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Dutse - The Police Command in Jigawa said it arrested two persons in connection with the killing of two sisters over alleged witchcraft in Gwaram Local Government Area of the state. The command Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdu Jinjiri, said on Thursday in Dutse that investigation was ongoing to determine the level of involvement of the accused in the allegation. The police spokesman said the command would not tolerate any extrajudicial killing in the state, adding that if the suspects were found guilty, they would be prosecuted. The two sisters were allegedly killed on Wednesday by some irate youths. The sisters, according to the youths of Kila village, Gwaram, were alleged to have killed one Abubakar Sule through witchcraft. (NAN)

Oyo - A farmer in Isheyin Local Government Area of Oyo State has shot dead a herdsman for allegedly raping his (farmer) wife on his farm at Sawo Village, near Oyo Spokesperson of the state Police Command, DSP Olabisi Ilobanofor, confirmed the incident on Thursday. She said that the incident occurred on Aug. 24 She said that the Divisional Police Headquarters in Iseyin, led by the DPO, rushed to the scene to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area. ``Information available to the command is that the farmer and his wife were working in separate portions of their farm when his wife shouted for help. ``When he got there, he met the herdsman raping his wife and shot him from close range with a locally made gun,“ she said. Ilobanofor said that the suspect and his wife had been detained at the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Iyagangu, Ibadan. She said that the duo would be charged to court as soon investigation was concluded. While urging residents of the area to remain ...

By Charles Mgbolu Nollywood actress Stella Damasus and Senator Yerima were both guests on 'The Stream' a programme aired on International News Network Al Jazeera. They went head-to-head on the controversial issue of Child marriage. [caption id="attachment_412368" align="alignnone" width="412"] *Stella, Yerima[/caption] Senator Yerima re-affirmed that he married his fourth wife when she was 14 years and they both now have a son together. He said he finds nothing wrong with his actions, claiming that his 14 year-old wife had reciprocated his feelings. Stella Damascus counter-argued, citing several Child rights charters signed by Nigeria concerning marriage and the rights of the girl-child. She insisted that those breaking the agreements should be labelled criminals and prosecuted. Watch the rest of their engaging argument here...  

Abuja - The Supervising Minister of Youths Development, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday said that President Goodluck Jonathan had no interest in the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).  Abdullahi told newsmen during a `family meeting’ with key NYCN stakeholders at the National stadium in Abuja. He said it was unfair for anyone to drag the name of Mr President to an election of NYCN magnitude. ``Contrary to the rumour making the round and impression created, President Jonathan does not have any reason to be interest in who emerges as president of the council. ``If anybody is parading him/herself as the president’s candidate, he/she is on his own, it is unfair to drag the president’s name into this,’’ he said. Abdullahi, who is also the sports minister, said that government had obligation to the youth in the country and not to NYCN. ``The Federal Government of Nigeria is obligated to the youth of this country, but its obligation to the youth is not the same th...

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI No fewer than 20 people were feared dead, several others sustained injuries with the setting ablaze of Nganzai Local Government Area Secretariat, two primary schools, a clinic and some residential houses when some suspected Boko Haram members in a separate attacks laid ambush to Gajiram, the council headquarters of Nganzai and Bulabulin Ngawra Village of Konduga Local Government Area of Borno state More details soon

By Babajide Komolafe & Emmanuel Elebeke The 19th Nigeria Economic Summit ended Thursday with the federal government accepting recommendations for cheap loans to farmers, by announcing a N15 billion loan at one per cent interest rate to farmers for the planting season through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA). In addition to this, it also approved the privatisation for the Bank, and the Abuja Securities and Commodity Exchange (ASCE), and it is set to award contract for the 3000 mega watt Mabilla power plant. Meanwhile the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) has called for enactment of relevant legislations to back and institutionalise key components of the on-going Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). Vice President Namadi Sambo announced this policy measures in closing remarks during the last session of the summit. More details soon

Damaturu - The Police Command in Yobe on Thursday paraded a five-man syndicate in possession of counterfeit foreign and Nigerian currencies allegedly being sold to the public. Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, the Commissioner of Police, told newsmen in Damaturu that the suspects were arrested in possession of N955,500;  22,400 dollars and CFA 62,000 counterfeit notes. The commissioner said a suspect was arrested in Damaturu in possession of N10,000 counterfeit notes. He said during interrogation by the police, the suspect said he bought it from someone who was also arrested in possession of N54,500 notes. He added that upon interrogation, another suspect led the police to arrest a member of the syndicate who was also found in possession of N30,000 notes. The commissioner said a major dealer from Kano, who allegedly supplied the currencies, had been caught. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police has given relations of 32 policemen slain by Boko Haram insurgents in the state about N20 million. T...

