Elders, leaders of socio-political organisations and key stakeholders from the northern part of Nigeria, have scored President Muhammadu Buhari low and rejected him as the candidate to run for the 2019 general elections.

The leaders who met on Saturday in Kaduna, insisted that Buhari must be replaced by competent persons.

Those present included the leaders of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Borno Elders Forum, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, among other groups.

In a communique read by a member of the Northern Elders Forum and Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the northern leaders stated that the current administration had not demonstrated enough strong will to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency and herdsmen/farmers’ clashes.

Northern Leaders Score Buhari Low Ahead Of 2019 Elections – 01:16
— Channels Television

“We demand immediate and decisive steps to improve the security of lives and economic assets in the North by the federal and state governments. Too many communities are at the mercy of attacks from sundry groups of criminals who appear to have unchallenged access to space and weapons.

“The Summit noted that despite notable successes by the administration against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, many Northern communities still live under its threat. In many other parts of the North, communities are routinely exposed to attacks from shadowy killers, and suspicion and anger at known and suspected killers are pitching Northerners against each other. Armed bandits terrorize rural communities almost at will, while kidnappings and abductions have assumed alarming notoriety as crimes.

“The nation’s security and law and order assets are stretched beyond points where they can’t provide even the most elementary confidence and protection of citizens. The North has rarely been so exposed to multiple and varied threats.

“Since 2015, Northerners have occupied positions with the potential to make decisive differences in the economy, security or political fortunes of the region. The hopes that leaders who have exercised power since 2015 will reverse the abuse and neglect of the region in the previous decade have been betrayed. Weak governance, gross insensitivity and unacceptable levels of incompetence have been compounded by battles of attrition in which northerners have sapped each other’s’ strength. Weak and incoherent responses to provocations from other parts of the country around the imperatives of re-visiting the foundations and structures of the Nigerian state have created the false image of a North without its own positions beyond survival as the parasite of Nigeria.”

“The Summit, having undertaken a thorough analysis of the state of the North and our communities, therefore urges all leaders, elders and communities to seek peaceful resolutions of conflicts between and among communities. Lives lost, injuries suffered, and losses incurred in any community must be redressed firmly and fairly. The roots of co-existence and inter-dependence in all Northern communities are much deeper than the barricades being erected around communities. All persons who are involved in killings and crimes against communities must be brought to book.

“The summit warns that no Northern politician should expect to be voted for in the next general election unless they demonstrate a willingness to champion a massive assault on poverty and underdevelopment in the North. In this regard, most political office holders from the North are hereby served notice that they have failed the test to lead the region towards economic recovery and growth.

“The summit asserts the rights of all Northerners to examine all options in political choices they will make in 2019. The leadership selection process must be critically interrogated to present the best leader to Nigeria as a whole. No one should take the North for granted, and it is not for sale. It will resist shedding its blood for any candidate and will critically scrutinize all politicians who will seek our mandate. At this stage, all options are on the table, and politicians who have betrayed the hopes and mandates of our people should be prepared to suffer rejection, in the same manner, the votes of the North rejected the attempt to continue with impunity, corruption and indifference of the previous regime,” Baba-Ahmed stated.

Source: Dailypost.NG

Retired Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma has urged Nigerians to defend themselves from killers across the country instead of depending on the armed forces.

Danjuma, a former chief of army staff from 1976-1979, said this today in a live telecast programme of the 10th anniversary of the Taraba State University, Jalingo, as he also made a grave accusation against the armed forces, accusing them of providing cover and defending the killers.

“You must rise to protect yourselves from these people. If you depend on the armed forces for protection, you will all die one by one”, said a visibly angry Danjuma.

“The ethnic cleansing must stop now. Otherwise, Somalia will be a child’s play. I ask everyone of you to be on the alert and defend your country, defend your territory, defend your state because you have nowhere else to go.

“The armed forces are not neutral. They are conniving with the armed bandits that are killing people,” he said.

Danjuma described Taraba as a miniature Nigeria with beautiful cultures which the bandits were doing everything to destroy.

Taraba, the home state of the retired general, had witnessed, like the Middle Belt states of Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, clashes between herdsmen and farmers, leading to many deaths. Herdsmen alleged that about 800 of them were killed on the Mambilla Plateau, a charge the Taraba state government has denied.

