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Showing posts from August 20, 2017

We’ll vote anti-Buhari politicians out in 2019 –Northern group

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We’ll vote anti-Buhari politicians out in 2019 –Northern group Governors and members of the National Assembly from the North, who worked against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari during his 103 days of medical vacation in London, have been told to await their political waterloo in 2019. In a position letter to President Muhammadu Buhari during the North West Special Prayer / Grand Solidarity Rally in his honour by the members of  the Conference of Patriotic Nigerians, the group held that the people of Northern Nigeria were waiting eagerly to sanction saboteurs of the Buhari administration during the next election. The Secretary General of the Conference, Ambassador Ibrahim Waiye, who presented their position letter yesterday in Kano to  Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, for onward transmission to President Buhari, declared that the people of the North were deeply touc

Arewa youths suspend quit notice, Nigeria

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Arewa youths suspend quit notic RACHEAL ANYASO, Abuja The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) also known as Arewa youths, yesterday, announced suspension of the quit notice it handed Igbo to vacate the North. The group, which gave the ultimatum which was expected to expire on October 1, in the infamous Kaduna Declaration last June, also pledged its commitment to the unity and indivisibility of the nation. At a press conference in Abuja, spokesman of the coalition and Chairman, Northern Emancipation Network, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said the group was mindful of the concerns generated by the clause in the Kaduna Declaration that advised the Biafran Igbo to relocate from northern Nigeria and for northerners in the southeast to return home. The Arewa group also said it was mindful of its commitment to the unity of the nation and immediately opened channels for dialogue and interaction

Biafra: US probes agitators’ killing, Nigeria

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Biafra: US probes agitators’ killing ,  • American attorneys to storm Nigeria From Aloysius Attah , Onitsha Two United States Attorneys,  Bruce Fein and Bruce DelValle of  Fein& DelValle PPLC  have met with ten Nigerian witnesses on the suit filed in the United States District court of Columbia against 14 Nigerian defendants for their complicity in the 2016 torture and extra-judicial killings of pro Biafran agitators during their peaceful protests. The two attorneys who arrived Nigeria three days ago met with the families of the victims at an undisclosed location and also extracted various statements from them which were deposed as affidavits of facts to the suit. Ten Biafran plaintiffs are seeking millions of dollars   as damages to compensate for their grievous losses and suffering following the alleged gruesome killings of pro Biafra agitators in Nkpor and Onitsha , Ana

ASUU justifies strike, accuses Ngige of blackmail, Nigeeria

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has called on the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to desist from cheap blackmail in the handling of the ongoing strike called by the union. The President of the union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a bulletin on the strike, asked members of the union to disregard the comment by the minister that the strike was illegal. He said, “Our national struggle to revitalise the Nigerian university system is comprehensive and total. Remain resolute and steadfast as victory is certain.” Also, the ASUU Chairman at the University of Ibadan, Dr Deji Omole, who condemned the tactics employed by the Federal Government over the demands of the union, said it was deceitful for the minister to insinuate that the N23bn earned allowances, which the Federal Government promised to pay soon, were only for lecturers. He said the earned allowances were for both deserving academic and non-academic staff, stre

At least 500 dead, 810 missing in Sierra Leone disaster

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At least 500 dead, 810 missing in Sierra Leone disaster The death toll from the flood and mudslide disaster that struck Sierra Leone’s capital in mid-August now exceeds 500 and 810 people are listed as missing, the government said Thursday. “The death toll has risen slightly above 500,” Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh said at a ceremony to receive relief supplies provided by Japan. Separately, government spokesman Abdulai Bayratay said 810 people were listed as missing, a figure that concurs with estimates by NGOs in the past few days. The city of Freetown — capital of one of the world’s poorest countries — was struck by devastating floods and a mudslide on the night of August 13-14. The previous toll, given by the city’s central morgue, stood at 499 dead, 156 of them children. Vandy Rogers, a senior official with the country’s national emergency services, said the number of people who had been “directly affected” b

Buhari Receives US, UK Ambassadors At State House

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the United States amd united Kingdom ambassadors, W. Stuart Symington and Paul Arkwright at the State house. See photo:

NAF plane crashes in Kaduna, Nigeria

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NAF plane crashes in Kaduna A Nigerian Air Force (NAF), aircraft has crashed in Kaduna, killing the pilot, said to be an instructor and only occupant of the aircraft. The Director, Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Adetokunbo Adesanya, who made this known, said the aircraft, an Air Beetle, was on a mission when it crashed.

