Woman sues United for $170,000 over spilled hot coffee Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2333908/Woman-sues-United-170-000-spilled-hot-coffee.html#ixzz2UsiSwYMP Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

A Texas woman is suing United Continental Holdings Inc. after she says she was badly burned by spilled coffee on a flight from Madrid to Newark in 2011.
Lawyers for Lourdes Cervantes from Harris County filed a suit in court last week detailing the incident she claimed took place during a Continental flight before the two airlines merged.
According to court papers, while en route from Spain to the U.S., a flight attendant placed a coffee on Ms Cervantes' tray table. When the passenger in the seat in front reclined the chair, the hot beverage slid and fell onto her legs.

Liable: A Harris County, Texas woman is suing United Continental over a cup of spilled coffee she says left her with second degree burns during a flight from Madrid to Newark in 2011

The plaintiff's attorney, Shaw Clifford, told KTRH News: 'She did suffer quite a bit of pain.'
He added: 'What made it even worse is that Ms Cervantes has multiple sclerosis, so when the coffee spilled on her she couldn't get up.  She just had to sit there and take it.'
According to the lawsuit, Ms Cervantes received second-degree burns to her inner thighs requiring medical treatment and leaving her with permanent scarring in the affected areas.
Over a year after the alleged incident, Ms Cervantes is suing United Continental for $170,550, the maximum compensation allowable under a 1999 treaty known as the Montreal Convention. 

 

According to the Montreal Convention, victims of air accidents on international flights are compensated for any physical or emotional injuries sustained in-flight.
Mr Clifford explained: 'This is a treaty the United States and several other countries entered into to regulate international flights so there would be one set of rules.'
The law demands only proof of injury by accident, which says Mr Clifford is a 'lesser standard of proof than a negligent standard of proof. So all we have to prove is an accident, and as a result of that accident she suffered injuries and damages.'
Mr Clifford is demanding a jury trial on behalf of his client. The airline meanwhile have said they do not comment on pending litigation.

South Africans Chase Nigerians Out Of Their Homes

No fewer than 23 Nigerians were forced out of their homes and chased out of Port-Nolloth community by some South Africans members of the community, accusing them of dealing in drugs.

According to Diliora Ndubisi, the spokesman of Nigerians, the leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League in the area instigated some community members to force them out of their homes.
“All the members of the community had a meeting on Friday on the need to curb the selling and usage of drugs in the community. On Saturday a teenager committed suicide in a police custody and by Sunday some members of the community led by the ANC Youth League leader came to our houses asking us to leave the community.

“They said we are the ones selling drugs to their children. They destroyed and looted our property and one Nigerian was seriously beaten and is on admission in a hospital in Johannesburg now,” Ndubisi said.
He said that the attack, which targeted Nigerians only, can be attributed to envy and jealousy about the success of Nigerian businesses in the community amidst poverty and unemployment among South Africans living in the community.

Reacting to the attack, the Nigerian Consulate in Johanneburg, South Africa today criticised what it described as the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in the country.
Mr. Okey Emuchay, the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, said in Springbok, in the Northern Province of South Africa, that labelling all Nigerians in the country as drug dealers was “unacceptable.”
Emuchay said that it was the duty of the South African police to provide safety for South Africans and foreigners living in the country.

“We are not asking for too much from the South African government, it is the duty of the South African police to provide safety and security for every one living in South Africa.

“The Nigerian government will not send the Nigerian police to come and protect our nationals just like the South African government will not send her police to protect South Africans living and working in Nigeria.

“In as much as we will not encourage our nationals to engage in criminal activities, it is not acceptable to us that some people should label all Nigerians as drug dealers.

“If any Nigerian is caught dealing in drugs he/she should be arrested and prosecuted. But a situation where some people will act on rumours, attacking and harassing Nigerians will be totally resisted by us. If anybody has any information about any Nigerian dealing in drugs, such information should be given to the police to investigate and arrest those involved. It is the duty of the police to investigate, arrest and prosecute, and not the duty of any individual or group of persons to do the work of the police.

“In this case no arrest has been made, no prosecution and no sentencing of anybody, only some members of the community taking the laws into their hands and forcing out Nigerians from houses where they pay rent, sending them into the streets in this winter period,” Emuchay said.

The Consul-General said that the safety of the displaced Nigerians was the responsibility of the police.

