The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Malaysia court rules non-Muslims cannot use ‘Allah’

    A Malaysian court has ruled that non-Muslims cannot use the word Allah to refer to God, overturning a 2009 lower court ruling, BBC reports.

    The appeals court said that allowing non-Muslims to use the word would “cause confusion in the community.”

    Christians argue that they have used the word in Malay for decades and that the ruling violates their rights.

    The 2009 ruling sparked religious tensions and led to churches and mosques being attacked.

    It came after the government said that a Catholic newspaper, The Herald, could not use the word in its Malay-language edition to describe the Christian God.

    The newspaper sued, and a court ruled in their favour in December 2009. The government then launched an appeal.

    Chief Judge, MohamedApandi Ali, said on Monday: “The usage of the word Allah is not an integral part of the faith in Christianity.”

    “The usage of the word will cause confusion in the community,” he added.

    The Herald editor, Reverend Lawrence Andrew, said he was “disappointed and dismayed,” and would appeal against the decision.

    “It is a retrograde step in the development of law in relation to the fundamental liberty of religious minorities,” he said.

    The newspaper’s supporters have argued that Malay-language Bibles have used Allah to refer to the Christian God since before Malaysia was formed as a federal state in 1963.

    “Allah is a term in the Middle East and in Indonesia it is a term bot

     

  • Advice for Nigerian leaders from Norway

    Advice for Nigerian leaders from Norway

    Tove Fortun  a 50- year old Norwegian trained  economist with over twenty years experience working in the financial industry  recently indicated her interest to advice  Nigerian leaders in a mail she sent to The Nation Online.

    In this interview with Lekan Otufodunrin, Fortun who retired ten years ago due to her health speaks on interest in Nigeria and offers her frank suggestions on how to the government can develop the country.

    Why are you interested in reaching out to Nigerian leaders?

    My letter to the leaders of Nigeria is made for love of my friends I have there. They don´t know each other but tell the same story, so I know life isn´t easy in Nigeria even for well educated .

    What is your impression of Nigeria and the people?

    The people I know is very well educated, very nice and caring people, great hospitality and extremely hardworking people.

    What advice do you have for Nigerian leaders?

    I will be careful with that because I know there are lots of challenges like different religions, different tribes and also Boko Haram who want to own Islamic state up in north. As far as I know Islam it is a peaceful religion and killing or self killing is forbidden.

    But I wish the leaders will use the money from oil and other resources for the best for all people. Education is the key to get out of poverty. But even well educated struggle with their economy. So something must be wrong. All citizens must like Norwegian citizen have access to information about the income to the State Nigeria and also what the money is used for.

    That is very important to avoid corruption. If you show the accounts then everyone knows there are no skeletons in the closet. On long term the leaders should go for free education up to end of high school.

    Who are your Nigerian friends and what has been your experience interacting with Nigerians online and in Norway?

    I am not interested in telling any names. There are both men and women. Some are students and some at my age with families. I am also introduced to wives, kids and girlfriends. This is very nice for me. I learn a lot about religion, better English-skills, politics and the best of all true good friends who never ask for money. I know about scammers and see them on FB every day. And I know also EFCC take the biggest fishes.

    What has been the experience of your country as an oil producing nation?

    I was born in 1963 before Norway found the oil. I remember a happy childhood but in another economical time. We did not go to bed hungry but there was less money and not so many people went for high education as today.

    The oil has given us better possibilities to new hospitals with the most modern equipment for treatment for all diseases. All youth are guaranteed 13 year at school free. Universities and Colleges are also free, means no school fee but you have to pay for books after the first 13 years, high school. The school was also free in my childhood but not so modern like today.

    I know only one bad thing about Norwegian oil fortune. We trust in it too much, so we are in lack of innovation and also good engineers. One day the oil will bring less money to Norway and then we need to have other possibilities for the welfare we have in this country.

    Norway’s welfare system is based on that everyone who work full time and pay taxes. Most of our oil fortune is saved for next generation. But a certain percent is used every year for investments like health, roads, schools and so on.

     

  • Sanusi wins 2013 Emerging Markets Central Bank of Year Award

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been conferred with the 2013 Emerging Markets Central Bank of the Year Award for Sub-Saharan Africa at the prestigious Willard InterContinental, Washington DC.

