PDP Fixes December 6 For Presidential Primary

September 17, 2014

At last, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate is expected to emerge on December 6 when the party will hold its much-awaited Presidential primary. The part also fixed October 29 for the Governorship primaries across the country.
These facts were made available to newsmen today in Abuja, by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Olisa Metuh. He said that the primaries for the National Assembly would hold on November 22.
According to Metuh the dates are being proposed by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and that they are subject to the approval of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) which is scheduled to meet tomorrow, Sept. 18.
“We expect all public servants, government appointees and elected party officials who are interested in contesting any position to resign their appointments seven days before the commencement of the ward congress election.”

[myad]

Nigeria Blows Ebola Away, As Government Gets Angry With Teachers’ Union Leader

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

The nation’s minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu had a cheering news today, declaring that Ebola Disease has siezed to exist in any part of the country in the last one week, even as the information minister deplored the wrong signal the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has sent out on the disease.
Addressing newsmen today shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Professor Chukwu said that there has been no fresh case of Ebola, even as the number of those on observation has reduced.
He said that as at today, there were only
366 people under surveillance in just two states – 4 in Lagos state and the rest in Rivers state.
The minister said that so far, 517 people that have been on observation have been discharged from surveillance centres and are back to their families.
Meanwhile, the information minister, Labaran Maku has expressed the federal government’s displeasure over the stand of the NUT leadership on the issue of resumption of public school on September 22.
He said that the NUT rejection of the resumption date on account that Ebola disease has not been cleared is in bad taste, adding that it is sending wrong signal to the outsiders that Nigeria is still laden with the disease.
The NUT leadership’s attempt to create an industrial dispute over nothing “is senseless” and asked the teachers to resume work on September 22 as the schools would be opened for lessons.

[myad]

Police Rescues Citizen Of Niger Republic From Being Lynched In Kebbi

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

The timely intervention of police saved one Adamu Gaya, from the Nigeria’s neigbouring Niger Republic from being lynched today by irate youths in Kamba, Kebbi state.
Report from the police said that a group of villagers in Kamba, Kebbi State, were just about to lynch Adamu Gaya, on suspicion of involvement in an alleged ritual murder of a young girl when he was rescued.
“The Police rescued and brought him into protective custody. “However, irate villagers attacked the Police station and destroyed the
communication base. They also burnt two (2) Police vehicles, and nine (9) motorcycles. Also smashed were the windscreens of four (4) cars parked at the premises. The mob also burnt the official residence of the Divisional Police Officer. “In the attack, four (4) persons lost their lives. Eighty-nine (89) persons have been arrested for the violence.”
Meanwhile, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba has called on citizens not to take laws into their hands but that they should assist law enforcement officers in maintenance of law and order in the society.

[myad]

Kano Bomb Explosion: How It Happened, By Police

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

The Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police, Acting Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu, has given a blow-by-blow accout of how yet-to-be identified gunmen bombed the Federal College of Education, in the Kano city today, leading to the death of no fewer than 17 people and many others injured.
In a statement today, Ojukwu said: “Today 17/9/2014 at about 1530hrs, two armed men detonated Improvised Explosive devices at the lecture Hall of Federal College of Education, Zaria Road, Kano.
“Thereafter, they began sporadic shooting outside the premises. Police team from a nearby Tactical Operations Point responded and shot dead the two (2) insurgents. Their AK 47 rifles were recovered.
“On examination of the scene of the explosion, fifteen (15) dead bodies were recovered, while thirty-four (34) injured were taken to hospital for treatment.
“The Police has sealed the scene of crime and commenced investigation.”

[myad]

Jonathan Sympathizes With Kano Bomb Blast Victims

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has sympathized with the victims of today bomb blast attack at the Federal College of Education in Kano, especially the families of those who died in the attack.
In a statement today, by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President Jonathan wished those who suffered injuries in what he called ‘the dastadly attack’ speedy recovery.
The President commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force who took prompt action to confront the attackers and minimize resultant casualties.
He urged them to be even more alert and proactive in the future to stop terrorist attacks in Kano and other parts of the country.
President Jonathan reassured the people of Kano and all Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to do all within its powers to further enhance the ability of the Police, Armed Forces and other security agencies to prosecute the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion and provide greater security of lives and property across the country.

[myad]

Pray To God To Deliver Nigeria From Spiritual Predicaments, Atiku Appeals To Bishops

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has appealed to Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria to pray to God to deliver Nigeria from the shackles of the present spiritual, social and economic predicaments.

He also appealed to them to pray for peaceful elections in 2015 and the emergence of a God-fearing administration that will make Nigeria spiritually, morally and socially sanctified.
In a goodwill message to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Atiku, who is also the Turaki Adamawa, drew their attention to the fact that Nigeria needs to overcome the many challenges which currently threaten security, freedom of religion and citizenship in many parts of the country.

