- 100-year-old man kills wife with an ax, commits suicide
- Osinbajo receives 5,000 PDP members to APC in Kaduna
- You Are Frustrated, Ogun APC Tells PDP
- INEC promises to deliver smooth governorship elections
- PDP ready to defeat APC in Kaduna
- PDP promises to work with Buhari, eyes return in 2019
- Jonathan warns against negative triumphalism
- Benin Elders Call For Massive Votes For APC Candidates
- Ex Gov. Osunbor, Gen. Ikponmwen Dump PDP For APC In Edo
- INEC Sacks 2 Electoral Officers In Benin
- Wabara, others canvass votes for PDP guber candidate
- Lagos APC Apologises To Igbo, Appeals For Calm
- Be neutral, APC urges security agencies, INEC
- Kebbi Governor denies defecting to APC
- APC form coalition with LP, MPPP to defeat PDP in Plateau
- DSS warns against unguarded, divisive statements
- Ogboru has not stepped down for APC guber candidate – LP
- Police yet to prosecute 9 persons arrested during presidential election
- French senator kills himself before ‘Chinese wedding’ trial
- WHO says 2million die from unsafe food annually
100-year-old man kills wife with an ax, commits suicide
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 04:14 PM PDT
 A 100-year-old US man who reportedly suffered from dementia killed his wife with an ax then committed suicide in their home near New York, authorities said Tuesday. Michael Juskin, who turned 100 in November, killed his 88-year-old wife Rosalia as she slept in her bed Sunday in their home in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, according to Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli. Juskin then used a knife to slit his wrists in the bathroom, Molinelli said, noting a history of “domestic issues” between the couple. A family member discovered the bodies the next day and alerted police. Juskin’s family said he suffered from dementia, according to the NorthJersey.com website, which added that police had been called three times for domestic issues since 2012.  |
Osinbajo receives 5,000 PDP members to APC in Kaduna
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 04:04 PM PDT
Femi Adi/Kaduna
 Vice-President elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo today received over 5000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Southern Kaduna area of Kaduna state that decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC. He commended the decampees for taking a bold step to dump PDP when it matters. Prominent among the decampees are Maj Gen. S.B.S. Biliyock (rtd), a former member of House of Representatives, Ruth Jummai Ango, former Commissioner and Attorney General, Barrister Zakari A. Sogfa and 114 immediate past councillors from eight local government areas of the zone. While receiving the decampees at Kafachan , Osinbajo said the APC has come to rescue Nigeria from bad leadership. According to Osinbajo, if Nigerians don't stand up to kill corruption, the menace will kill the country and collapse its weak institutions. He maintained that the PDP has done more harm to Nigeria using religion and playing the religious card to consolidate power. “What Nigerians need is nothing but a government that will make necessary sacrifice for peace and development of the country,” he added. Osinbajo however posited that Nigerians must respect one another and work hard to bring about desired rebirth. In his remarks, Kaduna state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Malam Nasir El-Rufai thanked the people of Southern Kaduna for their support during the presidential election in the area.  |
You Are Frustrated, Ogun APC Tells PDP
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 03:37 PM PDT
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State
The PDP in Ogun had over the weekend, through its gubernatorial candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka alleged that the governor, who is also the APC governorship candidate, had bought up all unclaimed Permanent Voters Card PVC’s in the state. Isiaka further alleged that the governor and his party, APC is doing this in preparatory to deploying same to effect a grand rigging plan. In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Sola Lawal, the party however denied such plot, stating that, “the ruling party in the state need not rig an election in which all the odds are in its favour, due to the popularity of its main candidate, Amosun”. The party pointed out that it is confident of victory in the Saturday’s polls on account of overwhelming endorsement it enjoyed from Ogun electorate in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in which the party won seven out of nine House of Representatives position available, including Egbado North/Imeko Afon Federal Constituency, where Isiaka hails from. It stated that the same winning streak would be re-enacted this Saturday, “regardless of idle hoax scream by PDP”. “By now, the nation has grown accustomed to blackmail of the APC and the electoral body by PDP, which, prior to the presidential election, crudely painted the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, a criminal. "In the same way the Jega-bashing did not prevent the PDP from the electoral humiliation it suffered in the presidential election, this latest scrabbling of Ogun PDP would lead to their demise at the polls,” the statement said. APC said that it would go into the gubernatorial poll with mouth-watering credentials of performance by the Amosun administration, including unprecedented infrastructural revolution, monumental security achievements and legendary mass appeal among others. When our correspondent contacted the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Chief Timothy Ibitoye, he debunked the claim, hinting that the Commission will never do such a thing. He cautioned political parties against unguarded utterances, noting that, they should confirm any issue before making it a public debate. “There is nothing like selling unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. I want to tell you that all the unclaimed PVCs in the state have been returned to the headquarters. Where did the issue of selling cards emanate from?” he quizzed.  |
