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Fashola Declares Support For Oshiomhole As President

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Fashola Declares Support For Oshiomhole As President

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has publicly declared support for his counterpart in Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, to vie for the presidential seat in the 2015 elections.

Fashola made the declaration on Saturday in Benin City at a youth summit organised by the Edo State Government with the theme “Nigeria’s Centenary: Defining the Issues and Setting Agenda for the Future of our Youths.”

His words: “If Governor Adams Oshiomhole decides to run as President of this country, he will have my vote. He is the kind of leader that Nigeria needs.”

Oshiomhole, however, is yet to declare his ambition for the seat.

In his speech, the Edo State governor condemned the revenue sharing formula of the federation, observing that it will not guarantee the dividends of democracy to the people.

“How do we raise the issue of how the promise of democracy can be fully realised, if the federal government continues to pocket 52 percent and ask all the 36 states and the FCT to share 26 percent and the rest to be shared by 774 Local Government Areas?” he queried.

He also appealed to Nigerian youths not to give up on the nation in spite of the many visible challenges, but urged them to be nation builders, stressing that only Nigerians can build Nigeria.

“I do not think it is helpful for us to question whether Nigeria is a reality. So I ask you as young people to recognise that every country has its own share of problems and none of those problems can be resolved because the people have perfected the act of lamentation,’ he said.

The guest speaker at the accession was Toyosi Akerele. Other speakers include former Trade Union Congress, TUC, President, Peter Esele, human right activist, Joe Okei-Odumakin, controversial lawyer, Festus Keyamo and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Abdulwaheed Omar who was represented by Kiri Mohammed.

Nigeria To Eradicate Polio In 2014

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Nigeria To Eradicate Polio In 2014

The Nigerian government is set to eradicate polio disease from the country by the end of 2014.

The minister of health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, who disclosed this at a two-day meeting in Kaduna of all high-risk polio local government areas in the North, State, said the federal government will partner with leading stakeholders in order to achieve fast results.

“Nigeria’s impressive performance on polio eradication in 2012 and 2013 provided a clear indicator that Nigeria would end polio transmission at the end of this year,” he said.

The executive director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ado Muhammad, commended the efforts of all stakeholders in restricting polio virus to just few local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Kano states.

“These laudable achievements had been acknowledged by the international community,” he said.

The low performing local governments had been identified to be 42 in all, spread across 10 northern states which include: Kano with 14 LGAs, Sokoto (10), Kaduna (five), Borno (four), Katsina (three), Bauchi (two), Kebbi (two), Yobe (two), Niger (one) and Zamfara (one).

I Will Never Return To PDP – Gov Nyako

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I Will Never Return To PDP – Gov Nyako

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa on Friday said he would not return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP despite the resignation of Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the party.

Nyako made his stand known when he interacted with newsmen at Yola International Airport, Adamawa at the weekend.

“The resignation of Bamanga Tukur is not a condition of my return to PDP,” he said.

Speaking further, he said: “Some of my reasons for not returning are that the party has became an empire of impunity and lawlessness.”

He said his decision to remain in APC was not for personal interest but in the interest of the country and democracy.

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Entries Open For 2014 One World Media Awards

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Entries Open For 2014 One World Media Awards

One World Media, a non-profit organisation that promotes media coverage of global issues, is accepting entries for its 2014 media awards that span 13 categories.

The awards will feature two new categories – the Corruption Reporting Award, sponsored by Transparency International, and the Short Film Award.

The goal of the Corruption Reporting Award is to highlight and encourage the coverage of corruption around the world for and seeks to honour journalists who bring the abuses of entrusted power to light.

All entries must be written or subtitled in English language and attracts a fee. Multiple entries for any of the various categories are allowed, but a separate entry form, entry fee and copies of media and synopsis will be required for each.

The awards cover broadcast, radio, TV, print and web reports.

For more information on eligibility and how to enter please contact One World Media.

South African Cop Arrested For Conspiring To Kill Colleagues

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South African Cop Arrested For Conspiring To Kill Colleagues

South African police have arrested an intelligence officer for allegedly providing hit-men with software to trace their targets associated with investigating Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir.

