Welcome to Obafemayor's blog: 2013-11-24

Saturday 30 November 2013

Lagos suspends principal of school where pupils sit on windows

Lagos school where pupils
learn
sitting
on windows, concrete blocks

PUNCH - A story on the dearth of good furniture in Ikeja Grammar School, Lagos, published by Saturday PUNCH last Saturday drew a wrong chord with the Lagos State Government.

Last Monday, it suspended the school principal for allowing this writer to gain access to the school premises and take photographs of classes where pupils sat on windows and concrete blocks while learning.

Even though it was reported in the story titled, “Lagos school where pupils learn sitting on windows, concrete blocks” that the principal was not around when this journalist visited the school, Saturday PUNCH learnt that her superiors have decided to hang the blame of the scandal on her.

Efforts to speak to the principal as the news of her suspension broke on Monday, were unsuccessful as she was nowhere to be found in the school. Teachers are not allowed to speak with the press in the state.

But an irked teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the principal was removed from her position as a punishment on Monday.

Rattled by the defection of five out of its seven aggrieved governors to the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has scheduled an emergency meeting for next Monday.

Saturday PUNCH learnt in Abuja, on Thursday that the party’s leadership at the meeting would determine the fate of the rebel governors.

It was further gathered that the emergency meeting would among other things, decide on what punitive measures to be taken against the governors and lawmakers, who are likely to join them.

Sources close to the party told our correspondents that the party was afraid there could be mass defection of the PDP National Assembly members to the APC.

Investigations also revealed that the National Working Committee of the PDP at the meeting would discuss how it would not lose its majority status in the National Assembly to the APC.

It was learnt that the meeting was specifically put in place to brainstorm on the movement of the governors to the APC because the weekly NWC meeting traditionally holds on Wednesdays.

Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

The Federal Government has directed the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to deploy policemen to all federal universities in the country in its bid to ensure resumption of academic activities in universities on or before December 4.

Saturday PUNCH learnt this development was disclosed at an emergency meeting the Federal Government held with all vice-chancellors of federal universities at the National Universities Commission building in Abuja on Friday. The Acting Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, were also at the meeting.

Though Friday’s meeting was held behind closed door, a source at the meeting who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press, told Saturday PUNCH that the Federal Government directed the IG to draft policemen to federal universities to prevent members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities from disturbing some of their members that might want to resume work in line with government’s directive.

Anambra: Ekwunife withdraws suit against APGA candidate

Member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, has withdrawn a suit she filed to challenge the eligibility of the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the Anambra State governorship election, Chief Willie Obiano.

Ekwunife, who was the first runner-up to Obiano in the APGA primaries, told our correspondent on Thursday that she had to withdraw the matter after she came under intense pressure from the church, traditional rulers, well-wishers and family members.

“I have been under pressure for some time now. I am withdrawing the matter,” she said, saying that she had already instructed her lawyers to file the necessary papers to withdraw the suit.

She reaffirmed her loyalty to Governor Peter Obi; the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh; and the entire leadership of the party.

There are strong indications that a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva and his loyalists in the New Peoples Democratic Party, have finally dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress.

Sylva, who was denied a second term ticket by the PDP, was said to have taken the decision as a last resort to return to political relevance.

The former governor was conspicuous in all the gatherings of the New PDP that culminated in the merger of the splinter group, including five PDP governors with the APC on Tuesday.

He also posed for pictures along with the defecting members of the PDP after the merger was concluded in Abuja.

A source close to Sylva, but craving anonymity, said the former governor had toed the path of his leaders in the New PDP.

Former Nigeria striker Victor Ikpeba believes Nigerian players nominated for the 2013 Glo-CAF Awards have what it takes to win the African Footballer of The Year award but cautioned that favourites sometimes don’t win awards.

Chelsea’s Mikel Obi, Victor Moses (Liverpool), Emmanuel Emenike (Fernabahce) and Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama are the Nigerians nominated in the 25-man list for the awards scheduled for Lagos on January 9, 2014.

Ikpeba emerged as the 1997 African Footballer of The Year after a fantastic season at French side, Monaco.

“I think we should be proud of any of these our players winning it. We shouldn’t get carried away though but I think we stand a good chance of winning it,” Ikpeba said.

Soldiers, police bar Buhari, Tinubu, others from INEC office

A combined team of security operatives including soldiers and riot policemen on Thursday stopped the leaders of the All Progressives Congress from gaining entrance to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja.

