The Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Editor in Chief of Sun Newspaper, Mr Femi Adesina has been elected President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
He polled 149 votes to defeat Tukur Abdulrahaman, Managing Director of New Nigeria Newspaper who had 57 votes at the election held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Pope Benedict XVI tenure has ended becoming the first head of the Catholic Church to retire in 600 years.
At 8pm local time in Rome the doors of Castel Gandolfo closed and the famous Swiss Guard that ceremonially watch over the pope’s summer residence marched away – signifying the end of Benedict’s eight-year papacy – and that the position of pope is now vacant.
From now on he will be known as Emeritus Pope and devote his days to prayer and meditation.
Hours earlier, in an emotional goodbye to the faithful, he declared himself a mere “pilgrim” in his final public appearance as Pope.
He arrived at the villa at the lakeside town to find a 7,000-strong crowd gathered in the main square waving yellow and white paper pennants in Vatican colours to greet him.
There were huge cheers as he briefly stepped out onto the main balcony, wearing a white robe, and spoke to the faithful with a final apostolic blessing.
“I am very happy to be here with you, surrounded by the beauty of the world. Thank you for your friendship and your affection,” he said.
“As you know, today is different to previous ones.
“I will only be the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church until 8pm and then no longer. I will simply be a pilgrim who is starting the last phase of his pilgrimage on this earth.
“However, With all my heart and love and my prayers, I would like to work for the good of the Church and humanity.
“I feel your support … Let’s go on together for the Church and the good of the world.”
He went on to say: “From the bottom of my heart I bless you … Thank you and good night.”
Balloons spelling out his name were strung up across a shop window and banners thanking Benedict for his service were held aloft.
Hip hop artiste , Damino Damoche , an undergraduate of the Lagos State University (LASU) is dead.
He was shot dead earlier Thursday in front of the LASU gate by suspected cultists.
Though, it is not clear why he was shot, sources say his assailants who operated on a motor bike opened fire on him several times before he gave up the ghost.
Christened Olaniyan Damilola Ibrahim at birth, Damoche was a 400 level Banking and Finance student of LASU.
Damoche began his music career with a group known as Middle Guys before he decided to pursue a solo career.
The ‘Obo to che’ crooner has collaborated with others artistes on the music scene such as Drama, DJ Zeez, Prince Banton, Shanko Rasheed, Konga and B.O.Y.
He was planning further collaborations with established artistes such as Durrela, 2face, D’Banj and other A-list musicians before his untimely death.
His last self titled album Damino Damoche was released in 2011.
The 2013 Appropriation Bill has finally been signed into law on Tuesday by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said in a statement that the bill was signed after consultations and an agreement between the Executive and the Legislature.
According to him, President Jonathan wishes to reassure Nigerians that the consultations over the budget have been in the best interest of the country, and in pursuit of understanding and mutual cooperation between both arms of government.
“As part of the understanding reached with its leadership, the observations of the executive arm of government about the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly will be further considered by the National Assembly through legislative action, to ensure effective and smooth implementation of the 2013 Appropriation Act in all aspects.
“The administration remains fully committed to the positive transformation of the country, and effective and efficient service delivery for the benefit of all citizens.
“All Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government have therefore been directed to work very hard to ensure that all the services, projects and programmes contained in the budget are successfully delivered on schedule in spite of the slight delay in its enactment” Abati stated.
Former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, has emerged as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was elected at a meeting of the board at the Presidential Villa which ended at about 12.45am on Tuesday.
Anenih was former Chairman of the party’s BoT until 2007.
Anenih told State House correspondents after the meeting that he was happy to be the chairman of the BoT, a position, which according to him is “the conscience of the party and comprises elders, men of integrity, honour and experience as members.”
“PDP is on the move again and cannot be stopped by any merger of political parties.”
He described the merger of opposition parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “pack of weak blocks that cannot be used to construct an enduring edifice.”
In a congratulatory message by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP expressed confidence that Anenih’s antecedents as a mobiliser and consensus builder over the years will contribute to the stability of the party.
“Chief Anenih’s tireless participation and critical role in the formation of the PDP places him in good stead to provide wise counsel and direct the influential Board of Trustees to follow the noble ideals of the founders of the party. His wealth of experience and acclaimed reputation as a democrat and consensus builder are assets that the party needs at this critical point in our democratic evolution,” the PDP said.
Eight persons including a baby were killed and others injured on Sunday in an auto -crash that occurred in Mowe, Ogun State on the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.
The Sagamu Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Lasisi Ogundele, said the accident involved an articulated vehicle marked Yobe XB503FKA and a Mitsubishi Space wagon with registration number Lagos GGE 540XC number.
According to Ogundele, the heavy duty truck was reversing when the Space wagon which left Kuto park in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, for Lagos State crashed into it.
The victims – five males and three females were said to have died on the spot while a passenger survived unhurt.
The Nation gathered that the dead were evacuated to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital(OOUTH) morgue.
In a statement signed by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki, the government said “the entire people of Kaduna State have been urged to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as government has taken steps to forestall any break of law and order in any part of the state.”
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Sunday took oath of office for his second term.
A splinter group of the Islamic Boko Haram group, led by Sheikh Abdulaziz Ibn Adam on Saturday insisted that it was ready to dialogue with government to the group’s current bloody campaign.
Ibn Adam made the announcement at a news conference in Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
He said that the group had come to realise that it could not achieve its aim through violence.
“You will recall that we announced a cease fire last month as a precondition for talks with government.
“But sadly after a few days of respite, violent began again in the country,” he said.
Ibn Adam said that the group was not responsible for the renewed violence in some parts of Borno.
“Those currently engaged in this violence are not our people because our people are obedient to their leaders.
“Since the leadership has asked them to cease fire, they won’t continue with violence,” he said.
Ibn Adam said that the group would go after those who still engaged in violent campaign since they had been warned severally.
He said that the leader of the sect Sheikh Abubabak Shekau was behind the cease fire agreement and hence all members must abide or face sanctions.
