New York [RR] ABUJA–Boko Haram issues new threats and says all government establishments in northern Nigeria and Abuja should be evacuated in preparation for deadly attacks. The extremist Boko Haram sect says it is set to resume its deadly attacks with sights now aimed at bombing government-owned properties, offices and residential quarters, in the 19 northern states and Abuja.

New York [RR] ABUJA–The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday in Abuja asked the National Assembly to quickly approve the Federal Government’s external borrowing plan of $7.9b, about N1.8 trillion. Okonjo-Iweala made the request during an oversight visit to her office, by members of the House Committee on Finance. President Goodluck Jonathan had written the Senate and House of Representatives in February seeking approval for the loans to fund key projects in various sectors of the economy.

New York [RR] ABUJA–Here I’ve lived ever since my birth Not alone but with handsome men Of tender souls and healthy looks. They had their quarters in the woods. The fear and fight is who will head. How fate has gathered us all here; Yet tell me, friends, can Fate reshape?

These woods short, haphazardly grow; In the mid and farthest North Pole; The faithful kites in multitude. The large number as headcount tells. That holds the whole woods in control. And lovely with them as others; Pray I well our belief will last; The Mid-West of these graceful woods. With somewhat a hilly landscape. Dwell tricky rabbits in their holes; Holes from which dear liquid is dug. And stones and cash fruit all for life; People could mistake me for them; Had I the sameness of their voice.

New York [RR] HAGUE–Igbo ethnic people of Southeastern Nigeria have a population of 50 million. They are predominantly Christians and Animists. The majority of the other Nigerians are predominantly Muslims. Culturally, religiously and ethnically the Nigerian society has remained incongruous and violently conflicted. Nigeria like most other Black African countries is an artificial state entity that was cobbled together without recourse to the existing fundamental ethnic/religious or cultural differences.

New York [RR] IGWEOCHA–Weeks after the burial rites of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu were concluded, the Eze Igbo Gburugburu resurrected in Port Harcourt recently. The event was the forum of the Federated Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Rivers State. The newsmen had organised the forum to reflect on the vision of the former Biafran leader. At the colloquium, the chapel reflected on the roles of the late Emeka Ojukwu during and after the civil war and brought out what it termed the “lessons for our leaders and generations.”