MOSCOW (AFP) - Syria's foreign minister will on Monday travel to Moscow to discuss the crisis in his country with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Moscow said. Foreign Minister Walid Muallem's visit will come after a Saint Petersburg summit of 20 major developed and developing economies at which the Syrian crisis is expected to feature prominently. Russia has been a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime for the past two and a half years, and is fiercely resisting possible military action in response to the regime's suspected use of chemical weapons. "They (the talks) will focus on an all-encompassing discussion of all the aspects of the current situation in Syria and around it," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

KABUL (AFP) - Suspected Taliban militants shot dead the Indian author Sushmita Banerjee, writer of a popular book about her dramatic escape from the Taliban in the 90s, in eastern Afghan province of Paktika on Wednesday night, police said. "We found her bullet riddled body near Madrassa on the outskirts of Sharan city (provincial capital) this morning," provincial police chief Dawlat Khan Zadran told AFP, confirming earlier reports from Indian media.

By JIMOH BABATUNDE,  Maputo The African Union  Commission and the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will make the continent more food secured. The agreement is to foster collaboration and strengthen the working relationship between Africa Union Commission (AUC)   and Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) so as to support the strong implementation of AU´s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). CAADP brings together key players - at the continental, regional and national levels - to improve co-ordination, share knowledge, successes and failures, to encourage one another, and to promote joint and separate efforts to achieve the CAADP goals. Speaking at the brief ceremony, Africa Union´s commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Tmusiime Rhoda peace, promised that the signing of the MOU is a re-affirmation of the need to work with AGRA as they have competitive edge in dealing with smallhol...

By Charles Mgbolu A new single 'She can get it' from the Kukere master Iyanya has appeared online amidst wild speculations it may have been leaked. [caption id="attachment_398428" align="alignnone" width="412"] *Iyanya[/caption] It's a four minute party-thumping song and already picking up steam on blogs and social media pages. Listen to the single here

LONDON (AFP) - "Diana", a biopic of the late princess of Wales who died in a Paris car crash, was set for its world premiere on Thursday with its star Naomi Watts already defending her involvement in the controversial film. The movie follows Diana's romance with London-based Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan, whom many friends of the princess say was her real love and the man she allegedly called "Mr Wonderful". Based on Kate Snell's 2001 book "Diana: Her Last Love", the film suggests that Diana started dating Dodi Fayed to make Khan jealous -- a claim challenged by many close to the princess. Diana died with Fayed when the Mercedes in which they were travelling slammed into a pillar in a Paris road tunnel in 1997 while being pursued by press photographers. Ahead of the premiere in London's Leicester Square, Watts, a British-Australian actress who came to prominence in "Mulholland Drive" in 2001, admitted that she was taking a risk by acc...

Onitsha -  A four storey building under construction in Onitsha, Anambra, collapsed after a downpour on Wednesday . The incident occurred at 24 Obanye St. near the Onitsha General Post Office at about 3.30 p.m. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was at the scene of the incident in Onitsha, gathered that no life was lost in the incident. An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity said that builders and labourers working on the building were not around for work as the downpour started at about 6.30 a.m. ``We heard a heavy sound and as most of the neighbours in the street rushed out, we saw the uncompleted building collapsing. ``It was a big surprise to all of us because we noticed that recently work on the building was going on at a very high speed. ``It is just a pity for such a huge financial loss. But thank God that no one was working in the building today and no one was injured in the incident,’’ he said. As at the time of this report, the cause of the co...

