By: Okoro Chinedu
2015-03-31 10:01
Lagos - Hostages that local troops have rescued from the clutches of the Boko Haram sect are receiving medical assistance.
On
Monday evening, troops reported they had rescued a number of women, the
elderly and children who were locked up by fleeing terrorists in Gwoza,
Borno State.
“The freed hostages some of whom are so weak are
being given medical attention while others are also receiving necessary
care pending the arrival and activities of aid agencies. Some of them
are also providing useful information for the intelligence in aid of
troops operations in the area,” Chris Olukalade, Director Defence
Information, said.
Meanwhile, Olukalade said, in another
development, a building which had been converted to a bomb making
factory have been unearthed by troops in the course of ongoing mopping
up operations in Gwoza.
The
facility which is being used for the manufacture of various calibres of
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) is still being carefully evacuated
of dangerous materials.
“Massive destruction of infrastructure and
property including blowing up bridges and burnt houses including Emir’s
Palace had also been noticeable.,” Olukalade said.
He said troops were carefully removing land mines placed in various parts of the town,” said Olukalade.
He
said in Bama, also in Borno State, troops on routine patrol in the
suburbs of the town this morning recovered a large number of rifles and
various arms believed to have been abandoned by terrorists who fled the
area when troops were advancing to flush them of the town recently.
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
PDP accuses Jega of bias
The representative of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Collation Centre, Godday Orubebe almost disrupted proceedings.
He delayed the announcement of more results for several minutes.
He accused the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attaihiru Jega of bias in favour of the All Progressives Congress APC
He stated that while Jega set up a committee to investigate the protest letter of APC on Rivers election, he rejected the letter of PDP on Kano, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna.
Brandishing a copy of the final result, Orubebe also accused Jega of working for the APC.
He stated that the results tallied with the ones currently being read at the collation centre.
The insisted that Jega will not continue with the collation until he looks at the party’s grievances.
He was, however, prevailed upon to allow the exercise to continue.
Responding to the allegations, Jega denied knowledge of any result.
He also said he has not seen any petition from the PDP concerning the conduct of elections in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Nyako’s son wins Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone
Yola - The son of the impeached Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, Abdul- Azeez Nyako has been declared the winner of the Adamawa Central Senatorial district, reports Thisday.
Nyako, who contested under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated A'ishatu Dahiru of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and Dr. Idi Hong of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).
Nyako scored a total votes of 126 406, Dahiru got 91 578 votes while Hong of the Peoples Democratic Party got 48 506 votes.
Read more at Thisday.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Buhari wins narrowly in Lagos
Abuja - Opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari has scored a
narrow victory over President Goodluck Jonathan in Lagos, officials
results from the country's general election showed Tuesday.
The vote in Lagos was characterised by low turnout.
Only 1.7 million of 5.8 million registered voters cast ballots in the presidential and legislative polls held at the weekend.
Technical glitches, including failures in voter card identification devices being used for the first time in Nigeria, caused major delays nationwide, including in Lagos, a city of roughly 20 million people.
Frustrations over delays were thought to have kept turnout down in a number of states.
In Lagos, Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress took 792 460 votes, while Jonathan from the Peoples Democratic Party won 632 327.
The Lagos government has been controlled by the opposition since the end of military rule in 1999, but the PDP had earned victories there in past presidential elections.
Lagos was identified as a key swing state, where both Buhari and Jonathan had campaigned hard in the run up to election day.
It was not immediately clear how the low turnout would affect the national result, but news of the win in Lagos was cheered by APC loyalists at the party's headquarters in Nigeria's capital.
Lagos is Nigeria's most religiously and ethnically mixed area, and voters have a history of transcending the sectarian biases that frame voting in other parts of the country.
Buhari, a northern Muslim, has scored huge majorities in the north, while Jonathan, a southern Christian, is awaiting results from his strongholds.
The vote in Lagos was characterised by low turnout.
Only 1.7 million of 5.8 million registered voters cast ballots in the presidential and legislative polls held at the weekend.
Technical glitches, including failures in voter card identification devices being used for the first time in Nigeria, caused major delays nationwide, including in Lagos, a city of roughly 20 million people.
Frustrations over delays were thought to have kept turnout down in a number of states.
In Lagos, Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress took 792 460 votes, while Jonathan from the Peoples Democratic Party won 632 327.
The Lagos government has been controlled by the opposition since the end of military rule in 1999, but the PDP had earned victories there in past presidential elections.
Lagos was identified as a key swing state, where both Buhari and Jonathan had campaigned hard in the run up to election day.
It was not immediately clear how the low turnout would affect the national result, but news of the win in Lagos was cheered by APC loyalists at the party's headquarters in Nigeria's capital.
Lagos is Nigeria's most religiously and ethnically mixed area, and voters have a history of transcending the sectarian biases that frame voting in other parts of the country.
Buhari, a northern Muslim, has scored huge majorities in the north, while Jonathan, a southern Christian, is awaiting results from his strongholds.
1st non-indigene wins House of Reps seat in Lagos
Lagos - Oghne Egoh, the first non-indigene to win a federal
constituency seat in Lagos, on Tuesday expressed the desire to attract
infrastructure development to the state.
Egoh, who was announced member of the House of Representative elect, Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State, on Monday, made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Egoh polled a total of 29 761 votes to defeat the incumbent, Ganiyu Olukolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 20 616 votes.
"In this particular constituency the biggest problem we have is the decay of our infrastructure, there is no water, sewage system is bad, and there are no playing grounds," he claimed.
Egoh promised to lobby ministers in charge of the ministries responsible for such facilities for an improved infrastructure in his constituency.
He expressed the hope that his party would win the governorship election in the state, saying its wining would further bring more development to his constituency.
Egoh expressed happiness that the PDP's governorship candidate in the state took part in his campaign and understood the challenges in his constituency.
According to him, their combination as governor and Member House of Representative would greatly satisfy the desire of his people.
Egoh, who was announced member of the House of Representative elect, Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State, on Monday, made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Egoh polled a total of 29 761 votes to defeat the incumbent, Ganiyu Olukolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 20 616 votes.
"In this particular constituency the biggest problem we have is the decay of our infrastructure, there is no water, sewage system is bad, and there are no playing grounds," he claimed.
Egoh promised to lobby ministers in charge of the ministries responsible for such facilities for an improved infrastructure in his constituency.
He expressed the hope that his party would win the governorship election in the state, saying its wining would further bring more development to his constituency.
Egoh expressed happiness that the PDP's governorship candidate in the state took part in his campaign and understood the challenges in his constituency.
According to him, their combination as governor and Member House of Representative would greatly satisfy the desire of his people.
- NAN
INEC throws out APC petition, upholds Rivers elections
The commission said there was no sufficient reason to cancel the results has been canvassed by the APC.
Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the commission, who disclosed on Tuesday during the continuation of the collation of results of the presidential election, said the commission found out that the allegations were not strong enough to annul the results or order a re-run.
He stated that the resolution of the commission is that it would accept the results coming from Rivers State but will keep intact all documentary evidences.
President Goodluck Jonathan won the state with over 1.4m votes.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Friday, 27 March 2015
Troops finally reclaim Gwoza
By: Augustine Osayande
2015-03-27 13:53
Abuja - The Nigeria military has confirmed the capturing Gwoza town, the last terrorist base in Borno State.
According to Defense Headquarters in Abuja, several terrorists were killed and many others were capture in the operation.
It added that mopping up of the area and the entire surrounding is ongoing.
“Troops this morning captured Gwoza destroying the Headquarters of the Terrorists self styled Caliphate," read a statement.
" Several terrorists died while many are captured. Mopping up of entire Gwoza and her suburbs is ongoing” the Defense Headquarters said.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday had assured that Gwoza the last town under control Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State would be liberated by Friday to pave way successful conduct of general elections in all states of the federation. - CAJ News
Abuja - The Nigeria military has confirmed the capturing Gwoza town, the last terrorist base in Borno State.
According to Defense Headquarters in Abuja, several terrorists were killed and many others were capture in the operation.
It added that mopping up of the area and the entire surrounding is ongoing.
“Troops this morning captured Gwoza destroying the Headquarters of the Terrorists self styled Caliphate," read a statement.
" Several terrorists died while many are captured. Mopping up of entire Gwoza and her suburbs is ongoing” the Defense Headquarters said.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday had assured that Gwoza the last town under control Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State would be liberated by Friday to pave way successful conduct of general elections in all states of the federation. - CAJ News
British Prime Minister writes Jonathan ahead of elections
Cameroon in the letter addressed to President Jonathan highlighted the importance of the elections for the African continent and Nigeria as a nation.
He warned that failure to ensure a violence-free election would dent Nigeria’s international reputation.
He praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, over the efforts made towards making the elections free and fair.
Read more at New Telegraph.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Thugs open fire on Gov Amaechi’s convoy
Port Harcourt - Gunmen suspected to be political thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday fired several shots at the convoy of Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, reports Premium Times.
The thugs shot at the governor in Rumuolumeni, Obio Akpor, area of Port Harcourt.
Two people were reportedly injured in the attack, which happened around 6p.m.
Obio Akpor is the home of the PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike.
The governor was in the town to campaign for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Read more at Premium Times.
Read more on: 2015 elections
APC thugs set PDP secretariat on fire in Kano
The thugs also burnt four vehicles belonging to the party.
It took the intervention of men of the state fire service in the area befere the fire was stopped from spreading to other buildings close to the secretariat.
Musa Danbirni, the PDP’s Public Relations Officer in Kano, said the action of the thugs was due the growing influence of the party in the state.
