The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Egypt to try Morsi

    Egypt to try Morsi

    Egypt’s state prosecutor says he has referred ousted President Mohammed Morsi for trial on charges of inciting the murder of protesters, BBC reports.

    The accusations relate to violence outside the presidential palace in Cairo last December when at least seven people were killed in clashes.

    14 other members of the Muslim Brotherhood are to stand trial on the same charges.

    Mr. Morsi has been held at a secret location since he was deposed in July.

    He faces a number of charges but this case is his first referral for trial.

    Since he was ousted from power, the military-backed interim government has cracked down on Brotherhood supporters, who are demanding Mr. Morsi’s reinstatement.

    Last month, hundreds of protesters died when security forces stormed pro-Morsi camps in the capital.

    The state prosecutor referred the former president for trial late on Sunday, Egypt’s state media reported.

    They said he would go on trial on charges of “incitement to murder and violence” in December 2012.

     

     

  • Jonathan,16 PDP governors in closed-door meeting

    Towards resolving the crisis in the People Democratic Party(PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday  night met with 16 Governors of the party at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Some of the governors had on Saturday left the venue of the 2013 Special National Convention of the party to form a parallel exco for what they called new PDP.

    The meeting with the President started around 9.26 p.m last night at the First Lady’s Conference room in the State House.

    Even as the agenda of the meeting was not made public, it was gathered that the meeting was not unconnected to the crisis that resulted in the factionalization of the ruling party.

    The State Governors that attended the meeting included Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Mukhtar Ramallan Yero (Kaduna), Garba Umar (Taraba Acting Governor), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

    Also at the meeting were the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki and Joe Gazama(SAN).

  • Ace photographer Obe dies at 81

    Ace photographer Obe dies at 81

    Ace photographer, Peter Obe,  81, died today at his home in Lagos.

    A family member confirmed his death at his Alhaji Masha Surulere residence.

    Obe who  is one of the doyens of press photography in Nigeria among others had his  civil war photographs, published in the defunct Daily Times.

    His collection of photographs taken over the period from Independence in October 1960 through to the 30-month civil war which started almost seven years later was published in a book titled Nigeria: A decade of crises in pictures.

     

     

  • Jonathan, Obasanjo in closed-door meeting

    Jonathan, Obasanjo in closed-door meeting

    *Meeting after worshiping at Aso Villa Chapel

    President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday worshiped  at the Aso Villa Chapel Abuja

    After the church service, they  met behind closed door at the State House.

    They were believed to have discussed issues bordering on the country and the Peoples Democratic Party.

    A faction of the party broke out at the 2013 Special PDP National Convention held at the Eagles Square on Saturday.

    At the Church service, the two leaders were joined by the visiting President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi.

    They visited the children’s church from where the three of them and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe, went into the President’s residence for lunch.

    There has been increasing speculation of crack in the relationship between Jonathan and Obasanjo in recent months.

    Just like several past government functions, former President Obasanjo was conspicuously absent at the PDP Special National Convention held on Saturday.

  • Obi re-appoints Obaze as SSG

    The Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has re-appointed Mr. Oseloka Obaze as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    Obaze confirmed his re-appointment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Sunday.

    He said that he could still add value to governance and service to the people of Anambra.

    “I believe that we are entering the most critical phase of the Peter Obi’s administration, given the need to consolidate all political, economic and developmental gains.

    “There is also the need to ensure continuity and to also ensure that we finish strong by winning the forthcoming gubernatorial elections and facilitating a seamless transition to the next APGA-led government in the state.”

    Obaze said that his letter of re-appointment was handed over to him on August 29.

    “Consequently, I will resume full duties as secretary to the State Government after a very brief vacation,” he stated.

    NAN recalls that Obaze had resigned his position as SSG on August 12, to seek the ticket of APGA for the November 6 gubernatorial election in the state.

    He was, however, disqualified from the race.

    The party’s screening panel, led by one Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi, disqualified Obaze because he did not have a voter’s card.

    A former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was similarly disqualified from the governorship race.

     

     

     

  • Uche opens goal account in Spain

    Uche opens goal account in Spain

    Super Eagles forward, Ikechukwu Uche, finally opened his La Liga goal account of the new season with a simple tap in from close range to help Villarreal to a convincing 3-0 away victory over Osasuna in Saturday’s La Liga fixture, futaa.com reports.

    The prolific Nigerian forward who has been searching for his first goal of the season finally got his wish in just two minutes after coming on for Jonathan Pereira in the 73rd minute.

    Uche’s goal unarguably sealed the victory for the Yellow Subamarines who now maintain a hundred percent start their La Liga campaign with three wins from three games.

