The United States of America (U.S.) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria to constitute a federal cabinet that would bridge perceived political divisions in the country as regards to the violent protests that travailed Nigeria’s presidential polls in some regions of the Northern States in the country,.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday afternoon in Washington DC, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, said while the Americans could not say what kind of cabinet or government.
President Jonathan would put in place in his new term in office, “I hope that he will act in both a responsible and inclusive manner in the selection of those individuals for his cabinet and that in doing so, he will be reaching out to heal the political divisions that were uncovered during the election process.”
Carson observed that already Vice President Namadi Sambo “is in fact, a former northern governor and that the Nigerian Constitution does call for the President of the country to select from individual states various cabinet members.”
We are the voice of the voiceless...
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Nigerian News: Post Election Religious Crisis
We are the voice of the voiceless...
The Christians in the Northern region of Nigeria were victims of mourning on Saturday, April 30, amid reports that hundreds of people were killed in sectarian violence triggered by opposition protesters against President Goodluck Jonathan’s victory in recent elections.
Over 500 people were killed in Kaduna state, Shehu Sani, executive director of the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress, said in published remarks.
“We keep discovering more details of massacres that have been carried out in the hinterland.” Sani said.
The violence came after Jonathan, a southern Christian, beat northern rival Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election on April 16.
Mainly Muslim supporters of Buhari, a former military ruler in Africa’s top oil producer and candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, attacked churches, homes and police stations, sparking reprisal attacks by Christians.
Opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari said that vote was rigged. Nigerian President Jonathan said he would be forced to impose a state of emergency in two northern states, if they were not able to complete elections this week.
President Jonathan said declaring a state of emergency in Kaduna and Bauchi is an option of last resort, if there is not sufficient security to hold statewide elections there.
Voters in most states chose their governors earlier this week, but polls in Kaduna and Bauchi were delayed because of violence that followed the president's election.
President Jonathan was expected to be sworn-in on May 29.
A major rights group has expressed concern about the future.“We also ask the federal government to ensure that the security forces to take concerted and immediate action to halt the violence," said Andrew Johnston, Advocacy Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
The Christians in the Northern region of Nigeria were victims of mourning on Saturday, April 30, amid reports that hundreds of people were killed in sectarian violence triggered by opposition protesters against President Goodluck Jonathan’s victory in recent elections.
Over 500 people were killed in Kaduna state, Shehu Sani, executive director of the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress, said in published remarks.
“We keep discovering more details of massacres that have been carried out in the hinterland.” Sani said.
The violence came after Jonathan, a southern Christian, beat northern rival Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election on April 16.
Mainly Muslim supporters of Buhari, a former military ruler in Africa’s top oil producer and candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, attacked churches, homes and police stations, sparking reprisal attacks by Christians.
Opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari said that vote was rigged. Nigerian President Jonathan said he would be forced to impose a state of emergency in two northern states, if they were not able to complete elections this week.
President Jonathan said declaring a state of emergency in Kaduna and Bauchi is an option of last resort, if there is not sufficient security to hold statewide elections there.
Voters in most states chose their governors earlier this week, but polls in Kaduna and Bauchi were delayed because of violence that followed the president's election.
President Jonathan was expected to be sworn-in on May 29.
A major rights group has expressed concern about the future.“We also ask the federal government to ensure that the security forces to take concerted and immediate action to halt the violence," said Andrew Johnston, Advocacy Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
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