Abuja -  The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said about 8,000 engineers would be needed for the smooth take off of the nine- billion- dollar Dangote Refinery/Fertiliser plant in Ondo. Dangote told State House correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja that the project, when completed, would provide direct and indirect jobs for 85,000 Nigerians. He said the group had secured a 3.3 billion-dollar credit facility from a consortium of banks for the project. According to him, importation of petroleum products will end by 2016 as the plant will commence production in the next three years. He said his plan was to make the country self-reliant in petrochemical and petroleum products, as well as make it an industrial giant. ``Now, Nigeria is going to be taken out of the list of countries that import petroleum products. We will produce 20 million metric tonnes which is equivalent to what Nigeria consumes currently. ``Today, we did the signing ceremony, the vice-president came to witness...

By PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki BUT for the timely intervention of men of the Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, a suspected serial rapist, Mr. Peter Edigbo, 64, would have been lynched by members of Agbaenyim community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State last weekend. The suspect was later arrested by the Command’s division in Izzi Local Government Area for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl, Miss Nkwegu Chinwe, at midnight when the victim was asleep in her house. Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the suspect sneaked into the little girl’s room and allegedly forcefully had carnal knowledge of his victim. According to a resident, the screaming of the girl had attracted members of the community who rushed to the house without knowing what was initially happening but discovered that the victim’s  screaming was as a result of the immoral behaviour of the suspect. [caption id="attachment_412263" align="alignnone" width=...

By SIMON EBEGBULEM BENIN — Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has expressed worries over the prolonged strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and urged the Federal Government to hasten peace moves in the interest of Nigerian students. PFN, in a statement by its National President, Rev. Felix Omobude, in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, acknowledged the alleged failure of the Federal Government to honour the agreement reached with ASUU in 2009, and appealed to parties to find urgent solution to the problem so as not to destroy the university system. He said: “While PFN salutes the spartan courage of the leadership of ASUU for its positive position on the urgent need to revamp and reposition the education sector, PFN is of the strong view that the need has arisen to bring into sharp focus, the crushing brunt the country is now being made to bear for the continued closure of the universities. “PFN appeals to ASUU not to throw away the baby with its bath ...

BY EMMA UNA CALABAR — A newly married couple, who packed to their house soon after wedding  have been reportedly killed by generator fumes in Ikot Omin on the outskirts of Calabar,  the Cross River State capital. The couple, Bassey Effiong (27), his wife, Glory (21) and her younger sister, Emem (16), were said to have packed to the house yet to be completed by Bassey. “When he got married, he decided to work on one of the rooms and moved in, while hoping to gradually complete the house,” Mike, a neighbour to the couple told Vanguard. However, tragedy struck, Sunday night, when the couple  turned on their generating set and placed it on the corridor close to the  room,  where they slept but fume from the  generating set  was said to have  subsequently gained entry into the room in large quantity and suffocatded the couple along with Emem,  the wife's younger sister. They were discovered dead several hours later by a naval officer,  David Ekanem, Bassey's uncle, who said he went ...

By SIMON EBEGBULEM BENIN CITY— MOTHER of the 13-year stowaway boy, Mrs Evelyn Oikhena, yesterday, expressed confusion over the whereabout of her son, Daniel after officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, handed him over to Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Tuesday. The family of the boy, including the father, Mr Osaigbovo Oikhena, who surfaced prior to the meeting between the family and Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House Benin City, Tuesday, appealed to the state government to release the boy to enable him return home to his family. The meeting between the family and Governor Oshiomhole held at close door lasted till about 8:30pm, but Mrs Oikhena, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said that the governor had instructed the security agents and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs to release the boy to the family but that she was yet to see him back home. [caption id="attachment_411117" align="alignnone" width="412"] Evelyn Oik...

BY EGUFE   YAFUGBORHI PORT HARCOURT — POLICE in Rivers State have arraigned a 30-year-old Godface Ibama before a Port-Harcourt Magistrate Court for defiling a seven-year-old twin brothers. The suspect alleged to be gay was arrested by the police at a waterfront in Mile 1, Diobu area of Port Harcourt for sexually abusing the victims. Ibama, who is facing a two-count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of the minors pleaded not guilty to the charge. Mr Elkawah Fubara, the trial magistrate, consequently ordered the suspect to be remanded in police custody and adjourned till September 11, for hearing of the accused bail application.

