The crisis threatening to rip the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP apart, which PresidentGoodluck Jonathan described as “minor disagreements” Sunday evening, has taken a turn for the worse as the splinter faction leader, Abubakar Baraje, has named a National Working Committee,NWC, for his group.

A statement released on Monday and signed by the faction’s national secretary, OlagunsoyeOyinlola, said stakeholders from across the country ratified the election of members of its NWC at a meeting in Abuja.

The NWC members, according to the statement, are: Abubakar Kawu Baraje, chairman,  Sam SamJaja,  deputy national chairman, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, national secretary and Maode Umar Hiliya, deputy national secretary.

Others are Timi Frank, national youth leader; Binta Koje, national woman leader; Nasir Issa, nationalorganising secretary; Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, ntional publicity secretary and Tanko Isiaku Gomna, national treasurer.

The statement added that the positions of national auditor and that of national legal adviser which are zoned to the South east and South west respectfully will be announced soon.

Reacting to the sealing off of its national secretariat on Saturday, the group said that even though the action was a calculated attempt to dampen the spirits of member, they remained unshaken and more determined than ever.

Contrary to the assurance given by the Nasarawa State government that the on-going Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the killings of security operatives in Alakio will be open and fair, the Justice Fola Gbadeyan-led commission has barred the Press from further coverage of it’s sittings.

As the committee commenced treating security memoranda submitted to it on Monday, accredited members of the press covering the proceedings were asked to leave and stop live broadcast.

This happened specifically as members of the committee were about to start examining memorandum submitted by the police.

The commission said the Press would also not be allowed to cover the hearing of the memoranda by the state government and State Security Service, SSS.

By it’s action the commission of enquiry contravened Chapter 2, subsection 2.2 of its own rules that qualified and duly accredited journalists would be allowed to cover proceedings of the panel.

The subsection states that “all interested members of the press desirous of covering the proceedings of the commission must be duly qualified and duly accredited by the secretary to the commission”.

The commission of enquiry suffered a major setback a about two weeks ago when the Eggonpeople withdrawn their participation from proceedings for what they termed lack of fair hearing.

The withdrawal notice was served to the commission on July 31 by counsels to the Eggons who alleged that “the Eggon counsel representing interested parties at the commission have been whimsically refused the right of cross-examination of presenters of memoranda despite the provisions contained in chapters 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 of the rules of procedure which the commission itself made to guide the conduct of proceedings”.

Addressing journalist in Lafia at a press briefing, the counsel representing Bassa Zarangi district,Aliyu Anze, in company of other legal practitioners representing the various Eggon communities at the commission, expressed their dissatisfaction over alleged biased attitude of the panel.

The lawyers accused the chairman of the panel of restricting only Eggon counsels from cross-examining presenters of memoranda which adversely affect the interest of their clients.

Anze said “to worsen the breach of the fundamental principles of fair hearing, the commission’s chairman ordered all counsel to file their respective memorandum of appearance to enable counsel to access memoranda filed by other presenters in order to avoid giving out memoranda to persons that are not known to the commission.

This was complied with immediately, followed by applications for the memoranda to enable counsel access, study and evaluate, for cross-examination as required in any legal proceedings of this nature.

Unfortunately, Anze observed, counsels representing Eggon interests were not given some of the memoranda, including the one submitted by the police, Nasarawa State government and the SSS.

He added that “these three memoranda are at the heart of this commission of inquiry having regard to the terms of reference of the judicial commission”.

Another lawyer representing Eggon interests,  Zamani Zakari Alumaga said he knew that “we are not likely to get justice from this commission from the beginning”.

“As at that time we did not even know that the commission will take this position of a bubble trap as to properly bring to fruition our allayed fear.

“We thought the government instituted a commission that will be open so that we can clearly state our case, but now it is clear that the commission has been hired to indict some people. we are not bothered whatever the outcome of this commission may be,” he lamented.

President Goodluck Jonathan has described the crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, as “minor disagreements” that would soon be resolved.

Jonathan who made the statement at a post – convention dinner of the party held Monday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential villa, called on dissenting party members to embrace dialogueas “no other party can face PDP”.
“The party is intact and will remain intact. We will continue to show leadership and do everything possible to ensure that the party grows stronger. In families we disagree. These are minor disagreements that can be resolved,” he said.
The President assured that the party would continue to do all it can to keep the country together.
Also speaking at the event, the chairman of the ruling party’s Board of Trustees, BOT, TonyAnenih, called for speedy resolution of the problems facing the party, but warned that the party would not recognise any opposition in PDP.