The arrest of the female police officer brings to five the number of people now in custody in connection with an alleged plot to kill private forensic investigator Paul O’ Sullivan and crime intelligence officer Colonel Nkosana ‘Killer’ Ximba.

Police say they have received additional information that the alleged plotters were planning to kill the entire special task team investigating Krejcir on charges including assault and kidnapping.

The police’s Solomon Makgale says they confiscated nine cell phones from the arrested woman who is expected to appear in court soon.

“We are making very good progress with our investigations, which led us to the arrests. The person arrested is a sergeant who is employed in the crime intelligence division of the South African Police Service,” Makgale told Eye Witness News.

The four suspects arrested last week have been charged with armed robbery, hijacking, conspiracy to commit murder, theft and possession of a suspected stolen vehicle as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

They were arrested in Sandton and Rivonia in Johannesburg, appeared in the Alexandra Magistrates Court on Monday and will be back in the same court next week.

Terrorism Must Be Defeated – Jonathan

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Terrorism Must Be Defeated – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has called for sustained efforts in 2014 through dialogue and other means to check the rising spate of terrorism around the world, stressing that peace was requisite for development.

Jonathan made the call at an annual cocktail organised for members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

“Until terrorism is wiped out, no world leader should sleep. In Nigeria, terrorism is a menace that must be defeated. The scourge has become many faceted,” he said.

The President noted that as preparations for the 2015 elections hit top gear, there is bound to be apprehensions and tension, referring to the recent disturbance of peace in Borno State, but added that these will all fizzle out as the year unfolds.

“As we progress into the year, some of these tensions will calm down. At the beginning of the electoral processes in most countries, especially developing nations, tensions use to be quite high even in developed countries. That is what we are witnessing now, but all these will calm down. We will make sure that we maintain peace and security and that elections are conducted in the manner that will be seen as free and fair by everybody,” Jonathan said.

“The general elections will take place early next year but the processes that will lead to the elections will commence this year. Parties will select their candidate through primaries this year, campaigns will commence this year, so this year will be full of activities,” he added.

He also called on the international community to support Nigeria in achieving a freer and fairer election next year and thanked the acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Olumba Kumba, who promised that some of the organisations and countries that assisted the country during the 2011 elections will render the same assistance again.

Red Cross Warns Of Massive Catastrophe In CAR

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Red Cross Warns Of Massive Catastrophe In CAR

The Central African Republic, CAR, is on the brink of “a massive humanitarian catastrophe,” the Red Cross warned on Friday.

Violence between Muslims and Christians, which broke out after a coup in March, has killed hundreds of people and displaced one million in the diamond and gold rich nation.

In spite of the ongoing conflict, Muslim Seleka fighters released 23 children from their forces into the care of the UN children’s fund.

Among the child soldiers, aged between 14 and 17 years, are six girls, UNICEF said on Friday, adding that many more have been identified for release in the coming days.

The relentless sectarian violence of the past months has “put children at much higher risk of recruitment,” said UNICEF CAR representative Souleymane Diabete.

There are about 6,000 child soldiers in CAR, a small nation of 4.4 million people, the UN estimates, while about half of the population needs humanitarian aid due to the 10-month conflict.

Hospitals have now ran out of drugs, food supply is scarce and the displaced lack access to shelter and proper sanitation, Red Cross president in CAR, Antoine Mbao Bogo, said in a statement.

“All signs are showing that the country is on the edge of a massive humanitarian catastrophe,” said Mbao Bogo, calling the conflict “a silent disaster” that has not received sufficient international attention and support.

While the humanitarian situation in the capital, Bangui, is “very difficult,” according to Mbao Bogo, “in the countryside it is becoming unbearable.”

He also warned that the conflict is destroying CAR’s fragile economy and agricultural sector, making the recovery difficult.

Meanwhile, CAR’s provisional parliament is in the process of electing a new leadership, after transitional president Michel Djotodia stepped down last Friday for failing to stop the violence.

The country has been experiencing a humanitarian crisis since Djotodia’s Seleka coalition rose up against the government in December 2012 and overthrew President Francois Bozize, a Christian, in March.