IT is worrisome that Nigeria’s former capital and still its current economic capital, Lagos, is ranked the fourth most difficult city to live in the world. A survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, a subsidiary of The Economist, ranked Lagos as 137th out of 140 cities polled. Among cities in the bottom 10were Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tripoli (Libya) Harare (Zimbabwe) and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), the worst of the lot. Canadian cities Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, and Australia’s Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne were in the top 10 most liveable cities on earth. Indices taken into account included stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education and infrastructure. Lagos is the flagship metropolis in Nigeria, setting the pace in most critical development areas due to its history, geographical location and residual federal infrastructure and institutions from its days as the political capital of Nigeria. The survey draws attention to Nigeria as a country, not just L...

ENUGU — An Enugu Magistrate Court, yesterday, remanded one Monday Okoye, 34, of Obuofia, in Awgu Local Government Area of the state in prison custody over alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl. The police in Enugu had arraigned Okoye before the court over alleged offence. The prosecutor, Mr  Peter Eze, told the court that the matter was reported to the state Criminal Investigation Department on August 11. Eze said the rape victim was absent in the court because she was hospitalised following the injury she sustained from the rape. The prosecutor called seven witnesses to testify in the matter. The magistrate, Mr Frank Chukwu, asked the accused if he had a counsel and he said he had none. Chukwu said that the case would be transferred to the high court because it bordered on rape, adding that such was outside the jurisdiction of a magistrate court. He, however, added that the prosecuting witnesses would testify in the high court on the matter. He warned that each witness would pay N50,000 ...

Ado Ekiti — THE Po-lice have nabbed a 26-year-old man in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State for allegedly having canal knowledge of a five-year-old daughter of his father’s tenant. Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr  Victor Babayemi, said the accused was arrested on August 28, 2013, after an attempt to lure the girl with a loaf of bread. According to Babayemi, the accused in his confessional statement said he had been using bread to entice the girl and her sisters since he works in a bakery. The suspect was said to have brought a loaf of bread and invited the girl to his room where  he allegedly abused her sexually. In a related development, a 57-year-old man, one David (surname withheld), who allegedly defiled his five-year-old step-daughter in Igede-Ekiti, has been paraded  by the police in Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

DUTSE — Jigawa State Hisbah Command has arrested 21 commercial sex workers, as part of efforts to stop them from operating in the state. The commandant of Hisbah in the state, Alhaji Aliyu Galamawa, who disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse, said the arrest followed a security report that they had invaded different parts of the state after they were dislodged from neighbouring Bauchi,  Kano and Lagos states. The commercial sex workers were  said to have divided themselves to various towns and villages such as Ringim, Chaichai and Dutse. Galamawa explained that men of the command arrested 21 of them in Ringim and Dutse with their traditional musicians, while some were arrested in Chaichai town with the owner of the house who gave them rent. According to him, they were handed over to the state police command, which charged them before a Sharia Court sitting in Dutse under Magistrate Aliyu Hadejia. The Hisbah commandant, explained that they would support government commitment to rid the stat...

By EMMA AMAIZE WARRI—Niger-Delta Youth for Positive Attitude and Progress, NDYPAP, has vowed to mobilise youths in the nine states of Niger Delta to resist the alleged attempt by some politicians to take over Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, projects, meant for indigenous contractors to the detriment of oil-bearing communities in Delta and Bayelsa states. President of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Enisuo, in a statement, said “NDYPAP is joining forces with the coastal/swamp oil producing communities of Bayelsa and Delta states to declare that the people will not fold their hands and watch the selfish machination of politicians, who are bent on taking over projects meant for indigenous contractors. “The oil communities have suffered enough deprivations of basic amenities and development from multinational oil companies, NDDC, and Federal Government. We will march on the National Assembly and NDDC headquarters if their ulterior agenda was not discontinued forthwith. “We are strongly b...

By Tony Edike ENUGU — There are indications that the South East regional headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, Enugu, situated along the popular Zik Avenue, would be demolished any moment from now. Enugu State Government, which had insisted that the large temple of the church must be brought down for being erected without appropriate approval, has allocated to the church an alternative place at Idaw River Layout by Emeka Ebila Street off Agbani Road in Enugu capital city to enable the worshippers relocate without further delay. The new site is about 20 plots of land or 4,000 square metres according to the Enugu State  Commissioner for Lands and Housing Development, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam. The new site is spacious enough to accommodate both the church auditorium primary and secondary schools which the church did not have before now.

