2014-12-26 08:59
Khartoum - Sudan has ordered two senior United Nations officials
to leave, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday, after a recent spike in
tensions between Khartoum and the peacekeeping mission in Darfur.
The
UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator Ali Zaatari and
the UN Development Programme country director Yvonne Helle were asked by
the government to leave, a UN staffer said.
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN has protested the expulsions.
"The
UN has filed a protest with the government of Sudan following their
decision to request the departure of two senior UN officials from the
country," Dujarric told AFP.
It was unclear clear why the UN officials were asked to leave, or when they would have to exit the country.
The UN staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to provide further details.
The UNDP and Sudanese foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Zaatari,
a Jordanian national, had been in Sudan for nearly two years, and
Helle, who is from the Netherlands, had spent about a year heading the
UNDP's office in the country.
Also Read: Sudan rights group's office raided
The expulsions come as Sudan's government is locked in a dispute with the hybrid UN-African union mission in Darfur.
Ties
between the two have frayed over Khartoum's anger at Unamid's attempts
to investigate a report that government troops raped 200 women and girls
in a village in the war-torn western region on 31 October.
Sudan
demanded Unamid form an "exit strategy" from Darfur, where they have
been deployed since 2007 and ordered it to shut a human rights office in
Khartoum last month.
Zaatari and Helle's expulsion are the latest in a string of incidents with foreign aid and humanitarian workers in Sudan.
In
April, the government told the American chief of the UN Population Fund
in Sudan to leave for "interfering" in internal affairs.
The UN
and international NGOs provide aid to some of the areas of Sudan worst
affected by the conflicts wracking its peripheries.
The government is battling an insurgency in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, as well as a protracted conflict in Darfur.
Ethnic
insurgents rebelled against Khartoum in 2003 complaining they were
being marginalized, and in the intervening 11 years, the UN says some
300 000 people have been killed and two million displaced.
News, Events, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Inspiration and yes... Gossip! *Wink*
Friday, 26 December 2014
Father asks ISIS to treat captured son as guest
2014-12-26 08:59
Amman - The father of a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State fighters after his plane crashed in Syria said he did not consider his son a hostage and called on his captors to treat him as a "guest".
Jordan is one of several Arab countries participating in the US-led military mission to bomb fighters from the Islamist group, which holds territory in both Syria and Iraq.
First Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh, 27, was captured after his jet crashed in northeast Syria on Wednesday during a bombing mission against the militants. The US military, which commands the operation, said enemy fire was not the cause of the crash.
Kasaesbeh, who comes from a prominent Jordanian Sunni Muslim family, is the first pilot from the international coalition known to have been captured by Islamic State.
The Sunni Muslim jihadist group has a history of killing enemy soldiers that it captures on the battlefield and beheading Western civilians that it takes hostage. Many of the captives it has killed are Shi'ites or non-Muslims, but the group has also executed Sunnis for fighting alongside its enemies.
His family has pleaded for mercy.
"I do not want to describe him as a hostage. I call him a guest," his father, Saif al-Kasaesbeh, told Reuters Television.
"He is a guest among brothers of ours in Syria Islamic State. I ask them - by the name of God and with the dignity of the prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him - to receive him as a guest of his hosts and treat him well," he said.
Amman - The father of a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State fighters after his plane crashed in Syria said he did not consider his son a hostage and called on his captors to treat him as a "guest".
Jordan is one of several Arab countries participating in the US-led military mission to bomb fighters from the Islamist group, which holds territory in both Syria and Iraq.
First Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh, 27, was captured after his jet crashed in northeast Syria on Wednesday during a bombing mission against the militants. The US military, which commands the operation, said enemy fire was not the cause of the crash.
Kasaesbeh, who comes from a prominent Jordanian Sunni Muslim family, is the first pilot from the international coalition known to have been captured by Islamic State.
The Sunni Muslim jihadist group has a history of killing enemy soldiers that it captures on the battlefield and beheading Western civilians that it takes hostage. Many of the captives it has killed are Shi'ites or non-Muslims, but the group has also executed Sunnis for fighting alongside its enemies.
His family has pleaded for mercy.
"I do not want to describe him as a hostage. I call him a guest," his father, Saif al-Kasaesbeh, told Reuters Television.
"He is a guest among brothers of ours in Syria Islamic State. I ask them - by the name of God and with the dignity of the prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him - to receive him as a guest of his hosts and treat him well," he said.