INEC promises to deliver smooth governorship elections
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 03:25 PM PDT
Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman
Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of INEC, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja. Idowu said that after the March 28 elections, the commission evaluated the processes to ensure that identified challenges were addressed. “The commission is very optimistic that there will be much more seamless election on April 11. “Take card reader for example, the commission had given directive that the cellophane on the surface of the gadget must be removed,” he said. He said that the commission had also directed that the SIM of the card reader that required activation before use must be activated in a phone before being inserted in card readers. “The commission has also directed that card readers' batteries must be fully charged before the elections and all logistics provided. “These include the provision of generator sets at Registration Areas Centres (RACs) where card readers were expected to be charged. “The commission also instructed the states to ensure that the RACs are functional,” he said. Idowu added that the commission had instructed Resident Electoral Commission (RECs) in the states to re-engage security agencies, especially the police, in order to ensure adequate security during the election. According to him, with these provisions already in place, the commission is unlikely to resort to manual accreditation. He disclosed that RECs had been directed to re-engage National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for distribution of materials, adding that they would meet their leaders to ensure that their vehicles were released early for the exercise. “This approach would enhance early dispatches of electoral materials to polling units,” he said. On protest by 16 political parties to the commission's headquarters over Rivers elections, Kayode said he was unaware of such protest or any petition. He said the only petition sent to the commission was properly investigated and addressed before the final collation of the presidential election result.  |
PDP ready to defeat APC in Kaduna
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 03:19 PM PDT
Governor Muktar Yero
Chairman Kaduna State PDP, Chief Abubakar Gaiya Haruna who stated this while briefing newsmen shortly after a close door meeting with party stakeholders on Tuesday at General Hassan Katsina State House, maintained that the party has put its house in order for a sure victory. According to him, the fact that General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC won the presidential election in the state does not mean that PDP will loose the governorship election. He also noted that PDP as a party have learnt from their shortcomings during the recent presidential polls and have already made necessary amends ahead of the governorship election to avoid a repeat. He however urged the electorate to come out en-masse and support the PDP Governorship candidate, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and other State assembly candidates. Meanwhile, he congratulated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for providing an enabling environment for a free, fair and credible polls as well as conceding defeat. He equally congratulated the President elect, General Muhammadu Buhari for his victory but, urged him to be magnanimous in victory and build on the transformation agenda of President Jonathan. While calling on supporters of the APC not to see winning as an avenue for intimidating others,he urged PDP supporters to be law abiding.  |
PDP promises to work with Buhari, eyes return in 2019
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 03:09 PM PDT
General Muhammadu Buhari
The party's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja. He said that PDP would be an opposition that would offer alternative programmes and ideas to the new government and would not be involved in abuses. "We promise that in the course of this, we will work with the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to move the country forward as a nation. "We will cooperate with him in terms of promoting the values of our country and progress all indices for national growth and foster national unity and the development of the country and its democracy. "We will not engage in any activity that will destabilise the nation or the polity or distract the President-elect from offering Nigerians good leadership,'' Metuh assured. He said that the party was adopting the position because the interest of Nigeria was more important than that of a political party or any individual. The PDP spokesman, however, said that being in opposition was not being out of power, adding that the party would return to power in 2019. He stressed that while in the opposition, PDP would conduct its affairs with all decency, maturity, civility and the forthrightness it could muster. He said that the PDP would be the ideal opposition it had always wanted the APC to be, stressing that with cooperation, the two parties would salvage the country`s democracy. He stated that the legacy of the PDP in its 16 years in government was the sustenance of democracy, which, he said the party would do everything to sustain. According to Metuh, in spite of some