Read more at Thisday.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Buhari’s eligibility suit adjourned to April 22
This is because a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned all the suits challenging the eligibility of Buhari to contest the election until after the poll.
The court has adjourned the suits till April 22 and 23, 2015.
The new date was arrived at after the presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola dismissed applications by two intended parties to join the suit as defendants.
The adjournment according to Justice Ademola would affect all the pending suits against Buhari in his court.
Read more at Punch.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Man jailed 10 years for defiling 2-year-old girl
By: Emmanuel Nwoye
2015-03-25 12:07
Jos - The Federal High Court in Jos on Tuesday sentenced Apisu Abdullahi (20) to 10 years imprisonment for defiling a two-year-old girl.
Abdullahi was arrested for the crime on Feb. 23 at Angwan Pama in the Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau.
He pleaded guilty to the charge brought against him by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
Presiding Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa convicted the accused as charged and sentenced him to10 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
Jos - The Federal High Court in Jos on Tuesday sentenced Apisu Abdullahi (20) to 10 years imprisonment for defiling a two-year-old girl.
Abdullahi was arrested for the crime on Feb. 23 at Angwan Pama in the Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau.
He pleaded guilty to the charge brought against him by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
Presiding Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa convicted the accused as charged and sentenced him to10 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
New poll puts Jonathan 7.01% ahead of Buhari
Jonathan according to the survey is leading Buhari with a slight margin of 7.01%.
The results were based on a five-item questionnaire administered on a total of 10 294 registered voters picked from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ayo Alao, coordinator of the group, said a total of five thousand, five hundred and eight (5 508) respondents indicated their intention to vote for President Jonathan compared with a total of four thousand, seven hundred and eighty six (4 786) respondents who favored Buhari.
Read more at Leadership
Read more on: 2015 elections
Obasanjo warns against handover to military
Obasanjo, who spoke in Abeokuta on Tuesday when the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate,Aisha Buhari, led the women wing of the party in the South-West to pay him a visit, said doing so would undermine the integrity of the country.
The former President said he was happy Nigeria has gone beyond the rumour of Interim National Government.
He noted that any form of government brought about other than a democratically elected government would not be acceptable.
He stated that the international community especially the African Union will not accommodate or recognise any government that emerges outside the Nigeria’s constitution.
Read more at Punch.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Cast your vote and leave, IG urges voters
Abuja - The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has
advised voters to leave the polling units after casting their votes in
the upcoming general elections.
Abba gave the advice at a National Stakeholders Summit on the elections organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said it was important for voters to cast their vote and go home in order not to commit any electoral offence.
"This advice that I am giving is resulting from what I observed in the provisions of section 129 of the Electoral Act.
"Nine different types of offences are listed there in and if you stay back, there is likelihood of you committing one of those offences," he said.
The offences, according to him, include canvassing or soliciting for vote, persuading a voter not to vote for a particular candidate or not to vote.
He said that other electoral offences were possession of any weapon, use vehicle or things bearing a colour or symbol of a political party.
The IGP pledged that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would provide security for all polling units and 9,000 collation centres across the country.
"In order to also make INEC officials and their materials secure, we have identified almost 900 INEC offices nationwide, mindful of the fact that security of the materials is important," he said.
He added that security agencies were also working to ensure that streets and homes were protected during the elections.
On the deployment of soldiers for the elections, the police boss noted that the military would be deployed to play supportive role as stated in the Constitution.
Abba advised INEC to guard against late commencement of elections and rigging so as to ease security agencies’ effort at maintaining peace on elections days.
"Where election rigging occurs, it may be a threat to conduct of peaceful elections," he said.
He warned politicians against recruitment of thugs and advised them to exercise high sense of reasoning in instructing their followers.
"Whatever is the outcome of the elections should be accepted by you; if rejected, follow the legal procedure," he advised.
He said that in carrying out their duties, security personnel would be mindful of and respect human rights.
On his part, the Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, said that the commission had taken measures to improve transparency and credibility of the process of collation of results.
"Hard copies of result sheets from polling units would be scanned, converted to PDF format and put in a database, which would be made available for viewing and download via the INEC website.
"Every voter or stakeholder will be able to confirm the accuracy of results from the polling units, which have been conveyed to the collation centres," Jega explained.
He added that not less than 82 per cent of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been distributed nationwide.
Abba gave the advice at a National Stakeholders Summit on the elections organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said it was important for voters to cast their vote and go home in order not to commit any electoral offence.
"This advice that I am giving is resulting from what I observed in the provisions of section 129 of the Electoral Act.
"Nine different types of offences are listed there in and if you stay back, there is likelihood of you committing one of those offences," he said.
The offences, according to him, include canvassing or soliciting for vote, persuading a voter not to vote for a particular candidate or not to vote.
He said that other electoral offences were possession of any weapon, use vehicle or things bearing a colour or symbol of a political party.
The IGP pledged that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would provide security for all polling units and 9,000 collation centres across the country.
"In order to also make INEC officials and their materials secure, we have identified almost 900 INEC offices nationwide, mindful of the fact that security of the materials is important," he said.
He added that security agencies were also working to ensure that streets and homes were protected during the elections.
On the deployment of soldiers for the elections, the police boss noted that the military would be deployed to play supportive role as stated in the Constitution.
Abba advised INEC to guard against late commencement of elections and rigging so as to ease security agencies’ effort at maintaining peace on elections days.
"Where election rigging occurs, it may be a threat to conduct of peaceful elections," he said.
He warned politicians against recruitment of thugs and advised them to exercise high sense of reasoning in instructing their followers.
"Whatever is the outcome of the elections should be accepted by you; if rejected, follow the legal procedure," he advised.
He said that in carrying out their duties, security personnel would be mindful of and respect human rights.
On his part, the Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, said that the commission had taken measures to improve transparency and credibility of the process of collation of results.
"Hard copies of result sheets from polling units would be scanned, converted to PDF format and put in a database, which would be made available for viewing and download via the INEC website.
"Every voter or stakeholder will be able to confirm the accuracy of results from the polling units, which have been conveyed to the collation centres," Jega explained.
He added that not less than 82 per cent of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been distributed nationwide.
- NAN
Ebola patient dated survivor
2015-03-25 10:17
Monrovia - A Liberian official says a woman who tested positive for Ebola last week is dating a survivor of the disease, offering a possible explanation for how she became the first confirmed case in Liberia after a total absence of cases for more than two weeks.
Survivors of Ebola are not generally considered contagious, but the virus lingers in semen. Scientists urge survivors not to have sex for three months after treatment. Sexual transmission of Ebola has not yet been documented, but it may be possible.
Dr Francis Kateh, acting head of Liberia's Ebola Case Management Team, said on Tuesday that samples have been taken from the boyfriend for testing.
Before this new case was confirmed last week, Liberia had been counting down to being declared Ebola-free after weeks without an infection.
Monrovia - A Liberian official says a woman who tested positive for Ebola last week is dating a survivor of the disease, offering a possible explanation for how she became the first confirmed case in Liberia after a total absence of cases for more than two weeks.
Survivors of Ebola are not generally considered contagious, but the virus lingers in semen. Scientists urge survivors not to have sex for three months after treatment. Sexual transmission of Ebola has not yet been documented, but it may be possible.
Dr Francis Kateh, acting head of Liberia's Ebola Case Management Team, said on Tuesday that samples have been taken from the boyfriend for testing.
Before this new case was confirmed last week, Liberia had been counting down to being declared Ebola-free after weeks without an infection.
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
FG to set up 6 referral hospitals in the country – Jonathan
By: Filibus Yatai
2015-03-24 09:01
Bauchi - President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said that the Federal Government would set up a referral hospital in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.
Jonathan, who stated this while inaugurating a 400-bed capacity Specialists’ Hospital in Bauchi, said the effort was to discourage medical tourism abroad.
"As a Federal Government, we have plans to set up referral hospital in each of the six geo-political zones in the country.
"When established, Nigerians will go to these zones for medical attention, instead of going outside the country," he said.
He added that the federal government would also set up a technical team to come up with strategies on how to properly manage hospitals in the country.
"I have gone to quite a number of states and the state governments have built very good hospitals with modern equipment.
"But equipment without proper management cannot help," he said.
He said his administration would discuss with professional practitioners on how Nigeria would manage its health system to meet global standards.
He commended Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi for his initiative in establishing a standard hospital and promised to work with the state to move the health sector forward.
According to him, the specialist hospital is well equipped to provide world class medical care to patients.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthen the health sector in the country for quality healthcare delivery and to also curb incessant strike in the nation’s hospitals.
"As a government, we will do our best to come out with programmes and policies that will make doctors earn commensurate wages so that they will be stable and do the work they are paid to do," the president said.
Earlier, Yuguda had explained that the construction of the hospital was awarded in 2012 at the cost of N2.5 billion, following the transfer of the former Bauchi Specialists’ Hospital to the Fedral Government and upgraded to a Teaching Hospital.
He said that the hospital represented a critical investment in the lives of the people, adding that it was initiated to discourage people traveling abroad medical attention.
"Our goal is to assemble multidisciplinary team in the state, with the hope that all the medical resources in this hospital would be accessible to those who cannot afford them," Yuguda said.
He said that his administration had so far constructed and fully equipped 13 hospitals, bringing the total number of general hospitals in the state to 25.
He added that the number of primary health care facilities had also been increased from 881 in 2007, to 1,200 currently.
Bauchi - President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said that the Federal Government would set up a referral hospital in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.