    A statement from the CBN said a citation by the Managing Director of the Emerging Markets Magazine, organizers of the award, John Orchard, acknowledged the outstanding feat of Sanusi in driving down inflation from double digits to single digit of about 8 per cent.

    He also stated that Sanusi had consistently pursued and successfully maintained macroeconomic stability notwithstanding the arduous challenges confronting the Nigerian economy.

    When Sanusi won the Award for the second time in 2010, the publishers and the organisers of the award noted that winning a second time was a rare event.

    Responding, the CBN Governor attributed his success to the efforts of the 6000 workforce of the Bank and thanked the Government of Nigeria for the confidence reposed in him by giving him the responsibility.

    He also thanked the Finance Ministers with whom he had worked during his tenure, including the incumbent Minister, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Dr. Mansur Muhtar, who were present at the occasion.

    Speaking further, he reiterated that Central Bank Governors had the onerous challenge of maintaining stability in the financial system and pledged not to relent in this regard.

    Mr. Sanusi won the award for the Sub-Saharan region alongside the South African Minister of Finance, Mr. Pravin Gordhan, who won the Finance Minister of the Year for the Sub-Saharan regional economies.

    This is Sanusi’s last Annual Meeting and he will be missed by the international finance community.

  • Electoral malpractices marred Delta Senatorial bye-election – APC

    The All Progress Congress (APC) has said Saturday’s bye-election in Delta Central Senatorial District was marred by cases of electoral malpractices and widespread violence allegedly perpetrated by security agents and thugs hired by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .

    In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said there was no voting at all in most of the eight local governments and the 85 wards in the District.

    APC  said the PDP used armed security agents to chase away voters in opposition strongholds while thugs working under the cover of security personnel beat opposition party agents and seized voting materials in many areas.

    It said electoral officials were either overwhelmed by the intimidating presence of the security agents or were coerced into submission.

    ”This election is nothing but a sham as the activities of the partisan security agents ensured that hundreds of voters were disenfranchised, while state government and PDP officials openly handed money to induce voters. Even in wards where voters successfully resisted armed security agents,the absence of complete electoral materials meant there was no voting.

    ”Knowing it could not win a free and fair elections anywhere in the country, the PDP simply took measures to suppress voting in opposition strongholds during the Senatorial election.

    ”From what transpired in Delta on Saturday, it is clear that the PDP has resolved that there will no be a free and fair election anywhere across the country henceforth. The party’s new strategy is to use security agents as agents of destabilization and suppression of votes,” APC said.

    The party said the Federal Government sent troops to Delta under the pretext of battling the notorious kidnapping lynchpin Kelvin and his cohorts, when in fact the deployment was a decoy for election rigging.

  • INEC declares Aguriavwodo winner of Delta bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NNDC, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo winner of the Delta Central Senatorial District bye-election held on Saturday.

    Aguariavwodo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won with 263,024 votes, while Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives  Congress, ACP, had 29,075 votes.  DPP candidate, Ede Dafinone got 29,055 votes.

    Six other parties participated in the election marred by malpractices, including ballot snatching, intimidation of voters and late arrival of ballot materials.

     

  • IRS Airlines makes emergency landing in Kaduna

    ………89 passengers evacuated from the runway
    Barely two weeks after Associated Aviation Embrear 120 aircraft crashed in Lagos, an IRS Airlines with 89 passengers on board on Sunday made an emergency landing at the Kaduna Airport resulting from low hydraulic system warning in the cockpit.
    Sequel to the incident, the maintenance crew of IRS Airlines have commenced investigations to confirm the issue that may have led to the warning to the crew on board the aircraft.
    Confirming the incident, the managing director of IRS Airlines , Mr Yemi Dada said : ”  On final approach to Kaduna today, on our aircraft flight 3390 with 89 passengers, our cockpit crew got a low hydraulic in system one warning and decided to take precautionary measures  to ask for ground confirmation that all gears were down  and locked and the aircraft landed normally after the control tower had confirmed that the gears were all down normally.
    ” The crew proceeded to land but followed procedure to disembark on the runway and not taxi in accordance with the procedure.
    All passengers disembarked normally and the aircraft was towed to the ramp .
    ” The maintenance crew are inspecting to confirm the issue that caused the warning to the crew . Updates will follow shortly ,” Dada stated.
  • WCQ: Nigeria beat Ethiopia 1-2

    WCQ: Nigeria beat Ethiopia 1-2

    Super Eagles of Nigeria secured an away win on Sunday against their Ethiopian counterparts in the first leg of the of FIFA 2014 World Cup Play-Off.

