Gunmen shoot Jonathan’s official photographer .

President Goodluck Jonathan’s official photographer, Mr. Callistus Ewelike, was on Monday night shot by unknown gunmen in Abuja.

Ewelike, a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeriais attached to the State House, Abuja, and he is currently acting as the President’s official photographer.

The father of two was reportedly shot at a close range in front of his house in Nyanya in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, between 10pm and 11pm.

He was said to be returning to his house after filing the photographs he took during Jonathan’s visit to Shape Community in the FCT, where the President inaugurated the Operation Light Up Rural Nigeria Project when the incident happened.

An eyewitness told ststed that the attack was carried out by two men on a motorcycle.The eyewitness said, “The two men were apparently waiting for him at his residence. While one of them was on the motorbike, the guy who pulled the trigger was standing, waiting for him.“As the victim parked his car and was making his way into his house, the armed man shot him in the neck at a close range. The gunshot attracted some residents of the area, so the two men quickly sped off on the motorbike.”

No personal belonging was stolen from the victim.

Ewelike was rushed by his neighbours to the National Hospital, Abuja, where medical doctors as of Tuesday were attending to him.

A source in the hospital said the x-ray conducted on the photographer showed that the bullet that entered through his neck was lodged at a spot close to his shoulder.
Armed men had also visited Ewelike’s residence few weeks back.

They left with his working tools, including his camera and a laptop and a few other personal effects.

Obasanjo calls for prayers over 2015 elections

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday urged Nigerians to keep fasting and praying ahead of the 2015 elections, saying that only God has power to appoint leaders.

Obasanjo said this when the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Dr. Felix Omobude, paid him a courtesy visit in his Abeokuta, Ogun State, home.
According to him, Nigeria is God’s project and as such the nation will overcome all its challenges no matter how insurmountable they can be.Obasanjo said,
 “If there is anything that I would ask of you, it is that you should never stop fasting and praying for Nigeria. I always say that I’m an incurable optimist about this country.

“In my short span of life, I have seen a few unexpected things in this country when we thought that the end would just happen, but God made us to scale through.“I personally never thought we would have a leader like (late Gen. Sani) Abacha in this country, I was a victim of his despotism but God saw us through that situation.

“There iss no situation we see or worry about that God will not see us through. That is my belief and that is what gives me confidence, it gives me courage, it gives me the ability to work for the country’s unity.

“No matter what is happening, to me and the country, all will be well. And those of you who believe all will be well for Nigeria should continue to shout Hallelujah. God has done it for us.”

The former President, while alluding to his years in the military, expressed optimism that Nigeria would remain united and indivisible.