welcome To News Line: February 2015

23 February 2015

Bobbi Kristina was abusing heroin, cocaine and other drugs

Bobbi Kristina Brown

Bobbi Kristina Brown, like her doomed mom Whitney Houston, was using drugs before she was found unconscious in a bathtub, according to People magazine.

The 21-year-old daughter of Houston and R&B singer Bobby Brown was regularly taking heroin, cocaine and Xanax in the months before she was rushed to a Georgia hospital on Jan. 31, the magazine reported.

Xanax was one of the drugs found in Houston’s system after she drowned in a bathtub at a Beverly Hills hotel on Feb. 11, 2012.

Recently, someone posted on her Facebook wall a claim that she had taken 1,000 bottles of a popular soft drink in order to have her name inscribed on the bottle.

Many people who visited her wall swallowed this claim, which turned out to be a ruse.

But the fact that anyone could believe that claim proves one thing: the average person is ignorant of the effects of sugar in the body!

Sugar is sweet, no doubt; yet, researchers say its consumption is fraught with health problems.

Sugar is colourless or white when pure, and brown when less refined. It is obtained commercially from sugarcane or sugar beet and less extensively from sorghum, maples, and palms.

Dr. Biodun Ogungbo

A little boy came home from school one day and asked, “Dad, what can you tell me about politics? I have to learn about it for school tomorrow.”

The father thought hard and said, “Okay son, the best way I could describe politics is to use an analogy. Let us assume that I am capitalism because I am the breadwinner. Your mother will be government because she controls everything. Our maid will be the working class because she works for us. You will be the people because you answer to us; and your baby brother will be the future. Does that help?”

Sebastian

The personal steward of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has been reportedly killed in Calabar.

The steward, who was identified as Sebastian, was said to have been killed in his residence by some yet-to-be identified, shortly after departing from the governor’s house on Friday.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the steward, who hailed from the Obanliku Local Government Area of the state, had followed his boss round the state on political campaigns, but was killed shortly after returning home.

He said, “Sebastian was killed on Friday in his Eight Mile residence. He was loved by the governor and his family. He had five-year-old twins and a new baby. The news came to us as a shock.”

Alex Iwobi

The Nigeria Football Federation has explained why Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi was excluded from the U-23 team ahead of the All-Africa Games qualifier against Gabon on Saturday.

The football body had left no stone unturned in convincing the 18-year-old to switch allegiance to his fatherland despite having represented England at the youth level. He was initially listed by coach Samson Siasia to play in Saturday’s game, but information reached the NFF hours before the game that the player was not eligible at that level, according to FIFA rules. It was, however, too late to drop him from the contingent heading to Gabon.

NFF Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme , explained that the decision to take him along was to encourage the player and others in the Diaspora.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Following the theatrical exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party, TOBI AWORINDE examines the implications for the party

Last Monday, the nation witnessed how former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a dramatic fashion, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, which brought him to power in 1999.

Obasanjo, while hosting officials and members of the party from Ward 11, Abeokuta North Ogun State at his Hilltop residence, officially cut ties with the party by having his membership card torn to bits.

Senator Iyiola Omisore

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in August 9th, 2014 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said the proported video which was made available to the public is an evidence that the All Progressives Congress rigged the governorship election in the state.

Omisore, whose petition to challenge the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Election Petitions Tribunal was recently dismissed spoke to our correspondent in Osogbo on Saturday through his media aide, Mr. Victor Oriola.

The media aide said that the video which showed how some persons were thumb printing ballot papers for the APC candidate had been around for some time.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties have demanded a probe of the audio file which purportedly captures the voices of Peoples Democratic Party leaders plotting to rig the June 2, 2014 elections with officers of the Nigerian Army in Ekiti.

The recording, which was on Sahara Reporters, purportedly captured the voices of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore and a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, in a meeting where they allegedly gave directives to one Brig.-Gen. Momoh to favour the PDP.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday, wondered why the military had been silent over the tape which has been in circulation for over two weeks.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is ready to commit his future to the club, according to his agent Dimitri Seluk.

Agent Dimitri Seluk said his client Yaya Toure is ready to retire at Manchester City before taking up a role as football director.

Toure’s future in Manchester beyond the 2014-15 Premier League season has been in doubt since hinting earlier this month that he would consider his options in an interview with CNN.

Inter have emerged as a possible destination for the Ivory Coast international, with former City manager Roberto Mancini reportedly considering a close-season swoop.

Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

THE Finance Minister’s acknowledgement of the need by the Federal Government to expedite action on the war on corruption in order to stop leakages and maximise the dwindling oil revenues is imperative to Nigeria’s future. But it is also certain to fail unless senior cabinet ministers like her climb down from their high horse and admit the lack of political will by the Jonathan government to clean up the Augean stables.

It is unsurprising that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala chose the public lecture, “Blocking Leakages Amid Dwindling Oil Income,” organised by the Catholic Secretariat, Abuja, to once again defend the Jonathan administration’s poor scorecard on graft, thus sending the wrong message that she is an anti-corruption champion. Defending the indefensible when the facts are not on your side is always a difficult task.

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro

A civil society group, All Nigeria Save Democracy Movement, has kicked against the ministerial nomination of former Peoples Democratic Party Lagos State governorship aspirant, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group, in a petition to the Senate President, David Mark, through Senators Gbenga Ashafa and Obafemi Ojudu, listed several reasons Obanikoro was not qualified to become a minister, a statement said on Sunday.

According to the group, Obanikoro is of dual citizenship–USA and Nigeria – and going by the provisions of the constitution, he should be disqualified for the post.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi

UNKNOWN gunmen struck again in Rivers State, kidnapping the one of the aides of the state Governor, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara.

Ndigbara, who is an anchorman to Governor Rotimi Amaechi events inside and outside Government

House, Port Harcourt, was whisked away on Sunday by hoodlums in Kaani Community, Khana Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that Ndigbara, who is popularly called Freddie by Government House workers, was accosted and forced him into a waiting car by the gunmen during a ward rally organised by the All Progressives Congress in the area.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday boasted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), “will never be Nigeria president again.”

The governor also challenged the former Head of State to swear by the Holy Quran that he did not visit the hospital in the United Kingdom last week.

Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said, “I wish they can see spiritually what I am talking about that Buhari, despite the hullabaloo will never be president. I predicted my return as Ekiti State governor and I am saying it again that Buhari will never rule Nigeria again.

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam

A female suicide bomber on Sunday attacked the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) market in Potiskum, Yobe State, leaving five people dead and 46 others injured.

A mobile phone seller at the market, Adamu Yahaya, told one of our correspondents on the telephone that a female suicide bomber hit the entrance to the GSM market, located in the heart of Potiskum town, around 1.15 pm.

He said the attack resulted in her death and four other persons with many left severed injured.

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said the insinuations   that he was planning to put in place an Interim National Government instead of ensuring the sanctity of the May 29 handover date amounted to treason.

He said the only ING that could be put in place was that of the military which,   according to him, will not be accepted by Nigerians and the international community.

Jonathan spoke during the opening mass for the plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria   at   Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja.

The President again assured all stakeholders in the political process that the general elections would hold on the rescheduled dates of March 28 and April 11 and the winners   inaugurated on May 29.

Joseph Mbu

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, Mr. Joseph Mbu, has said that there is no big deal in the number of people policemen under his command can kill in self-defence.

He said since policemen were also human beings, they should be ready to take revenge on any violent group(s) that might attack them or other innocent citizens.

Mbu spoke with some journalists in Olorunsogo, Ogun State, during the inauguration of the Olorunsogo II Power Station by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The journalists had approached the AIG, who led policemen to provide security for the President at the event, to clarify the controversial statement credited to him that 20 civilians would be hacked down for every policeman killed.

Precious John

Background

My name is Precious John and I am the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Model of the Year 2014. I am 22 years old. I am studying Mass Communication at Lead City University, Ibadan. I am from Anambra State.

Modelling

I started modelling at the age of 19. I have done lookbooks for designers like Clan Diaries, Maki Oh and Phunk Afrique to mention but a few.

Pageant

Fayose trailing Buhari in London — APC

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

The All Progressive Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation on Saturday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, to order for allegedly trailing the party’s candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, in the United Kingdom.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by Mr. Garba Shehu, the APC said apart from hiring people to trail Buhari, Fayose also wishes the presidential candidate dead.

President Goodluck Jonathan with Obas

As part of last efforts to win the March 28 elections, President Goodluck Jonathan is set to sign an undertaking with leaders of the South-West.

He has also appealed to traditional rulers from the geo-political zone to support him in his desire to be re-elected.

Investigations by our correspondents showed that the plea was the thrust of Jonathan’s message to the traditional rulers when he met with them behind closed doors on Friday and Saturday.

According to the thinking of the Peoples Democratic Party top echelon and campaign organisation, for President Jonathan to emerge winner in the rescheduled polls, he needs to win the South-West which is the geo-political zone with the second largest number of voters. It has over 13 million voters.

Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba

The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters has received intelligence reports that there are plots to bomb more political rallies ahead of the re-scheduled general elections.