The Bishops are holding their 2014 second plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Warri, Delta State.

“God has given you a unique responsibility as spiritual leaders, and I urge you to guide our people on how to wisely discharge their civic rights to free Nigeria from the shackles of her present spiritual, social and economic predicaments,” Atiku said.

Atiku Abubakar, who had attended the Bishops Conference previously as a sitting Vice President stated, “I wish, I could be with you personally in Warri during this your second plenary; but my previously fixed engagements outside the country makes this very difficult.

“However, I shall be grateful if I could be given the opportunity of meeting your conference or its representation at a not too distant date, to enable me discuss with you my plans on how to move our country forward.” [myad]

Kano In Panics Again As Bomb Explodes, Gunfire Rages

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

The ancient city of Kano is once again gripped with uncertainty as gunmen suspected to be members of the deadly Boko Haram embarked on bomb explosion and sporadic gun shots today.

Reports reaching us indicated that the explosion and gun fire took place at the Federal College of Education, near the old site of the Bayero University, Kabuga.

It was gathered that students of the school who were in classes receiving lectures and the people in the neighbourhood took their heels while traders in the nearby shops hurriedly closed and ran away from the place.

As at the time of this report, there is no official report of any casualty but many people were feared to have been killed.

It was gathered that most of the casualties were women.

Details to follow. [myad]

Nigeria Soldiers Wrest Konduga From Boko Haram, Kill About 100 Insurgents

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

The Nigerian Army has announced the retrieval of Konduga, a town in Borno state, from members of the fighting Boko Haram, killing about 100 of them.

A statement from the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Olajide Laleye.said that Nigerian troops crushed members of Boko Haram terrorists in their attempt to take the strategic town of Konduga, on Tuesday night, 16 September 2014, killing over 100 of them in the process.

This was confirmed today in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade in his twitter handle. Olukolade said that the troops successfully crushed another attempt by terrorists who were on a revenge mission to Konduga, after 12 hours of fighting in the outskirts of the Borno State community.

“Troops are now combing the vicinity, in a cordon and search operation to determine the heavy casualties suffered by the terrorists in the encounter.” [myad]

Peoples Democratic Party Prepares For 2015, Holds Caucus Meeting

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

The Nigerian ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) kick-started its preparation for the 2015 general elections last night with President Goodluck Jonathan holding a closed door meeting with members of the party’s national caucus.
The meeting, which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential, Abuja, was a prelude to the National Executive Council meeting of the party billed for Thursday.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta said shortly after the meeting that the party’s election guidelines in 2015 dominated discussions at the meeting, which ended in the early hours of today.
“Most of the discussions were centred on the 2015 elections, that is, preparations of the party for the 2015 elections. There were presentations by the National Working Committee. You know we have our National Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, and the guidelines for the party were discussed.
“But most of the decisions will be taken at the NEC meeting on Thursday. What we did here was to brainstorm on certain issues that will be presented at the NEC meeting.
“So, it is on that Thursday that a lot of the decisions that will guide us for the 2015 elections will be taken.”
Reports have it that a meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has also been scheduled to hold at the Presidential Villa later today, ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the National Executive Council at the party national secretariat.
Those who were at the last night caucus meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo; the President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.
Others were the Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba; the Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi; the PDP Chairman, Adamu Muazu; the Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and a former PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Ali.
The Secretary of the PDP BoT, Walid Jibril; the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Rufai Alkali; the PDP National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, were also present.
Governors in attendance were Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Jonah Jang (Plateau) and Theodore Orji (Abia). [myad]

President Zuma Sad Over Loss Of 67 South Africans In TB Joshua Synagogue Church Collapse

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2014

“This is a particularly difficult time for South Africa. Not in the recent history of our country have we had this large number of our people die in one incident outside the country.”

The South African President, Jacob Zuma made these statements today as reacted to the collapse of Synagogue Church of Nations in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday last week.
President Zuma put the number of his country men and women that died in the collapse building at 67, even as Nigerian authorities put the number at 63.

The fallen multistory building served as a shopping mall and guesthouse at the sprawling campus of televangelist T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue, Church of All Nations, on the outskirts of Lagos..
South Africa’s government said its diplomats were at the scene since at least five South African church tour groups were there at the time.
In Johannesburg, a man called into Talk Radio 702 to complain that a family member who had gone to the church was missing and that they were unable to get any information from the church or Nigerian government officials. South Africa has set up a hotline for concerned family members.
A staff of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye said that members of the agency have rescued a woman, alive, at about 2 a.m. this morning, adding: “We found her under the rubble. She walked away with only a little dislocation on her hand. She is very, very lucky.”
Farinloye said that the building collapsed, contrary to TB Joshua’s claim that the collapse was caused by Boko Haram, because of poor construction work. He said workers were trying to build two additional floors onto an existing four-story structure without reinforcing the foundations. [myad]

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