“This is coming barely three weeks after President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria paid a state visit to South Africa, after a similar one-day official working visit by President Jacob Zuma to Nigeria.

“Nine MoU agreement were signed during the state visit to promote trade and investments between the two countries.

“If governments at the top level is working together to strengthen relations between the two countries, the people of the two countries should be encouraged to take full advantage of the bilateral cooperation in various ways, including business culture and interpersonal relations. Nigeria and South Africa have had a long history of friendship and cordial relationship and everything should be done in sustaining the relationship,” Emuchay said.
Ikechukwu Anyene, President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA), commended the proactive step taken by the Consulate.

“I must on behalf of all Nigerians living in South Africa thank the Consul-General for the proactive steps he has taken so far in this xenophobia attack on Nigerians living here.
Brig.-Gen. Francis Hender, South Africa Police Service (SAPS), Cluster Commander, assured that no individual or group would be allowed to perform the duty of the police.

“I will go to Port-Nolloth personally to assess the situation there, and a team of crime investigators will be assigned to investigate the cause of the attack on Nigerians and the lady mentioned would be invited for questioning. She is not a police officer and cannot be allowed to get away with her actions,” Hender said.
Lebogang Abrans, ANC Regional Secretary, apologised to the Nigerian envoy on the attack and said there was need to engage with the community on how to allow the displaced Nigerians return to their homes

Kanye West has found himself at the centre of a blasphemy row after the animated cover art for his forthcoming album, Yeezus, was leaked on the internet.

Kanye West has found himself at the centre of a blasphemy row after the animated cover art for his forthcoming album, Yeezus, was leaked on the internet.

Fans and religious groups slammed the rapper as a “disgrace” for the controversial album cover, which shows him nailed to a cross.

One critic said: “What’s wrong with this Kanye West character, they want to be worshiped that badly? Audacity to name his album Yeezus and make this the cover, just spiralling further into eternal damnation… ”

Another wrote: “Only Christianity allows itself as a religion to be mocked and no one will do nothing. Let him try calling his album prophet Mohammed West and see if his arse ain’t dealt with”

“What a disgrace. He makes me sick,” said another.

The backlash came just days after critics expressed anger when West, one of hip-hop’s biggest stars, revealed the name of the album.

West, who is expecting his first child with reality star Kim Kardashian, is said to be so certain that his sixth studio album will be a massive hit that he has reportedly banned fans from pre-ordering the record.

Yeezus, which is his first solo album since 2011′s critically acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is scheduled for release on 18 June.

It features collaborations with industry heavyweights John Legend, Frank Ocean, Tyler, the Creator and James Blake.

WONDERS SHALL NEVER END! Couple Get Married Completely Naked In Bizarre Wedding Ceremony

For most brides and grooms, deciding what to wear on the Big Day is one of the most important parts of wedding planning. But one New Zealand couple didn’t have to shop for wedding outfits — because they got married in the Unclad.

Nick and Wendy Lowe were married at the Wellington Naturist Club on Saturday in a “clothing optional” wedding, reported local newspaper The Dominion Post. About half of the 120 guests were Unclad. Both clothed and Unclad photos were taken, and though guests were asked to dress for dinner, the dancing portion of the event was clothing optional.

Nick encouraged Wendy to embrace the “naturism,” or nudist, lifestyle six years ago.

“It was one of the first things he said to me: ‘I’m a naturist, how do you feel about it?’ I knew at some point I’d have to at least try it,” Wendy said.

Check out more photos from the Lowes’ Unclad wedding below:

