Governors of the 19 Northern states, yesterday regretted that President Goodluck Jonathan has not punished those who allegedly stole the nation’s oil money, warning that the situation portends danger for the country.

Following the outrage that greeted the alleged killing of about 185 persons including women and children in a shoot out between soldiers and Boko Haram insurgents in Baga, a fishing community in Borno State, last Friday, the military yesterday explained that six civilians, one soldier and 30 terrorists died, while 15 others were injured in an operation that was carried out by a multinational force comprising troops from Nigeria, Chad and Niger Republic.

No fewer than 185 persons, including women and children, have been killed and more than 2000 houses destroyed in an intense fighting between the military and suspected members of Boko Haram sect in Baga, a fishing community in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

…Opposition must work harder, says Aliyu
Leading figures in the emerging mega-opposition political party, All Progressives Congress, APC, Monday, vowed to make sacrifices to dethrone Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over what they claimed was the legacy of waste and wantonness inspired by PDP.

Possible reasons emerged, yesterday, why some prominent northern leaders invited by President Goodluck Jonathan to work in the Boko Haram amnesty committee, might have rejected the offer without looking back.

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday reacted to criticism of his government by opposition leaders during the national convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, last week in Lagos, dismissing them as people who do not have what it takes to move the nation forward.

…Says With successful convention, we have crossed last hurdle on path to merger
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has described the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the government it controls at the centre as a cesspool of corruption and asked them to cover their faces in shame.

The insecurity challenge facing the nation echoed in Lagos yesterday when former British Prime Minister Tony Blair told President Goodluck to provide security for Nigerians.

Dr Chris Ekiyor is the former National President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and currently the Caretaker Chairman of Patani Local Government Council of Delta State. In this interview, the Niger Delta activist faults the calls for amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect and warns that the people of the Niger Delta will resist any move to use the resources from the area to fund the amnesty.

Chief Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele was Minister of Information and Culture; Chairman, National Sports Commission NSC, and Chairman, National Reconciliation Committee. He is recognized not only for his sharp sense of humour, but also for flashiness in his outfits. Akinyele, who is the Lobosin of Ondo Kingdom, is a Public Relations icon, spoke with Saturday Vanguard on his life at 75, Nigeria, the Newswatch saga among other issues.