irregularities in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP will do everything to ensure that the President-elect succeeds in office. This, he explained, was because of the party's belief in the sustenance of the country’s democracy. He, however, hinted that the party would not condone any form of intimidation of its key officials and appointees by the APC or any plan to destabilise it. He disclosed that the party was in the process of rebuilding its fold “on justice, fairness and equity to enable it return to government”. On the impeachment notice served on Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, Metuh said that though the PDP was worried by the development, it would not interfere in the matter. “We will not interfere with the duties of the legislature under the Constitution, but we believe that our governor will respond accordingly once the legislators follow due process,” he said.  |
Jonathan warns against negative triumphalism
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 02:45 PM PDT
President Goodluck Jonathan
The President condemned the very unseemly attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others, heat up the polity and cause public disorder and disaffection in the aftermath of the presidential and national assembly elections. In a statement issued by Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) Jonathan expressed concern about the negative triumphalism that has been put on display by certain elements since March 31 which flies in the face of his personal commitment to post-election peace, unity and national stability. “The President calls on all those, who through their actions and utterances, have been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections to cease and desist from actions that detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria,” the statement read. Jonathan also condemned the undue harassment of public officials serving under his administration and urges all affected persons to continue to perform their lawful duties without fear. “The President cautions that this should be a time for the healing of political wounds in the overriding interest of national unity, stability and progress, not a time for ethnic jingoism and the settling of scores. “The Federal Government will not condone any attempt to instigate a crisis in any part of the country in furtherance of personal political ambitions.” Jonathan assured all Nigerians that his administration remains fully committed to national progress and the entrenchment of the best values of democracy for the good of all Nigerians. “He urges Nigerians to go out en-masse once again on April 11 to vote for candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State Assembly elections with the confidence that his administration will do all within its powers to ensure that they do so in peace, without threats, intimidation or violence from any quarters,” the statement read.  |
Benin Elders Call For Massive Votes For APC Candidates
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 02:16 PM PDT
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Prince Edun Akenzua, the Enogie of Obazuwa: canvass votes for APC candidates
Consequently, Benin Leaders of Thought requested that the people of the South Senatorial district vote massively for APC in April 11 House of Assembly election and for Hon. Samson Osagie to give the district an opportunity of producing one of the officers at the Senate. The Group while addressing journalists in Benin through the Enogie of Obazuwa, His Royal Highness, Prince Edun Akenzua, explained the reason for APC’s loss at the polls, saying that chieftains of the PDP, including Captain Hosa Okunbor, Lucky Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu had made a case for the Benins to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in order for them to be in the stream of national politics at the federal level. The Group also accused chieftains of the PDP of using money at the polling centres to induce voters to change the outcome of the election. While lamenting that no Benin man or woman was ever appointed into President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet, Prince Edun Akenzua called on all Benin people “to heed the wise counsel freely given by Captain Hosa, Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Mr. Lucky Imasuen to Edo not to put themselves in opposition to the Federal Government. This is the time to think more about the interest of the State than that of the party. “In appreciation of Governor Oshiomhole’s brilliant performance in Benin, indeed, in all Edo State, the electorate should present his administration with a pro-active House of Assembly by voting over-whelmingly for APC on Saturday, so that Edo State , as Captain Hosa and Pastor Ize-Iyamu, rightly counselled, does not find itself in opposition to the Federal Government. The issue should be what the State gets, not what individual or the party gets,” Benin Leaders of Thought said. Meanwhile, Prince Edun Akenzua has tasked the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the issues of corruption, security and power as he has promised. “These are the issues that eluded the past government. Some of the companies that have moved to Ghana and some other paces would not have gone if these issues were addressed,” he observed.  |
Ex Gov. Osunbor, Gen. Ikponmwen Dump PDP For APC In Edo
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 02:09 PM PDT
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Former Edo governor, Oserheimen Osunbor
