Home Blog Page 4220

Jonathan’s Visit To Kwara, Gov. Ahmed Warns Residents Against Lawlessness

Mohammed Useni
-
0
Jonathan’s Visit To Kwara, Gov. Ahmed Warns Residents Against Lawlessness

NAN

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Friday in Ilorin called on politicians and their supporters in the state to avoid acts capable of disrupting the peace during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday.

The governor made the appeal in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyiddeen Akorede.

The governor urged all residents of the state to conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully at all times.

The governor said President Jonathan would be accorded all courtesies befitting his office

“As a peace loving administration, we urge all to keep the peace, be lawful, and avoid any action or utterance capable of rupturing our reputation for harmony”, Ahmed said.

The governor said that regardless of political affiliation, our people must remain mindful of the rule of law and shun all actions that contravene the law, especially the maintenance of public order.

Also the PDP in Kwara said it had constituted 140-member Committee to ensure the successful hosting of President Goodluck Jonathan on March 3.

Chairman of the Interim Committee of the party in Kwara, Chief Solomon Edoja, announced this at a news conference in Ilorin on Friday.

Edoja said the 140 members were in seven sub groups of 20 members each. The groups are transport, health, social welfare, accommodation, venue, reception and security

He said members had been working round the clock to ensure successful hosting of the President.

The chairman added that Kwara Government had approved the use of the Cosmopolitan Square in IIorin for the reception.

Edoja described the visit as a rare opportunity, saying that “it would mark the commencement of freedom for the people of the state.’’

He described PDP as a universal party capable of directing the affairs of other countries in Africa.

The interim chairman urged residents of the state to come out en masse and give a rousing reception to the President.

Edoja said that the party in Kwara had set up Elders Committee to ensure that all members were given adequate welfare.

He warned against damaging billboards of President Jonathan in some parts of the state, describing the action as treason.

He said the party got the approval of the state signage and advertisement agency before erecting the billboards in any part of the state.

The temporary secretariat of the party on Zango Road, Ilorin, was like a beehive in preparation for the presidential visit.

Centenary Unites Nigeria’s Fmr Head Of Govt, Obasanjo, Buhari, IBB, Others Bag Awards

Mohammed Useni
-
0
Centenary Unites Nigeria’s Fmr Head Of Govt, Obasanjo, Buhari, IBB, Others Bag Awards

NAN

Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday decorated seven living former Nigerian Heads of State and Presidents with the centenary awards.

The centenary anniversary awards night and dinner, during which 100 recipients were decorated, was held at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa.

The decorated leaders are Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Others are Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar.

Six late Nigerian Heads of State were honoured post-humously.

The recipients of the post-humous award are Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, Gen. Sani Abacha and Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua.
Also in the category is the presumed winner of the June 1993 general election, late Chief Moshood Abiola.

The President decorated the representatives of the late leaders among whom is Mrs Maryam Abacha.

Also the centenary awards are in 13 categories with winners both living and dead.

The first are those who have contributed to the making of Nigeria and they include Queen Elizabeth II of England, Lord Fredrick Lugard and his wife, Lady Lugard,

The second category is the Heroes of the Struggle for independence/Pioneer political leaders which include Azikiwe, Balewa, Macaulay and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Others in the category are Sir Ahmadu Bello, Prof Eyo Ita, Jaja Nwachukwu, Pa Michael Imoudu, Chief Anthony Enahoro and Chief Joseph Tarka.

The rest are Malam Aminu Kano, Mrs Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Hajia Gambo Sawaba.

The third category is the Pioneers in professional Callings/careers which include the first indigenous lawyer, Chief Sapara Williams, and the first indigenous Solicitor, Chief Rotimi Williams.

The categories also include the first indigenous Chartered Accountant, Chief Akintola Williams, and the first indigenous Inspector General of Police, Louis Edet, and the first indigenous medical doctor, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo,

Also in the categories are the first female Vice Chancelor of Nigerian universities, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, and the first indigenous female pilot,.Capt. Chinyere Kalu.

Others include Akinwale Wey, Gen. George, Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, Tamunoiyowunam, Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed, Prof. Kenneth Dike, and Gen. Oviemo Ovadje.