Jonathan, who stated this while inaugurating a 400-bed capacity Specialists’ Hospital in Bauchi, said the effort was to discourage medical tourism abroad.
"As a Federal Government, we have plans to set up referral hospital in each of the six geo-political zones in the country.
"When established, Nigerians will go to these zones for medical attention, instead of going outside the country," he said.
He added that the federal government would also set up a technical team to come up with strategies on how to properly manage hospitals in the country.
"I have gone to quite a number of states and the state governments have built very good hospitals with modern equipment.
"But equipment without proper management cannot help," he said.
He said his administration would discuss with professional practitioners on how Nigeria would manage its health system to meet global standards.
He commended Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi for his initiative in establishing a standard hospital and promised to work with the state to move the health sector forward.
According to him, the specialist hospital is well equipped to provide world class medical care to patients.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthen the health sector in the country for quality healthcare delivery and to also curb incessant strike in the nation’s hospitals.
"As a government, we will do our best to come out with programmes and policies that will make doctors earn commensurate wages so that they will be stable and do the work they are paid to do," the president said.
Earlier, Yuguda had explained that the construction of the hospital was awarded in 2012 at the cost of N2.5 billion, following the transfer of the former Bauchi Specialists’ Hospital to the Fedral Government and upgraded to a Teaching Hospital.
He said that the hospital represented a critical investment in the lives of the people, adding that it was initiated to discourage people traveling abroad medical attention.
"Our goal is to assemble multidisciplinary team in the state, with the hope that all the medical resources in this hospital would be accessible to those who cannot afford them," Yuguda said.
He said that his administration had so far constructed and fully equipped 13 hospitals, bringing the total number of general hospitals in the state to 25.
He added that the number of primary health care facilities had also been increased from 881 in 2007, to 1,200 currently.
First Lady urges electorate to guard votes
Nigeria's First Lady Patience Jonathan waves as she leaves a plane upon arrival to Abuja. ~ WOLE EMMANUEL
Enugu - The First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has appealed to
Nigerians to guard against manipulations by opposition parties during
forthcoming elections.
Jonathan made the appeal at the PDP Women Presidential Campaign in Enugu on Monday.
She said that guarding the votes would eliminate all forms of rigging and make the elections credible.
The first lady urged the electorate to vote massively for President Jonathan for the continuation of his transformation agenda.
"After voting on March 28, make sure you follow your votes till the end. Do not leave the arena until the counting ends. Vote wisely, you must vote according to your conscience.
"The People's Democratic Party (PDP) is a peaceful party. You cannot change what God has ordained.
"Jonathan’s government has encouraged exportation of food produce and eliminated corruption in the distribution of fertilizers.
"Nigeria is the largest in cassava production and PDP will make it to remain so. Jonathan has equipped our health care facilities and he has promised to do more," she said.
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State promised that the state would score highest in the votes for President Jonathan.
Chime, represented by his deputy, Reverend Ralph Nwoye, said the party had delivered dividends of democracy to citizens of the state.
The Deputy President of Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, commended the first lady for campaigning for the party in the states.
"We thank you for going round to campaign for the PDP as a whole and not only for the president," he said.
The National Woman Leader of the PDP, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, urged the women of the state to come out en masse and vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.
"Jonathan has given us and now is the time for us to give him back. He gave us the opportunity for our voices to be heard," she said.
Others who spoke at the rally included the gubernatorial candidate in the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Deputy, Cecilia Ezeilo, the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo and the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on NEPAD, Fidelia Njeze.
The event was attended by National Assembly members from the state, executive council members, and women groups from the state.
Jonathan made the appeal at the PDP Women Presidential Campaign in Enugu on Monday.
She said that guarding the votes would eliminate all forms of rigging and make the elections credible.
The first lady urged the electorate to vote massively for President Jonathan for the continuation of his transformation agenda.
"After voting on March 28, make sure you follow your votes till the end. Do not leave the arena until the counting ends. Vote wisely, you must vote according to your conscience.
"The People's Democratic Party (PDP) is a peaceful party. You cannot change what God has ordained.
"Jonathan’s government has encouraged exportation of food produce and eliminated corruption in the distribution of fertilizers.
"Nigeria is the largest in cassava production and PDP will make it to remain so. Jonathan has equipped our health care facilities and he has promised to do more," she said.
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State promised that the state would score highest in the votes for President Jonathan.
Chime, represented by his deputy, Reverend Ralph Nwoye, said the party had delivered dividends of democracy to citizens of the state.
The Deputy President of Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, commended the first lady for campaigning for the party in the states.
"We thank you for going round to campaign for the PDP as a whole and not only for the president," he said.
The National Woman Leader of the PDP, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, urged the women of the state to come out en masse and vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.
"Jonathan has given us and now is the time for us to give him back. He gave us the opportunity for our voices to be heard," she said.
Others who spoke at the rally included the gubernatorial candidate in the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Deputy, Cecilia Ezeilo, the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo and the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on NEPAD, Fidelia Njeze.
The event was attended by National Assembly members from the state, executive council members, and women groups from the state.
- NAN
PDP debunks APC bribery allegations
Abuja - The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has
debunked an allegation made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that
President Gooodluck Jonathan doled out monies to traditional rulers
across the country to ensure his re-election.
Femi Fani-Kayode, the organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, dismissed the allegation on Monday in Abuja at a news conference.
He also described as 'baseless and untrue' the allegation by the APC that the PDP doled out huge sums of monies to bribe some religious leaders across the country ahead of the elections.
He said that no religious leader worth his salt would fall for such antics, saying "this is another example of the lies the APC is dishing out every day".
He restated the commitment of the PDP to the development of democracy in Nigeria, adding that the party would resist attempts by the opposition to bring about any form of unconstitutional government.
"We will resist it with the last drop of our blood and we will protect the mandate that will be given to us by the Nigerian people to the last man," he said.
Fani-Kayode appealed to Nigerians to stand firm and come out enmass to cast their votes for President Goodluck Jonathan on March 28, regardless of threats and intimidation.
He said that the PDP was fighting for the soul of the nation as well as the survival and destiny of future generation of Nigerians.
He said: "those of us who fear God and are true believers in God, should understand that we are fighting for the very soul of our nation.
"We must not allow the enemies of God and the enemies’ of Nigeria to prevail.
"We must not allow any political party that is being covertly funded and supported by shady foreign interests to take power in this country."
He said that attempts to incite people to violence before, during and after the elections, must be resisted by Nigerians.
Femi Fani-Kayode, the organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, dismissed the allegation on Monday in Abuja at a news conference.
He also described as 'baseless and untrue' the allegation by the APC that the PDP doled out huge sums of monies to bribe some religious leaders across the country ahead of the elections.
He said that no religious leader worth his salt would fall for such antics, saying "this is another example of the lies the APC is dishing out every day".
He restated the commitment of the PDP to the development of democracy in Nigeria, adding that the party would resist attempts by the opposition to bring about any form of unconstitutional government.
"We will resist it with the last drop of our blood and we will protect the mandate that will be given to us by the Nigerian people to the last man," he said.
Fani-Kayode appealed to Nigerians to stand firm and come out enmass to cast their votes for President Goodluck Jonathan on March 28, regardless of threats and intimidation.
He said that the PDP was fighting for the soul of the nation as well as the survival and destiny of future generation of Nigerians.
He said: "those of us who fear God and are true believers in God, should understand that we are fighting for the very soul of our nation.
"We must not allow the enemies of God and the enemies’ of Nigeria to prevail.
"We must not allow any political party that is being covertly funded and supported by shady foreign interests to take power in this country."
He said that attempts to incite people to violence before, during and after the elections, must be resisted by Nigerians.
- NAN
Men who exercise more have better sexual function
2015-03-24 10:04
Up and at 'em, guys. Exercise might boost your sex life, a new study suggests.
Nearly 300 men provided information about their physical activity levels and their ability to have erections and orgasms, the quality and frequency of erections, and their overall sexual function.
Men who exercised the most - as measured by what's known as metabolic equivalents (METS) - had higher sexual function scores, regardless of race, according to the findings published in the March issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Specifically, better sex was reported by those who engaged in the equivalent of two hours of strenuous exercise, 3.5 hours of moderate exercise, or six hours of light exercise a week, the researchers said.
Men who exercised less had lower sexual function scores. Other factors associated with lower sexual function included diabetes, older age, past or current smoking, and heart disease, the investigators found.
"When it comes to exercise, there is no one-size-fits-all approach," said study co-author Dr. Stephen Freedland, director of the Cedars-Sinai Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle in Los Angeles.
"However, we are confident that even some degree of exercise, even if less intense, is better than no exercise at all," Freedland said in a journal news release.
While previous studies have identified a link between exercise and erectile function, that research tended to focus on white men, the study authors said.
"This study is the first to link the benefits of exercise in relation to improved erectile and sexual function in a racially diverse group of patients," said study senior author Adriana Vidal, an investigator in the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute.
Up and at 'em, guys. Exercise might boost your sex life, a new study suggests.
Nearly 300 men provided information about their physical activity levels and their ability to have erections and orgasms, the quality and frequency of erections, and their overall sexual function.
Men who exercised the most - as measured by what's known as metabolic equivalents (METS) - had higher sexual function scores, regardless of race, according to the findings published in the March issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Specifically, better sex was reported by those who engaged in the equivalent of two hours of strenuous exercise, 3.5 hours of moderate exercise, or six hours of light exercise a week, the researchers said.
Men who exercised less had lower sexual function scores. Other factors associated with lower sexual function included diabetes, older age, past or current smoking, and heart disease, the investigators found.
