Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the mother of Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was abducted from her palace in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State by a gang of kidnappers, last December, may have been lucky to leave the kidnappers den alive. Sunday Vanguard gathered, last week, that her abductors had wanted to keep her longer than they did, even after receiving N13million ransom. Findings revealed that her abductors had planned to collect the entire N200million they demanded before changing their mind, to free her following a disagreement in the kidnappers camp.

AMIDST a wave of enthusiasm, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, resolved to collapse into the proposed mega opposition political party – All Progressive Congress, APC.

Mixed reactions yesterday trailed the constitution by President Goodluck Jonathan, of a Committee that will engage key members of Boko Haram in a dialogue with a view to finding a lasting solution to security challenges in the North, even as a member of the 26-man committee, Mallam Shehu Sani has rejected his appointment.

For the umpteenth time, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said he was yet to take a decision on whether or not to seek the 2015 presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dismissing as ill-founded reports that he has empanelled trusted loyalists to strategise on a campaign.

The threat by some Northern governors to undermine a possible bid by President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term, came under attack, yesterday, as some stakeholders from the North openly confronted them, describing the threat as a bluff.

Strong indications emerged, yesterday, that the North has taken a resolute decision not to support the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan should he decide to run in 2015.

Amid the dilemma created by the rejection of amnesty for members of Boko Haram by the leadership of the Islamist group, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State wants other avenues explored to curb the group’s insurgency.

…As five women, three minors rescued, weapons recovered
Operatives of Joint Military Task-force in Kano Friday morning foiled what could have been a violent robbery attack in the city’s popular textile market, culminating in the death of a soldier and six suspected militants in a combat operation.

Leader of militant Boko Haram Islamic sect, Abubakar Shekau, yesterday, rejected the idea of any potential amnesty deal which the Federal Government may offer the sect members if the committee set up to look into it gives the go-ahead.

Former Head of State and National leader of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) has thrown his weight behind the proposed amnesty for Islamic sect, Boko Haram, commending the Federal Government for setting up a committee that will look into the feasibility of granting amnesty to the sect’s members.

Emotions ran high, yesterday, at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa Bayelsa State, as the remains of 11 out of the 12 policemen killed last Friday were deposited at the hospital’s morgue.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, yesterday, expressed concern over the quality of judgments emanating from various courts in the country, insisting that public confidence and trust in the judiciary has nosedived.

Islamic sect, Boko Haram has said that the Shura Council, the highest decision-making organ of the sect led by Imam Abubakar Ibn Shekau, which has the power to decide whether the sect will accept the offer of amnesty being planned by the Federal Government is yet to take a decision on the offer even as another faction of the sect has publicly rejected the amnesty saying the group did not ask for it.

Let me begin by appreciating my good friend, in-law and compatriot, Uncle Sam Amuka, easily called Uncle Sam, the Publisher of the Vanguard titles on whose ,invitation I am here today. Looking back at those good old days like a series of snapshots in an album, with different phases and faces in our journey through life, one cannot but thank God for the successes we have recorded in our various undertakings, I make bold to say that Uncle Sam is that ,uncommon Nigerian who understands the nexus between media and power, and the value and virtue of good friendship. I deeply cherish this association. May the Almighty God continue to grant you strength and wisdom as you age gracefully.

At a colourful Vanguard Personality of the Year Award ceremony, held yesterday in Lagos, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, stirred fresh controversy when he admonished Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to seek higher office.