The fourth category is Pioneer in Commerce and Industry, which has Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alh. Alhassan Dantata and Chief Adeola Odutola.

Awardees under Pioneer of Democratic Transition in Nigeria are Shagari, late Abiola, late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua and Abdusalami Abubakar.
The sixth category is the Heroes in Global Sports Competitions which are Chioma Ajunwa, Nwankwo Kanu, Richard Ihetu, Chief Michael Okpala (Power Mike) and Monday Emoghavwe.

The seventh category is Accomplished Pioneer Public Servants and the awardees include Chief Olabode Wey, Justice Udo Udoma, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Sir Adetokubo Ademola.

Others are Dr Olawale Elias, Dr Rilwan Lukman, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki and Alh. Aliyu Mai-Borno.

The awardess under category eight, which are the Accomplished Temporary Entrepreneurs, are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga and Dr innocent Chukwuma.

The ninth category is Distinguished Academics and the recipients include Profs. Benjamin Osuntokun, . Kelsey Harrison, Chike Obi, Dagogo Fubara, Ade Ajayi, Claude Ake, Babatunde Fafunwa, Godwin Abasi and Umaru Shehu.

The 10th category is International Acclaimed Artists, Literary Icons and Journalists and the recipients include Chief Michael Akinwumi, Profs. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and John Pepper Clark.

The recipients also include Mr Cyprian Ekwensi, Alhaji Abubakar Imam, Mr Daniel Fagunwa, Ernest Ikoli, Alhaji Babatunde Jose and Kenneth Nnebue.

The category also has Olu Jacobs, Patience Ozokwor, Shata Katsina, Herbert Ogunde, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Osita Osadebe and Dr Ladi Kwali.

Others are Benedict Enwonwu, Alhaji Maitama Sule, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, Dr Barnabas Oloruntoba and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Maryam Mukhtar.

The 11th category is Outstanding Bravery and Public Spiritedness and the beneficiaries are Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Michael Ihuka,.

The 12th category is Outstanding Promoters of Unity, Patriotism and National development and in the category are former Heads of State and Presidents.

The recipients are Gowon, late Gen. Murtala Mohammed, Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida, Shonekan, Gen. Sani Abacha, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, and Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.

The last category is Exemplary Service in the Promotion of Peace and Moral Excellence and the recipients are Sir Abubakar Sadiq, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, Michael Tansi, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Sheikh Usman Bauchi.

Tough Anti-Gay Law, World Bank Suspends $90m Loan To Uganda

Mohammed Useni
-
1
Tough Anti-Gay Law, World Bank Suspends $90m Loan To Uganda

The World Bank has postponed a $90m (£54m) loan to Uganda over its tough anti-gay law, which has drawn criticism from around the world.

World Bank officials said they wanted to guarantee the projects the loan was destined to support were not going to be adversely affected by the law.

The loan was intended to boost Uganda’s health services.

Ugandan government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said the World Bank “should not blackmail its members”.

The law, enacted on Monday, strengthens already strict legislation relating to homosexuals.

It allows life imprisonment as the penalty for acts of “aggravated homosexuality” and also criminalises the “promotion of homosexuality”.

The law has been sharply criticised by the West, with donors such as Denmark and Norway saying they would redirect aid away from the government to aid agencies.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has called the law “atrocious”. Both he and South African Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu compared it to anti-Semitic laws in Nazi Germany or apartheid South Africa.

A spokesman for the World Bank said: “We have postponed the project for further review to ensure that the development objectives would not be adversely affected by the enactment of this new law.”
The loan was supposed to be approved on Thursday to supplement a 2010 loan that focused on maternal health, newborn care and family planning.

The World Bank’s action is the largest financial penalty incurred on the Ugandan authorities since the law went into force.

In an editorial for the Washington Post, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim warned that legislation restricting sexual rights “can hurt a country’s competitiveness by discouraging multinational companies from investing or locating their activities in those nations”.

He said the World Bank would discuss how such discrimination “would affect our projects and our gay and lesbian staff members”.

In his view, he adds, fighting “to eliminate all institutionalised discrimination is an urgent task”.