    The African Champions came back from a goal down in Addis Ababa to snatch three points from the determined Ethiopians ahead of the second-leg billed for November.

    Behalu Assefa put his side up in the 56th minute  through a cross from the left flank. His effort was adjudged a goal for crossing the line even though it was caught by the Nigerian goalie, Vincent Enyeama.

    Emenike found the back of the net in the 67th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box sending the stadium quiet.

    The CSKA Moscow forward was dragged down in the box for a clear penalty — he calmly dispatched the penalty to give  Eagles the victory and a leg in Brazil.

     

     

     

     

  • Eagles unchanged for Ethiopia’s clash

    Eagles unchanged for Ethiopia’s clash

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has retained the squad that featured against Malawi for Sunday’s clash against Ethiopia, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The Eagles flew past Malawi 2-0 in Calabar, but for some poor finishing and some brilliant goalkeeping, Nigeria would have won by a bigger margin as the boys played with a lot of understanding and confidence.

    Keshi therefore wishes to attack hosts Ethiopia and so rather than go for a defensive-minded midfielder, he has kept faith with Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi in a 4-3-3 formation.

    Sunday Mba and Real Betis ace Nosa Igiebor will therefore start from the bench.

    The attack is led by Emmanuel Emenike with support on the wings from Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses, while the back four has the central defensive partnership of Godfrey Oboabona and Azubuike Egwuekwe.

    Ethiopia has also gone with the tried and tested for Sunday’s clash.

    Saladin Said will partner Shemeles Bekele in a 4-4-2 formation.

    Skipper Degu Debebe will take charge in the defence.

     

    Nigeria starting XI:

     

    Vincent Enyeama – Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Nnamdi Oduamadi – Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa.

     

    Ethiopia starting XI:

    Jemal Tesaw – Abebaw Butako, Degu Debebe, Aynalem Haile, Siyoum Tesfaye- Asrat Megersa, Minyael Teshome, Adane Girma, Behailu Asefa – Saladin Said and Shemeles Bekele

     

     

  • Nigeria faces Jordan October 26

    Nigeria faces Jordan October 26

    Nigeria will face Jordan on October 26 in a friendly as part of the country’s build-up to next year’s CHAN in South Africa.

    It will be the first meeting between the two countries.

    A top official of the Nigeria Football Federation informed MTNFootball.com that the match will be played by players from the domestic league and a list of call-ups will be announced this week.

    The squad will train in Abuja before flying out to Amman.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria makes its debut at the 2014 CHAN after two failed attempts.

    The Super Eagles will meet hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in the first round of the tournament reserved for players featuring in their domestic leagues.

     

  • Al-Mustapha condoles Lar’s family

    Al-Mustapha condoles Lar’s family

    The former Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha’s, Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, on Saturday expressed regrets that he did not meet the late Chief Solomon Lar before his death.

    Al-Mustapha made his feelings known while speaking with Rep. Beni Lar, a daughter of the deceased, during a condolence visit to the Lar residence in Abuja.

    He said he had planned to visit the late Lar, who was a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, but fate made it impossible.

    Al-Mustapha, who described the deceased as a father and defender of democracy said he had established contacts with him since when he was appointed the Minister of Police Affairs.

    “Our relationship continued, even while I was incarcerated.

    “Therefore, after my release, I thought of coming to say `thank you’ to him. But, I couldn’t before he died,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the former CSO as saying during the visit.

    He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the entire Lar family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Speaking also at the event, a former Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, said the late Lar cared about Al-Mustapha.

    He said the late former governor of the old Plateau State kept on telling him about the need to get Al-Mustapha released from prison when he (Mantu) was at the National Assembly.

    “I never knew why `Baba’ was interested in Al-Mustapha’s release until this visit. Bur we did our best as at that time.

    “During that time, at many times when we thought we had finished the deal in the evening, some other people were somewhere changing things before daybreak,’’ Mantu said.