The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Northern governors console Fashola over father’s death

    The Northern States Governors Forum on Tuesday commiserated with Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State over the death of his father, Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

    The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, said on Tuesday in Minna in a condolence message signed by his spokesman, Mr. Danladi Ndayebo, that the death of Pa Fashola was a big loss to the governor and the people of Lagos State.

    The statement said the death of the governor’s father came at a critical time when his advice and guidance were required to address the myriad of problems confronting the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Forum urged Governor Fashola to be consoled by the fact that his late father lived a life of service to God and humanity.

    It advised the governor not to be discouraged by his father’s death, but should forge ahead with the enormous task of repositioning Lagos State.

     

  • JTF imposes 24-hour curfew on Potiskum

    The  Joint Task Force  on Tuesday, imposed a 24-hour curfew on Potiskum, Yobe State.

    However, the task force did not  state the reasons for imposing curfew on the city.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that JTF spokesman, Capt. Lazarus Eli, enjoined residents of the city to cooperate and abide by the curfew order.

    `Residents of Potiskum are enjoined to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by remaining indoors until the curfew is lifted,” the NAN quoted Capt. Eli as saying in the statement.

     

     

     

     

  • Nigerian girl makes FORBES Magazine history

    Nigerian girl makes FORBES Magazine history

    Ten year-old Nigerian girl Zuriel Oduwole has made history as the youngest person ever to be interviewed in Forbes, the global iconic magazine title.

    The interview with the award winning documentary film maker, conference speaker and writer is featured in the August 2013 edition of Forbes Africa.

    Touted by some as the next Larry King, and ARISE News at the next Oprah Winfrey, Oduwole  is  reportedly committed to  Rebrand Africa by showing the positive things in about the continent, and making  the case for education the Girl Child in Africa and Emerging Markets.

    As an invited guest to the recent African Union 50th anniversary celebrations in Ethiopia, she has in her quest of pursuing her goal interviewed leading African business, political, and sports personalities, including eight  current African Presidents, Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote and Tennis super stars – Venus  and  Serena Williams.

    Zuriel (which is Hebrew for God is my Rock) believes if she can walk a mile, then there are girls who on seeing her work and progress made, would walk a mile and half.

    That, she believes is one simple way to inspire the African Girl Child, and show the world the need to educate the  continents often forgotten Girl Child, of which Zuriel is one.

  • Jonathan condoles Fashola over father’s death

    Jonathan condoles Fashola over father’s death

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday condoled with the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola over the death of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President urged the family and people of Lagos State to give thanks to God as the octogenarian lived an exemplary and accomplished life.

    The Statement reads: “On behalf of himself, his family, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan conveys sincere condolences to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on the death of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola earlier today in Lagos.”

    “As they mourn Pa Fashola, President Jonathan urges Governor Fashola, his family and people of Lagos State to give thanks to God Almighty for the octogenarian’s very exemplary and accomplished life.”

    “The President urges to them to be comforted by the knowledge that Pa Fashola is returning to his Creator as a very blessed and fulfilled man who lived to see his son become a two-term Governor of one of Nigeria’s most populous and vibrant states.”

    “President Jonathan joins Governor Fashola, members of his family and the people of Lagos in praying that God Almighty would grant Pa Fashola peaceful and eternal rest from his labours on earth.”

     

  • Rivers ‘crisis: There will be no sacred cow – Commission

    The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis that engulfed Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) on July 9 and 10 has said that there would be no sacred cow in its report.

    The Chairman of the commission, Justice Biobele Georgewill, who said this on Monday during the inaugural sitting of the body in Port Harcourt also said that every person found culpable “no matter how highly or lowly placed shall be apportioned blame and worthy and relevant recommendations shall be made.”

    To achieve this, Georgewill said that they would rely on concrete evidence to make recommendations that would bring lasting peace to the assembly irrespective of whose ox is gored.

    He also said that “heavens would never fall merely because justice was done in any given situation but rather even the heavens would rejoice when we unearth all the true circumstance and facts leading to this crisis and make all relevant recommendations to redress the crisis.”

