have caused insecurity in parts of the country.

He urges Nigerians not to succumb to despair, but to remain steadfast in the firm conviction that with courage, determination, focus, decisiveness and collective support for the Armed Forces  and security agencies, the country will ultimately overcome the evil agents of sectionalism, sectarianism and international terrorism who seek to disunite the nation.

As they observe the Ramadan, President Jonathan also calls on Nigerian Muslims to rededicate themselves in fuller measure to the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, honesty, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged which the Holy month promotes.

The President joins all people of faith in praying that God Almighty will grant Nigeria greater peace, security, unity and national harmony.

He wishes the Muslim community a rewarding and spiritually gratifying Ramadan fast. 
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 28, 2014

Nigerian President assures players

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the country's senior players at the World Cup that the squad will be paid their bonus money.
The president's guarantee comes a day after after the Super Eagles players boycotted training on Thursday.
BBC Sport understands Nigeria's players fear they will not be paid after the tournament - a situation that occurred after last year's Confederations Cup.
Nigeria play France in the last 16 of the tournament on Monday.
While the players have demanded they receive their money now, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is not in a position to make that payment until it receives its prize money from Fifa.
It is that impasse that has led President Jonathan to intervene.

Abuja blast victims recount ordeal

As he(bomber) bent his head towards his Sienna, I told my friend that we should get away from there. Within a few seconds, there was an explosion …. I saw many corpses on the ground. Heads, hands and legs littered   everywhere–Ademola

 On that fateful day, I just crossed over to buy corn …. Within seconds after I left that point, I heard a big bang and found myself on the ground.   My right leg   was affected.   Presently, I can’t stand with it

– Tyokasi
 I thought   my head had been blown off by the blast. I touched my head while on the ground and realised that it was there. I stood up and was looking for help, but help didn’t come immediately
–Olatunji
 Some of the hospitalised victims of the Emab Plaza explosion in Abuja on Thursday recounted their experience and   thanked God for sparing their lives. The explosion had happened on Wednesday.

Abacha loot: TI reacts to withdrawal of case

Sani Abacha

An anti-corruption group, Transparency International, has faulted the decision of the Federal Government to drop corruption charges against Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

TI expressed this dissatisfaction in a statement by its Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Chantal Uwimana, on Thursday.

The Federal Government had charged Mohammed Abacha for helping his father to steal and launder about N446.3bn allegedly stolen from the government’s coffers between 1995 and 1998.

But Adoke, acting on behalf of the Federal Government last Wednesday, asked Justice Mamman Kolo of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to strike out the charges on the grounds of “fresh facts” that just emerged concerning the case.

Luis Suarez bite: Reaction to Fifa's four-month ban from world football

Fifa's decision to give Uruguay striker Luis Suarez a four-month ban from world football for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has made headlines around the globe.

Uruguay's Luis Suarez grabs his teeth after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini

He will now miss nine international matches and the first nine games of the Premier League season for Liverpool, as well as three Champions League matches.The World Cup ban is the third he has been handed for biting someone during his career.
Here BBC Sport rounds up reaction to Thursday's ruling and the possible repercussions for club and country.

Luis Suarez's controversies
July 2010: Handles the ball on the line to deny Ghana a winner in the last minute of extra time in the World Cup quarter-finals. Asamoah Gyan misses the resulting penalty and Uruguay win the shootout to reach the semi-finals.
November 2010: Given seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Ajax.
December 2011: Given eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
February 2012: Refuses to shake hands with Evra at Old Trafford and is described as a "disgrace" by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
April 2013 : Suarez apologises for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. Gets 10-game ban.
June 2014: Given nine-match international ban and four-month suspension from all football-related activity for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

FIFA bans Suarez for four months

Uruguay striker also fined $112,000 and banned for nine international games after biting Italy defender in Brazil.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was banned for nine matches by FIFA after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez was also suspended from any football-related activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

"Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field," Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, said in a statement.

Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng kicked off Ghana team

Ghana threw Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng out of its World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons on Thursday, plunging the African team into further chaos ahead of its decisive group-stage match against Portugal.

Just a day after seeming to resolve a possible player mutiny over World Cup bonus payments, the Ghana Football Association released two separate statements saying two of the country's stars had been "suspended ... indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect."

Ghana threw Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng out of its World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons on Thursday, plunging the African team into further chaos ahead of its decisive group-stage match against Portugal. (Associated Press)

Muntari was suspended "in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr. Moses Armah" on Tuesday, one statement read.

World Cup 2014: Lionel Messi 'is from Jupiter', says Nigeria coach

World Cup 2014: Lionel Messi 'is from Jupiter', says Nigeria coach

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said Lionel Messi "is from Jupiter" after the Argentina forward scored twice in their 3-2 win over the African nation.