While Prof. Osunbor was being received into the APC fold with hundreds of his followers at Iruekpen by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army and chieftain of the PDP, Brig-Gen. Ikponmwen was also defecting from the PDP to the APC in Benin. Ikponmwen told journalists that his defection was to enable him support the course of genuine democracy as well as work for the progress of the country. He said he was prepared to work for the unity of the country and the evolution of credible level of security and welfare for Nigerians, adding that he was glad that Nigerians voted for Buhari whom he said has the courage and antecedent to do what is presently desirable in the country. The retired army general therefore urged the people of the state to vote for all candidates of the APC in Saturday’s House of Assembly election and the yet to be concluded National Assembly election. “I have left the PDP and I am joining the APC. We want to move forward. I am exceedingly happy about Nigerians voting for Buhari. A man of impeccable character, a man who is detribalized, has no tolerance for corruption and who has been maligned. “Democracy has had its way. We need to join forces with Buhari who will take Nigeria to the next higher level. I believe that Buhari has all the courage, antecedent to do what is desirable at this point in time. It was right to project Buhari. “I want to urge Edo people to vote enmasse for those people who will lend support to Buhari. Vote for APC candidates in the unconcluded senatorial and the House of Assembly elections. We must do this so that we will not be in opposition and be working in the right current,” he said.  |
INEC Sacks 2 Electoral Officers In Benin
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 02:02 PM PDT
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Mike Igini
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Mike Igini, who announced this during a meeting with the Leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, also disclosed that other officers of the Commission were being interrogated over alleged malpractices in the last elections, adding that those involved may face prosecution. Igini told leaders of the various political parties that after a meeting with the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in Abuja, the Commission decided that elections will be conducted in those areas where they had to postpone the elections due to late arrival of voting materials and disappearance of result sheets. According to him, areas where elections are rescheduled to hold include the entire Orhiomwon local government area, six wards in Uhumwonde, some wards and units in Ikpoba Okhai, Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Oredo local government areas. He said the winner of the Edo South Senatorial District election will emerge through a simple majority, adding that the winner could only emerge after elections were held in those areas. “Orhiomwon election is also very important because apart from the senate, we also have a House of Representatives seat at stake in that area. So the result will also be determined after the Orhionmwon and Uhumwonde elections,” Igini said, just as he emphasised that card readers will be used for the Saturday’s elections across the state. There was however war of wards between PDP and APC leaders when Barr. Igini gave the names of thosw areas where the rescheduled elections will hold, with leaders of the two parties making allegations and counter allegations about alleged ploy to rig the elections using some Electoral officers. Tempers flared as those areas mentioned did not go down well with the PDP leaders, including the State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who insisted that election held in some parts of Orhiomnwon and therefore the results should stand.  |
Wabara, others canvass votes for PDP guber candidate
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 01:59 PM PDT
Okezie Ikpeazu
Speaking at a media briefing addressed by the residents of Aba and members of the Ngwa Union in Aba on Tuesday, Wabara said that if elected, Ikpeazu's administration would give Abians relief. He said that a vote for Ikpeazu would be a vote for equity, fair play and justice in Abia, adding that it would also give Abians in all the three senatorial districts equal opportunity. In his remark, a foremost Abia Statesman, Elder Emmanuel Adaelu canvassed for Abia South to produce a governor as the north and central areas had had their turn. Adaelu said that the PDP guber candidate's victory at the polls on Saturday would result in the resuscitation of dead and ailing state-owned industries. He also said that it would guarantee the rebuilding of roads, hospitals, markets, improvement of the state's educational system and restore its agriculture.  |
Lagos APC Apologises To Igbo, Appeals For Calm
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 11:45 AM PDT
Joe Igbokwe
In a statement signed by Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the State Publicity Secretary of the Party apologised most sincerely to Ndigbo to bury the hatchet in the interest of peace and harmony, considering the long standing relationship that has existed between Igbo and Yoruba since the inception of Nigeria. “No human being is above mistakes. People can make mistakes and correct it thereafter. The Oba of Lagos can make a mistake and we believe that the statement credited to him was a mistake. If to err is human, we plead with Ndigbo to let the sleeping dog lie.” He added that “after the March 28, 2015 Presidential elections Ndigbo in Lagos have been trooping into the Lagos APC fold in droves. They have pledged to throw their full weight behind the APC gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. The support was total and unprecedented. You can therefore imagine how we feel as a party when this incident came just few days to the governorship