Monday, February 2, 2015
Breaking! President Jonathan Escapes Death As Bomb Goes Off At Campaign Rally
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A bomb has exploded outside a stadium in Nigeria's Gombe city, minutes after President Goodluck Jonathan had left a campaign rally there.
Here is how BBC reported the story...
At least one bystander was killed and seven others wounded when the car bomb exploded, Reuters news agency reports.
Mr Jonathan is standing for re-election in presidential elections due to be held on 14 February.
Militant Islamist group Boko Haram has stepped up attacks ahead of the polls.
Mohammed Bolari, who was at the rally, said the explosion occurred some three minutes after Mr Jonathan's departure, AFP news agency reports.
"The president had just passed the parking lot and we were trailing behind his convoy when the explosion happened," he is quoted as saying.
Mr Jonathan addressed a rally in the north-eastern city a day after it was hit by two blasts that killed at least five people, AFP reports.
Since Monday morning, the city has largely been in lock down with security operatives restricting the movement of people in most areas, Nigeria's privately owned Daily Trust newspaper reports.
A local journalist told AFP the latest blast has led to unrest in Gombe, with angry youth attacking supporters of Mr Jonathan's People's Democratic Party (PDP).
"They were shouting and denouncing the president's visit which they blamed for the attack," he added.
Mr Jonathan is running against ex-military Muhammadu Buhari in the election.
Northern Nigeria is seen as Mr Buhari's stronghold.
At least one bystander was killed and seven others wounded when the car bomb exploded, Reuters news agency reports.
Mr Jonathan is standing for re-election in presidential elections due to be held on 14 February.
Militant Islamist group Boko Haram has stepped up attacks ahead of the polls.
Mohammed Bolari, who was at the rally, said the explosion occurred some three minutes after Mr Jonathan's departure, AFP news agency reports.
"The president had just passed the parking lot and we were trailing behind his convoy when the explosion happened," he is quoted as saying.
Mr Jonathan addressed a rally in the north-eastern city a day after it was hit by two blasts that killed at least five people, AFP reports.
Since Monday morning, the city has largely been in lock down with security operatives restricting the movement of people in most areas, Nigeria's privately owned Daily Trust newspaper reports.
A local journalist told AFP the latest blast has led to unrest in Gombe, with angry youth attacking supporters of Mr Jonathan's People's Democratic Party (PDP).
"They were shouting and denouncing the president's visit which they blamed for the attack," he added.
Mr Jonathan is running against ex-military Muhammadu Buhari in the election.
Northern Nigeria is seen as Mr Buhari's stronghold.
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Breaking! LASU Chancellor Okoya Thomas is Dead
Lagos State University, LASU, Chancellor, Chief Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas, MFR,
is dead.
The Prominent industrialist, sports philanthropist and Chairman
of CFAO group in Nigeria died in the early hours of today.
The highly decorated late
Industrialist was
born in Lagos on 8 June 1935 and obtained his formal education at Princess
School Lagos,
Baptist Academy Lagos,
Balham & Tooting College of Commerce London and Columbia University New York. Until his death was the Asoju Oba of Lagos and Bobasuwa
of Ijebu-Remo, Odofin of Ife.
Commenting on the death of Okoya Thomas, The Publisher of
Ovation Magazine and former Presidential candidate for the National Conscience
Party, (NCP) in 2011, Chief Dele Momodu wrote on his twitter handle, “I've just received the sad news of the
death of business Titan & sports enthusiast CHIEF MOLADE OKOYA-THOMAS; may his soul Rest in Peace”
A former Commissioner
in Lagos, Senator
Afikuyomi @ToksAfikuyomi also wrote ,”A great Lagos Icon Passes On. He lived a life of total devotion to Lagos
and Nigeria. Sun Re O. RIP Chief Molade Okoya Thomas
Aside Chairing numerous organisations, Molade Okoya-Thomas was an active
sportsman in his youth, he was a Joint All Nigeria Record Holder of 4 X 220
yards relay race while at Baptist Academy Lagos. He has been the sole sponsor
of the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championships for over four decades setting a record as the only Nigerian
to have single-handedly and consistently sponsored a competition spanning over
four decades.
He has also contributed to the development of Lagos state by
serving in numerous committees including; member, Lagos City Council between
1971–1975, member Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, Chairman
Board of Trustees Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall. He is a recipient of the Chevalier de la Legion
d'Honneur, the highest national honour given by the French to a
foreigner.
As a philanthropist he has similarly
served as vice-chairman, Lagos State Sports Council, President Lagos Lawn
Tennis Club, Chairman 3rd All-Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee, Chairman
National Appeal Fund for Sports Development and chairman Sports Trust Fund.
Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas built and donated a Modern Sports Hall for
students and staff of the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2009.
He was also a prominent member of the fund raising
committee for the construction of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere. The Commissioner for Ministry of
Youth, Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele announced
the state governments decision to celebrate Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas at
the age of 75, taking into consideration his numerous contributions, with the
naming of the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium on 8 June 2010
and a State Dinner at the City Hall Lagos Island on the same day.
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12-Year Old Commits Suicide After Parents Catches Her Watching P•rn
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A 12-year-old Russian girl took her own life after her parents found p•¿nography on her computer. Referred to simply as Dasha L., authorities said she came from a "well-to-do" family. The girl allegedly jumped from the family's 14th-floor apartment after an argument she had with her parents over the p•¿nography they found on her computer. "There is an ongoing investigation. We aren't excluding the possibility of bringing up charges on inciting a suicide," officials said. Having p•¿n on one's computer is apparently an offense in Russia following the country's reason being dependent "On Protecting Children From Information Harmful to Their Health and Development" law, which blacklists websites, and imposes fines and suspensions on anyone distributing content deemed harmful to children. However, it's unclear if this was the reason for the argument and suicide. @blackboxupdate
Actor Saheed Balogun Condemns Colleagues For Endorsing Politicians
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Nollywood actor, Saheed Balogun is one of the best thespians the industry is proud to have. The producer cum director has expressed his displeasure at entertainers who campaign for politicians.