Girl: My father gave me to Boko Haram
2014-12-26 08:59
Kano - A 13-year-old girl says her father gave her to Boko Haram
extremists and that she was arrested after refusing to explode a suicide
bomb at a market in Kano, Nigeria's second largest city in the north.
She says she told her captors she did not want to be a suicide bomber but allowed them to strap her into a vest primed with explosives because they threatened to bury her alive.
She says she was taken to Kano's textile market where two other girls detonated their bombs. Police said four people were killed in the 10 December attack.
Police presented the girl at a news conference on Tuesday night.
Nigeria has suffered numerous bombings carried out by girls and young women.
She says she told her captors she did not want to be a suicide bomber but allowed them to strap her into a vest primed with explosives because they threatened to bury her alive.
She says she was taken to Kano's textile market where two other girls detonated their bombs. Police said four people were killed in the 10 December attack.
Police presented the girl at a news conference on Tuesday night.
Nigeria has suffered numerous bombings carried out by girls and young women.
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
‘Expert’ UK soccer tips
Cape Town - Each round of the 2014/15 English Premiership season, a
panel of Sport24 staff and occasional guest tipsters have a crack at
predicting the results - do the exercise yourself, if you like, and see
how you compare afterwards.
Compiled by Rob Houwing (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Herman Mostert (Chelsea), Earl Haupt (Liverpool) and a pesky new trio of Manchester United devotees in Tashreeq Vardien, Wade Pretorius and Maano Nekhavhambe.
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.
THE PRIME ATTRACTION
TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA
Thursday, January 1, 19:30
Last season, Tottenham were denied a possible, spirited victory by John Terry’s 75th-minute equaliser in an engrossing clash at White Hart Lane. Mind you, Spurs then had one of their notorious off-days in the away meeting, conceding all four goals after the break in a 4-0 victory for the Blues (including two very late Demba Ba strikes). So you can never be sure what to expect from the home side in this one, and I just fancy that Jose Mourinho will find sufficient ways to dismantle them. That’s the most popular pick, although Garrin believes the leaders will be curtailed to a point, and Maano goes rather left-field to tip a particularly Happy New Year for Spurs fans ...
Rob: Tottenham 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 1-1
THE GRUDGE MATCH
WEST HAM v ARSENAL
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
There are a few London derbies over the festive season, and here’s another goodie. The Hammers continue to punch gleefully above their weight – still in fourth as this was penned – and two slots ahead of the normally more fancied Gunners. Our gurus are confused about which way to go, offering you all outcomes, so I thought I’d shrewdly nip into middle ground and predict a tight 1-1 draw. Fickle Arsenal did win the equivalent fixture 3-1 last season, with Theo Walcott netting twice in a come-from-behind effort.
Rob: West Ham 1 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-2
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 1-2
Last season: 1-3
THE DESPERATE DUEL
HULL v LEICESTER
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Easy one to install, this: at the time we did our predictions, hosts Hull lay second from bottom ... with these very opponents the only outfit in more humble real estate. So don’t expect any special post-Christmas goodwill from either protagonist in what may be a grim, feisty battle. It’s also another game where our panel are all over the place; never accuse us of crooning from the same carol sheet!