The leaders were on a peaceful protest march against the commission’s handling of the November 16 Anambra State governorship election and other forms of electoral irregularities in the country.

As early as 8.30 am, members of the party across the states had converged on its new secretariat in Wuse 2 in the Federal Capital Territory where a strategic meeting which lasted over three hours was held ostensibly to map out ways to go about the planned protest.

Although none of the rebel governors was present, the APC leaders took to the streets and embarked on a walk protest to INEC’s office in Maitama Distict.

They however met a stiff resistance from stern-looking security operatives from a combined team of the police, army, State Security Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, has described the defection of five governors of the party to the opposition All Progressives Congress as a sad development.

He, however, urged party loyalists across the nation not to panic over the governors’ decision.

Anenih said this while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja, on Thursday.

The BoT chairman said he took solace in the fact that the party leadership including President Goodluck Jonathan, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, former National Chairmen, Senators Barnabas Gemade and Ahmadu Ali and himself “invested enough energy, commitment, maturity and sincerity in the collective effort at reconciliation.”

He said, “Indeed, I had expected the governors to stay on in the party which offered them a unique opportunity to serve their people.

FG gives ASUU one week ultimatum to call off strike

The Federal Government on Thursday gave the Academic Staff Union of Universities, one week ultimatum to call off the ongoing strike.

I joined APC to protect Rivers people – Amaechi

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said that he joined the All Progressive Congress in order to protect the people of his state.

Amaechi said Rivers had suffered neglect under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

He also said that he made up his mind to leave the Peoples Democratic Party for the APC because the issues raised by G-7 governors were not resolved by Jonathan and the PDP.

The governor, who spoke with newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Tuesday, described the decision to join the opposition party as good for the country’s democracy.

He explained that the PDP was giving the impression that they (G-7 governors) were begging to come back to the ruling party, maintaining that issues that led to the crisis in the PDP were not resolved.

“Yes, we have joined APC after the meeting we had with Buhari, Tinubu and the interim Chairman of APC. The governors met on Monday and decided that we must meet with the APC leadership.

Nigeria and Cardiff striker Osaze Odemwingie has set his sights at the World Cup after playing a starring role in Cardiff City’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United last Sunday.

The estranged Eagles attacker has earned 55 caps for Nigeria, but hasn’t played for his country after clashing with Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi in the run-up to the Africa Nations Cup.

Nigeria clinched a place in Brazil on November 16 with a 4-1 aggregate play-off triumph against Ethiopia, and now Odemwingie admits he is dreaming of getting another chance at international level, Waysonline reports.

“I was in Nigeria’s squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa and I would love the chance to go again,” said the former West Brom striker.

Odemwingie believes if he produces his best form for Cardiff in the Premier League there is a real chance he will be recalled by Nigeria and take his place in Eagles squad next year in Brazil.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, has said the decision of the aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party to join the APC will change Nigeria’s political landscape forever.

Tinubu, who said this in an interview with the Aljazeera Television, on Wednesday, added that the party would fight corruption and waste in government. A script of the interview was obtained by The PUNCH, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s political landscape had changed forever and for good.

In response, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said time will tell which political party was truly popular.

According to Tinubu, the decision by the governors and their supporters to join the opposition APC has tilted the scale and balance of power in favour of the opposition.

He argued that Nigeria was now moving from imperialism to what he called proper democracy.

Tinubu said, “This development will start reshaping the landscape of politics in this country forever. Not for us only but for generation unborn.

Actor Van Vicker with his wife and Adorable Kids [Photos]

Ghana's very own Van Vicker who's married with 3 wonderful looking kids shared photos of his son's birthday, VJ clocked 5 yesterday and he had lots of fun with his sisters at the aviation social center in Ghana.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has explained that dressing room harmony takes precedence over talent in his team selection.
A number of high-profile players have been snubbed by Keshi since his appointment, and with the Super Eagles having qualified for the World Cup, there have been widespread calls for the recalls of the likes of Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwingie, Taye Taiwo, Obafemi Martins and Ike Uche.
But Keshi insists that only players whose presence will foster team spirit will make his squad.
“Bringing in players is not just about the football side, it’s about the complete player that we need,” Keshi tells KickOffNigeria.com. “You can be an excellent player, but you also divide the house.
“And I will not take a player that will break the team when we know that it is unity we are looking to build.
“I don’t care if you score 20 goals a game, and you cause confusion, I will take you out.