In his interview with Encomium Magazine, he sighted poverty as the primary reason for their action.
"(Poverty), that's why you see some of our people running helter-skelter, campaigning for all these politicians. But there's one question we have all not asked, and that's what makes American artists donate to politicians while the actors here in Nigeria are asking from politicians. Every member of the National Assembly has not made any reasonable law on piracy which has devoured the industry. So, there's poverty in the industry. If there's not, you won't see our people flocking around all these politicians, campaigning, singing and dancing for them. I saw a candidate being surrounded by some of our colleagues; I now said to myself, 'if this man eventually wins, how many actors or musicians will he remember? Although some are doing it to make ends meet. And it's sad because we are stars. I think we're supposed to be worshiped, not worshiping others. Even if a governor holds your hand, he's supposed to be happy. But now, the reverse is the case."
In his interview with Encomium Magazine, he sighted poverty as the primary reason for their action.
"(Poverty), that's why you see some of our people running helter-skelter, campaigning for all these politicians. But there's one question we have all not asked, and that's what makes American artists donate to politicians while the actors here in Nigeria are asking from politicians. Every member of the National Assembly has not made any reasonable law on piracy which has devoured the industry. So, there's poverty in the industry. If there's not, you won't see our people flocking around all these politicians, campaigning, singing and dancing for them. I saw a candidate being surrounded by some of our colleagues; I now said to myself, 'if this man eventually wins, how many actors or musicians will he remember? Although some are doing it to make ends meet. And it's sad because we are stars. I think we're supposed to be worshiped, not worshiping others. Even if a governor holds your hand, he's supposed to be happy. But now, the reverse is the case."
@blackboxupdate
2,000 APGA Members Defects To PDP
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About 2,000 members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Onne, Akpu, Ogboji and Agbudu communities of Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state.
The defectors made the switch yesterday at a rally organised by the PDP candidate for Anambra South Senatorial district in the February 14, Presidential and National Assembly election, Senator Andy Uba, and the Orumba North/South Federal Constituency candidate, Hon. Ben Nwankwo at Agbudu square in the area.
The former APGA members gave reasons for their defection saying their membership of the party has brought them nothing but misery, neglect and disappointment for over 12 years.
While speaking on behalf of the new PDP members, the President-General of Onne community, Uchenna Madike, said the APGA administration has done nothing to develop and ameliorate the suffering of the four communities in Orumba South which they represent.
The defectors made the switch yesterday at a rally organised by the PDP candidate for Anambra South Senatorial district in the February 14, Presidential and National Assembly election, Senator Andy Uba, and the Orumba North/South Federal Constituency candidate, Hon. Ben Nwankwo at Agbudu square in the area.
The former APGA members gave reasons for their defection saying their membership of the party has brought them nothing but misery, neglect and disappointment for over 12 years.
While speaking on behalf of the new PDP members, the President-General of Onne community, Uchenna Madike, said the APGA administration has done nothing to develop and ameliorate the suffering of the four communities in Orumba South which they represent.
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Beheaded Japanese Journalist's Wife Releases Mournful Statement
Late Kenji Goto speaking during a public event in Tokyo in January 2014
The wife of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto released a new statement Sunday after Islamic State militants posted a video online purporting to show the beheading of her husband.
Mr. Goto's wife, Rinko, wrote in the message that she is devastated by the news but "extremely proud" of her husband. She also thanked those who offered support to her and her family since Mr. Goto went missing in October.
The message was made available by the Rory Peck Trust.
Here is the full transcript:
My family and I are devastated by the news of Kenji's death. He was not just my loving husband and father to our two beautiful children, but a son, brother and friend to many around the world.
While feeling a great personal loss, I remain extremely proud of my husband who reported the plight of people in conflict areas like Iraq, Somalia and Syria. It was his passion to highlight the effects on ordinary people, especially through the eyes of children, and to inform the rest of us of the tragedies of war.
I would like to thank everyone who has offered their support to myself and our family over these last difficult few months.
As you can imagine this is an extremely difficult time for our family. I would ask that the media please respect our privacy and allow us time to come to terms with our loss.
Rinko
Credit: WSJ
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Another Tragedy Befalls NIS As Officer Is Killed By Colleague In Line Of Duty
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Some officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for killing their colleague, identified simply as Egun, in the line of duty.
It was learnt that the officers were on duty at the Departure Terminal, Seme Border, Lagos, on Saturday, January 24, when the incident occurred.
Our correspondent gathered that the officers, at about 2pm, intercepted a commercial bus at the border, which was suspected to be conveying illegal immigrants, and requested their documents.
It was gathered that the travellers, who the officers later discovered to be thugs, engaged the NIS men in a scuffle and fled from the scene during the questioning.
After the scuffle, an argument reportedly ensued among the officers during which one of them allegedly fired at Egun in the neck.
Egun, who was rushed to the Badagry General Hospital, however, died on the way. He was said to have been confirmed dead by a doctor in the hospital on arrival.
It was learnt that the matter was reported to the Badagry Police Division, while the police arrested all the officers on duty at the border during the incident.
A police source revealed to our correspondent that the immigrants, who escaped with the commercial bus, were still at large.
He said, "The officers had intercepted a commercial bus at the border, which was conveying some immigrants. The officers suspected that the passengers did not have the proper entry documents, and they stopped them.
"During the inspection of the immigrants, an argument ensued between them and the officers on the documents presented. In the process, the thugs attacked the immigration men and fled the area. During the incident, an immigration officer accidentally fired at his colleague, Egun, and he died while being rushed to the hospital. The police have arrested all the officers who were on duty that day."
Our correspondent learnt that the matter had, however, been transferred from the Badagry division to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Yaba, where further investigations were ongoing.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest, adding that the police command and the NIS authorities were collaborating on the investigation into the incident.