Rob: Hull 1 Leicester 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable
THE OTHERS
TOTTENHAM v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, December 28, 14:00
Rob: Tottenham 1 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-3
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-4
Last season: 2-2
SOUTHAMPTON v CHELSEA
Sunday, December 28, 16:05
Rob: Southampton 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-3
ASTON VILLA v SUNDERLAND
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: Aston Villa 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 0-0
MANCHESTER CITY v BURNLEY
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: Manchester City 2 Burnley 0
Garrin: 3-0
Herman: 3-0
Earl: 4-1
Wade: 3-0
Tashreeq: 3-0
Maano: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
QPR v CRYSTAL PALACE
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: QPR 1 Crystal Palace 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
STOKE v WEST BROM
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: Stoke 1 West Brom 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-0
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-0
NEWCASTLE v EVERTON
Sunday, December 28, 18:15
Rob: Newcastle 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 0-3
LIVERPOOL v SWANSEA
Monday, December 29, 22:00
Rob: Liverpool 2 Swansea 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 4-3
STOKE v MANCHESTER UNITED
Thursday, January 1, 14:45
Rob: Stoke 1 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 2-1
ASTON VILLA v CRYSTAL PALACE
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Aston Villa 1 Crystal Palace 0
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 0-0
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-1
HULL v EVERTON
Thursday January 1, 17:00
Rob: Hull 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 0-0
Last season: 0-2
LIVERPOOL v LEICESTER
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Liverpool 3 Leicester 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER CITY v SUNDERLAND
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Manchester City 2 Sunderland 0
Garrin: 3-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 3-0
Wade: 3-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 2-2
NEWCASTLE v BURNLEY
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Newcastle 1 Burnley 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 3-0
Wade: 3-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
QPR v SWANSEA
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: QPR 1 Swansea 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 0-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-3
Maano: 3-1
Last season: Not applicable
SOUTHAMPTON v ARSENAL
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Southampton 0 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-2
Last season: 2-2
WEST HAM v WEST BROM
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: West Ham 2 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-0
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: 3-3
*LEADERBOARD (ahead of Boxing Day games, for which our tips were published recently)
140 Wade (13 points in last round)
132 Garrin (8)
131 Herman (8)
116 Rob (7)
110 Tashreeq (7)
109 Earl (7)
96 Maano (6)
Sport24
Compiled by Rob Houwing (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Herman Mostert (Chelsea), Earl Haupt (Liverpool) and a pesky new trio of Manchester United devotees in Tashreeq Vardien, Wade Pretorius and Maano Nekhavhambe.
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.
THE PRIME ATTRACTION
TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA
Thursday, January 1, 19:30
Last season, Tottenham were denied a possible, spirited victory by John Terry’s 75th-minute equaliser in an engrossing clash at White Hart Lane. Mind you, Spurs then had one of their notorious off-days in the away meeting, conceding all four goals after the break in a 4-0 victory for the Blues (including two very late Demba Ba strikes). So you can never be sure what to expect from the home side in this one, and I just fancy that Jose Mourinho will find sufficient ways to dismantle them. That’s the most popular pick, although Garrin believes the leaders will be curtailed to a point, and Maano goes rather left-field to tip a particularly Happy New Year for Spurs fans ...
Rob: Tottenham 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 0-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 1-1
THE GRUDGE MATCH
WEST HAM v ARSENAL
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
There are a few London derbies over the festive season, and here’s another goodie. The Hammers continue to punch gleefully above their weight – still in fourth as this was penned – and two slots ahead of the normally more fancied Gunners. Our gurus are confused about which way to go, offering you all outcomes, so I thought I’d shrewdly nip into middle ground and predict a tight 1-1 draw. Fickle Arsenal did win the equivalent fixture 3-1 last season, with Theo Walcott netting twice in a come-from-behind effort.
Rob: West Ham 1 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-2
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 1-2
Last season: 1-3
THE DESPERATE DUEL
HULL v LEICESTER
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Easy one to install, this: at the time we did our predictions, hosts Hull lay second from bottom ... with these very opponents the only outfit in more humble real estate. So don’t expect any special post-Christmas goodwill from either protagonist in what may be a grim, feisty battle. It’s also another game where our panel are all over the place; never accuse us of crooning from the same carol sheet!