But Opondo said not everything the West said was correct and there should be mutual respect for sovereign states.

“There was a time when the international community believed slave trade and slavery was cool, that colonialism was cool, that coups against African governments was cool,” he told the BBC.

“I think the best way forward is constructive engagement but… I think Uganda and Africa in general should stand up to this blackmail.”

President Yoweri Museveni signed the anti-gay bill earlier this week, despite international criticism.

Ugandan authorities have defended the decision, saying President Museveni wanted “to demonstrate Uganda’s independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation”.

Uganda is a very conservative society, where many people oppose homosexuality.

Content Credit: BBC

Boko Haram: Adamawa College Of Education Shutdown, Students Asked To Go Home

Mohammed Useni
-
0
Boko Haram: Adamawa College Of Education Shutdown, Students Asked To Go Home

Following the series of threats and rumors that the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram will be targeting the College of Education, Hong, in Adamawa.

The Provost of the college, Dr Johnson Pongri, has directed the closure of the institution in a news conference in Yola Friday.

Pongri said the move was based on the advice of the Military Task Force in the area as the school had been receiving threat letters by unknown persons who claimed to be members of the Boko Haram, he noted.

Students were seen hurrying out with their bags and scrambling for vehicles to get to motor parks for journeys to their homes.

The state Governor, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa had on Friday visited Michika and Shuwa towns to sympathise with victims of Wednesday attack by insurgents but fled as his convoy was reportedly attacked by the sects.

With the closure of the College of Education, Hong, in Adamawa, the sect group that is against western education would have succeeded in driving home their points.

This week, a government secondary school was attacked leaving 59 boys killed and young girls abducted.

The Nigerian government has said it is wining the war against terrorism but more residents of the North- East believe is needed to be done as Nigerians now flee to neighbouring Niger Republic for succor.

2 Men Sentenced To 17years In Prison For Stealing Gov. Aregbesola’s Cell Phone

Mohammed Useni
-
0
2 Men Sentenced To 17years In Prison For Stealing Gov. Aregbesola’s Cell Phone

NAN

Osogbo High Court has sentenced Babatunde Ogunjobi, 33, and Abdulgafar Yusuf, 39, to 10 and seven years imprisonment respectively for stealing Gov. Rauf Aregbesola’s cell phone and duping with it.

Justice Saka Falola, who gave the verdict on Friday, said the convicts should serve the 17 years at the Federal Prison, Ilesa, because of the gravity of the offences.

The accused were convicted on charges of conspiracy, stealing and impersonation.

Aregbesola’s phone (Sony Ericson) valued N50,000, was stolen on Nov. 27, 2010 at Technical College sports ground in Osogbo.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr Dapo Adeniji, had told the court that Yusuf, a prison warder, stole the phone.

“He connived with Babatunde at Osun State Technical College, Osogbo, to defraud one Shenge Rahman of N200,000 with the phone on May 24, 2011.

“The two also defrauded the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, of N500,000 on June 3, 2011with the stolen phone, number 08039404966, claiming to be the Governor of Osun.

“They pretended to be Aregbesola, demanding some huge amount of money from the complainants on several occasions.

“It was when the information got to the governor that they were both apprehended with the help of operatives of the Directorate of State Security, Osun’’, Adeniji said.

He said the offences contravened sections 1c 3, 8c, 484 and 390 of the Criminal Code cap 34, Vol.11, Laws of Osun, 2002 and 2006.

Adeniji commended the judgment, adding that justice had taken its course.

Counsel to the convicts, Mr Akin Ladipo, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Nigerian Men Arrested For Having Sex With Goat Claims He Sought The Consent Of The Animal

Mohammed Useni
-
0
Nigerian Men Arrested For Having Sex With Goat Claims He Sought The Consent Of The Animal

According to NigeriaMasterWeb, a 20-year-old Nigerian man identified as Malam Kamisu Baranda, was arrested for having sex with a goat in Baranda forest, in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. He was handed over to Jigawa State Police Command by his village head for the bestiality act of which he said he sought permission from the animal before engaging in.