He said, "The group of persons, who engaged the officers, is still at large. The corpse of the officer has been deposited at the Badagry General Hospital's morgue while investigation continues.
"The two agencies ─ the police and the NIS ─ are collaborating to investigate the murder incident."
The Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Mr. Emeka Obua, when contacted on Sunday, told our correspondent that the service had not been officially briefed on the matter, promising to get back to our correspondent later.
He said, "We have not been officially briefed on the matter. When we have the full report, we will get across to you."
An NIS official, who begged for anonymity because he could not speak officially on the incident, however, disclosed that the arrested immigration officers were attached to the border patrol, adding that the NIS authorities were also conducting their own investigation.
He said, "The dead officer and the arrested officers are in our border patrol command. The matter is very official and an investigation is ongoing on it."
It was learnt that the officers were on duty at the Departure Terminal, Seme Border, Lagos, on Saturday, January 24, when the incident occurred.
Our correspondent gathered that the officers, at about 2pm, intercepted a commercial bus at the border, which was suspected to be conveying illegal immigrants, and requested their documents.
It was gathered that the travellers, who the officers later discovered to be thugs, engaged the NIS men in a scuffle and fled from the scene during the questioning.
After the scuffle, an argument reportedly ensued among the officers during which one of them allegedly fired at Egun in the neck.
Egun, who was rushed to the Badagry General Hospital, however, died on the way. He was said to have been confirmed dead by a doctor in the hospital on arrival.
It was learnt that the matter was reported to the Badagry Police Division, while the police arrested all the officers on duty at the border during the incident.
A police source revealed to our correspondent that the immigrants, who escaped with the commercial bus, were still at large.
He said, "The officers had intercepted a commercial bus at the border, which was conveying some immigrants. The officers suspected that the passengers did not have the proper entry documents, and they stopped them.
"During the inspection of the immigrants, an argument ensued between them and the officers on the documents presented. In the process, the thugs attacked the immigration men and fled the area. During the incident, an immigration officer accidentally fired at his colleague, Egun, and he died while being rushed to the hospital. The police have arrested all the officers who were on duty that day."
Our correspondent learnt that the matter had, however, been transferred from the Badagry division to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Yaba, where further investigations were ongoing.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest, adding that the police command and the NIS authorities were collaborating on the investigation into the incident.
He said, "The group of persons, who engaged the officers, is still at large. The corpse of the officer has been deposited at the Badagry General Hospital's morgue while investigation continues.
"The two agencies ─ the police and the NIS ─ are collaborating to investigate the murder incident."
The Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Mr. Emeka Obua, when contacted on Sunday, told our correspondent that the service had not been officially briefed on the matter, promising to get back to our correspondent later.
He said, "We have not been officially briefed on the matter. When we have the full report, we will get across to you."
An NIS official, who begged for anonymity because he could not speak officially on the incident, however, disclosed that the arrested immigration officers were attached to the border patrol, adding that the NIS authorities were also conducting their own investigation.
He said, "The dead officer and the arrested officers are in our border patrol command. The matter is very official and an investigation is ongoing on it."
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Pathetic! Man Hangs Self In Lagos
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Residents of Ile-Iwe community in the Meiran area of Lagos State say they were shocked to see the dangling body of a stranger in an uncompleted building in the area.
Some of the residents revealed that the victim was on Thursday brought down dead from the rope with which he hung himself.
They added that efforts by the people in the community and the police to identify him had proved abortive.
Our correspondent gathered that the stranger, who wore a white caftan, took his life between Wednesday night and Thursday morning after sneaking into the building in the night of Wednesday.
The incident happened on Lawal Unity Street, Meiran, Ile-Iwe bus stop. The uncompleted building is isolated from the rest of the houses in the area.
A resident, Adebayo Salami, said nobody knew the man and attempts to find his relatives had not yielded any result.
He said, "I was called on Thursday morning and told that somebody had died in a building.
"My initial thought was that it was somebody living in the area, but when we got there, we discovered that it was an uncompleted building and the man was a stranger."
Salami added that the victim might have committed suicide to cover up a secret or run away from a consequence.
A community leader, Samuel Oroja, said the traditional ruler of the community had been informed of the development and plans were on to conduct rites to forestall a recurrence.
"I have called some other elders, including the traditional ruler, to notify them so that we can know what to do about the corpse.
"Nobody knows the man or where he came from. We have reported the matter at the Meiran Police Station.
"What we will do now is to prepare rites and make sacrifices to forestall a recurrence of unnatural death like this because this is a bad sign for the community," he added.
However the Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said the police had identified the victim as Mosunmola Raphael, a 28-year-old man.
Nwosu said, "His relatives came to identify him and they said he had mental problem. His corpse has been released to the family after they presented some documents."
Some of the residents revealed that the victim was on Thursday brought down dead from the rope with which he hung himself.
They added that efforts by the people in the community and the police to identify him had proved abortive.
Our correspondent gathered that the stranger, who wore a white caftan, took his life between Wednesday night and Thursday morning after sneaking into the building in the night of Wednesday.
The incident happened on Lawal Unity Street, Meiran, Ile-Iwe bus stop. The uncompleted building is isolated from the rest of the houses in the area.
A resident, Adebayo Salami, said nobody knew the man and attempts to find his relatives had not yielded any result.
He said, "I was called on Thursday morning and told that somebody had died in a building.
"My initial thought was that it was somebody living in the area, but when we got there, we discovered that it was an uncompleted building and the man was a stranger."
Salami added that the victim might have committed suicide to cover up a secret or run away from a consequence.
A community leader, Samuel Oroja, said the traditional ruler of the community had been informed of the development and plans were on to conduct rites to forestall a recurrence.
"I have called some other elders, including the traditional ruler, to notify them so that we can know what to do about the corpse.