THE Committee of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, on Tuesday, unanimously ordered immediate re-opening of universities across the country.
The communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Kimse Okoko, was made available to newsmen late Tuesday in Abuja.
The communiqué was issued at the end of the committee meeting to discuss the protracted strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other issues affecting the Nigerian university system.
The communiqué stated that the decision to re-open the universities was unanimously agreed by all pro-chancellors in the overall interest of all concerned.
The pro-chancellors, in the communique, directed all vice chancellors to comply with the committee decision.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the decision of the pro-chancellors was predicated on the earlier referendum held by various chapters of ASUU that voted 60-40 in favour of suspension of the over four months old strike.
They expressed dismay that all efforts to resolve the crisis, including the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, has failed.

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives may have come under threat, owing to the defection of the five of the seven ‘rebel’ governors and some influential leaders of the PDP to the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday.

Findings on Tuesday showed that the PDP could lose at least four key principal positions should many of its members move in droves to join the governors in the APC.

The positions under threat are Deputy Speaker (Mr. Emeka Ihedioha); Majority Leader (Mulikat Akande-Adeola); Chief Whip (Ishaka Bawa); and Deputy Leader (Leo Ogor).

Investigations showed that as of the last count, the APC had 137 members in the House.

It will also be recalled that at least 57 PDP members openly moved with their governors to the defunct New PDP.

A source told one of our correspondents that this already implied “a likely shift in majority leadership to the APC.”

The source added, “If you add 57 to 137, you will get 194.

“If you deduct 194 from 360, the number is 166.

PUNCH NG - Doctors highlight reasons why more Nigerians are afflicted with diabetes, BUKOLA ADEBAYO writes

Medical personnel in the country have said that Type-2 diabetes is killing more Nigerians than the dreaded HIV/AIDS virus.

Raising the alarm over what they describe as a looming pandemic, they call on the Federal Government to declare a health emergency to tackle the scourge.

Although Nigeria lacks an aggregate data, the physicians state that no fewer than six million Nigerians are living with diabetes mellitus.

The Registrar at the Diabetes and Endocrinology Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi-Doro, says government should, as a matter of urgency, formulate a national policy for the control of the disease in the country.

During a recent workshop organised by a non-governmental organisation, The Sunny Kuku Foundation, in collaboration with Healthways Communications, Adeyemi-Doro, noted that diabetes accounted for a lot of deaths in Nigeria and other parts of the world, adding that it was fast becoming the most dreaded disease.

A statement by the International Diabetes Federation says that between eight and 14 million deaths are caused by diabetes every year in developing countries.

A Former Niger Delta militant, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, was on Tuesday arrested in Cotonou, capital of Benin Republic.

It was learnt that the ex-militant was arrested at about 1.00pm by the Benin Republic’s police.

A statement by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo confirmed the arrest, saying Asari-Dokubo was picked up around the Lubeleyi roundabout and taken to “an unknown destination.”

Keyamo, in the statement on Tuesday, argued that Asari-Dokubo was not arrested for running any illegitimate business in the country.

The lawyer noted that the ex-militant had been residing partly in Benin Republic for many years, adding that Asari-Dokubo owns property in Cotonou.

It was gathered that the ex-militant reportedly opened a private university – King Amachree African University, in Benin Republic.

BREAKING NEWS: New PDP Announces Merger With APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has announced a merger with the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, tagged ‘New PDP’
The merger was announced at the end of a meeting at the Kano Governors Lodge in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr. Baraje read the terse communique to journalists at about 11.46 a.m.
The merger means the APC now has its 11 governors and the seven governors who are members of the New PDP; making a total of 18 state governors.
The seven New PDP governors were expected to have a last meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan before taking a decision. The meeting is yet to be held.
And it can not be told if former Vice president Atiku Abubaker and Former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola are involved.

