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Coalition Of Political Parties Denies Participating In Yobe LG Polls

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Coalition Of Political Parties Denies Participating In Yobe LG Polls

The Coalition of the Political Parties in Yobe State has denied taking part in the December 28 local government election held in the state, calling it a huge fraud and demanding for a published apology from the government within 72 hours or face legal action.

In a statement signed by its caretaker committee chairman, Adamu Muhammed Babangida, the coalition said what happened during the local government election was a farce and a ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to hoodwink citizens into believing that all is well in the state.

“No such election ever took place in Yobe state and any sensible person can attest to the fact that where there exist a state of emergency declared because of insecurity, no politicking or voting process will take place unless and if the state of emergency lifted,” Babangida said.

He expressed disappointment over the insincerity of the Ibrahim Gaidam – led administration, noting that in reports published in the media which were credited to Yobe state government that 10 political parties participated in the elections were false.

“For avoidance of doubt, none of us either purchased or filled nomination forms nor returned same to any agent of the electoral commission. It is in line with the lies against us and deliberate attempt at tarnishing our good names and image. We hereby disassociate ourselves from these publications,” he stated.

Babangida declared that eight parties including the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Labour Party, LP, Nigeria Peoples Congress, NPC, Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, Peoples Mandate Party, PMP, Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were not part of the election into 17 local government areas of the state.

The coalition threatened legal battle with the state government if an apology is not published through the same media that published the erroneous reports within 72 hours.

While declaring the results of the council polls, the chairman of the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, YBSIEC, Mohammed Jauro Abdu, said that candidates of the ruling party in the state, the APC won all the contested chairmanship and councillorship seats.

He, however, stated that the PDP had indicated it would boycott the elections without citing any reason.

“I cannot tell you why PDP opted out of the race, but I am sure they have been with us in all arrangements and we cannot question their decision”.

Yobe, is one of the three states under emergency rule, which the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega said might not be safe enough for polls in 2015.

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Nasarawa Workers Go On Indefinite Strike

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Nasarawa Workers Go On Indefinite Strike

By Godwin Ojoshimite

Civil servants in Nasarawa State under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, have embarked on an indefinite strike action to demand payment of leave grants and the approval of pending promotions.

The workers communicated their demands to the state government and issued a 14-day ultimatum to the on December 23, 2013 which elapsed January 5, 2014.

They had threatened an industrial faceoff if their demands were not met before the expiration of the ultimatum.

The state government on January 3, 2014 issued a letter approving only pending promotions without payment of leave grants, an offer which was rejected by the labour unions which urged members to embark on the planned strike.

When our reporter visited some of the state ministries in Lafia, the capital on Monday, they were under lock though some workers were seen under the trees discussing their fate.

Efforts to speak with the head of service of the state Domick Bako, proved abortive as he did not pick his calls.

No Plot To Stage Coup In Thailand – Army

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No Plot To Stage Coup In Thailand – Army

Thai army on Monday dismissed rumours of an imminent military coup to overthrow caretaker government, given unusual movement of troops, tanks and combat gear on the northern outskirts of Bangkok.

First Infantry Division Commander, Varah Boonyasit, a major-general, explained that a dozen battalion of troops, tanks, army vehicles and ammunition were being transported to the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok to prepare for a parade for January 18, the Thai Armed Forces Day.

He said the troops and tanks which will join in the annual parade are coming from the Second Infantry Division in Prachinburi province, the 31st Infantry Regiment in Lopburi province, the 21st Infantry Regiment in Chonburi province and the Cavalry Center in Saraburi province.

“This year’s parade will feature army vehicles in addition to the troops. Military attaches from varied embassies have been invited to view the ceremony which will be held in honour of Army Chief, Gen. Prayudh Chan-ocha and Supreme Commander, Gen. Tanasak Patimapakorn, who will retire at the end of September 2014,” he said.

Boonyasit stressed that such activity is no preparations for a military coup as is illogically being rumoured and urged members of the public not to entertain any fear.

The caretaker government, headed by the Premier, Yingluck Shinawatra, is still battling with a planned “Bangkok shutdown” by anti- government protesters led by former Deputy Premier, Suthep Thaugsuban and former Democrat Party legislators on January 13.

They planned to occupy major Bangkok intersections, cut off power and water supply at government premises as well as the residences of the caretaker cabinet ministers and paralyse road traffic, especially in downtown area.