This is coming after the recent bomb blasts in Rivers and Gombe states.

On Tuesday, a policeman was killed and 50 other people were injured when bomb explosions and gunshots rocked the All Progressives Congress governorship campaign rally at Okrika National Secondary School in Rivers.

Three Improvised Explosive Devices were said to have been set off by yet-to-be identified persons during the rally.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed the procurement of about 20,000 backup card readers and 35,000 backup batteries as part of measures to tackle possible challenges during the accreditation and election exercise scheduled to hold on March 28 and April 11.

Recently-held elections in countries like Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Uganda, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Colombia, which made use of similar biometric technologies, were marred with challenges like data manipulation, poor mobile networks, and breakdown of card readers.

A large number of Boko Haram insurgents have drowned in Lake Chad as they fled the bombardment by Nigerian Air Force.

Though the number of the dead terrorists was not given, it was said that many of them died as they fled the aerial attacks by NAF jets on Baga, the location of Multi-National Joint Taskforce base seized by the sect in January, 2015.

A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade in Abuja on Saturday, said the insurgents had buried land mines in over 1,500 spots on the routes leading to the town.

It said all the land mines were skilfully cleared one after the other, noting that the mining of the grounds could not save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops.

Khloe Kardashian and Kim Kardashian West.

Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and North West were all involved in a car accident, TMZ reported on Saturday.
According to the American gossip website Khloe was driving when she lost control of the car on a patch of black ice.

A supporter wrapped in a DRC flag stands outside the court in Pretoria, South Africa.

Pretoria - The last of a group of Congolese nationals accused of plotting to assassinate Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila were acquitted in a South African court, a defence lawyer and media reported on Saturday.

Charges against 15 of the 20 men were dropped in November on the recommendation of the prosecution, over two years after their arrests.

This week the final four men behind bars were freed, with the fifth one, Etienne Kabila, the alleged ringleader of the plot and self-professed half-brother of Kabila, having been previously released on bail.

Harare - The T-shirts have been printed and the congratulatory messages for President Robert Mugabe, who turns 91 on Saturday, are already rolling in.

But no-one wishing the longtime Zimbabwean leader a happy birthday will be able to entirely forget the awkward moment when he fell less than a month ago, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Mugabe's party - a lavish spread on the golf course of the swanky Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls - will not be held until 28 February .

Los Angeles - Madonna will miss her own post-Oscars party.
The Living for Love hitmaker is reportedly likely to ditch her own annual post-Academy Award show celebration - thrown alongside her manager Guy Oseary - in favour of rehearsing for the BRIT Awards 2015, which take place in London next Wednesday.

Nigerian forces backed by air strikes seized the north-eastern border town of Baga from Islamist group Boko Haram on Saturday, the military said, a significant victory in an offensive against an insurgency affecting four African states.

"We have secured Baga. We are now in full control. There are only mopping up exercises left to do," Defence spokesperson Major-General Chris Olukolade said by telephone.

In a statement minutes earlier Olukolade said that "a large number of terrorists had drowned in Lake Chad" as troops advanced on Baga.

Helen Paul

When was the first time you ever performed in public as a comedienne?

That was when I was in primary four. We had a match-past and I discovered that the other houses in school had finer costumes, so I went to forcefully take the outfit of the queen of another house. People were laughing at my action. While some parents found it funny, others were angry about my action.

Los Angeles - Wiz Khalifa claims Amber Rose's house is too dirty and unsafe for their son to live in.
The 27-year-old rapper is submitting photographic evidence against the model - who filed for divorce last September amid claims he had cheated on her - as part of his bid to change their custody agreement so he gets more time with their son Sebastian, who turns two on Saturday.

Helen Sosu

You know I just got married last Saturday. So right now, it is just all about me and my boo. We just do everything together. You know we are on honeymoon. These days, we sleep late and we wake up late. But before now, on a normal day, I would go to work and it could be very tasking.

In spite of several peace agreements signed by stakeholders participating in this year’s general elections, political parties’ supporters have continued to destroy campaign billboards of their opponents, Fisayo Falodi writes

Tension-gripped Nigerians breathed a sigh of relief on January 14, 2015 when the chairmen and presidential candidates of the political parties contesting in this year’s general elections signed the famous Abuja peace accord.

They had hoped that signing the peace accord would commit the presidential candidates to issue-based campaigns instead of activities that would further heighten their fears.

Chidi Lloyd

Chidi Lloyd is the Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly. In this interview with CHUKWUDI AKASIKE, he speaks on the postponement of the 2015 elections and other issues

What is the current situation in the Rivers State House of Assembly after the crisis that led to the closure of the Assembly complex?