Source

My son’ ll play for Man City —Iheanacho’s father

JAMES Iheanacho, father of 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup most valuable player Kelechi Iheanacho, has said that his son will play for English Premiership side Manchester City.
The younger Iheanacho had been linked with a possible move to Porto FC of Portugal, but when his father was asked yesterday on Monday Night Football, he said his son would play for Manchester City and not Porto or Chelsea, which he (the father) was believed to have initially favoured.
James Iheanacho, who called into the programme on Super Sports, said: “As I am talking to you, I have chosen in my mind [that] Kelechi is going to Manchester United.” But in what appeared to be a correction, he added: “I have told you that he is going to Manchester City.”
He said as a father, he has the right to advise his son, which he said he would not regret if he accepts, adding that he had advised Kelechi on the choice of club he should play for.
He also disclosed that a family meeting on the issue of his club was scheduled to hold on Monday night after which the press will be addressed.
He also denied ever evaluating his son to be worth one million Euros, adding: “No, those people are my enemies. I never said that.’’

Anambra: APGA will win again and again —Obi

GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has denied allegation of rigging levelled against him in the conduct of the state gubernatorial election, saying that those who are crying over the outcome of the election can continue, but they will never win in the state.
He said in a chat with State House correspondents in Abuja, on Monday, that even if the Anambra governorship election was conducted 10 times, the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) would emerge victorious.
While insisting the APGA won the election, he stressed that he was never part of any move to rig the election, as he had no money to prosecute such a venture.
Obi noted that those who were calling for the cancellation of the election were losers who had no opportunity to rig the exercise in favour of their candidates.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi and president of the Nigeria Football Federation Aminu Maigari will be at the Nigerian Sports Award ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday as they hope to scoop honours in their respective categories.

While Keshi, who led Nigeria to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and helped the team qualify for the 2014 World Cup, will hope to beat Golden Eaglets coach Manu Garba to the Coach of the Year award, Maigari will contend with Solomon Ogba of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission Amaju Pinnick for the Sports Administrator of the year award.

PUNCH - Fresh requests by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities heighten anxiety over the resumption of academic activities in public universities, CHARLES ABAH writes

The mood was on the upbeat on Saturday night at the Ikeja residence of the Ugboduagas. While Mr. Alphonsus Ugboduaga exchanged banter with his wife, their 18-year-old son, Junior, also looked very excited.

Other members of their family present in the house seemed to be in a pleasant mood, too. So the Ugboduaga’s popped a bottle of champagne. Their excitement was born out of the expectation that after four months, the gates of the nation’s public universities would be opened, at least, going by media reports earlier in the day.

Beyond that, the Ugboduaga family was in a joyful mood because Junior’s fate in relation to the admission he secured to study Computer Science at the Ekpoma State University, Edo State would come to fruition. Following the protracted ASUU strike, the youngster was not sure whether the admission offered him by the university would still materialise this year. However, the positive reports on Saturday gave him hope.

As a result of this development, Junior left Lagos for Ekpoma on Monday morning to commence his registration process. But just as he was doing this, information filtered in that the striking university teachers had made fresh demands as a condition to return to classrooms.

Iyayi: ASUU suspects foul play, asks for autopsy

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities has asked for an autopsy to determine the actual cause of the death of its former president, Prof. Festus Iyayi, our correspondent learnt in Benin, Edo State, on Monday.

The varsity teachers’ union is said to be suspecting foul play in the death of Iyayi who died after his vehicle was involved in an accident with a vehicle in the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada (retd.), on November 12.

ASUU’s suspicion that the cause of Iyayi’s death could not have been the injuries he sustained in the accident was said to have been fuelled by an object, which reportedly pierced through the late activist’s body.

The University of Benin chapter of ASUU, in a statement on Monday, said, “Prof. Festus Iyayi did not just die in an accident, but was wilfully murdered by the state and its agents.

“At the appropriate time ASUU and Prof. Iyayi’s family shall demand concrete answers from the state for his murder.”

The President, Trade Union Congress, Mr. Boboi Kaigama

The President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Boboi Kaigama and the Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Chris Uyot, on Monday, called on the Federal Government to accede to the demand of striking university lecturers by paying their salary arrears from July to October, 2013.

Both Kaigama and Uyot, who spoke in different telephone interviews with our correspondent, said that the issue at stake was too serious for the government to endanger with a minor issue as the withholding of the salaries of the striking lecturers.

Kaigama said that the lecturers should have been paid their salaries as going on strike did not mean that they were no longer entitled to their salaries.

He explained that the union went on strike because the Federal Government failed to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the university lecturers.

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola

The new education policy in Osun State claimed its first casualty on Monday as fierce-looking Muslim youths invaded the Baptist High School, Ejigbo, and beat up the students and teachers.