"When it comes to exercise, there is no one-size-fits-all approach," said study co-author Dr. Stephen Freedland, director of the Cedars-Sinai Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle in Los Angeles.
"However, we are confident that even some degree of exercise, even if less intense, is better than no exercise at all," Freedland said in a journal news release.
While previous studies have identified a link between exercise and erectile function, that research tended to focus on white men, the study authors said.
"This study is the first to link the benefits of exercise in relation to improved erectile and sexual function in a racially diverse group of patients," said study senior author Adriana Vidal, an investigator in the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute.
President to honour triumphant Flying Eagles
By: Augustine Osayande
2015-03-24 10:05
Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan is set to receive the junior men's national football team after they won the just-ended African Youth Soccer Championship.
The Flying Eagles beat Senegal in the finals.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said Jonathan would honour the team on their return from Senegal for bringing more sporting glory.
“President Goodluck Jonathan congratulates the Flying Eagles of Nigeria on their victory over Senegal in the finals of the 2015 African Youth Soccer Championship,” he said.
He added that the President joined other soccer-loving Nigerians in applauding the Flying Eagles’ glorious triumph over the hosts, who played in the finals with the vociferous backing of a partisan home crowd.
He pledged, in line with his administration’s policy of giving Nigeria’s sports stars the greatest possible support and encouragement, the full backing of the Federal Government for their coming participation in the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Abati said the President assured the team that all Nigerians were proud of its all-conquering performance in the tournament, which had earned the country a record seventh African Youth Championship success.
Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan is set to receive the junior men's national football team after they won the just-ended African Youth Soccer Championship.
The Flying Eagles beat Senegal in the finals.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said Jonathan would honour the team on their return from Senegal for bringing more sporting glory.
“President Goodluck Jonathan congratulates the Flying Eagles of Nigeria on their victory over Senegal in the finals of the 2015 African Youth Soccer Championship,” he said.
He added that the President joined other soccer-loving Nigerians in applauding the Flying Eagles’ glorious triumph over the hosts, who played in the finals with the vociferous backing of a partisan home crowd.
He pledged, in line with his administration’s policy of giving Nigeria’s sports stars the greatest possible support and encouragement, the full backing of the Federal Government for their coming participation in the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Abati said the President assured the team that all Nigerians were proud of its all-conquering performance in the tournament, which had earned the country a record seventh African Youth Championship success.
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Justice demanded for shot Kwara student
By: Augustine Osayande
2015-03-19 09:02
Abuja - The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the shooting of a student of Kwara State College of Education Oro at Agbamu area of the state.
The party alleged thugs belonging to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) committed the crime.
According to the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the shooting of the student at Agbamu is condemnable and reprehensible.
“We hereby condemn the unfortunate incident that happened at Agbamu where an innocent lady, who is a student of Kwara State College of Education, Oro was hit by bullets fired by thugs sponsored by the PDP," he said.
"These had thronged Agbamu for a political rally that turned out to be a violent gathering. We gathered that the lady was promptly rushed to the hospital in an effort to save her life,” Buhari said.
He said that it was shocking that the victim did not attend the rally but was doing her own activities at her house and hit by what appeared like a stray bullet.
“This unfortunate incident clearly shows that there is no limit to the desperation of the PDP to ignite violence, tension, fear and cause voters apathy ahead of the general elections,” Buhari said.
Buhari added that the incident had vindicated and confirmed APC position that the PDP, which could not be reached for comment, was working to implement an "evil agenda" ahead of the elections.
He demanded justice for the victim.
"The victimised lady deserves justice. At least, if the security agencies couldn't protect her from being shot, the security agencies should be able to ensure justice for her sake.”
2015-03-19 09:02
Abuja - The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the shooting of a student of Kwara State College of Education Oro at Agbamu area of the state.
The party alleged thugs belonging to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) committed the crime.
According to the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the shooting of the student at Agbamu is condemnable and reprehensible.
“We hereby condemn the unfortunate incident that happened at Agbamu where an innocent lady, who is a student of Kwara State College of Education, Oro was hit by bullets fired by thugs sponsored by the PDP," he said.
"These had thronged Agbamu for a political rally that turned out to be a violent gathering. We gathered that the lady was promptly rushed to the hospital in an effort to save her life,” Buhari said.
He said that it was shocking that the victim did not attend the rally but was doing her own activities at her house and hit by what appeared like a stray bullet.
“This unfortunate incident clearly shows that there is no limit to the desperation of the PDP to ignite violence, tension, fear and cause voters apathy ahead of the general elections,” Buhari said.
Buhari added that the incident had vindicated and confirmed APC position that the PDP, which could not be reached for comment, was working to implement an "evil agenda" ahead of the elections.
He demanded justice for the victim.
"The victimised lady deserves justice. At least, if the security agencies couldn't protect her from being shot, the security agencies should be able to ensure justice for her sake.”
3 killed, 4 hurt in shooting at US convenience store
2015-03-19 09:02
Stockton - An apparent drive-by shooting at a Stockton convenience store left three people dead and four wounded in what a police official called one of the worst mass shootings in the city's recent history.
Officer Joe Silva also said the shooting in the inland port city was in a crime-ridden area known for drug deals and is likely gang-related. Violence has rocked Stockton, which was hit hard by the economic downturn and declared bankruptcy in 2012.
Officials with the San Joaquin County on Wednesday said 20-year-old Aliyah Taylor and 27-year-old Arniska Lofton died in the drive-by shooting. The male victim was identified as 23-year-old Kabin Kennebrew. All were from Stockton.
Four men in their 20s and 30s were found inside the small market and taken to hospitals. The victims, ages 24, 25, 32 and 38 are expected to survive, Silva said.
No arrests have been made, and it is not yet known if there were multiple shooters.
Police are interviewing witnesses, some of whom said they heard up to 40 gunshots. Dozens of people gathered in the area after the shooting, and additional officers were called in to help control the crowd.
Police did not release the names or any other details on the victims.
Violence is not uncommon in Stockton, which saw 49 killings last year, an increase from the year before. The city hit record numbers with 58 homicides in 2011, and 71 in 2012.
In comparison, Riverside, a similarly sized city of about 300,000 people in Southern California, had 13 homicides in 2011 and 16 in 2012.
Stockton, is a gateway to Yosemite National Park, and was once an official "All-America City" before the collapse of the housing market. In the years that followed, Stockton twice led Forbes magazine's list of "America's most miserable cities".
In 2012, it became the largest US city to file for bankruptcy before Detroit made the move in 2013. Stockton emerged from bankruptcy last fall after the judge approved its reorganisation plan.
At one point, the police union was so upset over layoffs and a record homicide rate that it posted billboards tracking the city's body count and disclosing the city manager's phone number.
Stockton - An apparent drive-by shooting at a Stockton convenience store left three people dead and four wounded in what a police official called one of the worst mass shootings in the city's recent history.
Officer Joe Silva also said the shooting in the inland port city was in a crime-ridden area known for drug deals and is likely gang-related. Violence has rocked Stockton, which was hit hard by the economic downturn and declared bankruptcy in 2012.
Officials with the San Joaquin County on Wednesday said 20-year-old Aliyah Taylor and 27-year-old Arniska Lofton died in the drive-by shooting. The male victim was identified as 23-year-old Kabin Kennebrew. All were from Stockton.
Four men in their 20s and 30s were found inside the small market and taken to hospitals. The victims, ages 24, 25, 32 and 38 are expected to survive, Silva said.
No arrests have been made, and it is not yet known if there were multiple shooters.
Police are interviewing witnesses, some of whom said they heard up to 40 gunshots. Dozens of people gathered in the area after the shooting, and additional officers were called in to help control the crowd.
Police did not release the names or any other details on the victims.
Violence is not uncommon in Stockton, which saw 49 killings last year, an increase from the year before. The city hit record numbers with 58 homicides in 2011, and 71 in 2012.
In comparison, Riverside, a similarly sized city of about 300,000 people in Southern California, had 13 homicides in 2011 and 16 in 2012.
Stockton, is a gateway to Yosemite National Park, and was once an official "All-America City" before the collapse of the housing market. In the years that followed, Stockton twice led Forbes magazine's list of "America's most miserable cities".
In 2012, it became the largest US city to file for bankruptcy before Detroit made the move in 2013. Stockton emerged from bankruptcy last fall after the judge approved its reorganisation plan.
At one point, the police union was so upset over layoffs and a record homicide rate that it posted billboards tracking the city's body count and disclosing the city manager's phone number.
Borno elders discourage IDPs from returning
2015-03-19 09:02
Abuja - The Borno Elders Forum has advised displaced residents of territories newly reclaimed from terrorists by the military against returning to their homes.
According to the elders, it is too early for the displaced residents to returned back home as terrorists had not been eliminated, despite significant success by the military.
Chairman of group, Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, said what should be paramount in the minds of everyone is the reconstruction of the reclaimed territories that were totally destroyed by the insurgents.
“We decided to speak as a matter of urgency to quickly respond to an emerging decision that is being contemplated, " he said.
He noted media reports suggesting some key leaders contemplated the immediate or urgent return of refugees displaced from their communities and are either living at Internally Displaced Persons' camps.
These are in Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Abuja, the FCT, Lagos among others within Nigeria or taking refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.
"We are disturbed by thoughts and speeches being made towards returning displaced persons to these communities that have just been reclaimed,” Galtimari said.
The forum added that their concerns had nothing to do with procedures regarding the March 28 and April 11general elections.