"Nobody knows the man or where he came from. We have reported the matter at the Meiran Police Station.
"What we will do now is to prepare rites and make sacrifices to forestall a recurrence of unnatural death like this because this is a bad sign for the community," he added.
However the Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said the police had identified the victim as Mosunmola Raphael, a 28-year-old man.
Nwosu said, "His relatives came to identify him and they said he had mental problem. His corpse has been released to the family after they presented some documents."
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I would never be a spare tyre under Buhari -Prof. Osinbajo Kicks
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Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), vice presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the office of Vice President of Nigeria under APC, if elected on February 14, will not be a "spare tyre" function.
Osinbajo said in Lagos on Sunday during a parley with health care professionals under the auspices of the Health Care Federation of Nigeria, that APC has made adequate plans to ensure that the National Economic Council which comes under the Vice Presidency is a vibrant body in line with the 1999 Constitution.
Mallam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of APC Presidential Campaign Organization, quoted Osinbajo in a statement as saying that the incoming APC government will partner with the private sector in the Health care industry and expend a minimum of $1 billion on health insurance.
Moreover, the government will extend its partnership with the private sector in other sectors of the economy to ensure the lowering of the cost of funds to provide easy access to capital and affordable credit.
Osinbajo said in Lagos on Sunday during a parley with health care professionals under the auspices of the Health Care Federation of Nigeria, that APC has made adequate plans to ensure that the National Economic Council which comes under the Vice Presidency is a vibrant body in line with the 1999 Constitution.
Mallam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of APC Presidential Campaign Organization, quoted Osinbajo in a statement as saying that the incoming APC government will partner with the private sector in the Health care industry and expend a minimum of $1 billion on health insurance.
Moreover, the government will extend its partnership with the private sector in other sectors of the economy to ensure the lowering of the cost of funds to provide easy access to capital and affordable credit.
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Rof-Rofo! Soludo Comes For Okonjo-Iweala Again...
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Former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo, yesterday slammed the minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for what he described as the mismanagement of the economy under her watch.
"I will show that while you are introducing austerity measures and soon to eviscerate the citizens, our public finance is haemorrhaging to the point that an estimated N30 trillion is missing or stolen or unaccounted for, or simply mismanaged — under your watch," Soludo alleged.
"The issues at stake are too grave to be trivialized through name-calling. As I write, the naira exchange rate to the dollar is at N215 (from N158 a few months ago) and unless oil price recovers, this is just the beginning. For the sake of Nigeria, I won't keep quiet anymore."
Soludo also rejected claims by Okonjo-Iweala that he performed poorly as governor of the CBN, insisting that his performance as CBN governor was locally and globally acknowledged.
Soludo further asserted that no CBN governor in the history of Nigeria had a achieved the record of delivering 24 consecutive months of single digit inflation as he did as the apex bank's governor until the advent of the unprecedented global crisis in 2008.
Soludo accused the coordinating minister of the economy of running the country's economy aground and blaming the state governors for failure to save for the rainy days whereas the federal government has benefitted more from sharing the Excess Crude Account (ECA) savings.
"I hereby challenge your attempt to blame others for not saving for the rainy day. It is not a virtue when you are quick to appropriate all the credit when things are going well, but shift the blame when they go wrong," Soludo stated.
"You blame the state governors, who, according to you, have taken the federal government to the Supreme Court – not that a Supreme Court judgement forced your hands. For your information, the governors have never agreed to savings and always threatened court action even under Obasanjo. Why did we save under Obasanjo but not under Jonathan? Two keywords explain it: leadership and integrity."
According to Soludo, the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led NGF insisted on sharing the funds because they found out that the federal government was illegally fiddling with the savings.
"So, as Nigerians still wonder, if billions of dollars are now 'missing' under your nose, why should governors trust you to keep their money?" said Soludo.
"Do the states that have taken the federal government to the Supreme Court and refused to save also include the PDP governors, who are in the majority? If so, then it is fatal: even governors of your own party, PDP, do not trust you to keep their money! Furthermore, did the governors also stop the federal government from saving part of its share? If you ran a surplus budget at the federal level, you would have had credibility to blame others or to say they did not listen to your advice."
"The key point is that since you were running huge deficits yourself, it was also in your own interest to share the ECA. You did not show leadership or credibility, full stop."
"You are brilliant Madam, but you need serious help," he said while reeling our data to show the porous state of the Nigerian economy. Having spent all your life in the World Bank bureaucracy largely in administration/operations, no one will blame you if your economics has become a bit rusty."
He also accused Okonjo-Iwealla of forging Nigeria's national economic statistics.
"What worries me is that this government is the first in our history to attempt to manipulate our national statistics under Okonjo-Iweala. When the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) published the poverty figures in 2011, she felt indicted and incensed. She called upon the World Bank to come and examine the 'methodology' and get NBS to 'review' its numbers," Soludo alleged.
"Oby Ezekwesili (as VP Africa Region rejected the call to try to tamper with a country's statistics). Once Oby left, the World Bank started talking about 'new figures', without conducting any new surveys. I was told about it by a World Bank economist, and I cautioned that it was a dangerous gamble that would damage the credibility of the NBS.
"If you want to 'review methodology', you conduct another survey but you can't change 'methodology' because you don't like the published figures. No government in our history has tried it: even Sani Abacha allowed a poverty survey that put poverty at 67 per cent under his regime."
According to Soludo, at this rate nobody will believe statistics coming from the Nigerian government again.
"I will show that while you are introducing austerity measures and soon to eviscerate the citizens, our public finance is haemorrhaging to the point that an estimated N30 trillion is missing or stolen or unaccounted for, or simply mismanaged — under your watch," Soludo alleged.
"The issues at stake are too grave to be trivialized through name-calling. As I write, the naira exchange rate to the dollar is at N215 (from N158 a few months ago) and unless oil price recovers, this is just the beginning. For the sake of Nigeria, I won't keep quiet anymore."