The principal of the school, Mr. Layi Oguntola, was thoroughly beaten and injured. Oguntola, as of the time of this report, was said to be receiving treatment at the Baptist Medical Centre, Ejigbo.

The attackers said they came because the school authorities stopped some Muslim pupils from wearing the hijab.

The hijab is a scarf that covers the head and chest, specially worn by a Muslim female.

Our correspondent learnt that the attackers stormed the school while the students were already seated in their classrooms.

They were said to have headed straight for the Principal’s Office and asked Oguntola to apologise for sending the hijab-wearing students away from school but the principal refused to do so.

An alleged attack on the car of the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, at Maitama, Abuja on Friday was reported to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Monday.

An Escalade car belonging to the minister was reportedly attacked by unknown gunmen at Ministers’ Hill, Abuja on Friday, but the incident was reported to the police, three days after the attack.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altienne Daniel, who confirmed the incident, said the attack on the minister’s car was reported to the FCT Police Command on Monday, adding that detectives who checked the vehicle retrieved a metallic object which was being subjected to ballistic test to ascertain whether it was a bullet or not.

BBA Winner Dillish Mathews Marries Her Boyfriend

Beautiful Dillish Mathews got married to her beau, yesterday in Namibia……but it looks like Melvin Oduah was the only big brother contestant in attendance. See more pictures after below…

These were some of the major activities that happened at Peter Okoye’s traditional wedding which held on Sunday.

Peter Okoye didn’t initially plan to dance, it was the MC Gbenga Adeyinka who coerced him into doing so by paying him N10,000.

According to report, when asked how much he was paid for his first show, Peter answered Gbenga Adeyinka that he was paid N7, 500. The comedian offered to pay Peter N10,000 for him to dance, an offer Peter gladly obliged. After doing a few moves, the rest of the crew (without Paul) joined Peter on stage and danced to their hit song ‘Personally’.

The entertainment industry is fast evolving with lot of beautiful and fashion forward ladies. Here is a list of top ten fashionable celebrities by Trendyrammy.

This list is a compilation of information gotten from a previous post on this blog and questionnaire on twitter. In no specific other check out our top ten fashionable female celebrities and let us know if you agree with the list. Who should be here and who shouldn't ?

1. Mercy Aigbe

She is a stylish mother of two lovely kids that attaches simplicity and sophistication to her appearance. We celebrate Mercy’s style be it magazine shoots, on the red carpet or the street style her style is definitely distinctive.Her makeup is always flawless and she's got a sharp and charming smile.

A short service will be held this morning to mark the 98th birthday of the Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) PLC, publishers of the Tribune titles, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

The service will take place at the Efunyela Hall, inside the Awolowo family house in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, (nee Adelana), popularly known as HID, was born on November 25, 1915 into a modest family in Ikenne-Remo.

Going down memory lane, leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, described Mama as a solid rock behind her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as she held fort throughout the period of her husband’s incaceration and remained consistent and unwaivered.

While thanking God for sparing Mama HID’s life to see this day, Rt Rev Bolanle Gbonigi, retired Bishop of Akure Diocese (Anglican Communion) said “Despite attaining 98 years, Mama has remained alert. One can only achieve this through divine grace.”

He also thanked God that Mama was able to carry on with the good works of her husband.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), says it has not taken a categorical stand on Stephen Keshi heading Nigeria’s coaching crew to the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Nigeria’s sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi last week announced that a “foreign technical assistant” will be drafted in to the Super Eagles backroom staff if Keshi makes such a request.

The NFF has now revealed that no decision has been reached in that regard as the federation was still in the process of appraising the performance of all the coaches under its employ.

“The minister (for Sport) has been like a father. He means well and I am sure his words are aimed at improving our national team even more. What he said was advisory and we are full of gratitude to him,” NFF’s technical committee chairman, Barrister Chris Green told supersport.com.

Green also revealed that the technical committee of the NFF would meet soon to reach a definite conclusion on the matter.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Sunday, said that it would go ahead with the November 30 supplementary governorship election in Anambra State.

The commission said this in reaction to threats by the governorship candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (Tony Nwoye); Labour Party (Ifeanyi Ubah) and the All Progressive Congress (Chris Ngige) that they would not participate in the supplementary election.

Ngige, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, had told journalists on Friday that the three candidates would not like to be used as ‘guinea pig” to give legitimacy to the controversial election.

He alleged that the register used for the election was printed in Enugu.

But the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, told The PUNCH that there was no going back on the supplementary election.