Jonathan vows to stop Boko Haram at all cost

 
No matter the cost, the excesses of extremist group, Boko Haram, must stop, President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed in a new resolve that comes two weeks into a broad military campaign to root out the militants in three northeast states.
“The excesses of Boko Haram must stop. That is the decision of this present government now. It must stop, whatever it will cost the government, it must stop,” Mr. Jonathan said in an interview with journalists on the sideline of the 21st ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Union holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The president said his administration would not fold its arms and watch the violent Islamic group continue to kill innocent citizens.
The President who noted that terrorism was a global problem with the United States and United Kingdom and other countries having their shares, said his administration was working to ensure it is contained with immediate, medium and long term strategies.
Mr. Jonathan said under the short term, military intervention was compulsory since a lot of weapons found their ways into the country because of the Libya crisis and it was important for the weapons to be mopped up.
“For the short term, of course, there must be military intervention, we must beef up security, we must change the security architecture to make sure that we detect that something is about to happen before it happens so that we will be able to stop it,” he said.
“We have stopped a number of incidents in the country. It is just that the few that happened affect life and whenever life is affected, you will not even think that somebody is doing anything.”
The president said the need to “go all out to make sure that we seize these weapons” informed the recent declaration of emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. “We must comb the whole place to seize all these weapons and so on.”
“A lot of free weapons come in because of the Libya crisis. We must seize them. They are illegal weapons and must be seized and you cannot do that without declaring a state of emergency to enable the military enter any house, whether it is a residential building, it is a church, a mosque, a shrine, anywhere, hotel, anything that we suspect. We will be able to enter and seize these weapons.
He said in the medium term, the government will concentrate more on education as the part of the country where there is prevalence of Boko Haram activities has the highest rate of school dropout.
As part of that plan, the federal government will intervene to improve education in those areas although the Constitution puts the issue of basic education under the watch of state and local governments.
He enumerated creating economic environment as another approach adopted by government, so that individuals would be able to fend for themselves.
“We are doing that in terms of our own agriculture programme. We are doing that in what we call community services, local roads, renovation of health centres, primary schools and so on. A number of men and women are involved; road rehabilitation, clearing of roads and so on.
“So, we are also encouraging young people to be on their own through YouWin. The fairly enlightened ones who think they have some businesses to do will submit a proposal to a neutral body and if they select you, we give you grant, not loan. That alone is helping.
“The idea is that if you can set up micro and small businesses, that if one youth that benefit can employ five others that means by the time you give to 1000 and something to multiply by five on the average and the results are quite promising. And we are doing robustly in agriculture.
“That is why we are encouraging more of irrigation because like in the northern part of the country, where you have vast land for farming, incidentally it is savannah area where water is not that common compared to the south. So, we must irrigate to provide water and have farm settlements.
“Because some of the interviews they get from people who have been involved and were arrested, they didn’t even know. They just tell them stories and they are just carried away. Coupled with the fact that some of them are sub adults and they don’t have means of survival and their parents themselves cannot take care of them. So, they become very susceptible to mischievous characters who can just provide them little food and use them to kill people.”
The President also said the threat posed by the Islamic sect to the country and the sub region could be more devastating if the government had not moved fast.
He said Nigeria was becoming difficult for the militants to operate, as some of the sect members recently moved into Niger Republic with suicide attacks in two places simultaneously leading to the death of about 20 Nigerien soldiers.
“Niger Republic had been relatively calm although they have been noticing the movement because it is a general area from Mali, Niger, Chad to Nigeria, but because Nigeria is fairly big, we now said ‘no, this must stop,’ Mr. Jonathan said.
“They are now moving, Central Africa, North Africa, West Africa; East Africa is not also safe. Even in Ethiopia here, there were a lot of terrorist activities before but it is now coming down. Same with Somalia. So, it is only southern Africa that is relatively peaceful in terms of terror.
“It is a serious business. That it why all presidents and heads of government on this continent must come together to fight, otherwise, they will create more problems especially for countries that cannot contain them.
“Luckily, Nigeria is fairly rugged, fairly robust. So, we can confront it and we are confronting it now because we can no longer watch people being killed and it must stop.”