Soludo also rejected claims by Okonjo-Iweala that he performed poorly as governor of the CBN, insisting that his performance as CBN governor was locally and globally acknowledged.
Soludo further asserted that no CBN governor in the history of Nigeria had a achieved the record of delivering 24 consecutive months of single digit inflation as he did as the apex bank's governor until the advent of the unprecedented global crisis in 2008.
Soludo accused the coordinating minister of the economy of running the country's economy aground and blaming the state governors for failure to save for the rainy days whereas the federal government has benefitted more from sharing the Excess Crude Account (ECA) savings.
"I hereby challenge your attempt to blame others for not saving for the rainy day. It is not a virtue when you are quick to appropriate all the credit when things are going well, but shift the blame when they go wrong," Soludo stated.
"You blame the state governors, who, according to you, have taken the federal government to the Supreme Court – not that a Supreme Court judgement forced your hands. For your information, the governors have never agreed to savings and always threatened court action even under Obasanjo. Why did we save under Obasanjo but not under Jonathan? Two keywords explain it: leadership and integrity."
According to Soludo, the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led NGF insisted on sharing the funds because they found out that the federal government was illegally fiddling with the savings.
"So, as Nigerians still wonder, if billions of dollars are now 'missing' under your nose, why should governors trust you to keep their money?" said Soludo.
"Do the states that have taken the federal government to the Supreme Court and refused to save also include the PDP governors, who are in the majority? If so, then it is fatal: even governors of your own party, PDP, do not trust you to keep their money! Furthermore, did the governors also stop the federal government from saving part of its share? If you ran a surplus budget at the federal level, you would have had credibility to blame others or to say they did not listen to your advice."
"The key point is that since you were running huge deficits yourself, it was also in your own interest to share the ECA. You did not show leadership or credibility, full stop."
"You are brilliant Madam, but you need serious help," he said while reeling our data to show the porous state of the Nigerian economy. Having spent all your life in the World Bank bureaucracy largely in administration/operations, no one will blame you if your economics has become a bit rusty."
He also accused Okonjo-Iwealla of forging Nigeria's national economic statistics.
"What worries me is that this government is the first in our history to attempt to manipulate our national statistics under Okonjo-Iweala. When the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) published the poverty figures in 2011, she felt indicted and incensed. She called upon the World Bank to come and examine the 'methodology' and get NBS to 'review' its numbers," Soludo alleged.
"Oby Ezekwesili (as VP Africa Region rejected the call to try to tamper with a country's statistics). Once Oby left, the World Bank started talking about 'new figures', without conducting any new surveys. I was told about it by a World Bank economist, and I cautioned that it was a dangerous gamble that would damage the credibility of the NBS.
"If you want to 'review methodology', you conduct another survey but you can't change 'methodology' because you don't like the published figures. No government in our history has tried it: even Sani Abacha allowed a poverty survey that put poverty at 67 per cent under his regime."
According to Soludo, at this rate nobody will believe statistics coming from the Nigerian government again.
@blackboxupdate
APC Boasts..."Jonathan, Sambo would be defeated at home"
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National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said on Sunday that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party had become scared of the outcome of the February 14 presidential election.
"I am shocked at the kind of crowd I see in our various campaign grounds. For now, we have secured over 20 million votes. In Bayelsa and Kaduna states, we will defeat Jonathan and Sambo," he said.
Oyegun said that the APC would defeat both President Goodluck Jonathan and his running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo in their own states.
Jonathan's home state is Bayelsa while Sambo is from Kaduna State.
Oyegun spoke at a luncheon organised for APC leaders in the Edo South senatorial district, in Benin, the Edo State capital.
He explained that the leadership of the PDP had been using all means and "unknown persons" to "scuttle" the poll because it was clear that they would lose the election.
He said, "President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP are running scare of the February 14 presidential election.
"It is obvious to them that they will definitely lose this election.
"They are using all means, through unknown people, to scuttle the elections. But I can assure you that elections will hold and we will defeat them."
He said that the 16 years of PDP presidency had brought hardship to Nigerians and threatened the unity of the country.
He said that the emergence of the APC as the biggest opposition party in Nigeria was divine and ordained to bring the needed change the country desired.
Oyegun, however, urged Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands by voting for the APC.
Also, a national leader of the APC, Chief Tony Momoh, said that the ruling party had lost "all the good hands to the APC."
"I am shocked at the kind of crowd I see in our various campaign grounds. For now, we have secured over 20 million votes. In Bayelsa and Kaduna states, we will defeat Jonathan and Sambo," he said.
Oyegun said that the APC would defeat both President Goodluck Jonathan and his running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo in their own states.
Jonathan's home state is Bayelsa while Sambo is from Kaduna State.
Oyegun spoke at a luncheon organised for APC leaders in the Edo South senatorial district, in Benin, the Edo State capital.
He explained that the leadership of the PDP had been using all means and "unknown persons" to "scuttle" the poll because it was clear that they would lose the election.
He said, "President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP are running scare of the February 14 presidential election.
"It is obvious to them that they will definitely lose this election.
"They are using all means, through unknown people, to scuttle the elections. But I can assure you that elections will hold and we will defeat them."
He said that the 16 years of PDP presidency had brought hardship to Nigerians and threatened the unity of the country.
He said that the emergence of the APC as the biggest opposition party in Nigeria was divine and ordained to bring the needed change the country desired.
Oyegun, however, urged Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands by voting for the APC.
Also, a national leader of the APC, Chief Tony Momoh, said that the ruling party had lost "all the good hands to the APC."
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Federal Govt To Purchase 2,564 Vehicles For Nigerian Police
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The Federal Government has given approval for the police to acquire 2,564 vehicles to enhance security operations during the forthcoming general elections in the country.
Vice President Namadi Sambo, who spoke while launching 263 patrol vehicles for the police at the Eagle Square, Abuja on Sunday appealed to party supporters to shun violence during the polls.
Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, said the procurement of the vehicles was aimed at boosting the capacity of the Nigerian Police Force to deliver on its mandate effectively.
He said, "A well equipped and adequately motivated police force, will assist in no small measure in ensuring the security needed in the drive to economic growth and development of Nigeria.
"This is in view of the strong commitment of government to provide for the NPF within available resources, and it is my hope that the gesture by government will be reciprocated by assisting INEC in ensuring they conduct free and fair elections this month.
"It is also expected that the deployment of these operational vehicles will translate to enhanced surveillance of our communities in order to improve security."
While further highlighting the efforts of government in enhancing peace and security of all Nigerians, Sambo emphasised the need for all citizens to see themselves as Nigerians and work for the unity of the country, despite their political leanings.
"I call on the politicians, the aspirants, their supporters and their sympathisers, to eschew all forms of violence and unlawful practices, both in words and conduct, before and after elections, let us eschew any form of violence, we should condemn any form of violence before, during and after elections. we should know that elections will come and go but Nigeria will remain as one nation and one people," he said.
Speaking earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, said approval for 2,564 operational vehicles was given by the President, but the first batch of the patrol cars comprising 170 Nissan NP300 hard body patrol pick-up vans, 129 Nissan FrontierDouble Cabin Patrol Vehicles, 50 Nissan Patrol 4WD Jeeps, 10 Toyota double cabin Armoured Patrol Vans and four Ford 550 model 4X4 state of the art Armoured Personnel Carriers were ready for commissioning.
When asked if the remaining bulk would be available before the elections, Abba said he did not know, but noted that "the important thing is that the contract has been signed and the supply is coming from an indigenous company."
"We are certain that the multiplier effect of the contract would affect the countrymen very well;This is an addition to the vehicles we have in our stock," he added.
Abba also made references to other utility projects embarked upon by government to enhance the performance of the Force in providing security to citizens.
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INEC Extend PVC Collection By A Week
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The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards to Sunday, February 8, 2015.
This new date is contained in a statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the national chairman of the commission, Kayode Idowu.
Idowu, who explained that the new date supersedes the earlier deadline of Saturday, January, 31, also disclosed that INEC had received the last batch of 3.4 million PVCs.
He said in the statement that the extension was intended to give those who had yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so.
Idowu, who stressed that the commission was ready for the polls, enjoined all registered persons to ensure that they collected their cards on or before February 8.
"The commission reaffirms its determination to make the 2015 elections free, fair, credible and peaceful; and urges all stakeholders, including voters, to spare no effort in working towards the same objective," he said.
He told newsmen that INEC had taken delivery of the 68.8 million PVCS and that the last batch of 3.4 million cards had been sent to all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for distribution to all registered voters.
Idowu said, "We have taken delivery of all the PVCs, which is 68.8 million and they have been sent to all the states for distribution to the voters.
"The last batch of 3.4 million PVCs have been sent to the field for distribution to the registered voters."
The All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party has hailed the commission for extending the PVC collection deadline.
"The action is commendable. It is a sign that the commission is a listening body and it is ready to conduct free and fair elections," its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, told one of our correspondents.
The party however asked the Federal Government to help the commission by declaring a two-day public holiday to enable voters pick up their PVCs.
The party said states under its control had agreed to declare public holidays this week, but said each state governor would pick the dates they prefer.
The APC caucus in the House of Representatives also welcomed the decision but wondered why INEC allowed itself to be put under pressure before extending the PVC collection deadline.
"The voice and resolution of the House helped tremendously in putting pressure on INEC on the absolute need to give people the opportunity to vote and not to be disenfranchised," its leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The caucus however admitted that "the extension and assurances from INEC will go a long way " in making the elections hitch-free.
In passing the January 13 resolution, the House had noted that INEC was slow in the distribution of the PVCs.
The House observed that it was unlikely that the commission would give every registered voter a card before February 14.
Gbajabiamila was the one who moved the motion leading to the House resolution.
Part of the motion read, "INEC has been and is still issuing permanent voter cards to eligible voters in replacement of the temporary voter cards issued to Nigerians about four years ago.
"Concerned that the general elections being just four weeks or 31 days from now, it is very unlikely that the commission will be able to distribute the PVCs to all registered and eligible voters before the elections.
"Disturbed that if the current position of the commission (that only voters with the PVCs are qualified to vote) is not addressed, many registered and eligible voters will be disenfranchised in the 2015 general elections to the detriment of the growth of democracy in Nigeria.
"The House resolves that the commission should include in its election guidelines for the 2015 general elections a provision(s) allowing registered voters with the temporary voter card (TVCs) whose names are on record to vote during the 2015 general elections."
Also, the LP applauded the commission for the extension, but wondered whether the one week extension would be enough.
In order to ease the distribution of the cards, it asked the commission to employ Ad hoc staff to handle the exercise.
This new date is contained in a statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the national chairman of the commission, Kayode Idowu.
Idowu, who explained that the new date supersedes the earlier deadline of Saturday, January, 31, also disclosed that INEC had received the last batch of 3.4 million PVCs.
He said in the statement that the extension was intended to give those who had yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so.
Idowu, who stressed that the commission was ready for the polls, enjoined all registered persons to ensure that they collected their cards on or before February 8.
"The commission reaffirms its determination to make the 2015 elections free, fair, credible and peaceful; and urges all stakeholders, including voters, to spare no effort in working towards the same objective," he said.
He told newsmen that INEC had taken delivery of the 68.8 million PVCS and that the last batch of 3.4 million cards had been sent to all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for distribution to all registered voters.
Idowu said, "We have taken delivery of all the PVCs, which is 68.8 million and they have been sent to all the states for distribution to the voters.
"The last batch of 3.4 million PVCs have been sent to the field for distribution to the registered voters."
