Halima Abubakar, J Martins, Sunny Nneji and Others Named UN Peace Ambassadors

Universal Peace Federation and Youth Federation for World Peace on Sunday, January 20th, 2013 honored 20 Nigerians with Ambassador for Peace awards.

The award was designed to honour and award Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and have given back in their own little way to the development of the society.

Recipients included Actress Halima Abubakar, Music stars Sunny Nneji, JMartins, NET publisher Ayeni Adekunle, City People publisher Seye Kehinde, Complete Football publisher Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase. Others are Stanley Okoronkwo, Linda Raphael, Annie Inyang, Benita Nzeribe, Mary Uranta, Zaaki Azzay and Imelda Osuji.

Congrats to them.

Five Nigerians Killed After Leaving the Arondizuogu Convention in New York

Five people were killed, including two children in Queens, New York early Sunday when their speeding SUV, swerving after blowing through two red lights, slammed into a concrete pillar, rolled over and burst into flames, police and witnesses said.

The victims had just left a party at the Golden Terrace banquet hall on Atlantic Ave. in Richmond Hill celebrating the conclusion of the two-day annual convention of immigrants from the Nigerian town of Arondizuogu.

The 45-year-old driver, whose name was not released but hails from the Bronx, was barreling east on Atlantic Ave. when she slammed into one of the pillars that support the AirTrain to Kennedy Airport.

Firefighters went to work extricating three victims with the Jaws of Life while simultaneously putting out the engine fire. They pulled two boys, ages 7 and 9, from the rear window of the burning SUV, but a 9-year-old boy died at the scene. An 8-year-old girl who was thrown from the vehicle was found dead on the ground about 10 feet from the SUV.

In Case you missed it, Read President Jonathan’s Democracy Day Speech

SPEECH HIGHLIGHT: “After very careful consideration, and in honour of Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s accomplishments and heroism, on this Democracy Day, the University of Lagos, is renamed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Moshood Abiola University, Lagos. The Federal Government will also establish an Institute of Democratic Studies and Governance in the University.”

The full text of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Democracy Day National Address reads below:

Fellow Nigerians,

1. One year ago, I was privileged to stand before you, to take the oath of office as President of our dear country, the third to serve you as President since the return to democratic rule in 1999. Today, I remember that day and the processes leading to it with profound gratitude to God Almighty and to all Nigerians who have worked very hard to enrich our journey from military dictatorship to inclusive democratic governance.

2. For the past 13 years, we have remained a stable democracy. We have together demonstrated that the government of the people is an ideal that the people of Nigeria cherish. We have our differences as individuals and as politicians, but we have shown great faith in democracy and its institutions. We have refused to be limited by our differences. Despite reservations about some of our institutions, we have refused to submit to despair. This achievement is a testament to the courage and optimism of the Nigerian people.

3. As we celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, I pay tribute to all the men and women who have made our democratic experience meaningful: the ordinary people who resisted military rule, and have remained resolute in their embrace of democracy; the army of Nigerian voters who, at every election season, troop out in large numbers to exercise their right of franchise; the change agents in civil society who have remained ever watchful and vigilant.

4. I pay special tribute also to all patriots who are the pillars of our collective journey, most especially, our armed forces who have steadfastly subordinated themselves to civil authority in the past 13 years. They have continued to demonstrate a great sense of professionalism. They have discharged their duties to the nation with honour and valour.  In a sub-region that has witnessed instances of political instability, authored by restless soldiers, the Nigerian Armed Forces have remained professional in their support of democracy.