Anenih also called on those interested in contesting for elective posts in 2015 general elections to declare their intention, saying it had become necessary in view of the need for the party apparatus to prepare adequately for the exercise.
“We must be ready for the journey. By the end of September we would not be able to tell anybody that the time is not right…It is good that we tell our people where we are going and how the journey will be like,” he said.

Chairman of the party, BamangaTukur said the party is ready to address all complaints by aggrieved members and encouraged them to embrace peace.

Conspicuously absent at the dinner were Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and IbrahimBabangida, aggrieved PDP Governors and some members of the National Assembly.
Those who graced the event were governors of Abia, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Plateau, Delta, Cross River,Kogi and Plateau states.

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Others are the governors of Katsina, Gombe, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kebbi, AkwaIbom states, the acting governor of Taraba and deputy governor of Benue State.

Former PDP Chairmen: Barnabas Gemade, Vincent Ogbulafor, Ahmadu Ali, Okwesilieze Nwodo and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani also attended the event.

Others at the dinner were serving ministers, former governors, former Speaker, GhaliNa’aba; senate majority leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu.

Members of the Boko Haram sect continued their onslaught on vigilante youths, popularly called “Civilian JTF, when they launched an attack on a village in Borno State, killing 12 of the young men.

Eighteen others were injured in the attack which occurred inBenesheikh, the headquarters of Baga local government, just as the youths also killed five of the insurgents.

More than 100 of the young men in the vigilante movement, who have been assisting the military to root out the insurgents from their hideouts, have been killed in retaliatory attacks by Boko Harammembers.

In the attack on Benesheikh, which is some 72 kilometres fromMaiduguri, the state capital, insurgents launched their offensive very early on Sunday employing surprise tactics.

According to the leader of the vigilante group in Benesheikh,ModuAbuwar, the youths had some intelligence that the insurgents planned to attack the town and had prepared for battle.

“We had received information early in the day on Saturday that theBoko Haram would attack Beneisheikh after they had attackedDamboa and Gajiram,” Abuwar told journalists on his hospital bed where he is receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the attack.

He said, however, that the Boko Haram members tricked the youths by stealthily stealing into the town during the night to climb on trees where they laid in wait for their targets until morning when they started shooting at people.

The vigilante leader confirmed that the insurgents killed 12 of the youths and injured 18 others who were rushed to the University ofMaiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH for treatment.

He also confirmed that five of the sect members were killed and that in spite of their superior number, the other insurgents were forced to flee when they faced resistance from the youths.

Abuwar also said that some arms, including pump action guns, were recovered from the fleeing insurgents
A special adviser to governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has visited the UMTH to commiserate with the injured youths. The governor’s aide, Garba Ngamdu, who is from the area, told newsmen that the chairman of Kaga local government was going to pick up the bill of all those injured in the attack.

Spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sagir Musa, a lieutenant colonel, said some suspected Boko Haram members disguised as members of the vigilante group attacked Benesheikharound 12.30 am and that the youths killed six of the insurgents.

Musa disclosed that soldiers have already been deployed to the area to help the youths in searching for the fleeing sect members.

“Some elements of 21 Brigade troop have been drafted to the area and the attacked had been repelled,” noting as at last night that “troops were still combing the general area in search for fleeing terrorists,” he stated.

By Abdullahi Dikko

Four persons have been killed in two separate road mishaps alongMokwa-Bida Road in Niger State.
Several people have also been reported killed in attacks by Fulaniherdsmen on two villages after their cattle was hit by a vehicle.

In the accident which happened at about 7.30 pm on Friday, two soldiers lost their lives when an army Hilux pick-up and a trailer collided at Labojin village, about 43 kilometres Mokwa.

Both vehicles were badly wrecked, causing great difficulty for rescue operatives who evacuated the corpses.

Confirming the incident, Mokwa sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Adedoyin Adeyinka, said two other army officers are receiving treatment for injuries sustained.

“We spent hours trying to separate the corpses of the two soldiers from the mangled vehicle while the injured officers were rushed toMokwa General Hopsital and they are responding to treatment,” he said.

The driver of the trailer has been arrested.

In less than 48 hours along same road, another accident occurred, this time between a petrol tanker and a Mitsubishi truck conveying water melon which claimed another two lives.

The victims are the driver of the truck and the owner of the consignment.  They both died on the spot.

