Jerry Douglas' Blog

No fewer than five governors are in a “cold war” with First Lady Patience Jonathan over her alleged moves to impose their successors. In the crises are Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Bauchi, and Kwara states, where the First Lady is believed to have anointed some aspirants for the governorship tickets. A highly-placed source with deep insight into the challenges facing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: “ We have a crisis at hand, pitching some governors against the First Lady. It is a cold war which will soon become a major one, if President Goodluck Jonathan does not intervene. “Even Bayelsa, the President’s state is not spared the looming crisis." In Bayelsa State, the First Lady is said to be backing the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic and Social Events, Dr. Waripomowei Dudafa, for governor of the state. “In spite of denial by the Office of the First Lady, there is already a campaign office in Bayelsa for Dudafa called ‘The N...

Abuja motor park blast More than 200 people are feared dead in an explosion which rocked an outskirts of Abuja, the Nigerian capital, this morning. The explosion sounded in a highly populated motor park in Nyanya, less than five minutes drive from the Abuja city Centre. It is not clear yet how the bomb was ferried into the park, but witnesses suspect it was planted by a suicide bomber. Several dead bodies now litter the blood spattered park and the expressway leading to the city. Some of the dead victims and the injured are being taken to hospital by ambulances and vans belonging to the police, the Vehicle Inspection Office, Federal Road Safety Commission, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the National Emergency Management Agency.   Our reporter counted more than 50 bodies that were yet to be evacuated. But witnesses said more than 150 bodies may have been moved before our reporter’s arrival. Some of the bodies are mangled beyond recognition. ...

Unknown terrorists are said to have taken control of the missing plane and forced it to land near Kandahar A Russian newspaper has claimed that Flight MH370 was hijacked by "unknown terrorists" and flown to Afghanistan, where the crew and passengers are now being held hostage. The extraordinary comments, attributed to a Russian intelligence source, appeared in the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper. The source told the paper: "Flight MH370 Malaysia Airlines missing on March 8 with 239 passengers was hijacked. "Pilots are not guilty; the plane was hijacked by unknown terrorists. "We know that the name of the terrorist who gave instructions to pilots is "Hitch." "The plane is in Afghanistan not far from Kandahar near the border with Pakistan."          According to The Daily Star, Moskovsky Komsomolets also claims the  passengers have been divided  into seven groups and are living in mud huts with almost no food. ...