Nigeria president snubs honour

Nigeria’s President Umaru Ya’Adua has rejected a proposal by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to name a street in Abuja the federal capital after him. He said rather preferred a government after him to do so. His vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, also refused a similar proposal.The Federal Capital Territory minister, Aliyu Modibo Umar, said Ya’rdua has again demonstrated leadership by rejecting the offer. However, several other Blacks, and Nigerians, were honored for their contributions in political and economic growth in the continent.Among them included Atiku Abubakar former Nigerian vice president, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, JJ Okocha, Nwanko Kanu, Fela Kuti, Sunny Okosun, Martin Luther king, to name but few.The event was part of celebrations to mark Nigeria’s 48th Independence anniversary.

Kenya: “We are not going back”

Internally displaced people who were worst hit by the recent Kenyan post election violence in Kiambaa have vowed never to go back to their former habitat. Instead they prefer to in the camps provided by the government. The Kenyan government however intends to forcefully close the camps if they do move.The chairman of the Kiambaa IDP’s, Mr Isaack Ngotho Kungu, told africanews that after what they went through, they have decided to look for an alternative place to settle, since going back to Kiambba village will force them to revenge. The government, they alleged has not put down mechanisms that will ensure lasting peace between them (Kiambaa) and members of the Kalenjin community who they claimed attacked them.

The IDP is an organisation whose members are predominantly drawn from Kiambaa a village in Eldoret. This is a village that symbolised the wosrt face of the post election violence in that country. Most of the IDP’s in this organisation are the survivors of the brutal arson attack on the Kenya Assemblies of God church in January. Most of them are being accommodated at the Word of Faith Church, in Limuru town, and Ngecha village, near Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Ngotho said that the Kiambaa IDP’s have identified a 328 acre -piace of land in Nakuru that they plan to purchase with the aim of settling there. He also added that that they are planning a fundraiser aimed at raising money to buy the said land which that could cost them around 98.4 million Kenya shilligs (around $1.4million). He appealed to well- wishers to come forward and assist them realise this dream.

He implored the government to consider IDPs’ plight before closing down the camps. Most of them have no homes to go to, and the Shs10, 000 ($140) compensation fees is not sufficient.

Most of the IDPs who spoke to Africa News expressed unwillingness to go back to Kiambaa village. They said even if the government gives them the Shs10, 000 ($140 ) as compensation, they would rather rent houses in other places than go back.

The government had planned to close down all IDP camps coutrywide, but the plans were shelved after an outcry from the public and IDPs, since not all victims have been fully compensated.

Ethiopia, Norway become friends again

Ethiopia has restored diplomatic ties with Norway, a year after it expelled six Norwegian diplomats accusing Oslo of undermining its national security and spreading instability. The foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to restore relations to their previous status, reuters reported.Ethiopia has restored diplomatic ties with Norway, a year after it expelled six Norwegian diplomats accusing Oslo of undermining its national security and spreading instability. The foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to restore relations to their previous status, reuters reported.”Accordingly, the decision taken by the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia last year in connection with the diplomatic representation of the Kingdom of Norway in Addis Ababa has been rescinded,” a statement from the Ethiopian government said.Ethiopia’s foreign minister last year accused Norway of financing soldiers in neighbouring Eritrea and “terror” groups in Somalia and Sudan, a Norwegian newspaper said.Norwegian media then reported that Oslo’s efforts to help cool tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which fought a 1998-2000 border war that killed 70,000 people, appeared to be the cause of Ethiopia’s expulsion of the diplomats.