There have also been the problems of banditry and cattle rustling in some North Western states, especially Zamfara, which President Muhammadu Buhari visited on Thursday. There he ordered the armed forces to stop the killings all over the country.

Across the country have been reports of either banditry, herdsmen killing farmers or their hosts and kidnapping.

Danjuma’s advice was that all Nigerians should protect themselves, rather than waiting for the armed forces alone to protect them.

Gov Darius Ishaku expressed joy over the growth of the university within a short time, and commended its founding fathers for their foresight.

“The institution has made it possible for many Taraba residents to access tertiary education,” he said, andpledged government’s support toward making it a model.

Prof. Vincent Tenebe, the Vice Chancellor, commended the state government for its continued support which had ensured the growth of the university.

Tenebe said that 5,900 students from five sets were graduating, and urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that honorary doctorate degrees were conferred on Danjuma, Sen. Jeremiah Useni and Gov. Ishaku.

Also honoured with doctorate degrees were Dr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Tony Elumelu Foundation, and Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Danjuma had earlier inaugurated the 6.75-kilometre Magami link road constructed by the Taraba government.

Source: NAN

Yolanda Renee King, the nine-year-old granddaughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. brought many to tears on Saturday with a surprise appearance at the Washington D.C rally by American students calling for gun control from Congress and President Donald Trump.

My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, Yolanda told a rapt crowd.

I have a dream that enough is enough, she said, referencing her grandfathers famous 1963 I Have a Dream speech on ending racism.

And that this should be a gun-free world period..

Watch Yolanda speak:

Martin Luther King Jr.'s granddaughter, Yolanda Renee King, speaking at the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C.

Democracy Now! (@democracynow)

Demanding action on gun control from lawmakers, more than one million Americans turned out for emotional nationwide protests on Saturday fuelled by teenagers at a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month.

Politicians, either represent the people or get out, Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, told the crowd at a huge rally in Washington.

Stand for us or beware the voters are coming, said Kasky, one of the leaders of a dynamic and passionate student movement which has emerged following the February 14 shooting at his school.

Large crowds also turned out for demonstrations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle and other cities more than 800 in all according to the organizers of the March For Our Lives.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said 175,000 people took part at the New York rally, tweeting: These students WILL change America.

But the largest protest was in Washington, where organizers told NBC News the crowd was estimated at more than 800,000 people, the largest gun control rally in the United States since the Million Mom March in 2000.

The main stage for the event in Washington was set up near the US Capitol and lawmakers were the target audience as speakers delivered blistering warnings that the time has come for stricter gun laws.

The people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons, Kasky said.

The people demand we prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines. The people demand universal background checks.

We are going to take this to every election, to every state, and every city, said another Stoneman Douglas student leader, David Hogg.

March organisers included a link for people to register to vote on their MarchForOurLives.com website as they seek to transform their nascent movement into a potent political force.

Signs carried by protestors lambasted lawmakers who oppose tougher laws and the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby.

These kids are right, said Jeff Turchin, a 68-year-old retired garment manufacturer who came to Washington from New York to attend the rally.

Theyre basically saying the NRA is paying off these Republicans, Turchin said of the party of President Donald Trump, which controls the Senate and House of Representatives.

The Washington rally kicked off with Andra Day singing Rise Up and also featured a performances by Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot dead in 2008.

Holding a poster reading Never Again, the slogan for the march, Miley Cyrus performed the song The Climb.

But the most riveting appearances were by the Stoneman Douglas students.

Emma Gonzalez, 17, took the stage wearing a green military-style jacket and ripped jeans and delivered a eulogy for the 14 students and three adults slain by 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz.

Tears rolling down her face, she then stood in silence at the podium for a full four and half minutes as the crowd fidgeted and some cried out Were with you Emma.

Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds, Gonzalez finally said the exact amount of time Cruz spent spraying bullets inside her school before fleeing.

Fight for your lives before its someone elses job, Gonzalez said. Get out there and vote.

*AFP

Source: NAN

Some leaders from South, West and Middle Belt at a rally on Saturday restated their call for the restructuring of Nigeria.

The leaders are from South-South, South-West and the South East and Middle Belt influential have reiterated the need to restructure the country.

The mega rally was organised by Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in Yenagoa, where they jointly announced their resolve to work together for the realisation of the goal.

They contended that restructuring was the best solution to the current challenges confronting the nation.