Adeyinka has blamed both accidents on the bad state of the road and cautioned motorists to be more careful when plying the route.

In another development, the chairman of Mokwa local government council of the state, Adamu Sonfada, has decried incessant attacks on farmers by Fulani herdsmen in the area.
Two communities in the council – Dokogi and Muwo – were attacked within three days leading to the destruction of several lives and properties.

It was gathered that some Fulani herdsmen attacked the people ofDakogi community of Kudu district in local government area last week Sunday after a resident of the village allegedly knocked down their livestock with his vehicle,.

The attack led to the killing of an undisclosed number of persons and the burning of several properties.

Barely three days after the Dakogi attack, another group of Fulaniherdsmen attacked another farmer in Muwo in the same local government area.

The Chairman of Niger State Traditional Council and EtsuNupe,Yahaya Abubakar, has called for truce between both groups and urged the Police to investigate the matter.
He condemned the attacks and pleaded with the families of the victims to exercise restraint in carrying out retaliation and pledged financial support to help cushion the effect of the havoc.

Abubakar said whoever is found guilty should be made to face appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law, adding that a committee would be constituted to look into the cause of clash.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says the sealing off of the new secretariat opened by the Abubakar Baraje faction of the party was in line with the Abuja High Court injunction of September 6, 2013.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, in a statement said that the court had asked the splinter group not operate or parade themselves as leaders of the PDP until the hearing of the suit before it.

“By the order of the court, no person is authorised by law to open a secretariat or operate under the name, colour and flag of the PDPother than the one led by Tukur,” he said.

Metuh said that the sealing off of the secretariat of the breakaway group under the name, colour and flag of the PDP is therefore, “in order and in line with the law.”

According to him, the court also affirmed the leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Bamanga Tukur.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC and police Hilux vehicles were stationed around the sealed building located at Plot 320, off OnyiRiver Crescent, Maitama to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the building.

All the access roads leading to the building were cordoned off by the security operatives in uniform and mufti.

The leadership of the breakaway faction of the party hinted last week to the media that the new office of the PDP would open but refused to give details on the date and the location of the office for security reasons.

Earlier this week, Tukur had warned that he was fully in charge and threatened to declare the seats of those that joined the new PDPvacant.

In the midst of these, several reconciliatory meetings are being held to resolve the crisis, but, so far, negotiations have failed to yield the needed positive results.

The breakaway faction of the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Abubakar Baraje, has described the sealing off of its national secretariat by the Police in Abuja as a “crude display of naked power and undisguised impunity” and called for the “immediate” removal of policemen from the office premises.

Men of the Nigeria Police on Saturday stormed the office complex of the faction group situated in the posh Maitama area of the city and fenced it shut without giving reason for their action.

A statement issued by the national secretary of the PDP faction, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the move opposes a court ruling that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the suits filed by both parties.

“The whole world knows that Justice E. Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday refused to grant Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s application for an ex parte injunction against our party’s executive,” Oyinlola’s recalled.

“The Judge asked parties to maintain the status quo. His judgment was a reinforcement of an early order of the Lagos High Court which also asked parties to maintain the status quo. Now, should Nigerians conclude that Tukur’s interpretation of status quo is this crude display of naked power and undisguised impunity?” he queried.

The factional party scribe said that even though the action was a calculated attempt to dampen the spirit of the group’s members, they remained unshaken as they are determined to rescue the party from “lawlessness and crass arrogance”.

“We call for an immediate removal of the siege to our secretariat. We call on the Inspector General of police to order the immediate removal of his men from our office. Doing so, we believe, will serve the interest of justice, rule of law and democracy. Nigeria is a country ruled by law and not by might and force.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja  Friday refused to grant the prayers of the Bamanga Tukur-led faction seeking to to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing, dealing and relating with the other faction of the party as national officers and to restrain them from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Justice Elvis Chukwu however, granted an exparte injunction, putting the defendants- Baraje, Oyinlola and others on notice and subsequently adjourned the case to September 12 for accelerated hearing.

The Flood Quick Response Committee responsible for the rehabilitation of last year’s flood victims in Adamawa State has disclosed that the exercise cost the state government about N4.6 Billion.

Chairman of the committee, who is also the secretary to the Adamawa State government, Ari Kobis Thimnu, who made the disclosure said based on reports from the National Meteorological department in Abuja, this year’s impending flood would be more devastating than last year’s.

