Thursday, August 13, 2009

American doctor Kidnapped in Nigeria sympathizes with his abductors

Dr. Robert Whittaker, a 62 year old missionary doctor serving in Nigeria was held hostage for two days and was later released after an undisclosed amount of ransom money was paid to his abductors.


He is currently recovering from a gun shot wound to his arm at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre. He was shot on August 2nd at his southeastern Nigerian home as he was taken by three or four young men.


Dr. Whittaker said to his knowledge, no one has been arrested.


Here are some statements Dr. Whittaker made in a telephone call to his hospital room:


"I pray from them, they said there were no jobs, and they needed money by any means."


Dr. Whittaker said he was not mistreated, nor was he blindfolded:


"Amazingly, it went quite well. They were talkative. One of them said he went to church."


According to Dr. Whittaker, he was dropped off on a road, and the young men that kidnapped him told his supporters where he could be found.


"These boys had just lost touch," Dr. Whittaker said.


Dr. Whittaker said he will ponder his future as he recovers from the gun shot wound in his upper left arm.


"I'm a lifelong missionary, I have good friends and counselors here. We'll have to sit down and talk.


"My prayer is God would show me when it was time to leave. In a way, this may be a message.


"But I am committed to serve. There will be a lot of chatting in the next few weeks. You don't want to turn your back on the community you work with." Dr. Whittaker said.


Dr. Robert Whittaker worked at the Nigerian Christian Hospital, operated by the Searcy, Arkansas-based International Health Care Foundation.


Dr. Whittaker said the young men that kidnapped him felt apologetic that he was shot.


"They said it was unintentional."


Taiwan News


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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Video report of Hillary Clinton comparing Nigeria's election to America's previous election in 2000


 



In Nigeria today. The United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in the video report above is said to have compared the Nigerian Presidential election to America's  Presidential election in 2000.


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Hillary Clinton arrives Nigeria


United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton arrived Nigeria yesterday as part of her seven nation tour of African countries.


She was received by Nigeria's Ambassador to the US, Professor Tunde Adeniran and Chief of Protocol in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.


Hillary Clinton will tomorrow meet with Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe. She will later in the evening take part in a Town Hall meeting at the Shehu Yar'Adua Centre, and also meet with Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua.


This Day


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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Obafemi Martins gets career back on track at Wolfsburg


Obafemi Martins has signed a four-year deal with VFL Wolfsburg despite prospective options with teams in England such as Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.


Martins decided for a change of country and league in order to help put his past behind him:


"This is a great chance for me to get my career back on track," he said.


"A lot of people said I should have stayed in England but my decision was purely on professional grounds and had nothing to do with financial sentiments.


"I had a wonderful time with the fans, players and management of Newcastle United but once I spoke to Wolfsburg, I saw a fresh start.


"Newcastle United will forever stay in my heart just like [his former club] Inter Milan but I have a whole lot of work to do now for Wolfsburg."


"I gave my all to the club and the fans know that, unfortunately things went awry on and off the pitch," he said.


"I have fond memories of Newcastle but now am settling down nicely to a new language, culture, team-mates and football.


"The Bundesliga is one of the strongest leagues in the world and I'm very happy to be playing for the German champions.


"I have faced challenges in the past but my coming here is to improve the club and compete professionally.


"We can do so much together for the benefit of the club and I feel elated having them as team-mates - the future looks very bright."


Best of luck to Martins at Wolfsburg.


BBC


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