President General, Igbo Apex Organisation, Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who said he was in support of restructuring, stated that such move would go a long way to better the lives of all Nigerians.

What we mean by restructuring is fair treatment and justice; restructuring is a called for new Nigeria, which will enhance unity and justice of the people.

Our people need unity, equity and justice as citizens; restructuring implies the structural and a physical paradigm of Nigeria to give all sections a sense of belonging, Nwodo said.

Dr Bala Takaya, President of Middle Belt Forum, who decried the level of security challenges in the country, stressed the need for restructuring of the nation.

According to him, the alliance between the Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt is for inclusive Nigeria to effect the restricting of the Nation to a federal system of government, where each and every federating unit shall hold equal and coordinate powers.

He said: We hereby, invite fellow Nigerians, desirous of equity, fairness and justice in the affairs of our dear country to join us in the task of moving the country forward.

Our desire and commitment is that our dear country may resume her delayed journey towards the fulfilment of its manifest destiny, Takaya said.

In his remark, Chief Edwin Clark, Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said the leaders of the region were strongly in support of the move for restructuring of the nation.

According to Clark, nobody is more important than any other person in this country, every Nigerian is equal and all we are asking for is fair treatment for all citizens.

Chief Ayo Adebayo, leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, said Afenifere also supported the move to restructure the country

The host and Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, commended his guests and their renewed call for restructuring of the nation.

We gathered here in Bayelsa, the heart of Ijaw Nation today, for a course for an egalitarian and prosperous Nigeria, Dickson said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

In line with the judgement of the Court of Appeal, recall process embarked upon by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would begin on March 27.

According to the schedule released by INEC, the notice of verification would be displayed in the constituency in Kogi state.

INEC said that April 4th will be the last day for the submission of application by interested observers.

It listed April 20 as the last day for submission of names of verification agents for the member sought to be recalled and the petitioners.

The electoral umpire is also invoking sections 69 and 110 of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 116 of the electoral act as amended.

Voters in Kogi West senatorial district of the embattled senators appended signatures for the recall of the senator.

INECs Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, had earlier said: For now, all legal hurdles as far as we are aware have been removed so the commission should proceed as if the case did not occur.

The recall process was commenced by INEC, but Melaye headed for the court to halt it, but he lost at the High Court and thereafter appealed.

At the appeal court last Friday in Abuja, the three judges, led by Justice Tunde Awotoye, dismissed the appeal filed by Melaye against the judgment delivered by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba at the Federal High Court in 2017, on grounds that there was no cause of action.

Justice Dimgba had on September 11, 2017, dismissed the suit filed by Senator Melaye, seeking to stop INEC from initiating his recall from the National Assembly.

He held that senator Melayes complaints were hasty, premature and presumptuous and therefore ordered INEC to go ahead with its planned verification exercise of the 188,588 registered voters who were said to have signed a petition in support of the recall process.

Unsatisfied with Justice Dimgbas judgement, Malaye proceeded to the Appeal Court two days later, arguing that the Federal High Court judge erred in law when he validated the petition presented to INEC for his recall.

But the Appeal Court in dismissing the suit held that the Federal High Court ought not to have entertained Melayes suit ab initio.

The court held that the 90 days stipulated by the Constitution within which a recall process could take place has no time limitation, stating that the lower court ought not to have entertained Melayes suit ab initio.

Asked about the specific steps INEC would take in continuing the process based on the judgement, Mr Osaze-Uzzi said the commission would get in touch with Melaye and ask him to give it an agent after which it would conduct a verification exercise for the signatories to the recall petition.

The electoral body will also release a timetable informing Nigerians of every step in the process and the date for each.

Source: NAN

Theodore Mukoro, 89, the pioneer Headmaster and lead character in the now rested NTA soap, Village Headmaster, is dead.

My father, late Theodore Mukoro, was never ill to the extent of being on admission for once until the last one where he died on March 7.

Even, when he had cataract surgery he came home the same day, Mrs Angela Ajetunmobi, one of the two surviving children , said.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that late Pa Mukoro, the first person to act the `Headmaster role in the popular but now rested soap had a brief illness that led to his death.

This illness before his death was very brief, now I know what people mean when they say, died after a brief illness.

He took ill on Saturday, was admitted in hospital on Sunday and he gave up in the of Wednesday , March 7 in the arms of my sister-in-law, the wife of my fathers only surviving son.

