FEMI FANI-KAYODE: A People in Denial

Femi FANI-Kayode writes the nation’s handling of the Boko Haram menace is indicative of a people in denial

"Boko Haram has not committed any wrong to deserve amnesty. Surprisingly the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you (government) pardon"- Abubakar Shekau, the spokesman and leader of Boko Haram speaking to the French News Agency, AFP.

OLAWALE OLALEYE: An Unlearned President

President Goodluck Jonathan

Save for his politics, President Goodluck Jonathan has not deployed sufficient experience in the art of governance, writes Olawale Olaleye

At a time the Boko Haram insurgency became aggressive and crippling, all that President Goodluck Jonathan had said to the Nigerian people, at least to pacify them was that the act of terrorism had become a global threat and that it was probably the turn of Nigeria to have a dose of the bitter pills of terrorism.

191 Killed in Multinational Task Force, Boko Haram Clash

Defence Headquarters (DHQ)

•10,000 rendered homeless, 2,000 houses torched 

•Jonathan orders investigation into carnage  

•DHQ confirms 25 insurgents, one soldier dead

One hundred and ninety-one persons were feared dead, 10,000 others rendered homeless while 2,000 houses were destroyed at the weekend in Baga town, Borno State, after what could be termed the most deadly confrontation between Boko Haram and soldiers of Multinational Task Force (MTF) deployed in the area to rein in the sect.

Jonathan Appoints Waki, Second Female Member, into Boko Haram C’ttee

President Goodluck Jonathan

The inclusion of another member, Barrister Aisha Waki, into the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North has been approved by President Goodluck Jonathan. The other female member in the hitherto 26-member committee is Hajiya Naja’atu Bala Mohammed, a prominent Kano politician of the opposition shade.

The current appointment may have been informed by the refusal of Dr Datti Ahmad, President-General of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) and Comrade Shehu Sani, an activist to participate in the committee.

Japan Warns China on Islands Landing

Chinese and Japanese surveillance ships are monitoring each other closely

Japan would respond with force if any attempt is made to land on disputed islands, PM Shinzo Abe has warned. His comments came as eight Chinese government ships sailed near East China Sea islands that both nations claim.

A flotilla of 10 fishing boats carrying Japanese activists was also reported to be in the area, as well as the Japanese coastguard. Abe was speaking in parliament hours after dozens of lawmakers visited a controversial war-linked shrine, reports the BBC.

Biting: Ivanovic Rejects Suárez's Apology

Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic is 'not happy at all' about being bitten during the 2-2 draw at Anfield

Branislav Ivanovic has not accepted the apology from Luis Suárez over the biting incident and it has also emerged that the Metropolitan police asked to examine the Chelsea defender's arm as part of an inquiry into the controversy.

Suárez, the Liverpool striker, who grabbed his opponent before biting his arm during the 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday, tweeted that he had spoken to Ivanovic on the phone to apologise. "Thanks for accepting," the Uruguayan also wrote.

UEFA League: Bayern Demolish Barca 4-0

Bayern players celebrating their demolition of Barcelona

You better believe it, Bayern Munich will be favourites to reach the Champions League final after a dominant display beat Barcelona in their semi-final first leg. With Lionel Messi appearing to suffer from an injury, Thomas Mueller headed in at the back post before Mario Gomez scored from close range.

IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU: Instituting a Culture of Meritocracy

BEHIND THE FIGURES By Ijeoma Nwogwugwu; ijeoma.nwogwugwu@thisdaylive.com

Last Thursday, the Adhoc Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the House of Representatives, submitted its report on the Peoples Public Sessions conducted by the committee to let the Nigerian people determine what aspects of the constitution they would wanted amended.

One notable outcome of the public sessions was the overwhelming vote by the people not to include clauses in the constitution to rotate the Office of the President between the north and the south, and among the six geo-political zones in the country. The people also voted in large numbers to fill the Office of the President purely on the basis of merit.

FEATURE: Winning the War against Tinted Glasses?

Although the Nigeria Police Force appears to be locked in a battle with the public over the directive by the Inspector General of the Police to arrest and prosecute motorists with tinted glasses, the police seem to be gaining the upper hand. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes 

After driving a few miles from his house, a car dealer, Femi Adekola was stopped by the police. At first he was worried because it was unusual. But as soon as he alighted from the car in which he was driving, he was asked to produce the permit for the tinted windows on his car. Adekola was prepared. He produced a permit and he was allowed to go.

Recently, the police re-launched its campaign against cars with tinted glasses plying the roads. In a statement issued by the police authorities, the Inspector General of the Police, Mohammed Abubakar said the indiscriminate use of tinted windows and windshields poses a danger as criminal elements, including suspected terrorists hide behind them to commit crimes.

Church Vandalised as Boy, 2, Dies in Septic Tank

Police Headquarters

A church service which usually closes with the distribution of gifts like biscuits and sweets to the children, ended abruptly on Sunday when a two-year-old boy, Feranmi Oladeji, fell into a septic tank located within the premises of the church and drowned.

The day’s service at the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Iyinrere at Ayedun Quarters of Akure, was said to have started like any other previous service with praise worship accompanied by prayers and sharing of testimonies by the worshipers.