My younger sister died of heart related ailment - Pres. Jonathan

President Jonathan says his late younger sister, Mrs Nancy Oleic-Jonathan, who died on Jan. 4th, died of heart related ailment. The president made this known today while speaking at her funeral at Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

"Nancy that died was my immediate younger sister, though we were not from the same mother.I was very sad when she died because I knew she has been passing through pains for a very long time. Sometimes I felt God has been really kind to her. She started developing probems with her heart when I was deputy governor, then I started asking questions. I asked my personal physician where do we treat her. My doctor told me that the nearest place to treat her was Ghana. So I said we have so many teaching hospitals in Nigeria and none can attempt to work on a human heart. I was worried. But today I am happy that University of Ibadan is handling open heart surgery. We thank God she was able to live above the golden age of 50,” Jonathan said.

Mrs Oleic-Jonathan was survived by a husband and six children.

Ennahda shut out of new Tunisian government

Nominated Prime Minister Habib Essid announces proposed cabinet, without any members of former ruling Islamist party.

Habib Essid has formed his new government after negotiations among the Nidaa Tounes party and other smaller partners [Reuters]

Tunisia's nominated Prime Minister Habib Essid has said he has formed his new government after negotiations among the Nidaa Tounes party and other smaller partners in the parliament, but without any cabinet posts for members of the Islamist party Ennahda.

Lebanese soldiers killed in attack near Syrian border

Troops kill three attackers during fighting at base in Ras Baalbek region hit by "terrorist group" from inside Syria.

Syria's civil war has regularly spilled into Lebanon, with fighters briefly overrunning the eastern town of Arsal in August [AP]

Neglected Victim Of Jan. 2014 Collision With Dangote Cement Truck Loses Ability To Walk

Doctors said he would need to travel abroad for proper surgical treatment, as he had suffered multiple rib fractures at his acetabulum, implying that his hipbone is completely shattered. In addition to his broken bones, Kalesanwo has lost the ability to walk, and sustained lacerations and burns from head to shoulder. His car was also damaged completely. A victim of a ghastly Jan. 2014 road accident involving a Dangote Cement truck has reached out to Sahara Reporters today, condemning reported neglect on behalf of the company with regard to his worsening health.

John Arole Kalesanwo, the victim, told Sahara Reporters that he was traveling from Ibadan on Jan. 4, 2014 in his Opel Astra vehicle. Around 8:00 p.m., he says he sped unsuspectingly into a broken down truck on the road. Kalesanwo said there were no cautionary signs made for the disabled vehicle, which was left on the roadside.
The victim, John Arole Kalesanwo Sahara Reporters Media The abandoned truck, with trailer number XD 175 LKJ and factory number IBESE 21 CT-2A-022, is registered to Dangote Cement Company at Ibese.

Shettima Begs Youth To Welcome Jonathan

Following the  stoning of Jonathan’s campaign convoy in Katsina and Bauchi states, the governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Friday made a strong appeal to his supporters and all citizens of the state not to show disrespect to the President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage during the campaign visit.

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima

According to The Punch, the governor made this plea because of recent incidents in Bauchi and Katsina states during which irate youths reportedly went wild, pelting the President’s convoy with various objects.

Nigerian Youths Campaign For Jonathan In Calabar

As the general elections continue to draw near, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), have continued to win voters to support the re-election of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Only on January 23, 2015, Friday, the ancient city of Calabar, the capital of Cross River State was agog as the youth wing of PDP stormed the city in continuation of their nationwide tour mobilising youths from all nooks and crannies to support President Jonathan’s re-election bid.‎
The event, which was held at the Cultural Centre in Calabar, was led by PDP’s National Youth Leader, Hon Abdullahi Husseini MaiBasira and Jude Imagwe, the Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Students and Youth Affairs.
Also at the South-South/South East zonal rally were Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River state, students union executives of tertiary institutions in the zone and executives of National Youth Council of Nigeria.
Speaking at the occasion, Hon. MaiBasira said: “The day I was born was the day Gen Muhammadu Buhari, the APC aspirant, truncated democracy over decades years ago.”
He added that: “President Jonathan is the first president to channel subsidy Funds to critical sectors of our nation.”
On his part, Comrade Abduljalal, the chairman forum of state chairmen of NYCN, said: “We have the right to decide who we want to vote for and we have chosen President Jonathan and there is nothing anybody can do about it.”
Governor Imoke, while telling those at the event why they should cast their votes for Jonathan, said: “Our economy was going to collapse under Buhari if he had not been booted out. I urge you young people to check these facts it’s available on the Internet, thank God for Google.”
He added that, “The Fact that some body tied wrapper when he came to Calabar does not mean he has changed.”

Bayelsa PDP Chieftain Joins APC, Criticizes PDP

A chieftain of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fred Oboro, joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa on Friday, January 23.
According to the Premium Times, former senator Oboro was received by the state chairman of the APC, Timipa Orunimighe, as well as other party executives, including three senatorial candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections.

Being a founding member of the PDP in Bayelsa, Mr. Oboro went forward and criticized his estranged party for lacking internal democracy.
At a press conference to announce his defection, Mr. Oboro also said President Goodluck Jonathan owed the state an apology for neglecting his home state during his six years as president of Nigeria.

Senator Fred Oboro defecting from PDP to APC