Pakistani women marry in Britain's first Muslim lesbian partnership

Two former students from Pakistan are believed to have become the first Muslim lesbian couple to marry in a civil ceremony in Britain.
Rehana Kausar, 34, and Sobia Kamar, 29, took their vows at a registery office in Leeds earlier this month before immediately applying for political asylum, it was claimed.
Relatives of the couple said the women, who studied in Birmingham, had received death threats both in the UK and from opponents in their native Pakistan, where homosexual relations are illegal.
During the ceremony the couple reportedly told the registrar that they had met three years ago while studying business and health care management at Birmingham, having travelled to the country on student visas, and had been living together in South Yorkshire for about a year.
Ms Kausar, originally from Lahore, also holds a master’s degree in economics from Punjab University.
“This country allows us rights and it’s a very personal decision that we have taken. It’s no one’s business as to what we do with our personal lives,” she was quoted as telling the Birmingham-based Sunday Mercury newspaper.
“The problem with Pakistan is that everyone believes he is in charge of other people lives and can best decide about the morals of others but that’s not the right approach. We are in this state because of our clergy, who have hijacked our society, which was once tolerant and respected individuals’ freedoms.”
Homosexual sex is illegal under Pakistani law. There are also no laws prohibiting discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation.
In recent years in Britain, some Muslim gay and lesbian couples have opted for a nikah, an Islamic matrimonial contract, which is officially the reserve of heterosexuals. These services, conducted in Arabic with additional duas – prayers – are not recognised in the UK unless accompanied by a civil ceremony. Homosexuality is strictly forbidden in the Islamic faith and the notion of same-sex marriage is abhorrent to many Muslims.
A relative of one of the women told the Sunday Mercury: “The couple did not have an Islamic marriage ceremony, known as a nikah, as they could not find an imam to conduct what would have been a controversial ceremony. They have been very brave throughout as our religion does not condone homosexuality. The couple have had their lives threatened both here and in Pakistan and there is no way they could ever return there.”
Ruth Hunt, deputy chief executive for Stonewall, said: “There is a very cautious step towards social visibility for some gay men in Pakistan but lesbians are completely invisible. Pakistan is not necessarily a safe place for couples to be open about their love.”
The Home Office said it was unable to confirm any details about their political asylum request.

Actor Morgan Freeman Passes out during a Live TV interview

Give him a break, he's 75...:-). The actor was caught sleeping on live TV during an interview with Fox News promoting his latest movie 'Now You See Me' with fellow actor Michael Caine, 80.

Michael Caine was answering a question when Morgan Freeman fell into a deep sleep...but woke up moments later and fully joined the early morning interview.

After the video went viral, Morgan released a statement to E! News saying:

I wasn’t actually sleeping, I’m a beta tester for Google Eyelids. I was merely updating my Facebook page.

LMAO! Nice comeback! He was actually sleeping, the statement is just a play off of Google Glass, a device which is supposed to allow users to update their social networks through a pair of glasses and access the internet through voice commands.

I don't Let My Past Hunt Me Down....Actress Bukky Wright

I don't Let My Past Hunt Me Down....Actress Bukky Wright

A lot has been said and written about this beautiful Nollywood actress, Bukky Wright. From her controversial love life to one scandal to another, yet this star actress has never wavered but continued to thrill her fans.

Undoubtedly one of the most talented and beautiful actresses in the Nigerian film industry, Bukky Wright cuts the image of your ideal sexy figure with the right curve at the right places, despite her age (She was 45, March 2012). Bukky is very much at home with any given role. This mother of two whose full names are-Oluwabukola Sekinat Ajoke Wright bares it all in an interview.
Excerpts:

Many negative stories have been written about you in the past, how do you react?

Yes, as a human being, having blood running in my veins, I feel bad. But usually, I just think about it for a few minutes and I move on.

At what point in your life did you resolve not to be bothered about such stories, especially on the current marriage controversy?

When some stories are written about you so many times, it gets to a point that you won't be bothered about them again. I just feel perhaps, they want to sell their newspaper.

As a human being, I always say that life and business are like a race. If you want to win a race, you don't look back or worry about what anybody is talking or writing about you.

What about the issue of your marital status, that you are now married to a man without officially being divorced your previous marriages?

I am sorry. I don t want to talk on that issue. It is one issues I don t want to speak on.

Could you recall any particular negative story that had been written about you in the past which you cannot forget inn hurry?

I don't think about my past but my present. It's just like writing a story and producing it. Once I'm through with it, I forget and begin to think about another one. Also, it is like aYoruba adage that says; "Eni to su ni o gbagbe eni to ko o ni gbagbe", meaning the man who harms may forget but the victim doesn't forget easily.

If you believe that you can spoil the reputation of anyone with impunity, then you should realise that what goes around comes around. In those stories, I will tell you that I remember one that said 'Bukky Wright is a lesbian' and 'Gbenga Daniel Beats Wife over Bukky Wright'.

If those stories did affect you psychologically, how long did it take to get over them?

It affected me psychologically for some time, but I later overcame it and moved on. Having weighed the pros and cons of it, I just concluded that after all, they didn't say I was a thief.

If you believe you are not what they claimed you are in those stories, what action did you take?
They've written worse things about others, so I always say that if they could write such things about other people, then let them go ahead and write whatever they want about me.