The All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party has hailed the commission for extending the PVC collection deadline.
"The action is commendable. It is a sign that the commission is a listening body and it is ready to conduct free and fair elections," its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, told one of our correspondents.
The party however asked the Federal Government to help the commission by declaring a two-day public holiday to enable voters pick up their PVCs.
The party said states under its control had agreed to declare public holidays this week, but said each state governor would pick the dates they prefer.
The APC caucus in the House of Representatives also welcomed the decision but wondered why INEC allowed itself to be put under pressure before extending the PVC collection deadline.
"The voice and resolution of the House helped tremendously in putting pressure on INEC on the absolute need to give people the opportunity to vote and not to be disenfranchised," its leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The caucus however admitted that "the extension and assurances from INEC will go a long way " in making the elections hitch-free.
In passing the January 13 resolution, the House had noted that INEC was slow in the distribution of the PVCs.
The House observed that it was unlikely that the commission would give every registered voter a card before February 14.
Gbajabiamila was the one who moved the motion leading to the House resolution.
Part of the motion read, "INEC has been and is still issuing permanent voter cards to eligible voters in replacement of the temporary voter cards issued to Nigerians about four years ago.
"Concerned that the general elections being just four weeks or 31 days from now, it is very unlikely that the commission will be able to distribute the PVCs to all registered and eligible voters before the elections.
"Disturbed that if the current position of the commission (that only voters with the PVCs are qualified to vote) is not addressed, many registered and eligible voters will be disenfranchised in the 2015 general elections to the detriment of the growth of democracy in Nigeria.
"The House resolves that the commission should include in its election guidelines for the 2015 general elections a provision(s) allowing registered voters with the temporary voter card (TVCs) whose names are on record to vote during the 2015 general elections."
Also, the LP applauded the commission for the extension, but wondered whether the one week extension would be enough.
In order to ease the distribution of the cards, it asked the commission to employ Ad hoc staff to handle the exercise.
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Fear of Boko Haram? President Jonathan Cancels Campaign Rally In Yobe
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Barring any last minute change in plan, the Peoples Democratic Party's presidential rally earlier fixed for Monday (today) in Damaturu, Yobe State will no longer hold.
President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other top officials of the PDP were earlier scheduled to take the President's re-election campaign to Gombe and Damaturu today.
It was however learnt that a decision to call off the Damaturu rally was taken on Saturday after members of the President's advance team had already arrived the state capital.
When asked why the rally was put off, the official simply said, "unfavourable security report."
The top Presidency official disclosed that when it became clear that the rally would no longer hold as scheduled, members of the President's advanced team left Damaturu for Abuja on Sunday.
He said the team had left the town before an explosion was recorded in front of the residence of the PDP candidate for the Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency in the state, Sabo Garbu, opposite the Federal Government College in the town.
He said they were still in Damaturu when they heard information that insurgents were again making attempts to overrun Maiduguri, the Bormo State capital.
The source however said the President would still make the Gombe trip except he changed his mind at the last minute.
He could also not say whether the campaign train would still visit Damaturu before the grand finale billed for Abuja on Saturday.
By the PDP timetable, the campaign train is expected to visit Minna and Lokoja on Tuesday; Benin and Asaba on Wednesday; and Yenagoa on Thursday before rounding it off on Saturday in Abuja.
President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other top officials of the PDP were earlier scheduled to take the President's re-election campaign to Gombe and Damaturu today.
It was however learnt that a decision to call off the Damaturu rally was taken on Saturday after members of the President's advance team had already arrived the state capital.
When asked why the rally was put off, the official simply said, "unfavourable security report."
The top Presidency official disclosed that when it became clear that the rally would no longer hold as scheduled, members of the President's advanced team left Damaturu for Abuja on Sunday.
He said the team had left the town before an explosion was recorded in front of the residence of the PDP candidate for the Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency in the state, Sabo Garbu, opposite the Federal Government College in the town.
He said they were still in Damaturu when they heard information that insurgents were again making attempts to overrun Maiduguri, the Bormo State capital.
The source however said the President would still make the Gombe trip except he changed his mind at the last minute.
He could also not say whether the campaign train would still visit Damaturu before the grand finale billed for Abuja on Saturday.
By the PDP timetable, the campaign train is expected to visit Minna and Lokoja on Tuesday; Benin and Asaba on Wednesday; and Yenagoa on Thursday before rounding it off on Saturday in Abuja.
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Beheaded Japanese Journalist's Wife Releases Mournful Statement
Late Kenji Goto speaking during a public event in Tokyo in January 2014
The wife of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto released a new statement Sunday after Islamic State militants posted a video online purporting to show the beheading of her husband.
Mr. Goto's wife, Rinko, wrote in the message that she is devastated by the news but "extremely proud" of her husband. She also thanked those who offered support to her and her family since Mr. Goto went missing in October.
The message was made available by the Rory Peck Trust.
Here is the full transcript:
My family and I are devastated by the news of Kenji's death. He was not just my loving husband and father to our two beautiful children, but a son, brother and friend to many around the world.
While feeling a great personal loss, I remain extremely proud of my husband who reported the plight of people in conflict areas like Iraq, Somalia and Syria. It was his passion to highlight the effects on ordinary people, especially through the eyes of children, and to inform the rest of us of the tragedies of war.
I would like to thank everyone who has offered their support to myself and our family over these last difficult few months.
As you can imagine this is an extremely difficult time for our family. I would ask that the media please respect our privacy and allow us time to come to terms with our loss.
Rinko
Credit: WSJ
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Would Peace Loving Japan Go To War With Radical Islamic State?
Following a video posted online over the weekend showing the grisly killing of a Japanese journalist, by Islamic State militants, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reacted with outrage, promising "to make the terrorists pay the price."