elections. “Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is not a card carrying member of APC. He is not a leader in APC. He does not speak for APC. He did not speak for Governor Fashola of Lagos State. He did not speak for our National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. “His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only. Lagos APC appeals to Ndigbo not to take the statement as the position of the party in Lagos.” Igbokwe further stated: "We passionately appeal to Ndigbo not to carry the statement credited to Oba Akiolu too far so as not to put a knife on things that have held us together for more than 50 years now. If out of annoyance you throw your cap away a mad man will take it and use it forever. “A lot is at stake in Lagos. Lagos has been fair to Ndigbo and Ndigbo have reciprocated by taking Lagos as their home no matter whose ox is gored. Lagos APC believes that Ndigbo will not burn the bridges because of this minor setback. “Lagos APC has worked so hard with other Nigerians to enthrone a government at the centre and we cannot afford to throw all these gains away by allowing the mistakes of the last weekend to stand on our way to link Lagos effectively with the centre. Our own Oba Rilwan Akiolu's slip of tongue should not be used as an excuse by Ndigbo to reverse these huge gains. Ndigbo should forgive and forget by voting APC en mass this coming Saturday,” the statement read.  |
Be neutral, APC urges security agencies, INEC
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 10:59 AM PDT
Lai Mohammed, APC National Publicity Secretary
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The party said as national institutions, the police, DSS, Civil Defence Corps, the military and INEC must shun partisanship, and discharge their duties dispassionately and professionally. The party said it would no longer tolerate situations where security agencies and INEC collude with a political party to terrorise innocent citizens. “We do not seek any unfair advantage over any other party. We do not seek any favours from any organisation. “All we demand is that national institutions that have any role to play in the forthcoming elections must carry out their duties fairly and professionally,” the statement read. “The forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections provide the first real test for our security agencies and INEC to depart from their old, unprofessional and highly partisan paths. “They should embrace professionalism and neutrality, because they will be the first elections to be held since Nigerians voted for change. “All eyes will be watching the national institutions to see if they are ready to embrace the change that has come in spite of them, or they will like to persist in their old, unedifying ways,” it added. The APC also decried what it called ongoing killings, maiming, harassment and intimidation of its members and supporters in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.  |
Kebbi Governor denies defecting to APC
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 10:49 AM PDT
Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State
Dakingari made the denial at an interactive session with journalist in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday. The governor said he had never contemplated leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in spite of the gale of defections to the APC by his party members. “I have never contemplated joining any other political party and those who defected were not true democrats. “Those who deserted the PDP were looking for where to exploit; Iam not a parasite, hence my resolve to remain in PDP.” According to him, the PDP would win the governorship and state assembly elecions in the state in spite of the massive loss it suffered during the March 28 elections. “The PDP would win the governorship and state assembly elections especially considering that meaningful projects had been executed for the benefit of the people in the past eight years.” Dakingari urged the electorate to vote for tested and trusted candidates who would be accountable to the people. The governor attributed the failure of PDP in the state to win any seat in the National Assembly election, to the “Buhari phenomenona.” He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for introducing card reader machines, saying that it had curtailed election rigging. The governor urged people in the state to remain law abiding and peaceful before, during and after the April 11 elections. NAN reports that Dakingari lost in his bid to represent Kebbi North in the Senate during the last election won by Dr Mumammad Yahaya of APC.  |
APC form coalition with LP, MPPP to defeat PDP in Plateau
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 10:42 AM PDT
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State
The LP gubernatorial candidate, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, and the MPPP candidate, Mrs Elizabeth Yirse, told journalists in Jos on Tuesday that they had fused into APC to enable them to defeat PDP. Both LP and MPPP candidates, who addressed newsmen on the issue, said the APC candidate, Mr Simon Lalong, would be their sole candidate for governorship election on Saturday. Hirse said that their decision was in line with the air of change that was blowing across the country and a fight against the PDP which had not obeyed the zoning principle earlier agreed on. Plateau must not be left behind in the wind of change sweeping across the nation. “Our decision to merge into the APC for the polls was purposefully to unseat the PDP tyrannical government that tended to create a dynasty against the belief of Plateau people favouring just one out of the no fewer than 50 ethnic