By Ochereome Nnanna WHEN the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, election politics was raging and some commentators said Their Excellencies were wasting time on an irrelevant issue that had no bearing on the average Nigerian, I laughed. It reminded me of what Mohandas Gandhi said about religion and politics: “Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics don’t know what religion is”. They did not remember that a governor is first of all a politician, and a politician’s first reflex is to play the power game. The NGF election of May 2013 was a dress rehearsal for the shape of things to come, especially in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The PDP knew it was going to expose the treachery, disloyalty and rebellion of the governors bent on ensuring that President Goodluck Jonathan does not win his second term. [caption id="attachment_412041" align="alignnone" width="412"] PDP Special National Convention: Delegates casting their votes at 2013 PDP Special...

By NKIRUKA NNOROM Lagos — Igbo youths, under the aegis of Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, have condemned the multiple taxation imposed on traders by Lagos State Government. They also condemned the constant closure of  markets on flimsy excuses by the government and recent imposition of one Alhaji Abibu Oladotun Oki as Babaloja of All Mushin Motor Spare Parts Markets (Ladipo market). The youths, in a statement issued by OYC’s Secretary, Board of Trustees, Mazi Okwu Okwu, said: “We have watched the Lagos State Government’s anti-poor and anti-Igbo policies of Governor Raji Fashola, ranging from unlawful deportation, detention, multiple taxation, displacement of Igbos from their places of business to incessant harassment and closure of Igbo interest-dominated markets. “Until the coming of Mr. Fashola, and his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu, Lagos had been an enabling and business-friendly haven for the Igbos and other non-Yoruba ethnic nationalities. “The Igbos are through legalisation of i...

BY PETER OKUTU ABAKALIKI — NO fewer than four persons, were, yesterday, killed, while one person is reportedly in critical condition, following an accident involving a Mazda Infinity car and Mercedes truck on Amuzo Onueke road in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Confirming the incident, the state commandant, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr Jide Fehintola, said  the accident occurred as a result of tyre burst, which led to a head-on collision. Vanguard gathered that the Mazda Infinity car was heading to Onueke with five passengers from Abakaliki when one of its tyres ruptured. While the driver  tried  to gain control of the vehicle, it collided with an oncoming truck, killing four persons, while one was critically injured. The FRSC commandant said the dead had been deposited in the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, mortuary while the injured was receiving treatment in the same hospital. He said: “The casualties were three men and a female and it was ...

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG Worried by increasing discrimination against physically challenged  persons in the workplace, the International Labour Organisation,ILO, and other stakeholders  have taken new steps to  put an end to the development. According to an estimate of the  United Nations,  disabled persons experience unemployment rates as high as 90 per cent in some low-income countries, and up to 70 per cent in developed countries of the world. To address this challenge in Nigeria, stakeholders gathered recently in Lagos under the aegis of “Network on Disability and the Business” to brainstorm on the way forward. Organised by “Theseabilities Limited in partnership with ILO, participants included ILO, StanbicIBTC Plc, Total Nigeria Plc, Workforce Management Centre, Fate Foundation, Gallaudet University, Washington DC, S.I.A.O (firm of chartered accountants), Startrite Mayton and Co. Nigeria Limited, Trinity House, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, The Nation Newspapers, Se...

By GBENGA ARIYIBI Ado Ekiti — Federal Government has disbursed N5 billion to 56,500 vulnerable women under the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, scheme. Speaking in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, during the National Launch of the CCT scheme, the Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDs) to the President, Dr Precious Gbeneol ,said the beneficiaries were drawn from 24 states of  the Federation . According to her, all the beneficiaries of the scheme would be entitled to a monthly stipend of N5,000 for 12 months, after which they  would be given N100, 000, noting that “beneficiaries are expected to invest in agriculture or  finance the education of their children or look after their health needs.” The SSA disclosed that N370 million will be disbursed to carefully selected 2,250 poor women in Ekiti, drawn from five  local government areas.