Arewa youths withdraws quit notice

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 Arewa youths withdraws quit notice The coalition of Northern youth groups that had  asked Igbos to leave Northern Nigeria has temporarily withdrawn its quit notice. The groups, under the banner of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, issued the quit notice in June, asking Igbos to leave before October 1 and claiming their demand was in response to secessionist stance of some pro-Biafran groups, like Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB. The quit notice to the Igbos has been condemned by most Nigerians including the federal government, several state governments and traditional rulers. The groups announced a suspension of the quit notice on Thursday at a press briefing at the Transcorp hotel in Abuja. Southern leaders react to President Buhari's speech, insist on restructuring Author: Omotayo Yusuf Updated: 10 hours ago Views: 60004 Category: Local news Share on Facebook Send via email Share on

Pakistan Says U.S. Must Not Make It A ‘Scapegoat’ For Afghan Failures

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Pakistan rejected on Wednesday U.S. criticism of its efforts to fight terrorism saying it should not be used as a scapegoat for the failure of the U.S. military to win the war in Afghanistan. U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his policy for Afghanistan on Monday, committing to an open-ended conflict there and singling out Pakistan for harboring Afghan Taliban insurgents and other militants. U.S. officials later warned that aid to Pakistan might be cut and Washington might downgrade nuclear-armed Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally to pressure it to do more to help bring about an end to America’s longest-running war. Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif added his voice to a chorus of indignation in Pakistan over the U.S. criticism, reiterating Pakistan’s denial that it harbors militants. “They should not make Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures in Afghanistan,” Asif said in an interview to Geo TV late on Tuesday. “Our commitment to war against

Buhari backs W’Sahara secessionist agitation but rejects Biafra —IPOB

Osinbajo, Buhari   The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari’s support for Western Sahara agitation to break away from Morocco and the self-determination demand of Palestinians and his rejection of Igbo demand to secede from Nigeria has shown the President as a hypocrite. The group also called on the President to stop saying that a private discussion he had with the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu had foreclosed the issue of Nigeria’s indivisibility. IPOB said Buhari should face the present reality and stop delving into what the group called unsubstantiated history and name calling.      IPOB’s attack came barely 48 hours after the President’s nationwide broadcast where he said that in his meeting with Ojukwu in 2003 that the late Igbo sage had said he ( Ojukwu) would want Nigeria to remain indivisible. In a Tuesday’s statement in Awka, Anambra State, signed by IPOB’s Me

Buhari cancels FEC meeting, to receive SGF’s probe report

President Muhammadu Buhari The meeting of the Federal Executive Council that holds every Wednesday will not hold today. Today would have afforded President Muhammadu Buhari who returned to the country on Saturday the opportunity of presiding over the council meeting for the first time in over three months. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed in a statement that the meeting would not hold. Adesina did not however disclose the reason behind the decision to cancel the meeting. But he said Buhari would today receive the report of the investigation committee into the allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke. The statement read, “The meeting of the Federal Executive Council will not hold today. “President Muhammadu Buhari, will however, receive the Report of the inves

Buhari back in Nigeria but leadership doubts linger

Osinbajo, Buhari   Questions are being raised about the ability of Nigeria’s president to rule after his decision to cancel Wednesday’s cabinet meeting — the first since he returned from a long overseas medical absence. An announcement Tuesday that President Muhammadu Buhari, 74, will work from home following more than 100 days of medical treatment in London because of a rodent infestation in his official office had already raised doubts about his health. Amaka Anku, an analyst at Eurasia Group consulting, said ahead of Buhari’s return at the weekend that he “remains quite ill and is unlikely to resume full presidential responsibilities”. “He will allow (the vice president) to continue to handle day-to-day governance tasks,” she wrote.     In a televised address on Monday, Buhari looked thin but sounded stronger than in his last broadcast back in June. He did not mention his illness or long absence, instead appealing for national u

30 states face risk of flooding, Saraki warns, Nigeria

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30 states face risk of flooding, Saraki warns President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has called on states across the Federation to take proactive measures to mitigate against   flooding. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki stated that recent reports show that as many as 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states face the risk of flooding due to inadequate town-planning, construction oversights and obstructed drainage systems. “We have to take this issue of flooding very seriously. God has blessed Nigeria in so many ways. We are not like many other nations that experience cataclysmic natural disasters that leave considerable destruction,” he said. “This issue of flooding is something that with proper planning and proactive steps, we can minimize and mitigate against the loss of lives and damage to property. What we need to do is for all s