    After a keenly contested opening quarter of the game, the visitors soon settled and controlled proceedings from there onwards and did not have to wait for too long as Jeremy Perbet capitalized on Osasuna’s poor defending to give his side the lead in the 22nd minute.

    Aquino extended Villarreal’s lead on the half hour mark with a super finish from a Jonathan Pereira assist to hand his side a comfortable 2-0 lead at half time.

    Osasuna returned from the break with the hope of at least salvaging a point on the night but any hope of a comeback was thwarted by the Nigerian international who did well to get on to a Giovanni dos Santos ball to send it past Andrés Fernández for his first goal of the season and Villarreal’s third.

     

     

  • Mandela leaves hospital

    Mandela leaves hospital

    Nelson Mandela has left hospital and has gone to his Johannesburg home, where he is continuing to receive intensive care, the South African presidency says on its website.

    The announcement came a day after officials denied reports that the 95-year-old had already been discharged.

    The statement says Mr. Mandela condition remains critical and at time unstable.

    BBC reports that South Africa’s first democratically elected president has been in hospital since June with a lung infection.

    “His doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria [hospital],” the presidency statement says.

    It says his home in the upmarket suburb of Houghton has been “reconfigured to allow him to receive intensive care there” and he will be treated by the same health care personnel who have been looking after him since June 8.

    If necessary, he will be readmitted to hospital, the statement says.

     

     

  • PDP Convention: Secondus, Chikwe, Metuh elected

    Former National Organising Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has been elected as  the  Deputy National Chairman of the party with 2241 votes.
    Abubakar Mustapha who vacated the seat of National Organising Secretary in June reclaimed the position with 2125 votes.
    Mr. Victor Kwom who also resigned the position in June was the only candidate for the position in Saturday’s contest and was declared winner as Legal Adviser.
    Onwe Solomon Onwe who was kicked out as Deputy National Secretary won the position back with 2051 votes.
    A fresh contestant, Bala Buhari won the position of National Treasurer with 2181 votes.
    Chief Olisa Metuh was returned as National Publicity Secretary, while Mrs. Kema Chikwe reclaimed the position of National Woman Leader.

    The winners were endorsed by power brokers in the party a day before the convention. The PDP Governors’ Forum had met late Friday night at the Akwa Ibom Governoar’s lodge where the rash of endorsements was ratified.

  • Why we sacked Tukur, others-Atiku

    Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has  given an  insight on why a new National Working Committee was inaugurated  for the Peoples Democratic Party.
    He said the party has derailed from its mission and it is being run by those who do not know anything about party politics.
    Decked in white Babanriga, the ex-Vice-President savoured the moment  as the seven  governors and party leaders conceded the right to speak to the press to him after the address of the new factional National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.
    He said there is frustration in the country and Nigerians are disappointed with PDP administration.
    Atiku said: “Today is a very historic day in the life of our party. It is also a day of mixed feelings. It could also be a day of of happiness. It could also be a sad. Sad because the party we conceived in 1998 to be a rallying point for all Nigerians to be a source of unity, to be a party that will fulfill  the aspirations of Nigerians, has today be dragged down by people who don’t even understand what party politics is all about.
    ” So, or sometimes I have always been trying to draw attention of leaders of our party, and the leaders of government that this democratic dispensation is supposed to make things better for the people of this country.
    “Let us not deceive ourselves, the country is full of frustration, the country is full of anger, is full disappointment, therefore we have a responsibility, to see how we can reform  our great party so that those lofty ideals, lofty goals can be achieved. They can not be achieved by the present leadership of the party. It cannot be achieved even by the presidency.
    ” I have said it before and I am saying it again, that we are going in a wrong direction, now we have seen the result.
    ” We are losing the party, we are losing the government, and for this very courageous people seated here, this idea was mooted to see whether we still have men with courage and determination to get up and stand up.
    “I will therefore want to appeal to the rest of our party members who are still sitting on the fence to join this new PDP.
    “I want to assure you we will restore the values of the founding fathers of this party. Let me thank all you for the courage and support to stand up because some people will be hiding somewhere. By the grace of God with your support, with your loyalty, the change will be achieved,” Atiku stated

  • Bridge collapses in Bayelsa

    Bridge collapses in Bayelsa

    The bridge linking Igbogene and Okoloibiri communities in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, collapsed on Saturday.

    Mr. Vincent Jack, state Commander of Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the agency had commenced rescue efforts.

    He urged motorists and other road users to use alternative routes.

    Jack said the FRSC had dispatched its personnel to divert traffic from the affected area to ensure smooth flow of traffic