“We are an apolitical forum whose sons have respectful rights to be associated with any registered political party of their choices. Our focus is our citizens. We have an obligation towards all sons and daughters of Borno State as elders of the state.”
The leaders pleaded that displaced people should under no circumstance be disenfranchised in the forthcoming election.
Galtimari advised that the forthcoming elections should hold and that internally displaced persons should be allowed to vote from their camps as earlier agreed by Independent National Electoral Commission.
"If elections will hold in volatile nations like Afghanistan and Iraq there should be no reason to deny Nigerians under any condition of exercising their civic rights. We cautioned that reasons should be prevailed for the nation to continue to be in peace.”
Abuja - The Borno Elders Forum has advised displaced residents of territories newly reclaimed from terrorists by the military against returning to their homes.
According to the elders, it is too early for the displaced residents to returned back home as terrorists had not been eliminated, despite significant success by the military.
Chairman of group, Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, said what should be paramount in the minds of everyone is the reconstruction of the reclaimed territories that were totally destroyed by the insurgents.
“We decided to speak as a matter of urgency to quickly respond to an emerging decision that is being contemplated, " he said.
He noted media reports suggesting some key leaders contemplated the immediate or urgent return of refugees displaced from their communities and are either living at Internally Displaced Persons' camps.
These are in Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Abuja, the FCT, Lagos among others within Nigeria or taking refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.
"We are disturbed by thoughts and speeches being made towards returning displaced persons to these communities that have just been reclaimed,” Galtimari said.
The forum added that their concerns had nothing to do with procedures regarding the March 28 and April 11general elections.
“We are an apolitical forum whose sons have respectful rights to be associated with any registered political party of their choices. Our focus is our citizens. We have an obligation towards all sons and daughters of Borno State as elders of the state.”
The leaders pleaded that displaced people should under no circumstance be disenfranchised in the forthcoming election.
Galtimari advised that the forthcoming elections should hold and that internally displaced persons should be allowed to vote from their camps as earlier agreed by Independent National Electoral Commission.
"If elections will hold in volatile nations like Afghanistan and Iraq there should be no reason to deny Nigerians under any condition of exercising their civic rights. We cautioned that reasons should be prevailed for the nation to continue to be in peace.”
Abia politicians warned against rash political statements
Lagos – The Abia State has cautioned politicians against
making unguarded and rash statements against Governor Theodore Orji and
his administration.
The caution comes on the back of statements attributed to former Governor of the State, Orji Uzor Kalu.
The former governor was quoted to have said in an interview, “Our people will burn down the state. We are ready for them. The Governor cannot try it, if he tries it, it will be the end of his administration.”
The grievances of the ex-governor were not ascertained.
However, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr ACB Agbazuere, denounced such sentiments and deterred politicians including the governorship candidate of the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA), Chikwe Udensi, from making them.
“Government will not tolerate further hounding of the State Government from any quarter,” Agbazuere said.
He said the statements attributed to the Kalu were treasonable as they connoted that the former governor had concluded plans to wage a war against the state.
“The provisions of the Nigeria criminal code are very clear on such violation,” Agbazuere.
The caution comes on the back of statements attributed to former Governor of the State, Orji Uzor Kalu.
The former governor was quoted to have said in an interview, “Our people will burn down the state. We are ready for them. The Governor cannot try it, if he tries it, it will be the end of his administration.”
The grievances of the ex-governor were not ascertained.
However, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr ACB Agbazuere, denounced such sentiments and deterred politicians including the governorship candidate of the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA), Chikwe Udensi, from making them.
“Government will not tolerate further hounding of the State Government from any quarter,” Agbazuere said.
He said the statements attributed to the Kalu were treasonable as they connoted that the former governor had concluded plans to wage a war against the state.
“The provisions of the Nigeria criminal code are very clear on such violation,” Agbazuere.
- CAJ News
NFF to take final decision on Keshi
2015-03-19 10:20
Lagos - The Nigeria Football Federation will decide on the future of AFCON winning coach Stephen Keshi before the end of the week.
"I told the senate that within 10 days and by God’s grace within the next three days this thing (Keshi’s appointment or not) would be completed," NFF president Amaju Pinnick told the Vanguard.
While Keshi's future remains unclear at this juncture, the NFF has made it painstakingly clear that it would not be held to ransom by the Africa Cup of Nations winning coach. If and when the federation does offer Keshi a new contract, he will have just two options available to him - accept or be gone.
"It’s either he is in or he is not in," added Pinnick.
"So we are not saying 100% that it is Keshi. We are not saying that I can assure you 100%. It can be other persons.
"It can only be Keshi provided he accepts 100% the contract we have offered him. If he doesn’t accept it, then I can tell you right away that he is not going to be our coach," said the NFF president.
In late 2014, Keshi still had a few bargaining chips at his disposal and one of them was the prospect of being appointed as the coach of the South Africa national team. However, all the posts that were vacant and available to Keshi at the time have now been filled and that has created somewhat of a predicament for the outspoken Nigerian coach.
"Now if Keshi says for example that one clause in that contract is not good for him, it means he doesn’t want the job, so we can now open it and look for other coaches that are ready to coach Nigeria.
"Like I have said before, I will say again, if Keshi decided not to accept the contract, we are not going to change the contract for any other person we want to employ because to us what is good for the goose is good for the gander," said Pinnick.
The Nigeria national team will play international friendly matches against South African and Bolivia later this month and the man who will be tasked with overseeing the squad for both matches is current caretaker Daniel Amokachi.
Lagos - The Nigeria Football Federation will decide on the future of AFCON winning coach Stephen Keshi before the end of the week.
"I told the senate that within 10 days and by God’s grace within the next three days this thing (Keshi’s appointment or not) would be completed," NFF president Amaju Pinnick told the Vanguard.
While Keshi's future remains unclear at this juncture, the NFF has made it painstakingly clear that it would not be held to ransom by the Africa Cup of Nations winning coach. If and when the federation does offer Keshi a new contract, he will have just two options available to him - accept or be gone.
"It’s either he is in or he is not in," added Pinnick.
"So we are not saying 100% that it is Keshi. We are not saying that I can assure you 100%. It can be other persons.
"It can only be Keshi provided he accepts 100% the contract we have offered him. If he doesn’t accept it, then I can tell you right away that he is not going to be our coach," said the NFF president.
In late 2014, Keshi still had a few bargaining chips at his disposal and one of them was the prospect of being appointed as the coach of the South Africa national team. However, all the posts that were vacant and available to Keshi at the time have now been filled and that has created somewhat of a predicament for the outspoken Nigerian coach.
"Now if Keshi says for example that one clause in that contract is not good for him, it means he doesn’t want the job, so we can now open it and look for other coaches that are ready to coach Nigeria.
"Like I have said before, I will say again, if Keshi decided not to accept the contract, we are not going to change the contract for any other person we want to employ because to us what is good for the goose is good for the gander," said Pinnick.
The Nigeria national team will play international friendly matches against South African and Bolivia later this month and the man who will be tasked with overseeing the squad for both matches is current caretaker Daniel Amokachi.
Plot alleged to rig Rivers State poll
Lagos - The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged efforts being by President Goodluck Jonathan to use a top official of the Niger Delta Development Coommission (NDDC) and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to rig the forthcoming general elections in the state.
The party alleged that NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Dr Henry Ogiri, has been directed by President Jonathan to work closely with Rivers REC, Gesila Khan, to ensure that Jonathan won on March 28 while People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Nyesome Wike, won on April 11.
Rivers APC Chairman, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya said Ogiri had purchased a new luxury vehicle for Khan, which was currently parked at the village of Khan in Ogbia, Bayelsa State.
In addition, Dr Ogiri has set aside a whopping sum of $100 million to be deposited into the account of Khan.
“To perfect the plans of winning Rivers State at all costs, Khan, who is from President Jonathan’s village and his very close relation, was deliberately posted to Rivers recently to ensure that PDP wins the State despite having been overwhelmingly rejected by our people,” said Ikanya.
He added, “For INEC to post President Jonathan’s kinswoman to supervise the elections in Rivers State, which he has personally confessed neglecting deliberately in his six years in office, simply betrays the Presidency’s desperation to rig the elections as PDP can never win any free and fair polls in Rivers State.”
Ikanya said that the strategy of compromising INEC to pave the way for the use of the allegedly missing 14 000 PVCs and PDP’s cloned cards was coming after PDP failed to wear down Rivers APC through the killing and detaining of several of its members.
“We will like the security organs to investigate this woman and retrieve this car and expose Dr Ogiri for what he is. This is a man who has failed to pay NDDC staff for months and has also failed to pay contractors for services rendered to the commission, while funds are reserved for use in rigging the 2015 elections for PDP.”
PDP had not commented on the allegations.
- CAJ News
Government approves Confab report
2015-03-19 10:19
Abuja - The Federal Executive Council has approved the main report of the 2014 National Conference at a meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Premium Times reports.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, and the Minster of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, briefed State House correspondents of the meeting’s outcome.
Jonathan had in September 2014 shortly after the end of the conference approved the composition of a presidential committee to study and draw up the implementation strategy.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke (SAN), is the chairman of the presidential panel while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, is the secretary.
Read more at Premium Times
Abuja - The Federal Executive Council has approved the main report of the 2014 National Conference at a meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Premium Times reports.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, and the Minster of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, briefed State House correspondents of the meeting’s outcome.
Jonathan had in September 2014 shortly after the end of the conference approved the composition of a presidential committee to study and draw up the implementation strategy.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke (SAN), is the chairman of the presidential panel while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, is the secretary.
