Freedom of Expression Doesn’t Justify Insulting Others’ Faith – Pope Francis

 

Pope Francis is known for giving his frank perspective on societal issues.

And this time, he is sharing his thoughts on exercising freedom of expression wisely.

He stated that while killing in the name of religion is wrong, it is equally unfair to insult other people’s faith, CNN reports.

Fire incident at Kirikiri

There is fire outbreak at a tyre warehouse in Mosheshe industrial Estate in Kirikiri town, Lagos, at the moment. The cause of the fire is unknown but it's burning with great intensity and is spreading to other parts of the factory. Men of the Lagos state Fire service are urgently needed there.

Koffi Annan Advises Nigeria On How To End Boko Haram

As the Nigerian military continues to wage war against the Islamist militants group, Boko Haram, in northern Nigeria, former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has advised the Federal Government on what to do to end the sect’s insurgency.
Annan, who is in Nigeria to support next month’s general election in the country, while speaking on BBC World Service Radio stated that what the Nigerian military needs to do is to “talk to Boko Haram, as well as maintaining military pressure”.

Koffi Annan

According to Annan, the Nigerian government should not only use force against the insurgents but should also try to reach out to the terrorists to find out those sponsoring the Islamist group.
In his words: “In this kind of situation, you don’t have one policy you have to reach out to the terrorists to find out those behind them and that doesn’t mean the military should stop the use of force.”

UK Berates Nigeria Over Boko Haram Insurgency

The United Kingdom has condemned the Nigerian government over its inability to end the lingering war with the Islamist Boko Haram sect.
The condemnation was made by the UK’s Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire while addressing the British Parliament on what UK had done over the growing insurgency in the Northeast as well as contributions towards emplacing developmental infrastructure to reduce poverty and illiteracy.
According to The Nation, the Minister, who revealed that Nigeria lacks the capacity to deal with terrorism despite its huge resources, however, described allegations of corruption in the military as false.

UK’s Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire

Swire said the UK gave £250 million to Nigeria last year through the United Nations (UN) Safe School Initiative to enable over 800,000 children, including 600,000 girls, in the North have access to education.

BREAKING NEWS: President Jonathan Visits Maiduguri

Reports just coming out of Maiduguri, Borno state inform that President Goodluck Jonathan has just landed in Maiduguri Airport in a surprise visit to the hotbed of Boko Haram’s insurgency.
According to Daily Trust report, the Chief of Defense staff, Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh and National Security adviser, Sambo Dasuki also arrived the airport in a separate aircraft.

It was gathered that Governor Kashim Shettima arrived the airport to receive the president.
As at the time of compiling this report, the details of President Jonathan’s visit to Maiduguri are still unknown.

We Don't Want Do Or Die Elections - Wole Soyinka

 Nobel Prize winner , Wole Soyinka has given his thoughts concerning the current situation in the country as we head into the election month.
He revealed he was not disappointed with the direction of democracy in the country and wants the Abuja peace accord to be upheld by all candidates and parties.
He asked candidates to be responsible for their supporters so as not allow violence escalate, no matter who wins.
His full words below…
I was with high expectations that I went gone through details of the Abuja peace accord recently agreed by the political party leaders, mandating decent and civilized campaign conduct among the contestants, their agents and supporters.

Akinwande Oluwole “Wole” Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright and poet

I was not disappointed. It is a positive step in the direction of democracy, for which I must commend the efforts of those seasoned interventionists, Emeka Anyaoku and Kofi

Hollande: Muslims first victims of fanaticism

As Charlie Hebdo cartoonists are buried, French president assures Muslims that his country respects them and Islam.

Two Charlie Hebdo cartoonists were among five victims buried in France on Thursday [Reuters]

French President Francois Hollande has assured Muslims that his country respects them and their religion, but will not compromise its commitment to freedom and democracy.
Speaking a week after 17 people were killed in Paris, he told a meeting at the Institute of the Arab World in the French capital on Thursday that Muslims were "the first victims of fanaticism, fundamentalism and intolerance".