The state House of Assembly is really up and doing. You will recall that after the crisis, it became impossible for the House to sit at the designated place, which is the complex because of the destruction that took place on July 9, 2013. We had an e-House with computers and all that. So, during the fracas, all that were destroyed and there was a need to carry out urgent repairs of facilities in the House. However, the state cannot wait for that to happen;

Jonathan and Obasanjo

In this piece, SAM AWOYINFA re-examines the action of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who tore his Peoples Democratic Party membership card on Monday

It is no longer news that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party. It is also not news that he tore his membership card publicly, severing his link with the party, on whose platform he rode to become President for two consecutive terms.

Indications that the former President would dump the party emerged on Saturday after he spoke with journalists at his Hilltop residence, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. There, Obasanjo, who had been outside the country for almost two weeks, recounted how world leaders confronted him over political developments in the country.

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, says former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent accusation against the President Goodluck Jonathan administration smacks of hypocrisy.

The monarch said this while fielding questions from journalists at the inauguration of four naval warships in Lagos on Thursday.

Akiolu said Obasanjo illegally withheld the state’s allocation for several months and refused to release it even after the Supreme Court ordered him to do so.

He said, “If I want to do something, I don’t pretend. God gives many people long life so that they can get enough punishment. Let me tell you something; all the injustices they committed against Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, God Almighty is punishing them now.

Nigerian permanent voters card

The Delta State Police Command says it has arrested some of the people that were involved in the theft of 6,000 Permanent Voter Cards and voter registers from the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, in Oghara, on Monday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, on Thursday, said 7,365 PVCs were recovered from the suspects.

She said one Hadjia Shakira Adewale of INEC office, Oghara in Ethiope-West Local Government Area had reported to the police at Oghara that unknown gunmen broke into INEC office and made away with 6,000 PVCS and registers.

Don’t confirm Obanikoro as minister, APC advises Senate

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress says the Senate should live up to expectation by rejecting the ministerial nomination of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

The APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said the Senate should not be intimidated by the pro-Obanikoro protesters that demonstrated in front of the National Assembly complex on Wednesday.

The party said Obanikoro had been fingered in the rigging of the June 21, 2014 Ekiti governorship election which was purportedly recorded on tape.
Although Obanikoro has denied rigging the elections, the APC, told the Senate that confirming Obanikoro’s appointment would send wrong signals to Nigerians and the international community that the system encourages impunity.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo

The All Progressives Congress has accused Vice-President Namadi Sambo and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, of using religion to divide Nigerians.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, said Sambo, while addressing PDP supporters in Kaduna, said the APC was pushing a Christian agenda and should be rejected at the polls because its vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has “5,000 churches.”

The APC said, “It must baffle every right-thinking Nigerian what the vice-president stands to gain by his resort to basic instincts. It is more baffling against the background of the fact that it was his party, the PDP, that first labelled our party, the APC, as a Muslim party.

Some immigration officers at a parade

The Nigeria Immigration Service, Akwa Ibom State Command, has said it will repatriate all illegal immigrants from the state before 2015 general elections.

The state NIS Controller, Abdullahi Garba, told journalists in Uyo, on Thursday, that that 10 foreigners had returned 10 Permanent Voter Cards to the command and they had been handed over to the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state.

He revealed that the command had mapped out flashpoints within the 31 local government areas of the state for mop up exercise and subsequent repatriation of illegal immigrants before the forthcoming elections.

Chief Ayo Akande

A leader of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Chief Ayo Akande, has advised Lagosians not to sell their Permanent Voter Cards.

Akande, according to a statement, made the call on Wednesday during a road campaign organised by the Ambode support group in the Lagos-West senatorial district.

He also called on Lagosians to vote for the APC governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, because he has better antecedents than all his opponents.

The APC leader, who led the campaign rally round the senatorial district, said Ambode’s wealth of experience as a seasoned administrator in the state placed him at a vantage position to continue “the APC legacy of service in Lagos State.”
He said the APC is the only political party in Nigeria that believes strongly in the protection of the rights and privilege of the ordinary man with a view to taking them out of poverty, injustice and oppression.

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday met behind closed-doors with some traditional rulers in Ogun State.

The meeting is believed to be in continuation of his consultation in the South-West ahead of the rescheduled March 28 presidential election.

The brief parley was held inside one of the offices at the Olorunsogo II Power Station in Ogun State.

Jonathan met with them shortly after inaugurating the 750MW power plant built under the Nigerian Integrated Power Project.