nationalities.” According to him, the PDP has not kept faith with the Plateau people as the present leadership has been making deliberate attempt to rewrite the history of Plateau to favour just a particular ethnic group which is unfortunate. Hirse said that he was a strong advocate of rotational government and believed it was the turn of the southern Plateau where Lalong comes from to produce the next governor of the state. The former Minister of State, Foreign Affairs described the electorate as heroes and urged them to overwhelmingly vote out PDP and vote in APC candidate in the governorship election on Saturday. “You voted overwhelmingly for the apostle of change, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari during the March 28 elections, please come out en mass and vote for the APC governorship candidate,” he urged. Hirse stated that at a point he was accused of being sponsored by the PDP as a spoiler to scatter the votes in the central zone in favour of the party, adding that those who were peddling such rumours were now disappointed. Yirse on her part said her decision was to forester greater unity in the state to enshrine peaceful coexistence. She said that she and Lalong shared the same vision of uniting the people and to recognise and empower women and youth in the state. APC Chairman, Mr Letep Daban, expressed happiness with development and said that the unity had further brightened the chances of APC in the forthcoming elections in the state. He said that sacrifices made by the candidates were for the benefit of the state, for the present generation and generations yet unborn. According to him, the unity was a clear sign of an eclipse that the reign of PDP in state was over.  |
DSS warns against unguarded, divisive statements
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 10:36 AM PDT
Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson of DSS
This is contained in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, and made available to NAN in Abuja on Tuesday. The statement said that the attention of the service had been drawn to “certain unguarded, inciting and divisive statements by some persons”. It, therefore, advised Nigerians to strive to strengthen the nation's democracy and work toward building a better country. The statement thanked Nigerians for their peaceful conduct during the Presidential and National Assembly elections and urged them to shun all forms of violence before, during and after the April 11 polls. “We call on all citizens to turnout and exercise their civic responsibility without fear as adequate security has been put in place to ensure their safety,” the statement said.  |
Ogboru has not stepped down for APC guber candidate – LP
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 10:25 AM PDT
Chief Great Ogboru
Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, made this known to NAN in Abuja. Ezeagwu told NAN that neither the party nor its candidate was contemplating any “understanding” with or stepping down for the APC candidate, saying that it was truly a speculation and a rumour. According to him, the stepping down issue is a rumour being orchestrated by Emerhor and a section of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU). “It is the APC candidate, O'tega, that is championing the issue and causing some agents to spread the rumour. “Our candidate has not and will not step down for anybody. We are seriously going round the state on campaign and the election on April 11 is our focus. “I will advise the APC and O'tega to focus on their own campaign and not allow anyone or group to delude them that Ogboru has stepped down or will step down for them,” he said. NAN reports that the UPU had raised a six-member committee headed by Chief Godwin Ogbetuo to adopt a single candidate out of Ogboru and Emerhor. The move was aimed at actualising the wish of the union to produce a governor from the ethnic group at Saturday’s governorship polls and use it as tonic for total reconciliation of its crisis. On Monday, speculation was rife that Ogboru had stepped down for Emerhor following an understanding between both candidates and their parties at the instance of the committee. It was, however, gathered that the committee had not fully completed its job and was yet to make contact with Ogboru on the issue.  |
Police yet to prosecute 9 persons arrested during presidential election
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 08:57 AM PDT
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, C.K. Aderanti
DSP Kenneth Nwosu, the Lagos State Police Command's spokesman, who confirmed the development to NAN on Tuesday, however, said the suspects would soon be arraigned. Nwosu also assured the residents of a crime-free election on Saturday. “We have nine persons arrested for disrupting the election and we are looking into their cases and they will be charged to court. “In the course of the hitch-free general election, we had minimal number of arrest, probably the lowest in the federation which is because of the security measures we were able to put in place,” he said. According to him, a minor security adjustment has been made by the command for an improved security ahead of the April 11 polls. Nwosu said the command had mobilised its combat units to ensure a hitch-free election on Saturday. “Our sister agencies are willing to partner with us just like they did during Presidential and National Assembly elections to ensure a crime free Governorship House of Assembly elections,” he said.  |
French senator kills himself before ‘Chinese wedding’ trial
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 08:46 AM PDT
Jean Germain: killed himself over corruption allegation