Baranda was arraigned in court and the judge ordered him remanded in prison for two weeks while the case was investigated. The accused urged the court to set him free because the goat belonged to him and he sought the animal’s consent before engaging in the act. He said he had engaged in sex with animals “over 10 times” because it “satisfied his demand”, but had never previously been arrested. He said he took goats into the forest near his home to ‘avoid embarrassment’ and did not know it was an offence to have sex with them.

 

Mourinho Displeased With Congested Fixture Schedule

Mohammed Useni
-
0
Mourinho Displeased With Congested Fixture Schedule

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is not pleased with the Premier League fixture schedule and claims that a lack of rest has life difficult for his players

Chelsea is currently gearing up to to play Fulham on Saturday in what will be their third game in the space of eight days after facing Galatasary in Turkey this midweek

“We all prefer to play game after game after game – but we all want to play game after game after game with equal conditions for every team,” 

“Every team in the same country has the same privilege to be a little bit protected in relation to European matches.

“It makes the players’ job difficult – not my job. I don’t play. I could play a match every day and it’s not problem for me or the people who make the fixtures,” Mourinho said

Chelsea’s vice-captain, Frank Lampard had asked the Premier League to work on the schedule of teams returning from midweek fixtures in Europe. Mourinho was quick to defend Lamp’s comments:

“Frank Lampard has a right to speak. He’s played an unbelievable number of seasons with this club,” 

“He’s played more than 100 matches with the England side. He’s not a man that normally speaks a lot. He’s not the kind of player who is trying to show an opinion.

“When a player like him, and a man like him, express his feelings like that I think this country should listen

“It’s not a problem for my legs, it’s not a problem for legs of people who make this decision, it’s the players’ legs.”

“I am nobody and my legs are fresh after the last match. I didn’t sleep a lot but my legs are fresh. For players, it’s different.”

UEFA Hands Pellegrini Two Match Suspension Over Champions League Post-Match Comments

Mohammed Useni
-
0
UEFA Hands Pellegrini Two Match Suspension Over Champions League Post-Match Comments

Manager of Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini will serve a two-game touchline suspension in Europe for criticising referee Jonas Eriksson after Manchester City’s Champions League lost to Spanish giants, Barcelona.

An additional one-game sanction has been suspended for two years.

After Man City lost 0-2 to Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, a match which saw City’s Martin Demichelis was sent off, Mancini had this to say about the Swedish official:

“Of course I have a complaint, not only for the penalty and the red card,” 

“I think in the whole match we didn’t have a referee with impartiality to both teams.”

Pellegrini went on to apologize afterwards but that could not save him from suspension as he will not be on the bench when his side faces the Spanish Chamipons at Camp Nou on the 12th of March as he will not be allowed to communicate directly or indirectly with his players or coaching staff during the game.

Two Lives Lost As Fifty Houses Are Left In Flames In Fresh Plateau Attack

Mohammed Useni
-
0
Two Lives Lost As Fifty Houses Are Left In Flames In Fresh Plateau Attack

Fresh attacks were launched on villages in Riyom & Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State yesterday leaving about 5o hours razed and two members of a family dead. The killings were at Diniyam-Rim of Riyom Local Government. There was another raid on Rakok and Razat in Barakin Ladi Local Government Area.

So many houses abandoned as a result of previous attacks were burnt too as harvested crops and properties were set ablaze too

Mr Daniel Dem who represents Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly  confirmed the killings.

He revealed that the two family members who were killed were sleeping in an isolated building when they were shot. Two other members of the family were left injured.

The Interim Chairman of Barkin Ladi LG, Mr. Habila Dung has also confirmed the attack on the villages in the early hours of Thursday.

Upcoming CONFAB: Igbo Leaders Seeks Secession & Self Determination Rights

Mohammed Useni
-
0
Upcoming CONFAB: Igbo Leaders Seeks Secession & Self Determination Rights

Some Igbo leaders led by lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze have presented a paper which would guide Igbo delegates at the proposed National conference. Yesterday, two booklets titled: “The Position of the Igbo Nation at the National Conference for a Renegotiated Constitution” . The booklets were compiled by respected Igbo leaders. Prof Ben Nwabueze apologized on behalf of former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme who had rejected the nominations to lead Igbo delegates to the proposed national conference.