The doctors were wondering why and asking what was the relationship between Uncle Ted and his daughter-in -law.

They were very close and it was like he had waited for her to arrive in the hospital that morning. He was said to have held her hand and took his last breathe.

He just slipped away while we were planning his 90th birthday for October, Ajetunmobi told NAN.

In terms of broadcasting, the late Ted Mukoro was one of the first 10 people to appear on WNTV screen as newscasters when it was set up by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of Western Region at the time, she said of her fathers career.

Uncle Ted was the first person to play the role of the headmaster in the popular soap opera called The Village Headmaster usually transmitted on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) some years ago.

He was also one of the first persons to write scripts for the soap opera.

I recall that the first two or three scripts of the Village Headmaster Series were written by him as well as produced a few episodes. He coined a few of the characters names such as Jigabi and Bassey Okon.

He was very much involved with production of the now defunct household name opera.

Ajetunmobi said that her late father also feature in Dinner with the devil alongside popular actress Omotola Jolade Ekeinde.

According to her, Uncle Ted continued to work till the week before he died; he was consulted widely for the advertising world when many advertising agencies were working on new projects.

We were used to seeing them come here and give him briefs to write. He would be up till 4 a.m. He had a great work ethics; not a lazy man.

Ajetunmobi said that in every job his father did while alive, he always left his mark and was very famous. In advertising he retired as the first indigenous creative director of Lintas Communications Nigeria Ltd.

He worked for Star Beer where he coined the phrase Shine shine bobo andBlack tin good o for Guinness Beer.

I remember Patti Boulaye, OBE, who also featured in the Lux Soap advert he shot in Miami, Florida in the US.

He had a lot of achievements in the advertising world. We, including my late mother, grew up in front of the television participating in adverts, Angela Ajetunmobi told NAN.

She added that her father was great with the pidgin language as a Warri boy as well as the Queens English.

He would get angry with corrupted pidgin English.

He was a typical Warri boy and he also considered himself a typical Lagos boy because he had lived and worked all his life in Lagos, she said.

Ajetunmobi added that her parents were originally living in Warri from where they moved to Ibadan where she was born.

They finally moved to Lagos, ending up at the Nigerian Television then NTV where he was employed as a news caster.

My father was a very interesting person. He never stopped educating. That was something that I found very interesting about him.

Whenever he was watching my interviews on the television, he wasnt listening to the thrust of the conversation, all he was listening to was how I was pronouncing my words, the tenses and things like that.

Those were the things he focused on. He was a perfectionist in that regard. He was a great wordsmith. Words were his life.

He impressed that upon us. One of the things we his children are really good at is communicating with words.

Ajetunmobi added that because of her fathers love for words, the family house was and still is full of books. He was a books person, he read until his last day.

Before he died at 89; I was planning to set up a library in his honour and that of my mother who died in 2010. I would still do it in their honour

Source: NAN

More than 20,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State at the weekend defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Led by the Director General of the APC State Campaign Organization in 2015, Chief Sunny Udom, the defectors lamented the state of the country and vowed to return PDP to power in 2019.

At a reception in honour of Governor Udom Emmanuel, and wife Martha, organised by youths of the old Abak division comprising five local government areas, Chief Udom said that APC stood no chance in the next elections in the state.

“I brought these people, I came from APC; APC does not have a candidate.

“I was the Director General of their Campaigns and I know that their house is not in order.

“We heard about change but the change turned out to be from frying pan to fire.

“At least let us come back to the frying pan, the umbrella is a very good symbol,” he said.

He said that he and his people were under obligation to support the governor who is married to a daughter of the Old Abak division, maintaining that the Governor has served the state well.

Among those who defected were former chairman of Abak local government area, Arc. Okon Obot, former House of Representatives member, Chief Nkereuwem Dan; ex local government chairmen and some ward coordinators of APC.

Speaking, Governor Emmanuel appreciated the people of Old Abak Division for the honour.

He promised to continue his industrial drive in the state, through the provision of critical infrastructure to in the state.

Chairman on the occasion and National Legal Adviser of PDP, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, said that his people in Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun have agreed that the Governor should continue in office.

Source: Dailypost.NG

The Nigeria Police Force said on Saturday that the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye and Alhaji Mohammed Audu would be declared wanted if they refuse to comply with court order.