By TONY EDIKE ENUGU — As part of providing essential support to security agencies in Enugu State, Governor   Sullivan Chime, yesterday, handed over three brand new KIA saloon cars and three Hilux patrol vans to the state command of the Department of  State Services , DSS. Governor Chime, who was represented by Special Adviser on Security, Mr Richard Chime, said the vehicles were intended to assist the command and enhance  operational efficiency. He noted that security would be hard to obtain without effective intelligence gathering mechanism, saying he hoped the vehicles would support the efforts of the DSS in this regard. Chime added that the government would continue to pay attention to security matters to ensure that the state remained a safe and secure place for both social and business activities to thrive. Receiving the vehicles, the State Director of DSS, Mr Victor Duru, commended Governor Chime for his unwavering commitment to the entrenchment of security   and peace in the    ...

By Godwin Oghre Sapele — Following speculations that trailed the sudden death of the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Pius Ewherido, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Chief Ighoyota Amori, who doubles as the National Chairman of Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, has denied claims in some quarters linking him to Ewherido’s death. Amori also denied any link with the cause of the ailing business mogul and multi-millionaire of Urhobo extraction, Chief Charles Obule, who is currently down with paralysis. He said that he was innocent of the condition that befell the two men, describing the relationship he had with Ewherido as cordial. Amori spoke at an event in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, where he declared his intention to contest the forthcoming Delta Central by-election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to fill the vacuum created by the death of Ewherido. He asked Urhobo to send him to the ...

By MICHAEL EBOH The Nigerian Institute of Management, yesterday, said Nigeria’s corporate existence is being threatened by the many leadership and governance challenges besetting the country. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, heralding its 2013 Annual National Management Conference, Mr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, NIM, also stated that the country’s attainment of the Vision 20:2020 objectives is in doubt, unless the leaders and citizenry adopt a change of approach, strategy and governance style. According to him, the country’s quest to rank among the top 20 economies by 2020 is very doubtful and may be unattainable, mainly because majority of the leaders and individuals in authority are not showing commitment and loyalty to the development of the country. However, he said the objective of the Vision 20:2020 can be attained if every individual embraces hard work, loyalty and if good governance is entrenched in all spheres of the national life. He said, ...

By EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, Port Harcourt As the infighting in the Rivers State ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lingers by the day, every action and inaction of one faction somewhat aggravate the situation. Penultimate week, it was the appointment of an Acting Chief Judge of the State that provoked a new war of words between both sides. Indication that Governor Rotimi Amaechi's appointment of an Acting CJ two weeks ago was going to create a fresh controversy emerged the day before when the Governor and his allies were conspicuously absent at the valedictory session in honour of immediate past CJ, Justice Iche Ndu as he retired from the office. While Amaechi and key functionaries of his administration stayed away from Ndu's retirement ceremony, Myefon Wike made a robust showing at the event with the State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah in a guests list that also included current President of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Okey Wali SAN. The next day however, the Governor  waspresen...

By Prisca Sam-Duru The screening of the documentary film on "the March on Washington" and  “I Have a Dream” Speech by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the US Consulate General in Lagos last week, greatly exposed the importance of non violent revolution all over the world. Screening of the film titled “The March”, a 1964 documentary by James Blue  was  part of activities organised to mark the 50th anniversary of  the march led by Luther King Jr. whose non violent struggles, resulted in the emancipation of black Americans. The 40 minutes film describes the events of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom which has remained till date, one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history. The March, which took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963 had American footsoldiers of about 250,000 participating in the campaign for civil and economic rights for African Americans. During the march, Dr. Martin Luther King, J...

By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu “Hi Di Hi nga atstohuwar transhomar Nehwa dai ta kai. In tai tirihin sai a mayassuwa, in tassake kuma a zaka mayassuwa har ta gaji tai bindings baaammmmm!” (Roughly translated from a mischievous presentation of Sokoto Hausa dialect: “THIS PDP IS LIKE AN OLD NEPA TRANSFORMER. IT WILL TRIP AND SOMEONE WILL GO FIX IT UP, IF IT TRIPS AGAIN SOMEONE WILL GO BACK AND FIX IT UP UNTIL IT GETS TIRED AND IMPLODES BAAAMMMMM!”   Taken from a friend’s contribution to an online forum. THIS is the time that Nigerian politics could have done with the flowery language of the late Dr. Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, one of the most colourful characters to walk the minefield of Nigerian politics. If we attempt a post-humous reading of his fertile imagination, the earth-shaking event of last weekend, with the walk out of seven governors, and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, from the PDP convention in Abuja, would certainly have elicited an absolutely quotable line for posterity! O...

