By Danielle Lobito
President Jonathan in a 'warm' handshake with Governor Amaechi
Jonathan, whose aides have repeatedly denied that he has hand in the festering political crisis in Rivers State, and Amaechi met behind closed doors for about three hours at the weekend to pave the way for the resolution of the crisis in the state, where the president’s wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, hails from.
—ThisDay
A week before President Goodluck Jonathan met Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, he went to see his political godfather, former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Obasanjo reportedly warned Jonathan to leave Amaechi alone. Four Northern (pro-Amaechi) governors later went to see Obasanjo.
The Akasoba Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution in Rivers State planned to invite former Nigerian military leader (Retd) General Yakubu Gowon, former UN Secretary-General Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda to Nigeria in order to settle the Rivers State crisis on August 3. According to the Punch,'It was not clear as of press time whether Jonathan and Amaechi, who reportedly met on Friday night, would attend the meeting'.
Regardless of the three hour meeting between Jonathan and Amaechi, it is important to note that Amaechi’s security guards that were withdrawn have not been recalled. However, the fifth recommendation of the Senate Committee on the Rivers State crisis states that:
5. The Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff should ensure the restoration of security personnel to Governor Chibuike Amaechi and all those entitled to same.
The Senate Committee 'findings' include:
3. That the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu took over the party secretariat in the state upon knowledge of the Abuja High Court judgement and immediately withdrew the security details to the former Chairman, Godspower Ake.
4. That the next day, an aide to Godspower Ake, Mr. Eric Ezenekwe,was murdered by unidentified gunmen in Rivers State.
“Leave Amaechi Alone!” – Obasanjo cautions Jonathan
Gowon, ex-UN secretary to intervene in Rivers crisis
Jonathan, 4 Northern Governors Visit Obasanjo In Abeokuta
Rivers Crisis: Senate Indicts Jonathan, Wife
Rivers Crisis: Findings,Observations of Senate Committee
Cécile Kyenge
The integration minister, Cécile Kyenge, who is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, was appearing at a political rally in Cervia in central Italy on Friday, when someone in the audience threw bananas towards the stage, narrowly missing it.
Kyenge has faced almost daily racial slurs and threats since joining the government. Earlier this month a senator from the anti-immigration Northern League party likened her to an orangutan and only apologised after a storm of criticism.
—The Guardian
Can you imagine being compared to an animal simply because of the colour of your skin or get bananas thrown at you because a racist thinks you look like a monkey? The Italian lawmakers and government should abolish racial abuse and harassment in Italy.
Everyday intolerance : racist and xenophobic violence in Italy