Melaye and Audu are expected to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja, on March 28 to answer criminal charges against them.

Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood in a statement said the duo’s refusal to appear in court would force it to obtain warrant of arrest or declare them wanted throughout the country and on INTERPOL platform.

DAILY POST recalls that a political thug, Kabiru Saidu, A.K.A Osama, had confessed that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 for him to share with his boys.

Moshood giving update on the investigation, said the indictment of both politicians has led the Force to invite them for questioning.

He said: “Working on actionable intelligence, the Kogi State Police Command personnel and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested two suspects – Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama, 31, From Dekina local government area of Kogi State but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang) and Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small, 25, (a member of the gang), after a gun battle with the police team that lasted for some hours on the 19th January, 2018 at Ogojueje in Dekina LGA.

“During investigation, they confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of several kidnappings and armed robbery, murder and other violent crimes in different parts of Kogi State for which they have been on the wanted list of the police for more than two years now.

“The gang leader Kabiru Saidu revealed that he and his gang had been working as a political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu, a politician in the state and that Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport Road, Abuja, inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in December 2017.

“Saidu further confessed to the police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

“The police conducted investigation into the criminal indictments against Melaye and Mohammed Audu and discovered that the two of them have case to answer.”

Source: Dailypost.NG

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, on Saturday confirmed that the Boko Haram terrorists was set to release Leah Sharibu, the only Christian Schoolgirl still in captivity.

IGP Idris made the revelation while speaking to reporters in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

“I was suppose to be in Dapchi today but I couldn’t go because l learnt that Leah Sharibu may be released today by the Boko Haram terrorists.

“I would have gone to Dapchi today but by the time I fly in with a helicopter and police escort, they(terrorists) may think I’m trying to break the arrangement”.

Meanwhile residents of Dapchi are excited over the news that the insurgents have agreed to free Leah Sharibu.

“We are very happy about this development but for now we are waiting patiently to receive Leah Sharibu” a resident told Aledeh.com

“Some residents have ran out of Dapchi for fear of the unknown by the time the insurgents bring Leah Sharibu back,” Kachalla Bukar, Secretary of Association of Parents of Dapchi missing school girls also stated.

Source: Dailypost.NG

Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Friday demonstrated their intention to impress at the 2018 FIFA World Cup by defeating Poland 1-0 at the Stadion Miejski, Wroclaw.

Victor Moses’ 61st minute penalty kick made the difference as the Eagles fought hard to earn a win over world number eight Poland.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr made the most difficult call between the sticks, as he eventually went for Francis Uzoho.

The selection earned the youngster his first full debut for the Super Eagles and he gave a fairly good account of himself as proceedings went on in the match.

Elsewhere in the Eagles team, Joel Obi was given his first Super Eagles cap since his last outing in a friendly against Scotland in May 2014.

The Torino of Italy midfielder partnered Wilfried Ndidi in the middle of the pack, while Brian Idowu was also chosen ahead of Elderson Echiejile at left-back.

Eight minutes into the game, the Super Eagles were culpable, as hosts Poland almost took the lead after Robert Lewandowski hit the post from a sliding pass.

However, it was a physical contest between the Eagles and the Poles, leading to the removal of Polish Karol Linetty before the Nigerian side tried their bit to threaten their hosts with Moses picking himself up to curl a free kick past Lukasz Fabianski’s post in the 34th minute.

The Eagles had much to worry about between the sticks but Uzoho overcame his jittery start to the encounter and got down well to deny Lewandowski’s point-blank effort in the 51st minute to keep the hosts at bay.

However, it was the Super Eagles who had the upper hand as Moses was fouled in the area and the Chelsea man slotted in his spot kick perfectly to give Nigeria the lead which eventually took them to the end of the game.

With the morale-boosting win, the Super Eagles will now take on Serbia on Tuesday in London to consolidate their fine form en route the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has returned to Sierra Leone to observe the countrys presidential run-off polls scheduled for Tuesday.

Jonathan, who is leading the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) Election Observation Mission, arrived Freetown on Friday .

Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, the spokesman to the former president, said Jonathan also led EISA to the first round of the elections on March 7.

In the elections, none of the candidates polled required 55 per cent of votes to win at the first ballot.

EISA had declared the process of the March 7 general elections as peaceful and credible.

The mission in its interim report presented to the media on March 9 added that the elections were conducted substantially in line with sub-regional, continental and international standards.