Super Eagles stand in skipper, Vincent Enyeama, was in jolly mood as the team held its media parley with the national team on Wednesday morning, declaring that he was not in competition with any of the goalies for the number one shirt of the national team. Enyeama also gave a hint that sooner than later he will quit the Super Eagles, even as Lazio of Italy midfield youngster, Ogenyi Onazi assured that the team will come out clean against Malawi on Saturday. Enyeama, who spoke first told the media that all the three goalkeepers in the national team, himself, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim are in the form of their lives and any of them will man the post well if chosen by the national team handlers. “All of us are good and I must say I am not in competition with any of them neither are they with me. Nigeria is blessed with great talents and it’s always good when you are called up to play”. Onazi on his part said he along with his teammates are fired up for Saturday’s game and assured tha...

By CHIDI NKWOPARA OWERRI — Despite Governor Rochas Okorocha’s recant on the Imo State’s abortion law, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, said yesterday, that the campaign against the legislation was not yet over, noting that the Gender and Equal Opportunity Law signed by Chief Achike Udenwa in 2007 was still in force. Obinna made his view known while reacting to Okorocha’s public apology and the executive bill he forwarded to the legislature for  amendment of the controversial abortion law he signed on May 29, 2011. Archbishop Obinna said: “Nobody should be fooled by what the governor did last Tuesday. Imo State is still under the firm grip of the abortion law signed by Chief Achike Udenwa in 2007.” [caption id="attachment_411260" align="alignnone" width="412"] Gov Okorocha[/caption] Section 18 (e) of Law No. 7 of 2007 read: “Medical termination in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the contin...

By NKIRUKA NNOROM Lagos — Igbo youths, under the aegis of Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, have condemned the multiple taxation imposed on traders by Lagos State Government. They also condemned the constant closure of  markets on flimsy excuses by the government and recent imposition of one Alhaji Abibu Oladotun Oki as Babaloja of All Mushin Motor Spare Parts Markets (Ladipo market). The youths, in a statement issued by OYC’s Secretary, Board of Trustees, Mazi Okwu Okwu, said: “We have watched the Lagos State Government’s anti-poor and anti-Igbo policies of Governor Raji Fashola, ranging from unlawful deportation, detention, multiple taxation, displacement of Igbos from their places of business to incessant harassment and closure of Igbo interest-dominated markets. “Until the coming of Mr. Fashola, and his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu, Lagos had been an enabling and business-friendly haven for the Igbos and other non-Yoruba ethnic nationalities. “The Igbos are through legalisation of i...

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North, & John Mkom ABUJA — Barely 24 hours after Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it had resolved the political crisis in Taraba State, eight members of the House of Assembly, who are loyal to the ailing governor, have rejected the peace move brokered by the party. The eight lawmakers, led by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr. Joseph Kunini, met in Jalingo, the state capital, yesterday, and renounced the action of the PDP fact-finding panel, headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma. They accused him of working in concert with the state deputy governor, Garba Umar, to cause more problems for the state. [caption id="attachment_410860" align="alignnone" width="412"] File: Suntai at the airport[/caption] The pro-Suntai lawmakers told journalists that they had to openly dissociate themselves with the decisions arrived at by the Uzodinma panel because the team could not provide solutions to the problems plaguing the state. T...

By Chioma Obinna Today, available statistics have shown that estimated 1.6 million people die of HIV&AIDS annually. In Nigeria alone, government reports claim that over 300,000 Nigerians die yearly of complications arising from AIDS. If these estimated numbers die of HIV/AIDS, have you ever imagined what the situation will be like? Thank God, HIV doesn’t have that ability. If mosquitoes spread HIV the way they spread malaria, millions of people will definitely lose their lives on daily basis, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria where mosquitoes are endemic. Before now, there have been reports about concern of the possibility of mosquitoes transmitting AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) when the disease was first recognized and many people still feel that mosquitoes may be responsible for transmission of this infection from one individual to another. However, Entomologists say that although mosquitoes function the same way as hypodermic needles - they can both ...