If you are to write your autograph, what events or incidents will occupy prominent chapters?

Okay, my parents, my children and people that I had contact with while growing up. I would also talk about people that have tried to make or break me.

You must definitely have experienced some setbacks in your career and in life; when specifically was this?

As a human being, you sometimes get yourself involved in something and feel like; oh! God, 1 shouldn't be here. At some point in life, you sit down and think of some mistakes you've made in life. But as a human being, you think over it and move on.

Earlier, you talked about your parents, your children and some other people that you've met on your way up in life, but you never mentioned the father of your children, why?

That's why I said you might have met some people that would try to make or break you.

Could you share with me some fond memories of your relationship with the father of your children?

Oh! Fantastic! It is because he gave me what a lot of people in life will not be able to get with millions of dollars, that's why he cannot be in my black book.

What was that?

I mean my two kids.

If he did that for you, why did you part ways?

It is not every relationship that you are into that will last forever.

What did you learn from that relationship while it lasted?
I learnt that whatever you do, whosoever you are and whenever you find yourself in, just thank God.

How tough was it when you had to pathways?

It was very tough, no woman in her right senses will pray for such a thing. But there are some situations you find yourself in life that you can't help. No woman would like to leave her first love for another man. A lot of women out there would have tried to make their marriage to work but when they don't work out well, what should they do?

That means they are not meant together because the will of God will always come true. If the will of God says you will remain as husband and wife forever, no one can decide otherwise, I don't blame anybody for whatever happens to him or her.

Were you heartbroken when it happened?

Oh Yeah! I was heartbroken, I know every woman out there prays to have a good home and pray to have a husband to call hers.

How many times have men broke your heart?

Many times, and it doesn't have to be through relationship alone. You could be heartbroken by some experience you suffered in the hands of some friends. As long as you live, you will be heartbroken one way or the other.

You later had another shot at marriage, were you under any pressure to go into it?

As I said, each time you fail, you keep trying your best.

Perhaps, there is something you did not do right in those two relationships as a wife?

Yeah! Probably!

What are those things?
I can't say anything because I don't know, I know I tried my best but I guess my best was not good enough. But I tell you one man's meat is another man's poison.

What was it you did wrong that you wish you could go back and correct?

No human being is perfect, but I will tell you that I have done my best in my life and in my career. No human being will tell you that he or she has made a mistake in his or her marriage. If I have to say my side of the story, it is the right one I will tell you. And if you meet the other person, he too will tell you the right thing he thinks he has done. So, what I think 'I did right might be wrong and vice versa.

Maybe your in-laws never loved you?

I'm not going to apportion blame this time around. But I will say if I was still married to the father of my children, there wouldn't-have' been that household name called 'Bukky Wright' today. This I know for sure. So, I see it as God, wanting me to go somewhere else and do something else.

So, It will be right to say that you sacrificed your marriage for stardom?

I didn't purposely do that, but it has happened. And there is nothing I can do about it. That is why I keep saying that the will of God will definitely come to pass.

Sometimes, it was reported you adopted the name Wright. So, what is the real name of your biological father?
I am happy that my father was alive at the time the story came out. And he was never bothered. He told my mother that he was not bothered because she never told him she had me for another person. And my father never in his lifetime disowned me as his child.

What message do you have for your fans?

I appreciate "them all and thank them for their steadfastness despite all the bad reports. You are all great.

 Governors' Forum Chairmanship Election, Presidency in a Messy Venture
 
Several governors from two of Nigeria’s geo-political zones have told SaharaReporters how Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State reemerged as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum in a highly dramatic and widely watched election.