Professor Nwabueze cited old age and the quest to get younger ones more involved as a reason for the opting out. The booklet strongly proposes the inclusion of the right of secession or self determination in the new constitution.

Professor Nwabueze told newsmen in Enugu that they advocated for the right of the zones to form the basis for the federating units as well as the rights of self determination, including the right to secede.
Nwabueze revealed that while he is 83, Ekwueme is 81 or 82 years of age, and noted that they had both been involved in previous constitutional conferences.

“But we also agreed that we owe a duty to Ndigbo, that we are not going to abandon our people. That we are not going to be delegates sitting in the hall exposed, taking all abuses, bombardments, but we will stand behind; our role should be that of guidance.,” he said.

While summarizing the contents of the presented booklet, Nwabueze said that Ndigbo are asking for the inclusion of the right of secession or self determination in the new constitution, the establishment of regional or state police among other suggestions

“In this document we are proposing the rights of the zones as the federating unit to self determination, including the right to secession… the Yorubas have already accepted it, they are coming to the conference with this. Its part of the law of the country already because the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, says that all people shall have an unquestionable and inalienable rights to self determination.
“It is part of the law of this country already because I know that we have already enacted a law, the National Assembly enacted a law incorporating the African Charter as part of domestic law of Nigeria. This is the only international treaty that has been incorporated as part of our domestic law.
“So it’s nothing new; all that we are now saying is that it should be elevated from being part of the ordinary law of the country into a right enshrined in the constitution, that’s all that we are saying now,” he explained.

Bishop Kukah Expresses Sadness Over Killing Of Yobe Students

Mohammed Useni
-
0

Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, on Friday expressed sadness over the killing of 29 students of Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi in Yobe.

Kukah, in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto, described the incident as unfortunate.

He called on the federal government to work out security methods to end the senseless killings in the country.

While condoling with the families of the deceased, Kukah called for prayers for God’s intervention in all the affairs of the country.

He said the prayers would help the country to overcome the present security challenge facing the nation.

“We should all turn to God in all that we do irrespective of religious differences for peace, progress and political growth of our country’’, he said.

Fire Disaster Averted At NNPC Mega Station

Mohammed Useni
-
0

NAN
The timely intervention of officials of Federal and FCT Fire Service averted what would have been a major fire disaster at NNPC Mega Station on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Central, Abuja on Friday.

An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred at 8 a.m. when a petrol tanker carrying fuel fell at the station spilling fuel on the ground.

An eyewitness told NAN that the incident occurred at about 8 a.m. when the driver of the vehicle, with registration number XA 591F SK, was trying to reverse into the station to discharge petrol.

NAN correspondent reports that the vehicle fell into a low area of land beside the station where kerosene is sold to members of the public.

The eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity said, “whether it was as a result of brake failure I don’t know, but the driver lost control of the vehicle.’’

“He was able to jump out before the vehicle fell.

“We thank God that people have not gathered to buy kerosene as at the time of the incident, otherwise, it would have been a different story.’’

NAN further reports that no causality was recorded but the development led to motorists, who queued to buy fuel fleeing the area with their cars for safety.

When NAN visited the scene at about noon, fire fighters and officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were seen trying to remove the vehicle.

Men of the Nigeria Police Force were at the scene to condone off the lane adjoining the station to prevent vehicles from plying the road.

Mr Samuel Ogbonna, the Principal Fire Inspector from the Federal Fire Service, told NAN that the service received distress call at about 8 a.m.

“We arrived few minutes later and as you can see, our men are wetting the truck and the ground it to prevent ignition,’’ he said.

Officials of the NNPC present at the scene declined comment, but one them, who declined to give his identity, said everything was under control.

NAN reports that the incident came barely two months after fire gutted the same filling station on Dec. 19, 2013.

On Dec. 5, 2013, Conoil Filling Station, opposite the NNPC headquarters, Abuja, went up in flames as an articulated vehicle was discharging 33,000 litres of petrol.

1...4,2194,2204,221...4,398Page 4,220 of 4,398