Read more at Premium Times
Jega shuns CAN president
Abuja - The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has rebuffed attempts by the President of
the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor to meet
with him, reports The Nation.
Oritsejafor, who disclosed this on Wednesday at a one- day interactive meeting for a smooth transition of Nigeria’s democracy, organised by Think Nigeria Christian-Muslim Movement in Abuja, explained that a meeting with the INEC chairman was arranged by the CAN general secretary, Reverend Musa Asake, based on dates given to them by the INEC boss.
Oritsejafor said he and other members of CAN had wanted to see Jega in order to contribute to the preparation and success of the general elections.
However, Jega has denied scheduling any meeting with CAN.
Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to Jega in a swift reaction to Oritsejafor’s claim, said he was unaware of any request by CAN to see Jega which was turned down.
Read more at The Nation.
Oritsejafor, who disclosed this on Wednesday at a one- day interactive meeting for a smooth transition of Nigeria’s democracy, organised by Think Nigeria Christian-Muslim Movement in Abuja, explained that a meeting with the INEC chairman was arranged by the CAN general secretary, Reverend Musa Asake, based on dates given to them by the INEC boss.
Oritsejafor said he and other members of CAN had wanted to see Jega in order to contribute to the preparation and success of the general elections.
However, Jega has denied scheduling any meeting with CAN.
Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to Jega in a swift reaction to Oritsejafor’s claim, said he was unaware of any request by CAN to see Jega which was turned down.
Read more at The Nation.
Read more on 2015 elections
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
APC drags Jonathan to ICC
Abuja - The All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to drag President Goodluck Jonathan to the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague, reports Vanguard.
This follows the massive terror unleashed on the residents of Lagos on Monday by armed pro-Jonathan groups under the cover of a faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).
The OPC was demanding the sack of Professor Attahiru Jega, National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Garba Shehu, the Director of Media and Publicity of the party’s presidential campaign organization, noted that the party was not ready to cower to the intimidation of President Jonathan, ahead of the general elections.
He described the activities of the President and his wife, Patience, as regards the elections as not patriotic and very unhelpful for entrenching democratic values in the nation.
Read more at Vanguard.
Read more on 2015 elections
Nyanya bombers to be tried in camera
2015-03-18 13:46
Abuja - A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the alleged mastermind of the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast, Aminu Ogwuche and five orders be tried in camera, Channelstv reports.
The prosecution had applied to hold the trial in camera to protect the witnesses in the case at the renewed trial of the suspects in Abuja.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who gave the order, also allowed the prosecution to use aliases for the defence witnesses of trial of the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast which claimed over 76 lives.
The defence lawyers agreed to a camera trial, but opposed the application for the witnesses to be masked.
Read more at Channelstv
Abuja - A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the alleged mastermind of the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast, Aminu Ogwuche and five orders be tried in camera, Channelstv reports.
The prosecution had applied to hold the trial in camera to protect the witnesses in the case at the renewed trial of the suspects in Abuja.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who gave the order, also allowed the prosecution to use aliases for the defence witnesses of trial of the April 14 Nyanya bomb blast which claimed over 76 lives.
The defence lawyers agreed to a camera trial, but opposed the application for the witnesses to be masked.
Read more at Channelstv
Buhari explains why he wouldn’t debate with Jonathan
This is because the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, has said he is not ready to participate in any debate with President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Also read: Fayose blasts Obasanjo for endorsing Buhari
Buhari, who spoke on Tuesday at an interactive session with members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria( NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors( NGE) in Abuja, said there is no basis for the debate.
He noted that the record of the PDP and President Jonathan in government is public knowledge.
Read more at Premium Times
Read more on 2015 elections
Jonathan says Atiku on vacation in APC
He sated that Atiku remains a core member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
President Jonathan, who spoke through his special adviser on on political matters, Prof Rufai Alkali, said Atiku will return to the party before the general elections.
Alkali was speaking when 120 members of Atiku Abubakar Support Group formally defected to the PDP.
President Jonathan had on Friday night met with Atiku to convince and persuade the former VP to return to the PDP.
Read more Leadership.
Read more on 2015 elections
Silverbird Cinemas employee stabbed to death
2015-03-18 12:43
Lagos - A 26-year-old lady, Aishat Noble-Mustapha, was stabbed severally to death by an unidentified man at her residence in Ogudu GRA, Lagos State, Punch reports.
Aishat, a worker with Silverbird Cinemas, was stabbed in the stomach 11 times by a lover, who she had a disagreement with after closing from work on Saturday, March 14, around 7.30pm.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State command, Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect has been arrested and will be going to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further probe.
The corpse of Noble-Mustapha was taken to a mortuary in Yaba by policemen from the Ogudu Police Division.
Read more at Punch
Lagos - A 26-year-old lady, Aishat Noble-Mustapha, was stabbed severally to death by an unidentified man at her residence in Ogudu GRA, Lagos State, Punch reports.
Aishat, a worker with Silverbird Cinemas, was stabbed in the stomach 11 times by a lover, who she had a disagreement with after closing from work on Saturday, March 14, around 7.30pm.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State command, Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect has been arrested and will be going to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further probe.
The corpse of Noble-Mustapha was taken to a mortuary in Yaba by policemen from the Ogudu Police Division.
Read more at Punch
10 sex myths that must go
By: Dorothy Black
2015-03-18 13:46
1. Sex is between a man and a woman, with a penis in a vagina
Where does that leave people who are intersex, homosexual or transgender? Or those who don't like penetration? Or those who only practice anal or oral sex? Are lesbians not having sex when they get each other off?
Think of 'sex' as an umbrella term for all the consensual sexy acts that get you hot and bothered with someone else – or yourself.
Maybe people are uncomfortable thinking of 'real sex' as anything but PIV (penis in vagina) sex, because considering 'sex' as an inclusive term raises guilty feels about when you first experienced sex or lost your ‘virginity’. Which brings me to…
2. Virginity is a thing
Is virginity a conceptual or a physical actuality?
If the latter, then anything can 'take' your virginity, including a tampon or a jump in the pool. Also, nothing ‘breaks’ your hymen, because this little membrane doesn’t totally cover the entrance to your vagina.
Your vagina isn't a Pringles can that you pop (although once you pop, you might not want to stop). If it’s a concept, then when do you 'lose' your virginity? The dictionary will say something like: you lose your virginity when you practise sexual intercourse for the first time.
If sex is an umbrella term and/or you don’t practice PIV sex, do you remain a virgin regardless of all the crazy kinky sex shit you get up to? Are you still a virgin if you've only ever practised mutual masturbation and anal or oral sex?
3. First time sex hurts
Any penetrative sex hurts whenever you’re not ready and you’re expecting the worst. Your body clams up, your vagina clams up, in many cases your vaginal lubrication will dry up and the friction will hurt. But it doesn't have to hurt.
I'm not saying it won’t maybe be weird and uncomfortable, but pain doesn't have to happen. It’s not an inherent feature in your first penetrative experience.
4. Foreplay is for her, men are always 'on'
The shtick we’re told over and over again is that women need more foreplay than men and men are always ready. If you’re going to accept that ‘sex’ is a bunch of different sexual acts, what is foreplay?
The story we’re told about foreplay is: To 'get her ready for sex' practice some oral sex or lick her nipples … then when she is ready for penetration you can have sex with her.
There is foreplay and then there is sex.' But all that 'foreplay' stuff is really just sex and you’re either ready for it or you’re not. You either need slow sex and a longer build up or you can get off on a quickie.
If you want to talk about foreplay, then talk about the chemistry you and your guy have and work on as part of your relationship culture – the intimacy you generate throughout the day in your conversations, your displays of affection and how you invest time in each other.
5. Men want sex, women want emotional connection
This is an incredibly old model, one that is sexist, old-fashioned and stupid. It’s the Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus paradigm.
My paradigm is: Humans are from Earth, like to socialize, generally like to copulate, want to be accepted and have feelings. We have been socialized to believe that men and women are so fundamentally different that we forget the humanity underpinning it all.
6. Great sex comes naturally
Great sex is like learning how to cook. Everyone can eat food, just like everyone can bump genitals together. But while some people will be content to eat an apple, others will learn how to make the finest French apple tart and serve it with dollops of clotted cream and sugared strawberries.
Being a good lover depends mostly on stuff that has nothing to do with your genitals, including self-knowledge, being able to communicate clearly, being open to exploring and being generous with your time and attention – and learning some skills.
Unfortunately, when most of us are presented with our first lovers (usually at a very young age, see above 'Sex is between a vagina and penis') our experience is of chomping on a plain apple when we were expecting the French apple tart. Sadly, this can easily colour one’s experience of sex and desire, and label the whole fiasco as less than satisfactory fact forever and always.
7. Everybody likes sex, right?
Well no. Some people really don’t. Maybe it’s due to some trauma or bad early experiences with intimacy and sex. Maybe sex just isn't that much of a priority. But there are also asexual people who just literally do not feel sexual attraction or desire.
It doesn't mean they don’t fall in love, need or want physical tenderness or have successful relationships; they just don’t feel the lusty pull of desire on their loins.
8. Your number matters.
No it doesn't. Simple as that. Quantity means as little to your morality as it does to your prowess as a lover. The only purpose someone’s judgement and shaming serves around the number of men and women I've been with, is as an accurate measure of their friend and/or partner viability in my life.
Save yourself a lot of time by not taking responsibility for someone else’s issues when they have a problem with your 'number'.