Many analysts believe this is a bid to force the military’s hand and prevent voters from heading to polls slated for February 2.
Since the end of absolute monarchist rule in the 1930s, there have been 18 coups and 23 junta governments in Thailand.

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Village Head, Six Others Nabbed For Illegal Arms Sales In Kaduna

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Village Head, Six Others Nabbed For Illegal Arms Sales In Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command on Saturday in Kaduna paraded seven suspected members of a gunrunning syndicate involved in the manufacture, sale and repair of locally made guns.

The state police commissioner, Olufemi Adenaike, said that the suspected gun-runners were arrested following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Adenaike said that seven suspects, including Aliyu Yahaya, the village head of Sabon Gidan, Kakau, in Chikun local government area of the state, were arrested in an operation.

He said that investigations are still going on with a view to arresting other members of the syndicate and called for more support from the public in form of furnishing security agents with useful information that would aid efforts to safeguard the state against terrorism and other crimes.

Speaking to newsmen, Yahaya, who was accused of harbouring some of the suspects and being in illegal possession of guns, confessed his complicity in the crime, saying that he regretted his action.

The village head said that he bought the gun from one Mohammed Shuaibu for N150,000 to enable him to protect his household against the menace of armed robbers and assailants.

He said that Shuaibu told him that the gun was licensed, adding that he paid him half of the price with a pledge to pay the balance when all the gun’s registration documents were given to him.

Also speaking, Shuaibu, 45, confessed that he had been arrested by the police before in connection with illegal possession of arms.

He said that he had jettisoned the gunrunning business for over two and a half years before Yahaya contacted him to procure a gun for him.

He said that that he usually bought guns from his tailor, Mohammed Abdullahi, 55, who himself admitted that he had been in the gunrunning business for quite some time and that he usually purchased guns from a Nigerien (now at large) for subsequent sales to his customers.

He attributed his involvement in the crime to economic hardship, saying that he had three wives, 21 children and another nine children left behind by his deceased son, to cater for.

Traffic Marshal Suspended for Collecting N15, 000 Bribe

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Traffic Marshal Suspended for Collecting N15, 000 Bribe

Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Edo State transpprt commissioner, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, has ordered the suspension of an official of the state traffic management agency, for demanding and accepting N15, 000 bribe from a traffic offender.

Omo-Ojo who disclosed this in Benin while addressing officials of the agency during the weekly drill at the ministry’s headquarters, said the measure became imperative after several complaints and was taken to serve as warning to other officials of the against extortion of motorists.

“Right now, I have just ordered the suspension of one officer for taking a bribe of N15,000 from an offending motorist who drove against traffic, I am warning other officers to desist from such act,” he said.

The commissioner added that search is still ongoing for the bribe giving motorist and that when found he would be arrested and prosecuted for traffic violation and for bribing a government official.

Omo-Ojo who later led a team of officials from the agency on road traffic monitoring, impounded about 40 commercial vehicles yet to comply with the state government’s directive to paint their vehicles with the approved colour code.

“We have been sensitizing the public and concerned transport unions on government order on the uniform colour code for buses and taxis, and government gave a deadline of December 31, 2013. Yet as of today, you can still see defaulters which account for the reason for these impounded vehicles,” he said.

Owners of the impounded vehicles will pay a fine ranging from N40,000 for taxis to N60, 000 for buses to cover painting and administrative handling charges.

The commissioner explained that the decision to maintain a uniform colour for commercial vehicles was reached by the state government as part of measures to curb incidents of robbery attacks and other vices carried out with unpainted vehicles.
“With the colour code and the zone’s number code boldly written on the body of the vehicle, security operatives and the public can easily identify any offending commercial vehicle,” he added.

He said about 330 bus stops have been approved for use by all motorists, just as 330 sign posts will be installed at approved bus stops within Benin metropolis.

He appealed to car owners and motorists to ensure that they stop and drop off passengers only at these designated bus stops as officials of the state traffic agency have been given orders to apprehend anyone who breaches traffic rules.

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France Seeks Cooperation Among Peacekeeping Troops In CAR

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France Seeks Cooperation Among Peacekeeping Troops In CAR

French Defence Minister, Jean Le-Drian, has appealed for closer cooperation between the French forces and African troops operating under the auspices of the International Support Mission for Central African Republic, MISCA.

Le-Drian, who made the call on Friday after meeting with the Republic of Congo’s President Denis Sassou N’Guesso in Brazzaville, said that the cooperation had become necessary to enable the forces achieve good results on time.