Mr. Amaechi’s reelection has rattled President Goodluck Jonathan who, one Presidency source disclosed, called Governors Godswill Akpabio, Peter Obi, Segun Mimiko and Jonah Jang from Ethiopia and charged them to do everything within their power to ensnare the outcome in controversy in order to delegitimize the results.
The four pro-Jonathan governors subsequently released a document claiming that 19 governors voted for Mr. Jang.
The document did not state when the so-called voting was conducted. At a press conference called by Mr. Akpabio and attended by Governor Jang, the latter did not utter a word about his purported victory. Instead, Mr. Jang was glum and had a blank, vacant look.
The news of Governor Amaechi's victory was announced earlier.
A Presidency source told SaharaReporters that, before traveling to Ethiopia, President Jonathan had collected the signatures of 19 governors, including the governor of Yobe, with the aim of wresting the Governors’ Forum post from Mr. Amaechi. But at today's meeting where the election took place, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe was conspicuously absent. One of the governors told SaharaReporters that the Yobe governor decided not to attend the meeting because he detests Mr. Jang's sectarian fanaticism.
Our sources, who detailed the coalition that handed Mr. Amaechi a victory, told Saharareporters that 19 governors voted for the Rivers governor who has been locked in a major political dispute with Mr. Jonathan. The pro-Amaechi governors were those of Imo, Ekiti, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Adamawa, Borno, Osun, Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara   Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara and Sokoto. Mr. Amaechi also voted for himself, securing reelection.
Our sources disclosed that the governors of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Taraba, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Kebbi, Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kaduna and four others voted for Mr. Jang, the president’s candidate.
Our sources painted a portrait of some dramatic developments ahead of today’s voting. SaharaReporters learned that the pro-Jonathan group adopted Governor Jang as their consensus candidate following a decision by a few Northern governors and some members of the PDP’s Governors Forum to pick a flag bearer outside of Governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Isah Yuguda of Bauchi. The Jonathan group believed that Mr. Jang would seem less contentious. They also tipped Governor Mimiko of Ondo as Mr. Jang’s side kick in the hope of swaying some governors from the South-West.
Two governors disclosed that the anti-Amaechi group also suggested using “consensus” rather than an election to determine the leader of the forum. “They hoped the ‘consensus’ method would make it possible for them to swing the votes in their favor,” said one governor, adding that most governors insisted on voting.
One of the governors disclosed that Mr. Jonathan’s camp came to today’s meeting confident that they would prevail, since the president had obtained signatures from several governors in advance. But the president’s gubernatorial opponents said they knew Mr. Jang would be vanquished as the election, which was conducted by the secretariat of the Governors’ Forum, began. The forum’s director-general, Ashishana Okauru, was the presiding officer at the election with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State serving as the returning officer. Pro-Amaechi governors said they were certain of their candidate’s victory since the election was conducted via a secret ballot. “It was free and fair, so we knew that Chibuike [Amaechi] would win,” said one of the governors from the south-west.
After the voting, Governor Uduaghan announced the results, declaring Mr. Amaechi victorious. “All 35 governors present cast their vote and the tally was 19-16 in favor of Governor Amaechi,” one of the governors said. He dismissed Mr. Akpabio’s list of 19 governors for Mr. Jang, laughing that the Akpabio group even included the name of the Yobe governor who was not present at today’s vote.
It remained unclear whether the Presidency would succeed in pressuring Mr. Uduaghan to back away from the results he collated and announced at the governors’ parley.
One of the pro-Amaechi governors told SaharaReporters that Mr. Jang’s candidacy was “technically flawed, but we allowed him to run for the sake of peace.” According to him, observance of the forum’s constitution would mean that the picking of nomination forms ought to have ended by midnight on May 23, 2013. He claimed that Governor Jang only sent in a letter indicating his interest in the race around 3 p.m. on May 24, 2013. “It was a breach of our constitution, but Governor Amaechi and some of us decided not to push for Jang’s disqualification,” said the governor.
Another governor told Saharareporters that he suspects Mr. Jonathan would now be hell bent on destroying or dividing the Governors Forum. “He will see the result of today’s election as a vote of no confidence on his leadership,” said the governor, from one of the Northern states. He added: “All I know is [the] majority of governors don’t want the Presidency to be telling us what to do. We were elected just as Mr. President was elected. Let him lead the nation with good leadership effort and allow do the same in our state.”
The source added that Mr. Jonathan and his political associates would likely interpret the loss by Mr. Jang to Governor Amaechi as an indication that the president may lose the PDP’s primary elections to be the party’s flag bearer. “But it is his good governance that will make the party pick him again, not whether he forces Governor Jang to be our chairman,” said the source.
Several governors who spoke to us today said Governors Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Segun Mimiko of Ondo, Peter Obi of Anambra and Jonah Jang of Plateau of were out to do the president’s bidding at all cost. They accused the governors of seeking to polarize the Governors’ Forum in order to advance President Jonathan’s agenda of neutralizing Governor Amaechi.
“These colleagues are key to President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to turn Nigeria into Ivory Coast if he does not win in 2015,” said one source.