9. Sex is about orgasm
Another product of the goal-driven society. Orgasm is great, no one is denying that. But it is not the only pleasure we derive from physical intimacy with each other. Loving and/or enjoyable skin-to-skin interaction sets off a chemical reaction in the body that releases a lot of happy hormones that go a long way to build affection and bonding.
10. Men reach their sexual prime when they’re 18, women when they’re 35.
I'm going use the scientific term for this: Rubbish. This myth unfolded from very old, socially dated research from the Kinsey data.
What is now being posited is genital prime and sexual prime. The former is driven by biological factors (hormones, health and so on) and the latter social factors (your experience, maturity and general joie de vivre).
Sexual anthropologist Bella Ellwood-Clayton writes about this in her book ‘Sex Drive’ and says: ‘Female desire can be peaking all along, ebbing and flowing throughout the life course.’
2015-03-18 13:46
1. Sex is between a man and a woman, with a penis in a vagina
Where does that leave people who are intersex, homosexual or transgender? Or those who don't like penetration? Or those who only practice anal or oral sex? Are lesbians not having sex when they get each other off?
Think of 'sex' as an umbrella term for all the consensual sexy acts that get you hot and bothered with someone else – or yourself.
Maybe people are uncomfortable thinking of 'real sex' as anything but PIV (penis in vagina) sex, because considering 'sex' as an inclusive term raises guilty feels about when you first experienced sex or lost your ‘virginity’. Which brings me to…
2. Virginity is a thing
Is virginity a conceptual or a physical actuality?
If the latter, then anything can 'take' your virginity, including a tampon or a jump in the pool. Also, nothing ‘breaks’ your hymen, because this little membrane doesn’t totally cover the entrance to your vagina.
Your vagina isn't a Pringles can that you pop (although once you pop, you might not want to stop). If it’s a concept, then when do you 'lose' your virginity? The dictionary will say something like: you lose your virginity when you practise sexual intercourse for the first time.
If sex is an umbrella term and/or you don’t practice PIV sex, do you remain a virgin regardless of all the crazy kinky sex shit you get up to? Are you still a virgin if you've only ever practised mutual masturbation and anal or oral sex?
3. First time sex hurts
Any penetrative sex hurts whenever you’re not ready and you’re expecting the worst. Your body clams up, your vagina clams up, in many cases your vaginal lubrication will dry up and the friction will hurt. But it doesn't have to hurt.
I'm not saying it won’t maybe be weird and uncomfortable, but pain doesn't have to happen. It’s not an inherent feature in your first penetrative experience.
4. Foreplay is for her, men are always 'on'
The shtick we’re told over and over again is that women need more foreplay than men and men are always ready. If you’re going to accept that ‘sex’ is a bunch of different sexual acts, what is foreplay?
The story we’re told about foreplay is: To 'get her ready for sex' practice some oral sex or lick her nipples … then when she is ready for penetration you can have sex with her.
There is foreplay and then there is sex.' But all that 'foreplay' stuff is really just sex and you’re either ready for it or you’re not. You either need slow sex and a longer build up or you can get off on a quickie.
If you want to talk about foreplay, then talk about the chemistry you and your guy have and work on as part of your relationship culture – the intimacy you generate throughout the day in your conversations, your displays of affection and how you invest time in each other.
5. Men want sex, women want emotional connection
This is an incredibly old model, one that is sexist, old-fashioned and stupid. It’s the Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus paradigm.
My paradigm is: Humans are from Earth, like to socialize, generally like to copulate, want to be accepted and have feelings. We have been socialized to believe that men and women are so fundamentally different that we forget the humanity underpinning it all.
6. Great sex comes naturally
Great sex is like learning how to cook. Everyone can eat food, just like everyone can bump genitals together. But while some people will be content to eat an apple, others will learn how to make the finest French apple tart and serve it with dollops of clotted cream and sugared strawberries.
Being a good lover depends mostly on stuff that has nothing to do with your genitals, including self-knowledge, being able to communicate clearly, being open to exploring and being generous with your time and attention – and learning some skills.
Unfortunately, when most of us are presented with our first lovers (usually at a very young age, see above 'Sex is between a vagina and penis') our experience is of chomping on a plain apple when we were expecting the French apple tart. Sadly, this can easily colour one’s experience of sex and desire, and label the whole fiasco as less than satisfactory fact forever and always.
7. Everybody likes sex, right?
Well no. Some people really don’t. Maybe it’s due to some trauma or bad early experiences with intimacy and sex. Maybe sex just isn't that much of a priority. But there are also asexual people who just literally do not feel sexual attraction or desire.
It doesn't mean they don’t fall in love, need or want physical tenderness or have successful relationships; they just don’t feel the lusty pull of desire on their loins.
8. Your number matters.
No it doesn't. Simple as that. Quantity means as little to your morality as it does to your prowess as a lover. The only purpose someone’s judgement and shaming serves around the number of men and women I've been with, is as an accurate measure of their friend and/or partner viability in my life.
Save yourself a lot of time by not taking responsibility for someone else’s issues when they have a problem with your 'number'.
9. Sex is about orgasm
Another product of the goal-driven society. Orgasm is great, no one is denying that. But it is not the only pleasure we derive from physical intimacy with each other. Loving and/or enjoyable skin-to-skin interaction sets off a chemical reaction in the body that releases a lot of happy hormones that go a long way to build affection and bonding.
10. Men reach their sexual prime when they’re 18, women when they’re 35.
I'm going use the scientific term for this: Rubbish. This myth unfolded from very old, socially dated research from the Kinsey data.
What is now being posited is genital prime and sexual prime. The former is driven by biological factors (hormones, health and so on) and the latter social factors (your experience, maturity and general joie de vivre).
Sexual anthropologist Bella Ellwood-Clayton writes about this in her book ‘Sex Drive’ and says: ‘Female desire can be peaking all along, ebbing and flowing throughout the life course.’
Residents in Imo lament hike in fuel prices
2015-03-18 13:46
Owerri- Residents in Owerri, Imo state capital, have expressed their displeasure over the continued hike in the price of the fuel despite the Federal Government slashing it to N87 per litre, Channelstv reports.
Investigations revealed that some filling stations in the city sell at 97 naira, 100 naira and 115 naira per litre instead of N87.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers, at a joint meeting between petroleum marketers in Imo and Abia State in the south-east, have disclosed that reasons why they sell at higher prices is due to non-availability of fuel at the government approved fuel depots in the South-East and South-South.
The Zonal Chairman of the petroleum marketers in Aba and Imo unit, Bobby Eberedick, explained that this has led them to buy from private fuel depots where they sell higher than the government approved prices.
Read more at Channelstv
Owerri- Residents in Owerri, Imo state capital, have expressed their displeasure over the continued hike in the price of the fuel despite the Federal Government slashing it to N87 per litre, Channelstv reports.
Investigations revealed that some filling stations in the city sell at 97 naira, 100 naira and 115 naira per litre instead of N87.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers, at a joint meeting between petroleum marketers in Imo and Abia State in the south-east, have disclosed that reasons why they sell at higher prices is due to non-availability of fuel at the government approved fuel depots in the South-East and South-South.
The Zonal Chairman of the petroleum marketers in Aba and Imo unit, Bobby Eberedick, explained that this has led them to buy from private fuel depots where they sell higher than the government approved prices.
Read more at Channelstv
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Buhari alleged to be entering agreements to reverse anti-gay law
Muhammadu Buhari. (File: AFP)
According to reports he has been entering into discussions with some European countries in order to receive financial support by reversing the law.
The allegations were made by the People's Democratic Party Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Fani-Kayode at a press conference.
Kayode further expressed that Buhari wants to legalise same-sex relationships in the country if only he could get the power.
This happened during Buhari's last trip to London where leaders of some of the countries made an offer that he is willing to consider.
The PDP has however called this shameful behaviour and the matter should be brought to the people of Nigeria.
For more on this story visit DailyIndependent
TB Joshua appeals building collapse ruling
2015-03-12 20:16
Lagos - Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua has lodged an appeal against a court ruling that he should testify about a fatal building collapse at his Lagos megachurch, an inquest was told on Thursday.
Lawyer Seun Abimbola, representing the preacher known to his followers as "The Prophet", announced the appeal as he explained his client's fourth no-show at a hearing probing the tragedy.
A total of 116 people were killed, 81 of them South Africans, when a guesthouse for foreign followers of Joshua's Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) came down on September 12 last year.
"We have filed a notice of appeal in respect of the high court ruling," Abimbola said, referring to a March 6 judgment that rejected Joshua's claim that he should not be called as a witness.
"We have also asked for a stay of execution of the judgment."
Joshua, a self-proclaimed miracle worker and faith healer who counts African presidents and powerful politicians among his flock, has blamed the tragedy on sabotage.
But a series of expert witnesses have told the court that shoddy building work was more likely.
Coroner Oyetade Komolafe told the hearing that he expected Joshua to be present following the high court ruling, which backed his decision to call him to give evidence.
"He is supposed to be here. I would have reminded you by issuing a bench warrant for his arrest but I don't want to do that," Komolafe told Abimbola.
"I want you to now give a date you are bringing him to court."
Lawyer Akinbolahan Adediran, representing the Lagos State government, said they had not been served with the notice of appeal, "so the high court ruling stands".
Meanwhile, Olusegun Oyenuga of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria said its investigation pinpointed structural defects as the cause of the collapse.
"We carried out an analysis and saw that the foundation was undersized," said Oyenuga, whose organisation is the umbrella body for engineers across Nigeria.
"The columns (pillars) and beams were not strong enough. The design of the building was not properly done. In fact, the design was not handled by a qualified structural engineer."