Jean Germain, 67, seen as a close ally of President Francois Hollande, was found dead in the garage next to his house as the trial was due to begin, according to a police source. “At 9:00am, neighbours heard a suspicious noise. It looks like it was a suicide with a hunting rifle,” said local prosecutor Jean-Luc Beck. Germain left a suicide note, saying he was being prosecuted “for political reasons”, something he found “unbearable”. “You can be sure that I never embezzled a centime, that I did not take any money, that I always worked for what I believed to be in the best interests of the people of Tours,” the note read. A visibly moved Hollande said it was a “terrible tragedy that a man can commit suicide because he does not want his honour to be stained.” “A great elected official has died in particularly cruel circumstances,” added the president. Germain supported Hollande during his 2012 presidential campaign, advising the future president on education policy. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he was “overwhelmed” by the news, adding: “I have lost a friend.” The current mayor of Tours, Serge Babary, ordered the flags in the western city to be flown at half-mast, saying: “Tours is in mourning.” – ‘Thrown to the dogs’ – Germain was due to stand trial on Tuesday for alleged complicity in a corruption case over Chinese “weddings” that took place in Tours between 2007 and 2011. A member of his staff, Lise Han, stands accused of fraud, collusion and mishandling public funds. While she was working at the City Hall on tourism issues, she was also allegedly running a private company organising the so-called wedding trips. The trips did not include a real wedding ceremony but couples travelled long distances and paid large sums for what were billed as “romantic wedding” packages and were photographed in wedding attire in stunning locations, including the Tours City Hall. The mayor even posed with the couples in his full official dress. Although she had officially resigned from her job as head of the organising group, Time Sarl, she is accused of continuing to run the firm while at City Hall, which was in turn subcontracting the work to her firm. Germain, who has said he was in the dark about the “lies and manipulations” of Han, stood accused of complicity in collusion and misappropriation of public funds. His lawyer Dominique Tricaud told reporters at the opening of the trial: “The last time I saw him was last week. He said that no one in his family had ever stood accused in court…. He saw it as a sort of dishonour.” “He is a martyr of the Republic. He has been thrown to the dogs in this case,” added the lawyer. The trial, which was supposed to last until Friday, was postponed until October 13, said the presiding judge.  |
WHO says 2million die from unsafe food annually
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 08:31 AM PDT
Dr Matshidiso Moeti
This was contained in a statement issued by the global body to commemorate the World Health Day with the theme: “How safe is your food? From farm to plate, make food safe". The statement signed by Charity Warigon, Head, Media and Communications, WHO Nigeria, said: “WHO joins the rest of the international community to commemorate World Health Day”. According to the statement, food contaminated by harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can lead to a wide range of health problems. It noted also that food contamination was responsible for more than 200 diseases, including typhoid fever, diarrhoea and cancers, among others. It said the African region also accounts for a large number of infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with an underlying illness, who were vulnerable to diseases from unsafe food. According to the statement, in 2014, there were more than 100,000 cases of cholera in 22 countries resulting in more than 1,700 deaths. “While between January and April 2015, cholera outbreaks in 13 countries have led to over 200 deaths out of more than 13,000 cases,” it said. It further noted that a high percentage of incidents of food-borne disease were caused by foods improperly prepared or mishandled at home, in restaurants or markets. “Food can become contaminated at any point of production and distribution, and food producers play a critical role in preventing this problem," the statement said. It therefore called for urgent action by all food handlers and consumers in adopting basic hygienic practices when buying, selling and preparing food to protect their health and the community. “Everyone has a role to play in making food safe and I urge food handlers and consumers to be familiar with common food hazards,” the statement said. Moeti noted the growing concern over the increase of resistant microorganisms in the food chain and urged for a good platform to bring stakeholders together to address antimicrobial resistance. “In combating antimicrobial resistance, prudent use of antimicrobials in agriculture, aquaculture and animal husbandry is critical, as is the case in human medicine. “Production of safe food facilitates access to wider markets and improves overseas earnings,” she said She also call on African governments to prioritise food safety, align policies in agriculture, trade, health, education, social protection and also mobilise adequate financial resources to make food safe for all. She suggested setting food guidelines in line with codex standards, operating regional alert mechanisms, early warning systems as well as building and maintaining adequate food systems and infrastructures to improve food safety. Moeti pledged WHO's commitment to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders and other partners to ensure safe food “from farm to plate” in Africa.  |
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