“A date has been fixed for the supplementary election. Will the commission stop the election after announcing the date and setting processes for the election in motion?” Idowu said.

One of the victims of last Wednesday accident at U-turn Bus Stop, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adebambo, was buried on Friday amid tears and eulogies.

Adebambo died on November 13 2013, after he was hit by a truck. Eyewitnesses alleged that the truck had run into pedestrians at the bus stop while trying to avoid Kwara State Governor’s wife’s convoy, which had recklessly entered the expressway from a side road without watching for oncoming vehicles.

Many of his relatives and friends, who could not hide their sorrow, insisted that the convoy of the wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, caused the accident that led to Adebambo’s death.

They also said it was improper for the governor’s wife not to have waited after the accident happened.

Apart from his friends and relatives, those who attended his burial were members of his church, the less privileged children under his care and his schoolmates. No government official was present at the burial, which took place at the Atan Cemetry, Yaba, Lagos State.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

The Federal Government has released the details of new duties and levies payable on imported new and used vehicles as well as imported new tyres from next year, raising the tariff from 20 per cent to 70 per cent.

Dealers of imported vehicles estimated that the new rate would translate into an increase of 60 per cent on imported cars.

The Federal Executive Council had last month approved a new national automotive policy aimed at encouraging local production and assembling of new vehicles with an imposition of a high import tariff on fully built vehicles. But the new rate was not given then.

A two-page document dated November 14, 2013 and signed by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gave the new import tariff on cars as 70 per cent (of the cost of each vehicle).

It stated that a fully built car would attract a duty of 35 per cent and a levy of another 35 per cent of the cost of the vehicle.

PUNCH - President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday postponed his peace meeting with the seven aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors which was earlier scheduled for Sunday.

Jonathan, who arrived the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja from London around 7pm attributed his action to jet lag and “health challenges.”

But The PUNCH however gathered that pressure from political hawks made the President, who was in London for the 15th meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council, to postpone the meeting.

It was learnt in Abuja that the hawks within the PDP, who insisted that Jonathan should shelve the meeting, also wanted the four suspended leaders of the New PDP- Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Dr. Sam Jaja and Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure - expelled from the ruling party.

Our source said this could happen on or before Friday this week.

The Presidency on Sunday said prominent northern leaders, including Alhaji Adamu Ciroma and a former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, could not affect the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections if he decided to contest.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, said this in an interview with our correspondent.

Gulak was responding to a media report that northern politicians had set up a committee whose membership included Ciroma and Babangida to speed up the move by the seven aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors to join the opposition All Progressive Congress.

He said it was on record that the President won the 2011 presidential election without the support of the named northern politicians.

The presidential aide said the latest move, if true, could not therefore affect Jonathan’s chances in the 2015 election.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has said it will not suspend its ongoing strike until the four months salaries owed its members are paid.

The union also wants the immediate implementation of the N1.2tn offer by the Federal Government to public universities, starting with the release of N100bn this year. The balance of N1.1tn is to be spread over five years from 2014.

These were some of the resolutions reached by members of the National Executive Council of the union who converged on Kano on Friday to deliberate on whether to call off the over four- month-old industrial action or not.

A source, who was privy to the resolutions reached during the President Goodluck Jonathan – ASUU leadership meeting three weeks ago, told The PUNCH on Sunday, that the fresh demands were some of the issues to be tabled before Jonathan by the leadership during their next meeting. A date for the meeting is yet to be fixed.

The first runner-up in the Anambra governorship primaries of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, has gone to court to challenge the eligibility of the party’s candidate in the November 16 election, Chief Willie Obiano.

Ekwunife, a member of the House of Representatives, is contending that the alleged double registration status of Obiano with the Independent National Electoral Commission as a voter disqualified him from contesting the election.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Awka, in suit number FHC/AWK/CS/281/2013, Ekwunife is also asking the court to declare her as the candidate of APGA.

Obiano, APGA and INEC are the defendants in the suit. No date has been fixed for hearing in the suit.

Ekwunife is also seeking, among other reliefs, that INEC should be compelled to recognise her as the candidate of the party for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, based on Obiano’s double registration.

Obiano was alleged to have registered in Lagos and Anambra states respectively, which amounts to double registration as stipulated by the electoral act.

Saturday 30 November 2013

Friday 29 November 2013

Thursday 28 November 2013

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Monday 25 November 2013