Weak foundations made the building cave in because additional floors were being added to it, he added.
The hearing was adjourned until Friday.
Lagos - Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua has lodged an appeal against a court ruling that he should testify about a fatal building collapse at his Lagos megachurch, an inquest was told on Thursday.
Lawyer Seun Abimbola, representing the preacher known to his followers as "The Prophet", announced the appeal as he explained his client's fourth no-show at a hearing probing the tragedy.
A total of 116 people were killed, 81 of them South Africans, when a guesthouse for foreign followers of Joshua's Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) came down on September 12 last year.
"We have filed a notice of appeal in respect of the high court ruling," Abimbola said, referring to a March 6 judgment that rejected Joshua's claim that he should not be called as a witness.
"We have also asked for a stay of execution of the judgment."
Joshua, a self-proclaimed miracle worker and faith healer who counts African presidents and powerful politicians among his flock, has blamed the tragedy on sabotage.
But a series of expert witnesses have told the court that shoddy building work was more likely.
Coroner Oyetade Komolafe told the hearing that he expected Joshua to be present following the high court ruling, which backed his decision to call him to give evidence.
"He is supposed to be here. I would have reminded you by issuing a bench warrant for his arrest but I don't want to do that," Komolafe told Abimbola.
"I want you to now give a date you are bringing him to court."
Lawyer Akinbolahan Adediran, representing the Lagos State government, said they had not been served with the notice of appeal, "so the high court ruling stands".
Meanwhile, Olusegun Oyenuga of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria said its investigation pinpointed structural defects as the cause of the collapse.
"We carried out an analysis and saw that the foundation was undersized," said Oyenuga, whose organisation is the umbrella body for engineers across Nigeria.
"The columns (pillars) and beams were not strong enough. The design of the building was not properly done. In fact, the design was not handled by a qualified structural engineer."
Weak foundations made the building cave in because additional floors were being added to it, he added.
The hearing was adjourned until Friday.
Friday, 6 March 2015
‘Jim Iyke is not the father of Nadia Buari’s twins’
015-03-06 10:04
Lagos - Ghanaian TV host, Vanessa Gyan has said that Nollywood actor Jim Iyke is not the father of Nadia Buari’s twins, reports Nigerian Entertainment Today(NET)
Vanessa Gyan, who hosts the ‘Late Nite Celebrity Show’ in Ghana, revealed that Nadia gave birth in a hospital in Atlanta, USA, in the presence of her mother and brother.
Vanessa claims that Nadia’s fiancé’s identity will not be made known for now.
The TV host stated that Jim Iyke, who was previously engaged to the actress, is not the father.
Another report also states that Nadia met her soon to be husband in the university they both attended.
Read more at NET
Lagos - Ghanaian TV host, Vanessa Gyan has said that Nollywood actor Jim Iyke is not the father of Nadia Buari’s twins, reports Nigerian Entertainment Today(NET)
Vanessa Gyan, who hosts the ‘Late Nite Celebrity Show’ in Ghana, revealed that Nadia gave birth in a hospital in Atlanta, USA, in the presence of her mother and brother.
Vanessa claims that Nadia’s fiancé’s identity will not be made known for now.
The TV host stated that Jim Iyke, who was previously engaged to the actress, is not the father.
Another report also states that Nadia met her soon to be husband in the university they both attended.
Read more at NET
Agbaje begs Igbos not to travel for Easter
The April 11 governorship election comes a week after the Easter celebrations.
Most Igbos in the state are supporters of the PDP.
Agbaje made the appeal on Thursday during his conferment with a chieftaincy title of “Ezi Nwanne Ndigbo 1” (beloved brother of the Igbo) by Eze Cyril Anomneze.
Agbaje promised that the state would be a home to all tribes where no one would be discriminated against.
Read more at The Sun.
Read more on 2015 elections
Jonathan admits APC poses a threat to his re-election
President Goodluck Jonathan. (File: AFP)
He admitted that it will be tougher for him to win the election now than it was in 2011.
Despite the threat, he, however said he was not worried about the possible outcome of the forthcoming presidential election.
President Jonathan, who was answering questions on an African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Kaakaki on Thursday, noted that those who defected from the PDP) gave the APC the strength it currently enjoys.
He stated that if former PDP members were to leave the APC, it would crumble like a pack of cards.
Read more at The Nation.
Read more on 2015 elections
New political party seeks shift in polls dates
Stating its position in Abuja after an emergency meeting on Thursday, the party said the court had ordered INEC to issue it a certificate and include YDP among the parties contesting the 2015 general elections.
Ugo Nwofo, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said the party is ready for the 2015 election.
He noted that INEC has no option than to reprint its ballot papers to accommodate its candidates for elective positions.
Read more at Leadership.
Read more on 2015 elections
Boko Haram kills 74 men, 20 kids for refusing to join group
2015-03-06 13:21
Abuja - Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed 74 men and 20 children for refusing to join the Islamist group, daily Vanguard reported on Friday.
The killings occurred in Njaba in the north-east.
There was no official confirmation of the attack, but a security source said the witness accounts quoted by the paper were credible.
Boko Haram has killed more than 13 000 people since 2009 in Nigeria.
Abuja - Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed 74 men and 20 children for refusing to join the Islamist group, daily Vanguard reported on Friday.
The killings occurred in Njaba in the north-east.
There was no official confirmation of the attack, but a security source said the witness accounts quoted by the paper were credible.
Canada condemns terror attack in Borno
2015-03-06 12:14
Abuja - Canada Foreign Affairs Minister, Rob Nicholson, has voiced his country's outrage at the ongoing terror perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect.
A statement his office made available followed reports of the killing of dozens of civilians in northeastern Nigeria.
“Canada condemns the killings in the town of Njaba in Borno State. On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Nicholson, the Niagara Falls MP, said.
He said his country was outraged.
“We are appalled by the ongoing violence by Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people.”
Abuja - Canada Foreign Affairs Minister, Rob Nicholson, has voiced his country's outrage at the ongoing terror perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect.
A statement his office made available followed reports of the killing of dozens of civilians in northeastern Nigeria.
“Canada condemns the killings in the town of Njaba in Borno State. On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Nicholson, the Niagara Falls MP, said.
He said his country was outraged.
“We are appalled by the ongoing violence by Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people.”
ISIS militants bulldoze ancient Nimrud city – govt
2015-03-06 13:22
Baghdad - Islamic State fighters have looted and bulldozed the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, the government and a local tribal source said.
The destruction at Nimrud came a week after the radical Islamist militants released a video showing them destroying Assyrian era statues and sculptures in the city of Mosul, which they seized in June last year.
"Islamic State members came to the Nimrud archaeological city and looted the valuables in it and then they proceeded to level the site to the ground," the tribal source from near Mosul, where ancient Nimrud is located, told Reuters.
"There used to be statues and walls as well as a castle that Islamic State has destroyed completely."
Iraq's Ministry of Tourism said the Islamic State militants were defying the world with their destruction of antiquities.
"They assaulted the ancient city of Nimrud and bulldozed it with heavy machinery, appropriating the archaeological attractions dating back 13 centuries BC," it said in a statement issued late on Thursday.
Baghdad - Islamic State fighters have looted and bulldozed the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, the government and a local tribal source said.
The destruction at Nimrud came a week after the radical Islamist militants released a video showing them destroying Assyrian era statues and sculptures in the city of Mosul, which they seized in June last year.
"Islamic State members came to the Nimrud archaeological city and looted the valuables in it and then they proceeded to level the site to the ground," the tribal source from near Mosul, where ancient Nimrud is located, told Reuters.
Iraq's Ministry of Tourism said the Islamic State militants were defying the world with their destruction of antiquities.
"They assaulted the ancient city of Nimrud and bulldozed it with heavy machinery, appropriating the archaeological attractions dating back 13 centuries BC," it said in a statement issued late on Thursday.
Father Mbaka hits Jonathan again
Enugu - Fiery Catholic priest and founder of the highly regarded
Enugu-based Adoration Ministries, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has again attacked
President Goodluck Jonathan.
Mbaka in his latest sermon defended his earlier criticism of President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party led government.
He said he stands by his initial criticism of the President.
He said Jonathan and his cohorts know that he is saying the truth, noting that they are angry with him for saying it.
In the video, Mbaka denied ever meeting the presidential candidate of the All progressives Congress APC, Muhammadu Buhari.
He asked all those who have given his church money but are now angry with him to please forward their account details so he can return whatever money they had given to him.
Mbaka in his latest sermon defended his earlier criticism of President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party led government.
He said he stands by his initial criticism of the President.
He said Jonathan and his cohorts know that he is saying the truth, noting that they are angry with him for saying it.
In the video, Mbaka denied ever meeting the presidential candidate of the All progressives Congress APC, Muhammadu Buhari.
He asked all those who have given his church money but are now angry with him to please forward their account details so he can return whatever money they had given to him.
APC youths threaten mass action over Jega's sack
Abuja -Youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the Presidency against the alleged move to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega, reports Thisday.
They threatened to occupy Aso Rock and other major cities in the country if Jega is removed or elections are not held on March 28.
The youth leaders spoke on Thursday during a strategy meeting in Abuja attended by the zonal and state APC youth leaders from across Nigeria.
Shehu Marshal, APC’s youth leader for North-west geopolitical zone, accused the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of interfering with the electoral process.
He noted that the March 28 and April 11 election dates should remain sacrosanct otherwise, APC youths will occupy Aso Rock and other major cities in Nigeria.
Read more at Thisday.
Read more on 2015 elections
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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