To prevent damage and loss of lives, Thimnu said that the committee has designated camps for people living in the riverine areas to relocate before the flood as a matter of urgency.

He also stated that the state government has purchased engine powered boats and canoes for the purpose of conveying people in the riverine and other flood prone areas to the strategic designated camps,for safety of lives and properties, while water purification equipment has also been procured to supply portable drinking water in the camps.

Thimnu charged residents living in the river banks to relocate to camps designated for them by the state government to avoid the devastation of flood and a repeat of last year’s havoc,adding that precautionary measures had become necessary from government whose responsibility it is to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

Besides, the flood response committee chairman said the state government has created some new settlements for the Loko people in Song local government area as well as the Ngbalang people in Lamurde local government area where they should relocate to permanently.

According to him, flooding has become a global reality which required proactive measures not only from those living at the banks of rivers Benue and Gongola, the government, traditional rulers but other stakeholders in Adamawa State to avoid the devastating effects of natural disaster.

“As  precautionary measures,the government has designated areas where those living in the flood prone areas can relocate to before the impending flood,as necessary infrastructures have been put in place,security and health facilities arranged for them.” the chairman said

Additionally, he said the states’ traditional rulers have also been mobilized to sensitize their subjects about the impending flood while media jingles were running in the electronic media on the need for people living in flood prone areas to take precautionary measures in that regard.

The chairman lauded the efforts of the Lamido of Adamawa, Uhammadu Barkindo Musdafa for sensitizing his people on the need for them to relocate to the government designated area to forestall the impending doom predicted.

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Reports indicate that last year’s flooding was caused by the sudden release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun without adequate notice to the Adamawa State government to alert its citizens of the impending flood.

Though according to Thimnu, there has not been an official correspondence from the Cameroun Republic, the Flood Quick Response Committee has taken the precautionary measures to avoid the repeat of the devastating effects of last year’s flood.

In spite of these warnings and provisions by the state, some people who live in the riverine areas have been resisting relocation to the designated areas for fear of being separated from their ancestral artifacts, graveyards and other things they considered important.

By Iro Babayola

Journalists and editors from around the African continent can benefit from the second round of $1 million story challenge, a pan-African journalism competition on health reporting by African Media Initiative, AMI

The African Story Challenge, an AMI initiative encourages innovative, multi-media storytelling that aims to improve the health and prosperity of Africans.

The competition opens for entries and the theme is Diseases: Prevention and Treatment.

Twenty projects shortlisted for the final prize will be awarded grants of up to $20,000 each to produce health narratives that use innovative journalistic storytelling techniques around the theme of diseases prevention and treatment in Africa.

Grantees who produce the best stories published or broadcast in media that reach African audiences will get a major international reporting trip and additional grant. The winning journalist will also have the opportunity to work with other journalists in a renowned international media establishment anywhere in the world.

Winners of the first round of the grant programme, which opened in May 2013 and focused on agriculture and food security, will be announced later this month. Other themes to be launched next year include business and technology.

Shortlisted stories will focus specifically on issues such as sanitation and water-borne diseases, infectious and non-infectious diseases, neglected diseases, vaccines and immunisation.

Submissions should include investigative, data-driven stories that employ multi-platform approaches and engage the public through social media and other digital tools.

The African Story Challenge advisory council comprising senior journalists and editors will oversee the short listing process.

The finalists will be brought together for intensive sessions to improve their project ideas.

Participants can apply in partnerships but if they win, the prize is to be divided between the team. There can only be one entry per individual or team.

An independent international panel of editors and media experts will judge the entries.

AMI Chief Executive Amadou Mahtar Ba said that it supports innovation in the telling of more and better stories on health and development in Africa and committed to support the media to expand coverage of fundamental issues that matter to Africans and the building of a strong media sector.
A former BBC Africa Editor, AMI content development director and former Knight International Journalism Fellow, Joseph Warungu, also said that the project will preempt journalists from daily routine job.

“Without good health there is no wealth. This competition is aimed at encouraging journalists and media organisations to break away from the routine issues on the daily agenda and pitch to us bold and creative ideas on health,” said Warungu.

The story challenge  is a  two-year pan-African project that seeks to challenge the media to expand coverage of fundamental issues that matter to Africans focusing on building a strong media sector able to deliver content that matters to the African public.

The project is supported by an $800,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Other supporters include African Development Bank, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, AGRA, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, NORAD.

Click here for information on key dates on submission and deadline.