Jonathan mourns Emir of Gusau

2015-03-06 14:32
Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday commiserated with the government and people of Zamfara State on the death of the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Dan Baba, Thisday reports.

Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, noted that the late Emir was one of the longest serving traditional rulers in Nigeria, having been appointed District Head of Gusau in 1984 before being upgraded to Second Class Emir in 1997 and First Class Emir three years later.

The President said he believed that the late Emir, who honoured him with the traditional title of Garkuwan Manoman Zamfara during his visit to Gusau on January 19 this year, would be missed by the people of Gusau whom he ruled with great wisdom and understanding for more than 30 years.

Read more at Thisday

- News 24

Syrian army kills top al Qaeda leader - state media

2015-03-06 16:20
Beirut  - The Syrian army carried out an operation that killed the military commander of the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front on Thursday in northwestern Syria, Syrian state media reported.

Abu Humam al-Shami was killed by an explosion during a meeting of Nusra Front leaders in Idlib province. Insurgent sources said at least three other Nusra Front commanders were killed in the blast.

The Syrian state news agency SANA, quoting its correspondent, said Abu Humam and a number of other Nusra leaders had been killed in an army operation targeting the meeting held in the village of Hobait in a rural area of Idlib.

It also cited a military source saying the army had carried out "concentrated strikes" against Nusra and other Islamist groups in the Abu al-Dhuhur area, which is to the northeast of Hobait.

Insurgent sources had initially said the U.S.-led alliance had killed Abu Humam in an air strike. But a coalition spokesman said it had not conducted air strikes in the province during the past 24 hours.
The Nusra Front has expanded its hold over Idlib province in recent months, seizing territory from mainstream Syrian rebel groups that have received Western backing.

Leaders of the Nusra Front are considering cutting their links with al Qaeda to form a new entity backed by some Gulf states trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, sources have said.

- Reuters

John Okafor is a Good Samaritan

2015-03-06 16:19
Lagos - Comic actor John Okafor has promised and encouraged fellow actors to cater for the kids of late Muna Obiekwe.

He made this known  during the burial ceremony of the late talented actor.

Late Muna passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2015, after battling with Kidney failure for few months.
 The 35-year-old much loved and talented actor was buried on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, after a candle light procession was held in his honour on Saturday February 1, 2015.

Boko Haram: Chief of Air Staff lauds public on intelligence reports

2015-03-06 16:19
Abuja - The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu, on Thursday said the intelligence reports by the public so far had boosted military prowess to effectively engage the Boko Haram insurgents.
Amosu said this at a news conference in Abuja.

He said the reports had assisted the military and other stakeholders tremendously at ensuring return of normalcy to the areas ravaged by insurgents.

He said the cooperation received from Nigerians had contributed immensely to the current victory recorded against Boko Haram.

"So far, we are happy and satisfied with what is going on and the cooperation from our citizens.
"We are getting valuable intelligence from our civilian population and we want them to keep it up because this is our country, we have no other country to go to.

"These are people that come from other countries with attempts to destabilise our country’’, he said.
Amosu also expressed delight on steps taken by the government to fight the menace headlong.
"We thank President Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidents of other countries assisting us to tackle the terrorists.

``I want to use this opportunity to fully acknowledge the support of Mr President. He has given more effort to the security than even politics.

"We are lucky again to have neighbours that have agreed to work with us’’, Amosu said

- NAN

PDP’s rejection of card reader, plot to rig –APC

Lagos - The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to rig the general elections with its opposition to the use of card readers for the polls, reports Premium Times.

The party said the PDP’s opposition to the use of the machines has vindicated its claim that the PDP was desperate to rig the elections or prevent them from holding.

Lai Mohammed, APC’ National Publicity Secretary, a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, described as very curious the fact that PDP that rushed to the press to deny APC’s claims quickly turned around to confirm them.

He said the party would resist any move to dump the use of card readers for the elections.
He added that contrary to the PDP’s claims, Nigerians are ready for free, fair and credible elections to be made possible by the use of the card readers.

Read more at Premium Times.
Read more on 2015 elections

Joshua loses suit to stop Synagogue’s collapse probe

2015-03-06 16:19
Lagos - A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, on Friday, dismissed an application by Prophet Temitope Joshua, seeking to stop the coroner inquest into the collapse of a building in his church in Ikotun, Lagos, Synagogue Church for All Nations, in September, last year.

A coroner on Tuesday said he would within two weeks give his verdict into the causes of last year's deadly building collapse at the compound of pastor TB Joshua.

Coroner Oyetade Komolafe has been probing the 12 September accident that killed 116 people, mostly South Africans, but the inquiry was stalled by a three-week judicial staff strike.

- NAN

Use religion to campaign, pay N1m fine: INEC

Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission in Bauchi State has issued a stern warning to any political party using religion as part of their campaign, Vanguard reports.

The statement, made during an interactive session with stakeholders in local government, has warned parties that they will be issued with a N1 million or face a 12 month prison sentence should they use religion as a tactic during campaign season.

The warning comes hot on the heels of allegations made against politicians who allegedly threatened PDP supporters in Darazo Local Government, based on their choice of presidential candidate.

According to Emmanuel Umenger, INEC Administrative Secretary in the State, electioneering campaigns based on religious sentiments provided grounds for political parties to be prosecuted.

In addition, INEC Commissioner Hamman Tukur Sa'ad condemned the threatening of electorates, saying any such activity should be reported to authorities immediately.

He warned against violent political tactics and urged local government to stay out of the way of electoral process.

Read more at Vanguard