The 27-year-old scored a half-volley and a free-kick as Argentina recorded a third win to finish top of Group F.
"Messi is one of heck of a player. He's blessed. You can't take it away from him," said Keshi, whose Nigeria side still qualified despite the defeat.
"There are good calibre players in the team but Messi is from Jupiter."

Argentina goal-scorers Lionel Messi (left) and Marcos Rojo (right) celebrate with Angel Di Maria
World Cup 2014: Nigeria 2-3 Argentina highlights
Keshi, whose team advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup after Iran lost to Bosnia-Hercegovina, added: "I feel honoured and happy it's going our way, I want to thank the players and the fans and some of the media."
Messi is now joint top scorer at the 2014 tournament with four goals, alongside Brazil's Neymar. Prior to Brazil 2014, he had scored just once in eight World Cup matches.
The Barcelona star paid tribute to Nigeria, who equalised twice through Ahmed Musa before Marcos Roja scored a second-half winner for the two-time champions.
"We played against a team that wanted to play," Messi said. "I think we saw a good Argentina. We need to continue on this path."
Messi had previously only scored one World Cup goal in 571 minutes, but former England striker Gary Lineker believes he is now comparable to Argentine compatriot Diego Maradona.
Maradona inspired Argentina to their 1986 World Cup triumph, scoring twice to eliminate Lineker and his England team-mates in the quarter-finals.
"I don't think since Maradona we've seen anyone quite like Messi on the field," said the Match of the Day presenter.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN CELEBRATING THE SUPER EAGLES' VICTORY

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) CELEBRATING THE SUPER EAGLES' VICTORY OVER BOSNIA AT THE ONGOING 2014 BRAZIL FIFA WORLD CUP. WITH HIM ARE SOME PRESIDENTIAL AIDES AND THE CORPS MARSHALL FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY COMMISSION, OSITA CHIDOKA AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA SHORTLY AFTER THE MATCH (22/6/14) NIGERIA WON 1-0

CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PATRON'S THE BOY'S BRIGADE (BB) NIGERIA, SEN BARNABAS GEMADI; CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ON HIS  INVESTITURE AS THE GRAND PATRON OF THE BOYS' BRIGADE (BB) OF NIGERIA AT THE ASO VILLA CHAPEL ABUJA ON SUNDAY (22/6/14)

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN; FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOYS BRIGADE NIGERIA AFTER THE INVESTITURE OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN AS THE GRAND PATRON OF THE BOYS' BRIGADE NIGERIA AT THE ASO VILLA CHAPEL, ABUJA ON SUNDAY (22/6/14)

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN RECEIVING HOLY BIBLE FROM THE PRESIDENT, THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF NIGERIA, MR ARON NUHU AND THE ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY, MR VICTOR DAMILARE AT THE ASO VILLA CHAPEL, ABUA ON SUNDAY (22/6/14)

CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PATRON'S THE BOY'S BRIGADE (BB) NIGERIA, SEN BARNABAS GEMADI; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN; LIFE PATRON, BB, JUSTICE CLARA OGUNBIYI; AND THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT, BOYS BRIGADE NIGERIA, PRINCE YANDEV AMAA-BAI AT THE INVESTITURE CEREMONY OF PRSIDENT JONATHAN AS THE GRAND PATRON OF THE BOYS' BRIGADE (BB) NIGERIA AT THE ASO VILLA CHAPEL ABUJA ON SUNDAY (22/6/14)

FROM LEFT: VICE-PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, ALHAJI ADAMU MU'AZU CELEBRATING THE VICTORY OF PDP AT THE EKITI GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ON SUNDAY IN ABUJA 

FROM LEFT: VICE-PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO & PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN CELEBRATING THE VICTORY OF PDP AT THE EKITI GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ON SUNDAY IN ABUJA 

FROM LEFT: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, ALHAJI ADAMU MU'AZU CELEBRATING THE VICTORY OF PDP AT THE EKITI GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ON SUNDAY IN ABUJA 

Nigeria beats Bosnia-Hercegovina

Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie scores against Bosnia-Hercegovina

Peter Odemwingie scored the only goal to give Nigeria a victory that means World Cup debutants Bosnia-Hercegovina will not progress from Group F.
The Stoke forward struck in the first half to give Nigeria their first win at a World Cup finals since 1998.
The goal came just seven minutes after Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside.
Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie scores against Bosnia-Hercegovina
Nigeria will reach the knockout stages if they get a point against Argentina, or if Iran fail to beat Bosnia.