Controversy has continued to trail Wednesday’s state pardon granted the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha and eight others with the United States of America yesterday joining the league of those opposed to the Federal Government’s action

The United States of America, USA, has expressed concern at the rate crime is spreading in Nigeria. The American government lamented the worsening crime rate in coastal areas and the free movement of Islamic extremists between Mali and Nigeria.

At exactly 8.23pm, yesterday, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio,, emerged from the famed St Peters balcony waving to the multitude of Catholics that had gathered at the headquarters of the church as the new Pope.

Outrage, yesterday, greeted the rumoured state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and former head, Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama, by President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigerians described it as a shame and a set back to the fight against corruption in the country.

A video of the seven slain foreign hostages was released, yesterday, by Islamist group, Ansaru, forcing the international community to mount pressure on Nigeria to accept the classification of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, FTO.

The parties in the fledgling All Progressive Congress, APC, were last night engaged in a war of words with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over alleged plans by the ruling party to sabotage their merger.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Maiduguri, accused Borno State Elders of playing to the gallary over the activities of Boko Haram Islamic sect insurgency in the state, describing the situation as unfortunate.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared, yesterday, that his government will not grant amnesty to members of the Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram, as demanded by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and some Northern groups.

The Nigerian Army said, yesterday, it has uncovered an armoury with a large cache of arms in a Kaduna home allegedly belonging to an Abuja-based politician, Hon. Hussaini Dei Dei.

THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately grant amnesty to all members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as a way of encouraging them to lay down their arms.