Rob: Hull 1 Leicester 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 0-1
Last season: Not applicable
THE OTHERS
TOTTENHAM v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, December 28, 14:00
Rob: Tottenham 1 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-3
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-4
Last season: 2-2
SOUTHAMPTON v CHELSEA
Sunday, December 28, 16:05
Rob: Southampton 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-3
ASTON VILLA v SUNDERLAND
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: Aston Villa 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-1
Last season: 0-0
MANCHESTER CITY v BURNLEY
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: Manchester City 2 Burnley 0
Garrin: 3-0
Herman: 3-0
Earl: 4-1
Wade: 3-0
Tashreeq: 3-0
Maano: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
QPR v CRYSTAL PALACE
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: QPR 1 Crystal Palace 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
STOKE v WEST BROM
Sunday, December 28, 17:00
Rob: Stoke 1 West Brom 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-0
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-0
NEWCASTLE v EVERTON
Sunday, December 28, 18:15
Rob: Newcastle 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 0-3
LIVERPOOL v SWANSEA
Monday, December 29, 22:00
Rob: Liverpool 2 Swansea 1
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 4-3
STOKE v MANCHESTER UNITED
Thursday, January 1, 14:45
Rob: Stoke 1 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 0-1
Last season: 2-1
ASTON VILLA v CRYSTAL PALACE
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Aston Villa 1 Crystal Palace 0
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 0-0
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-0
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 0-1
HULL v EVERTON
Thursday January 1, 17:00
Rob: Hull 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-2
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-3
Maano: 0-0
Last season: 0-2
LIVERPOOL v LEICESTER
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Liverpool 3 Leicester 0
Garrin: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER CITY v SUNDERLAND
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Manchester City 2 Sunderland 0
Garrin: 3-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 3-0
Wade: 3-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: 2-2
NEWCASTLE v BURNLEY
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Newcastle 1 Burnley 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 3-0
Wade: 3-1
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
QPR v SWANSEA
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: QPR 1 Swansea 1
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 0-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-3
Maano: 3-1
Last season: Not applicable
SOUTHAMPTON v ARSENAL
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: Southampton 0 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-2
Last season: 2-2
WEST HAM v WEST BROM
Thursday, January 1, 17:00
Rob: West Ham 2 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-0
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 2-1
Last season: 3-3
*LEADERBOARD (ahead of Boxing Day games, for which our tips were published recently)
140 Wade (13 points in last round)
132 Garrin (8)
131 Herman (8)
116 Rob (7)
110 Tashreeq (7)
109 Earl (7)
96 Maano (6)
Sport24
UN: Nigerian peacekeeper recovers from Ebola
2014-12-24 06:55
United Nations — The United Nations says a Nigerian peacekeeper with Ebola who had been evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment has recovered and has returned to the mission in Liberia.
The spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters Tuesday that the peacekeeper will resume duties while undergoing monitoring and psychological counseling.
The unidentified man arrived in the Netherlands earlier this month. The Netherlands has followed Germany, France and Switzerland in taking on Ebola patients at the request of the World Health Organization.
The health organization on Monday said the world's worst Ebola outbreak has killed more than 7,500 people, the overwhelming majority in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
United Nations — The United Nations says a Nigerian peacekeeper with Ebola who had been evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment has recovered and has returned to the mission in Liberia.
The spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters Tuesday that the peacekeeper will resume duties while undergoing monitoring and psychological counseling.
The unidentified man arrived in the Netherlands earlier this month. The Netherlands has followed Germany, France and Switzerland in taking on Ebola patients at the request of the World Health Organization.
The health organization on Monday said the world's worst Ebola outbreak has killed more than 7,500 people, the overwhelming majority in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
First conviction in Sierra Leone under Ebola laws
2014-12-24 08:29
Freetown - A village chief has become the first person in Sierra Leone to be jailed under laws aimed at preventing the spread of the Ebola virus, court officials and lawyers said on Tuesday.
Amadu Kargbo was sentenced to six months in jail by a court in the south-western city of Moyamba for secretly burying the dead and failing to report a sick patient, court official Foday Fofanah told AFP.
He was also fined $235 and ordered to spend 21 days in quarantine before going to jail.
Lawyers in the capital Freetown said it was the first known conviction under the country's Ebola laws.
Fofanah said the chief had pleaded guilty to secretly burying his daughter, who had died of Ebola.
He added that Kargbo's wife had also died after attending the funeral of another family member, although it was not clear if any of the charges related to his wife's death and burial.
Ebola has killed more than 7 500 people, almost all of them in west Africa and Sierra Leone recently overtook Liberia as the country with the highest number of Ebola infections.
Authorities have banned public gatherings as well as New Year celebrations as part of sweeping efforts to stem the spread of the virus.
Freetown - A village chief has become the first person in Sierra Leone to be jailed under laws aimed at preventing the spread of the Ebola virus, court officials and lawyers said on Tuesday.
Amadu Kargbo was sentenced to six months in jail by a court in the south-western city of Moyamba for secretly burying the dead and failing to report a sick patient, court official Foday Fofanah told AFP.
He was also fined $235 and ordered to spend 21 days in quarantine before going to jail.
Lawyers in the capital Freetown said it was the first known conviction under the country's Ebola laws.
Fofanah said the chief had pleaded guilty to secretly burying his daughter, who had died of Ebola.
He added that Kargbo's wife had also died after attending the funeral of another family member, although it was not clear if any of the charges related to his wife's death and burial.
Ebola has killed more than 7 500 people, almost all of them in west Africa and Sierra Leone recently overtook Liberia as the country with the highest number of Ebola infections.