The about 20 traditional rulers were led by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who is also the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Others at the meeting included the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Sonariwo; and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu.

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Friday alleged that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who travelled to the United Kingdom for a supposed working visit, is in a London hospital.

According to him, Buhari is being treated at a hospital located at Cavendish Street, Cavendish Square, W2 London West End, London.

The governor said this had vindicated his earlier stand that Buhari was sick and lacked the required capacity to rule Nigeria.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor described the claim by the APC that Buhari would give a talk at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London as a “deceit taken too far.”

CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

The Christian Association of Nigeria has denied the allegation that its leaders were offered N7bn by the Presidency to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

The association also called on security agencies to investigate the Voice of Northern Christian Movement and its Executive Director, Mr. Musa Dikwa, for making the allegation.

The association also linked the allegation to those using different Christian organisations to perpetrate fraud.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, the association said the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), had fallen into wrong hands, “because his endorsement for the March 28 general election by Northern Christian Leaders Eagle-Eye Forum led by one Aminchi Habu was fraudulent.”

Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar

A former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee for 2015 General Elections, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has ruled out the possibility of an Interim National Government saying he believes in the assurance of the Federal Government.

He also stated that the Peace Committee, made up of security chiefs, party chieftains and religious leaders, would be meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to clear the controversies surrounding the use of card readers in the elections.

The elder statesman spoke with journalists on Thursday night in Abuja after a five-hour meeting held with the stakeholders to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) abide by the Abuja Accord on the prevention of violence and acceptance of election results.

The accord was sponsored by two world reputable men of peace: former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan and ex-Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

Comptroller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ekpendu

An undisclosed number of inmates on Friday gained entrance into the armoury of the Calabar Prison in Cross River State and attempted to escape after a gun duel with warders but were overpowered by combined team of security agents.

The incident, which occurred at about 11:00am, was said to have caused pandemonium as residents of neighbouring Afokang, Iman and Jebbs areas of the metropolis scampered for safety.

The Afokang end of the prison fence was broken during the incident while two inmates were said to have escaped but the Comptroller of Prisons in the state, Mr. Clement Udosen, denied the claim.

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Government may defy the Court of Appeal judgement barring the use of soldiers in the conduct of elections in the country, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Thursday, gave an indication that President Goodluck Jonathan might order the deployment of soldiers for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

The official was responding to a question on what step the President will take on the letter written by the All Progressives Congress in which it called attention to the court order.

He said there was no issue in the matter as Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, had replied the APC on the matter.

Poll: Obey court ruling on soldiers, APC writes President

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, John Odigie Oyegun

The All Progressives Congress has written President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that the judgment barring the involvement of soldiers in elections is complied with in the forthcoming polls.

The letter dated February 16, 2015 was addressed to Jega, but was copied to President Jonathan, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the National Chairmen of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops of the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Air Force have killed over 300 fighters of the Boko Haram sect.

Olukolade said in a statement on Wednesday that the insurgents were killed during a combined operation of the Air Force and ground forces put in place to liberate 11 communities captured by the Boko Haram sect.

According to him, the communities liberated by the troops are Monguno, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and Kabrisungul.

He said that troops had commenced a cordon and search operation in the areas involved in the latest operation.

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday, reiterated his preparedness to conduct the general elections as scheduled but maintained that only the military could guarantee the sanctity of the March 28 and April 11 dates.

Jega, who appeared before the Senate to explain the level of INEC’s preparedness for the elections, however, stunned many of the lawmakers when he revealed that one million Permanent Voter Cards had yet to be received by the commission from the manufacturers.

The Senators had thoroughly grilled him after he made about three-hour presentation and demonstrated how the card readers work.

FEC approves postal reform bill

Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson

Plans to reform the Nigerian postal sector and to restructure the Nigerian Postal Service have received a boost with the approval of the Nigeria Postal Commission Bill 2014 by the Federal Executive Council.

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, stated this on Monday.

The bill, our correspondent also learnt, would be forwarded to the legislature to be passed into law.

Prior to the development, observers had said that the postal sector in Nigeria had grown over time with more than 1,200 post offices owned by government, close to 2,000 postal agency outfits managed by individuals, and over 290-registered private courier companies.

Minister of Education, Mr. Ibrahim Shekarau

The French Consular General in Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Perez, has said that about 7,500 French teachers are needed to teach the language in the country.

Perez stated this at a briefing in Lagos to announce the 2015 French Education Fair. The fair is to hold next week in Abuja and Lagos.

Perez said the programme, in its second year, would expose Nigerians interested in international education to French higher institutions offering quality and competitive degrees.

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