     

     

  • Why INEC registered APC – Jega

    Why INEC registered APC – Jega

     

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Monday broke his silence on the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said APC was registered as a merger party because it met all the requirements.

    He insisted that the registration of APC was “done right under the law.”

    He, however, said the commission would appeal against a court judgment which nullified its decision to de-register Fresh Party and other parties.

    Jega made the clarification while responding to questions at a stakeholders’ conference with media professionals and civil society organizations on Voter Register Optimization, Plans for Continuous Voter Registration.

    He also said it is not time to release the 2015 general elections timetable.

    Jega said: “With regards to our registration of APC and what informed what we have done, it is clear to us that the parties that intend to merge have met all the legal requirements of merger and we have done all the internal processes or processing application for merger and we have taken the decision to register them and we believe we are right to do so under the law.

    “I cannot comment on other issues because those issues are subject to litigation but we are satisfied that what we have done is right under the law and that is why we did it.”

    Responding to a question, the INEC chairman said APC can participate in the November governorship poll in Anambra State.

     

     

  • Eid-el- Fitr: FG declares August 8 and 9 public holidays

    The Federal Government has declared August 8 and August 9 public holidays to mark the 2013 Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, on behalf of the Federal Government.

    The statement was signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the government urged Muslim faithful to use the spiritual benefits of Ramadan to contribute to the development of the nation.

     

     

  • Anambra: Over 90,000 multiple registration cases detected – Jega

    Anambra: Over 90,000 multiple registration cases detected – Jega

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said in Abuja on Monday that the commission had detected 93,526 multiple registration cases in Anambra ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

    Jega made the fact known during an interactive session with civil society organisations and the media on voters’ registration optimisation.

    He said the figure, which had been removed from the voters’ register, represented five per cent of the registered voters in Anambra.

    He said the offenders would be prosecuted as INEC was collaborating with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “This exercise is starting with Anambra and would be done nationwide before the 2015 general elections,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Prof. Jega as saying at the interactive session.

    The INEC chairman identified underage registration as a major problem affecting smooth registration in the country.

    He expressed concern that in many communities where multiple registrations occurred, INEC officials were helpless after threats by some members of the communities.

    He said, henceforth, all voters’ cards would be issued and collected at the local governments with age identification by the electorate to minimise electoral fraud.

     

     

     

  • Edo teachers’ Kidnappers demand N50m ransom

    Kidnappers of three primary school teachers at Orhogbua Primary School at Ekenwan village, Edo State, are demanding for N50m ransom.

    The three teachers – Patience Osadolor, Momodu Aisha and Patience Oroghene were abducted at gunpoint during school hours on July 30.

    One of the victims is a wife of a serving police officer.

    The Nation gathered that the gunmen shot sporadically to scare away on-lookers.

    Academic activities have been grounded at the school as other teachers have refused to report for duty until their colleagues are released.

     

     

  • 35 killed in Army, Boko Haram clashes in Borno

    At least 35 people have been killed in two separate gun battles between Nigerian security forces and Islamist sect Boko Haram in Borno State, the army said on Monday.

    Boko Haram, which wants to impose sharia law in Nigeria’s north, and other spin-off Islamist groups, had become the biggest threat to the country’s stability, Reuters reports.

    In mid-May, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency and launched an offensive against the group in its stronghold in the northeast. The insurgency was initially weakened but remains active and is stretching the army.

    Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday attacked a police base in Bama, a town close to the Cameroon border that has been frequently hit by violence in recent months.

    “Troops have successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorist attacks on a police base in Bama … on August 4,” said military spokesman Sagir Musa.

    Musa said one policeman and 17 members of Boko Haram were killed during the fighting, while two soldiers were injured.

    He said four trucks, three motorbikes, dozens of explosive devices, three rocket-propelled grenades, 10 AK47 rifles and over 100 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the Islamists.

    Boko Haram members also attacked a military base in the town of Malam Fatori, triggering a gun battle that left two soldiers and 15 of its members dead, Musa said.