Authorities have banned public gatherings as well as New Year celebrations as part of sweeping efforts to stem the spread of the virus.
PDP urges APC to focus campaign on issues, not attack on persons
2014-12-24 08:29
Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the All Peoples Congress (APC) to base its campaign on issues as the nation moves toward the 2015 general elections.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, gave the advice in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The PDP spokesman assured the APC that the PDP remained committed to campaigning on issues.
He added that “we will campaign on our record of verifiable achievements; we will campaign on the fact that Nigeria can never go back to the past.”
“We will campaign on issues and ideas built around our continuing agenda to transform our nation going into the future.”
Metuh said that PDP’s reference to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate as “semi-literate jackboot” did not amount to the party’s renege on commitment to issue-based campaign.
The PDP national publicity secretary, however, acknowledged that the PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, referred to Gen. Buhari as “semi-literate jackboot.”
“In the PDP, we occupy the moral high ground as far as our commitment to issues-based campaign is concerned.”
“Our word remains our bond. Since we made that commitment, we have focused on issues.”
“There has never been any instance that we have maliciously attacked the characters of those on the presidential ticket of the APC.”
“Rather, we have been alive to our responsibility of offering public service, so that Nigerians will not be deceived.”
He added that the statement by Oladipo, referred to by the APC, did not compare to instances of vicious, malicious and provocative attacks on the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan by the APC.
He said that in the face of vicious attacks on the President, PDP had remained committed to engaging in decent campaign ahead of the 2015 general elections.
“It is on record that a few days after the commitment alluded to by the APC, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and of the APC attacked the person of President Jonathan, describing him as an incompetent commander-in-chief.”
“No personal attack could be more vicious and unconscionable.”
“Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had consistently prosecuted a hate campaign against President Jonathan, describing him as an enemy of Rivers people.”
“To worsen the entire matter, the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is complicit in the propagation of personal attack over and above issues.”
“It was insulting for Buhari to say, as he did in Sokoto on December 21, that no right-thinking Nigerian will vote for Jonathan.”
Metuh said President Jonathan had never, whether before or after he became the PDP presidential candidate for 2015 election, attacked the character or person of Gen. Buhari.
He assured that PDP was however, fully prepared, ready, willing and able to defend all personal attacks on President Jonathan and the party`s leadership.
Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the All Peoples Congress (APC) to base its campaign on issues as the nation moves toward the 2015 general elections.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, gave the advice in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The PDP spokesman assured the APC that the PDP remained committed to campaigning on issues.
He added that “we will campaign on our record of verifiable achievements; we will campaign on the fact that Nigeria can never go back to the past.”
“We will campaign on issues and ideas built around our continuing agenda to transform our nation going into the future.”
Metuh said that PDP’s reference to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate as “semi-literate jackboot” did not amount to the party’s renege on commitment to issue-based campaign.
The PDP national publicity secretary, however, acknowledged that the PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, referred to Gen. Buhari as “semi-literate jackboot.”
“In the PDP, we occupy the moral high ground as far as our commitment to issues-based campaign is concerned.”
“Our word remains our bond. Since we made that commitment, we have focused on issues.”
“There has never been any instance that we have maliciously attacked the characters of those on the presidential ticket of the APC.”
“Rather, we have been alive to our responsibility of offering public service, so that Nigerians will not be deceived.”
He added that the statement by Oladipo, referred to by the APC, did not compare to instances of vicious, malicious and provocative attacks on the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan by the APC.
He said that in the face of vicious attacks on the President, PDP had remained committed to engaging in decent campaign ahead of the 2015 general elections.
“It is on record that a few days after the commitment alluded to by the APC, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and of the APC attacked the person of President Jonathan, describing him as an incompetent commander-in-chief.”
“No personal attack could be more vicious and unconscionable.”
“Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had consistently prosecuted a hate campaign against President Jonathan, describing him as an enemy of Rivers people.”
“To worsen the entire matter, the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is complicit in the propagation of personal attack over and above issues.”
“It was insulting for Buhari to say, as he did in Sokoto on December 21, that no right-thinking Nigerian will vote for Jonathan.”
Metuh said President Jonathan had never, whether before or after he became the PDP presidential candidate for 2015 election, attacked the character or person of Gen. Buhari.
He assured that PDP was however, fully prepared, ready, willing and able to defend all personal attacks on President Jonathan and the party`s leadership.
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