The prime minister's call for revenge after the killings of the journalist, Kenji Goto, and another hostage, Haruna Yukawa, raised eyebrows even in the military establishment, adding to a growing awareness and demanding that Japan move out of its pacifist shell to confront realities of war on its citizens. Would this be a watershed in Japan's diplomacy? remain the question bothering analysts.
What does making terrorists pay the price mean to Prime Minister Abe? Such confrontational vows of retribution is only common in the West where leaders are faced with extremist violence, but they have been unheard of in confrontation-averse Japan not since the country lost World War II.
"Japan has not seen this Western-style expression in its diplomacy before," Akihisa Nagashima, a former vice minister of defense, wrote on Twitter. "Does he intend to give Japan the capability to back up his words?"
As the 12-day hostage crisis came to a grim conclusion with the killing of Mr. Goto, the world has suddenly begun to look like a much more dangerous place to a peaceful and prosperous nation that had long seen itself as immune to the sorts of violence faced by the United States and its Western allies.
"This is 9/11 for Japan," said Kunihiko Miyake, a former high-ranking Japanese diplomat who has advised Mr. Abe on foreign affairs. "It is time for Japan to stop daydreaming that its good will and noble intentions would be enough to shield it from the dangerous world out there. Americans have faced this harsh reality, the French have faced it, and now we are, too."
The crisis also comes at a crucial moment in Japan's modern history. Since taking office two years ago, Mr. Abe, a strong-willed conservative, has tried to push his nation into shedding the passive brand of pacifism that it repentantly embraced after defeat in World War II, and playing a more active role in world events. Analysts and former diplomats say the stark savagery of the killings will be an important test of how ready Japan really is to step onto the global stage.
The question, analysts and diplomats say, is whether the trauma of the killings will drain Japan's will to seek a higher international profile, or stiffen its resolve.
This new challenge came in the form of two videos released within a week of each other, both by the Islamic State, whose militants control large parts of Syria and Iraq. The first video, posted online last weekend, showed the decapitated body of Mr. Yukawa, 42, an adventurer who was captured last August by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The second video, which surfaced over the weekend, showed the doomed journalist, Mr. Goto, 47, stoically kneeling as his dagger-wielding executioner criticizes Japan for joining the American-led coalition against the Islamic State.
He then menacingly warns that no Japanese are safe anywhere in the world. "Let the nightmare for Japan begin," the masked militant proclaims before reaching down to kill Mr. Goto.
Japan reacted with an outpouring of fury and sorrow at the death of Mr. Goto, a respected journalist who was a veteran of war zones. Local television stations showed clips from his reports from places like Syria and Iraq, where he often reported on the plight of children and noncombatants. It was also noted that Japan was not even involved in the United States-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State, but its citizens were taken hostage and killed in the same cruel manner as those from other countries.
"I feel a deep despair that I've never felt before and an unfocused anger," Taku Nishimae, a filmmaker who began an online campaign to free Mr. Goto by holding up a placard saying "I am Kenji," told Kyodo News.
For now at least, such anger appears to have given Japan the resolve to reject the Islamic State's threats, and to support Mr. Abe's efforts to raise Japan's profile in the Middle East.
At the same time, many Japanese also appeared ready to adapt to this new reality by discussing ways to reduce their nation's vulnerability. On Japan's Sunday morning political debate programs, politicians seemed to compete with one another in offering proposals to increase security, by such steps as more screening of foreigners entering the country, creating an overseas spy agency or writing new legislation to give Japan's tightly constrained military more freedom to act overseas to protect the more than 1.5 million Japanese who live abroad.
"I don't see any sign of the Japanese people wanting to back down; to the contrary, they are quite angry," said Ichiro Fujisaki, a former Japanese ambassador to the United States. "It's actually surprising the extent to which people are united in standing against the terrorist group."
Other analysts agree that the Japanese public seems to be rallying around its leaders in a time of crisis. They added, however, that as the shock wears off, there will be more questioning of how Mr. Abe's government handled the crisis. In particular, they expect growing attention on how much responsibility Mr. Abe should bear for creating the crisis in the first place.
"The debate starts from now," said Fumiaki Kubo, a political expert at the University of Tokyo. "Opinions were divided before the hostage crisis, but they may prove even more divided after it."
Critics on the left are already starting to fault Mr. Abe for provoking the Islamic State two weeks ago when he offered $200 million in nonlethal aid to countries that were confronting the group. In its initial ransom demand, the Islamic State made a point of demanding the same sum, $200 million, and later criticizing Mr. Abe for what it called his "reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war" waged by the United States-led coalition against the militant group.
This has already been enough to renew fears among many Japanese that Mr. Abe's efforts to raise Japan's profile could end up entangling the country in distant wars. These concerns were apparent on Sunday in interviews with citizens on their views of Japan's response to the hostage crisis.
Hiroyuki Hamada, 61, an engineer who lives in a Tokyo suburb, said he was opposed to getting any more deeply involved in the United States-led effort against the Islamic State.
"I fear we will just fall into an unending cycle of violence begetting violence," Mr. Hamada said.
But there have also been strong popular shows of support for Mr. Abe and his efforts to make Japan a more global partner of the United States, on whom it still relies for its defense. In coming weeks, Mr. Abe will seek legislative changes to expand the role of the military; for instance, by allowing it to go to the aid of a friendly nation under attack, something it cannot now legally do. But Mr. Abe has also carefully insisted that he still wants to restrict Japan to a largely nonmilitary role
"No country is completely safe from terrorism," Mr. Abe told Parliament last week. "How do we cut the influence of ISIL, and put a stop to extremism? Japan must play its part in achieving this."
He has also emphasized that the $200 million in aid he offered two weeks ago was solely for humanitarian purposes. On Sunday, Mr. Abe proclaimed that he wanted to increase Japan's nonlethal aid to countries opposing the Islamic State.
"The cruelty of the Islamic State has made Japan see a harsh new reality," said Mr. Kubo of the University of Tokyo. "We now realize we face the same dangers as other countries do."
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