Failure of Christianity behind problem of Ndigbo, nigeria

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Failure of Christianity behind problem of Ndigbo Onitsha based preacher, Evangelist Theo Rays Ejikeme has said that the continued failure of Christian churches to live up to their billing as the light of the world and salt of the earth in addressing the problems of life is the root cause of problems currently   facing Ndigbo. The founding Minister of Sounds of God and Solution Ministries,   who spoke in Onitsha while introducing what he called Special Prayer Focus on Ndigbo, stated that the region’s marginalization is consequent upon the failure of the churches to draw the attention of God on the challenges facing Ndigbo and raise a high degree of political awareness among its followers.  “Christianity as being practised by many churches today has failed to address the problems of humanity and Ndigbo being a Christian dominated region or race is a victim of that failure,” he said

Arewa youths insist on Biafra referendum, Nigeria

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Arewa youths insist on Biafra referendum •Disagree with Buhari on Nigeria’s unity The Arewa Youth Coalition has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari over his insistence that the unity of the country is non-negotiable. The group urged the government to conduct a referendum to provide an exit door for those who did not want to be part of Nigeria. Buhari, who returned on Saturday, after 103 days in London, for medical treatment, said in a nationawide broadcast on Monday that the country was better off staying together. But rising from a town hall meeting for the North East geopolitical zone, yesterday, the coalition disagreed with him on the non-negotiability of the unity of the country. National Chairman of the coalition, Alhaji Yerima Shettima told newsmen in Gombe, yesterday, that Nigeria should create an exit door for the Biafra agitators by convening a referendum. “The pre

Cannibals in S.Africa: Hundreds confess to eating human flesh

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Cannibals in S.Africa: Hundreds confess to eating human flesh A community meeting following the arrest of four Estcourt men for allegedly killing a person and eating human flesh saw hundreds of residents allegedly confess to having eaten human body parts procured from one of the accused. The four men, Nino Mbatha (32), Sthembiso Sithole (31), Lindokuhle Masondo (32) and Lungisani Magubane (30), appeared in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder and conspiracy. This after one of the four men allegedly walked into the Estcourt police station on Friday, holding human body parts and confessed to being “tired of eating human flesh”. When he was questioned, he produced part of a human leg and a hand. Further investigation led police to a house in the Rensburgdrift area in Estcourt where they were met with a foul smell, and more human remains were found. KwaZulu-Natal police spok

U.S., N.Korea clash at UN nuclear arms forum

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U.S., N.Korea clash at UN nuclear arms forum North Korea and the U.S. accused each other on Tuesday of posing a military threat to the other, with Pyongyang’s envoy declaring it would never put its nuclear arsenal up for negotiation. The debate at the UN began when the U.S. envoy said President Donald Trump’s top priority was to protect the United States and its allies against the “growing threat” from North Korea. To do so, he said, the country was ready to use “the full range of capabilities at our disposal”. U.S. disarmament ambassador Robert Wood told the UN-sponsored Conference on Disarmament that the “path to dialogue still remains an option” for Pyongyang, but that Washington was “undeterred in defending against the threat North Korea poses”. Fears have grown over North Korea’s development of missiles and nuclear weapons since Pyongyang launched Intercontinental Ballistic M

Buhari assures South East of fairnes

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Buhari assures South East of fairnes …As Igbo youths demand he takes October 1 quit notice serious  President Muhammadu Buhari has assured  the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria that his administration would keep to its campaign promises to the region, assuring the region of fair share in his administration. This also thanked the region for proving many wrong that he no longer enjoys the support of the region. The president gave the  assurance, on Tuesday, while receiving South East Youths for Buhari (COSYB),  who stormed Aso Rock Villa, to declare their support for him. He also said that his administration would do everything in its powers to keep the country together, adding that those trying to destabilise the country were only wasting their time.   Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina who received the body assured that federal roads, the Seco

Restructuring: Our fears for NIGERIA – Northern Elders

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Restructuring: Our fears for NIGERIA – Northern Elders By Kenny Ashaka Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Dr. Paul Wantaren Unongo believes that some Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the North’s thinking of the need to change the way Nigeria is organized. In this interview, Unongo, a former Minister in Nigeria’s Second Republic who has just been named as the chairman of the forum to replace Alhaji Maitama Sule who died in a Cairo hospital recently, said the North’s fear for a restructure was for Nigeria. “The North is not afraid of restructuring. The North is afraid for Nigeria. The North does not want people to surreptitiously send us back again to the frontlines in the jungle that we are going to fight a civil war. Most countries and most civilized people don’t indulge in fighting civil war twice. “If we had got things, we should go and sit down and picture a federation that would give us no p