The minister said that the issue of disarmament of all warring parties, deployment of MISCA everywhere and revival of the political process of resolving the crisis were discussed during the meeting.

France and the Republic of Congo are among the key contributors to the process to implement the UN resolution on Central African Republic, CAR.

France has deployed 1,600 soldiers while the Republic of Congo has close to 1,000 soldiers.

Le -Drian said that France was determined to ensure that the UN resolution was implemented in its entirety.

The French defence chief arrived in Brazzaville on Thursday, as part of his African tour involving also Mali, Niger, Chad, Gabon and the CAR.

Police Recovers Buried Arms In Kebbi

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Police Recovers Buried Arms In Kebbi

The Police in Kebbi on Friday said it recovered some arms buried by unknown persons in Rafin Kukah village in Yauri local government area.

The commissioner of police in the state, Sylvester Umeh, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the arms were recovered on New Year’s eve.

He said the arms included three AK 47, seven magazines, 198 live ammunition and one paranol pistol loaded with eight rounds of live ammunition.

“A Good Samaritan reported it to the DPO of Yauri Police Division, Kabiru Abdul, who mobilised to the scene and recovered the arms,” he said.

The police chief called on the public to provide information to the police to help it in the detection and prevention of criminal activities, adding that security was a collective responsibility.

Umeh added that the command will ensure confidentiality of its informants.

He said investigations into the source and identity of the owner of the arms was ongoing and that the command will not relent in its responsibilities to ensure that the state is crime-free.

Bayelsa Commissioner’s 6 Year Old Son Kidnapped

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Bayelsa Commissioner’s 6 Year Old Son Kidnapped

The six-year-old son of a former commissioner in Bayelsa State, Godknows Powell, was on Wednesday allegedly kidnapped by gunmen.

The boy was allegedly kidnapped on Etegwe road, Yenagoa, in the early hours of the New Year, while returning from church service with his mother.

A family source confirmed the incident saying that the abduction took place at about 12: 45 a.m and that the family had been thrown into despair with hopes and prayers for the boy’s safe return.

The source added that the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the family.

When contacted, the Bayelsa police public relations officer, Alex Akhigbe, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the incident, but said he had not received its full details.

“I got information about the incident this afternoon (Wednesday) and I quickly called the Police Divisional Officer in Ekeki area who confirmed the kidnapping. Right now, I am yet to get full details of the incident, but the police have commenced investigation into the matter,” Akhigbe said.

Powell was once chairman of Yenagoa local government area before he was appointed commissioner for local government and community development during the administration of former Governor Timipre Silva.

Islamists Claim Responsibility For Mogadishu Hotel Bombing

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Islamists Claim Responsibility For Mogadishu Hotel Bombing

Islamist militants in Somalia on Thursday said they carried out the triple bombing on a Mogadishu hotel that killed at least 11 people on Wednesday.

Al Shabaab spokesman, Ali Rage, made the disclosure in a statement in Mogadishu.

Al Shabaab militants, who are battling African peacekeepers for control of territory in southern and central Somalia, said its bombers targetted intelligence officials who were meeting at the Jazira Hotel.

“The apostates are the eyes and the ears of the invaders and these attacks serve as punishment for their role in guiding and assisting the invading forces in their crusade,’’ Rage said.

Jazira Hotel is frequented by government officials in a heavily fortified district and is thought to be one of the most secure places in the coastal capital.

The assault on the hotel, therefore, underscored worries in neighbouring countries and beyond that Somalia could slip back into anarchy if recent military gains were not consolidated.

An attack on a Kenyan shopping mall in September in which dozens of people were killed highlighted the militants’ ability to strike beyond Somalia’s borders.

NAFDAC DG Gets Second Term

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NAFDAC DG Gets Second Term

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the re-appointment of Paul Orhii as the director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, with effect from January 13, 2014.

According to a statement signed by the secretary to the government of the federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, on Tuesday, Jonathan also approved the re-appointment of Francis Idachaba, as the Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Merit Award, with effect from December 29.

In addition, the president approved the appointment of three new members and renewed the appointment of four members of the board.

The new members are Tola Olufunla (Ondo State), Andrew Nok (Kaduna State) and Laz Ekueme (Anambra), while those whose appointments were renewed are Etim Etim (Akwa Ibom), John Enaohwo (Delta), Ben Onaji (Benue) and Garba Goja (Jigawa).

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