The nation is currently secured by 3,500 AU peacekeepers and 1,600 French troops.

South Sudan Talks: Machar Insists That Ugandan Forces Leave

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South Sudan Talks: Machar Insists That Ugandan Forces Leave

The delegation of South Sudan’s former vice-president, Riek Machar, attending the Addis Ababa peace talks has said that Uganda must stop supporting government forces as a major condition for signing a ceasefire to end fighting in the nation.

Spokesman for the delegation, Mabior Garang, said: “These are sticking points that the government does not want to move away from.”

The peace talks are being sponsored by the regional African body IGAD in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni admitted for the first time Thursday night that he was helping South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, to fight the rebel forces.

Ugandan officials had earlier denied taking any part in combat, insisting their troops were evacuating stranded Ugandans and helping protect the airport and the presidential palace in South Sudan’s capital Juba.

Kampala’s military involvement has annoyed Ethiopia, which is hosting the peace talks aimed at ending the fighting between Kiir’s forces and supporters of Machar.

Civilian JTF Warns Politicians Against Violence In Borno

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Civilian JTF Warns Politicians Against Violence In Borno

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Borno Youth Vigilante Association popularly known as Civilian JTF, has warned political parties in the state to caution their youth wings and political associates against actions that would disturb the peace currently being enjoyed in the region.

This is in view of the recent acts of violence carried out by discontented youths, the latest being the Tuesday suicide bombing that took place in Maiduguri, the state capital, which claimed at least 30 lives and injured another 50 persons.

Before the bombing, youths in the state on two separate occasions had pelted the incumbent governor Kashim Shettima and his predecessor, Ali Modu Sheriff, with stones and other objects.

Shortly after the explosion on Saturday, Sheriff’s campaign house was also torched by protesting youths and several vehicles bearing his posters were vandalised.

The vigilante group has however warned that it would not hesitate to hunt down these youths which it described as political thugs with the same willpower with which it is going after terrorists in the state and advised those involved in the recent violence to keep the peace.

Legal adviser of the sssociation, Jibrin Gunda, who spoke on its behalf, said: “We appeal to political parties in the state to call their youth wings or thugs from taking laws into their hands. We will not condone any segment of the society who wants to take the laws into their hands”.

He called on the people of Maiduguri and its environs to continue to support the vigilante in the task of assisting security agencies in protecting lives and properties, adding that the recent pockets of renewed violence in the state will not deter them from carrying out their responsibilities.

Gunda maintained that the civilian JTF will remain determined and focused towards achieving its goal of restoring peace to the state and  called on the authorities to lift the curfew presently imposed in the state to enable their members patrol the streets for 24 hours.

Court Grants Bail To Convicted LG Chairman

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Court Grants Bail To Convicted LG Chairman

A Federal High Court in Kogi State has granted bail to a former chairman of Adavi Local Government Council, Enesi Jimoh, whom it had earlier convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine, for criminal misappropriation of public fund.

The presiding judge, Justice I. E Ekwo, had on November 13, 2013 found Jimoh guilty of converting N7 million belonging to the council to personal use.

However, upon his conviction, the former council boss, through his counsel Olu Agunbiade, filed an appeal seeking a review of his conviction before the trial judge.

Agunbiade wrote to the prison authorities in Koton-Karfe demanding the health status of the accused person following which the prison authorities took Jimoh to a specialist hospital where he was allegedly diagnosed of lung cancer.

The defence lawyer presented to the court a letter from the prison authorities, stating that the hospital did not have facilities to treat lung cancer and therefore prayed the court to grant his client bail on health grounds

Counsel to EFCC, Wahab Shittu, strongly opposed the application on the grounds that it would amount to aiding a convict dodge serving a sentence.

Wahab also told the court that the presumption of innocence was no longer available to the convict having been convicted and sentenced.

Shittu assured that the state will give adequate medical attention to the convict even if it means sending him abroad for treatment.

However, in a controversial ruling, Justice Ekwo granted the convict bail in the sum of N15million and one surety in like sum.

The EFCC , a source in the commission has said, will appeal the court ruling.

 

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