Rome subway trains bump into each other, several injured

14:14 05/06/2015
Rome - A subway train bumped into another one ahead of it at a station in southern Rome on Friday, throwing passengers to the floor and injuring a dozen people.

Passengers emerging from the station reported feeling the impact, seeing sparks and ending up on the floor in the dark. They scrambled out thanks to lights on cell phones.

Rome transport chief Guido Improta said 12 people were injured, two seriously with broken bones. He said the trains were going in the same direction, at no more than 3km/h, and that the rear train "apparently didn't take into account the signs and speed indications that needed to be respected".

"Thank goodness nothing much happened," he added.
Rome has two main subway lines; the incident occurred on Friday on the "B'' line at the Palasport station in EUR, a modern and largely residential neighbourhood.

- AP

Ex- minister may become APGA Chairman

Awka - Former Minister of Internal Affairs, Emmanuel Iheanacho is being tipped as the new Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), reports Hallmark
The follows the decision of Victor Umeh, the current Chairman, to step-down from the position.
Members of the party from across the states are expected to converge for the party’s convention on Saturday in Awka, Anambra State, to elect new national officers of the party.

Iheanacho was the party’s governorship candidate in the April 11 gubernatorial election in Imo State.
Aside Iheanacho, other party members that have indicated interest to succeed Umeh are the party’s National Secretary, Umaru Shinakafi,  Alphonsus Igbeke and Austine Ndigwe.
Read more at Hallmark

Lawyers ask court to disqualify Gbajabiamila from Speakership race

Abuja - A group of lawyers have dragged one of the leading candidates for the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila before an Abuja Federal High court seeking his disqualification to hold any public office in Nigeria, reports Leadership.
The lawyers are seeking for an order of the court declaring Gbajabiamila not fit and proper person to be elected member of the House of Representatives.

In an originating summon filed before the court on Thursday, the lawyers want the court to restrain Gbajabiamila from parading himself as a member of the House of Representatives and also an aspirant to the office of the Speaker.

In an affidavit in support of the originating summons, the lawyers said they have recently discovered that Gbajabiamila was convicted in the United States of America in the state of Goergia for unethical practices.

Mark rules out PDP from Senate Presidency

Abuja - Former Senate President, David Mark has ruled out himself and other senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of the Senate Presidency race, reports Daily Post.

Mark, who was speaking at the valedictory session to mark the end of the 7th Senate on Thursday , said the PDP will not contest the Senate Presidency with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He stated the contest for presiding officers in the 8th Senate was for senators-elect under the umbrella of the APC only, which the party that formed the majority.

Mark, who was responding to a request for support put forward by Senator George Akume, who is tipped for the position of Deputy Senate President to one of the contestants, Senator Ahmed Lawan, noted that leadership of the 8th Senate is a matter for members of the APC.

Saraki insists on senators picking Senate President

Lagos - One of the leading contestants for the Senate Presidency, Bukola Saraki has insisted that only senators can determine who becomes the next Senate President, reports New Telegraph.
Saraki, who was the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment in the 7th Assembly ,faulted the report that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership has edged him out of the Senate Presidency race by tactically zoning the position to North-East,

He noted that the report if true was contrary to the party’s National Chairman earlier position that the party would not zone the position to any region.
He stated that if capacity and merit are used as yardsticks in the selection of the Senate leadership, he is sure of  emerging the next Senate President.

Buhari inaugurates 8th Assembly on Tuesday

Abuja - President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to inaugurate the 8th National Assembly on Tuesday, June 9,reports The News.

Buhari has already written the Clerk of the National Assembly, Salihu Maikasuwa of his plans.

The President directed Maikasuwa to convene the new session on the said date.
Principal officers of the National Assembly are expected to elected after the inauguration.

Read more at The News.
Read more on: 2015 elections

Christian pilgrims return home from Jerusalem

105/06/2015
Lagos - The 20 Nigerian pilgrims whose religious voyage to Jerusalem a local mobile network operator recently sponsored have returned to the country.

The pilgrims, arrived through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, from the Holy Land where they visited Mount of Olives, River Jordan, Nazareth, St. Peter’s Church, Mount Tabor, Mount Nebo, Jericho Mount of Calvary, the Tomb of Jesus, the Wailing Wall, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Sea of Galilee among other places..

Welcoming the pilgrims back, the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Bayo Adekanmbi, while welcoming the sponsored customers back home, explained that the strategic focus for this initiative is to show support to MTN Christian subscribers.

“We are committed to the total wellbeing of our customers as we drive to make their lives brighter through our propositions, products and value-added services. This is one of such initiatives aimed at uplifting and encouraging our subscribers to get closer to God,” said Adekanmbi.

He said the company would continue to go the extra mile in providing exciting innovative initiatives geared at enhancing its customers’ whole new digital experience, while encouraging them to be better in their various fields of human endeavour.

“Through our bold new digital Value Added Services like the daily devotionals, Bible quotes, sermons, songs, prayers, hymns, callertunez, and other spiritually uplifting and faith enriching contents, we keep them connected to their maker on a daily basis.”

- CAJ News