Obasanjo donates [PATIENCE] to Pandrillus Zoo (See here)

Pandrillus, a conservation organisation based in Nigeria and Cameroun disclosed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo donated a chimpazee named ‘Patience’ to them.

The organization, with a location in Calabar, Cross Rivers Stae, are dedicated to promoting the survial of the highly endangered Drill (Mandrillus leucopheus) and providing safe haven for orphaned chimpazees.

They shared this photo on their official Facebook page today, writing:

“Seen here at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta – from left: Peter, Liza with Patience, and Mr. President. As President of Nigeria, he visited Drill Ranch in 2001, and made a follow up visit in 2011.

President Obasanjo recognises the special care needs of chimpanzees and therefore decided to place 3 year old Patience with Pandrillus so she can grow up in the forest as part of the large chimpanzee group at Drill Ranch Afi Mountain.

Thank you, Mr. President!

Patience is a fantastic chimpanzee who has been well cared for by the staff of the OOPL Wildlife Park. Once she has completed her medical screening in Calabar, she will join the group at the newly completed Nigerian Chimpanzee Center – located at Drill Ranch Afi Mountain in Boki LGA of Cross River State.

Pandrillus thanks Mr. President and his staff for their logistical support and hospitality during Peter and Liza’s working visit.

We also thank Air Peace for carrying all three back to Calabar.

Welcome, Patience!”

Ivory Coast ex-First Lady faces trial

The trial has begun in Ivory Coast of the ex-first lady, Simone Gbagbo, 65, for her alleged role in post-election violence five years ago, the BBC reports The wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo has been charged along with 82 supporters of her husband. Mr Gbagbo is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity. Some 3,000 people died in violence after the ex-president refused to accept defeat in a run-off vote. Mrs Gbagbo, who had been held under house arrest for three years, has been charged with "attempting to undermine the security of the state".
Former prime minister Gilbert Ake N'Gbo and Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party head Affi N'Guessan are also being tried along with the former first lady. Her husband, ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, is facing four charges at the ICC in The Hague, including murder, rape and persecution. Mr Gbagbo, 69, who insists he is innocent, is the first former head of state to have appeared at the ICC. Mrs Gbagbo has also been accused by the ICC but Ivory Coast has refused repeated requests to hand her over, saying that she should be tried in a domestic court.
She was arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker in which she and her husband had taken refuge, following a military assault on their residence in the main city, Abidjan. Violence broke out in Ivory Coast in 2010 when Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who was declared the winner of a presidential poll. The West African leader was ousted in 2011 with the help of French and UN forces backing President Ouattara.
Proceedings at Mrs Gbagbo's trial on Friday were expected to be limited to jury selection, with hearings beginning properly next month.