It also observed that voter turnout was impressive while the conduct of electoral personnel was professional.

Jonathan who presented the report also appealed to the people of Sierra Leone and all stakeholders to remain calm until the final electoral processes were concluded. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Committee set up by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the allegations of underage voting during council elections in Kano has submitted its report.

The committee, according to a statement issued by INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, submitted it report to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday.

It quoted Mr Ahmed Nahuche, Chairman of the committee as saying that diligent and wide consultations with stakeholders were made by the committee.

The committee was inaugurated by INEC in February 2018, to investigate the allegation of underage voting which was maliciously linked to the Voters Register in Kano.

Nahuche said that in carrying out the assignment, the committee consulted with critical stakeholders through visitations and interactive sessions.

The stakeholders interactive sessions included Civil Society Organizations, Political Parties, Print and Electronic Media organizations as well as Security Agencies.

The committee in the course of consultation and interactive sessions received a number of pictures, video clips, reports, documents and presentations from the stakeholders`.

It immediately embarked on thorough review and analysis of these materials in order to ascertain the actual connection with KASIEC LGA elections.

The committee also examined the social media reports of pictures and video clips that triggered the outrage and the alleged participation of underage persons in the KASIEC LGA elections as a key area of focus for the investigation.

The pictures and video clips were thoroughly analyzed by the committee, he added.

Nahuche advised that the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and Political Parties be encouraged to work towards improving electoral logistics to enhance the credibility of their respective processes and procedures.

He urged political parties to observe best practices for the sustenance of democracy.

Receiving the Report, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu commended the Committee for discharging the assignment diligently.

Yakubu reiterated that the Commission was committed to ensuring that the voter register was purged of ineligible persons.

The credibility of the voter register is very important to the Commission; (and) that the outcome of the investigation, in the interest of transparency would be shared with the general public. (NAN)

Source: NAN

A snake charmer escaped death by the whiskers during a live show in Uttar Pradesh, India, after a deadly python coiled around his neck and almost strangled him.

At first, people thought it was part of an act, as the python coiled harder around the neck of the charmer who incidentally owns the snake, in an effort to kill him.

But they soon found out the act was all too real.

The snake charmer initially picked up the adult snake and allowed it to sit on his shoulders as he welcomed the crowd; slowly, the snake slithered up the mans body and started to wrap itself around his neck.

The man appeared calm, acting as if he was simply wearing a turtleneck and continued to motion people to come closer.

Thirty seconds later, the man kneeled on the ground and appeared to be having trouble breathing.

He leaned forward and grabbed the snakes body, attempting to forcefully pull the creature off.

For nearly a minute, a group of people just watched in shock and horror.

They realized the man was in serious trouble when he toppled over onto the sandy ground.

He appeared to be unconscious when a man stepped in to help. He sprinkled water on the snake and eventually the python slitered away.

According to report, three men came forward and rushed the unidentified man to a nearby hospital in Varanasi on March 20. His condition is still unknown.

Snake charmers are common in India, but the reptiles have been known to turn on their handlers.

It would be recalled that a famous snake whisperer in Malaysia died last week after he was bitten by a cobra.

Also, Dan Brandon, a snake enthusiast in the U.K., was found suffocated to death near his pet python, Tiny, last year.

A coroner later confirmed there was no doubt the python had killed him.

Source: NAN

The fiscal allocation to the 36 states by the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FACC) stood at N1,73 trillion in 2017.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) the total revenue available to the states in the year is put at N2.67 trillion.

Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) at State Level for 2017 report published on the bureaus website.

According to the report, the total revenue available to the states is in the year is put at N2.67 trillion.

Meanwhile, the NBS stated that the full year 2017 state IGR figure was N931.23 billion compared to N831.19 billion recorded in year 2016.

This, the bureau stated it indicated a growth of 12.03 per cent year- on- year.

The report stated that at the end of second half of 2017, total revenue generated by states was put at N432.65billion as against N409.09 billion in first half of the year.

NBS stated that 31 states recorded growth in IGR while five states which included (Akwa Ibom , Anambra , Bauchi, Osun and Taraba) recorded a decline at the end of 2017 Fiscal Year.

However, the bureau stated that the value of foreign debt stood at 19.9 billion dollars while domestic debt was N3.35 trillion at the end of the year respectively.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are attending rallies nationwide on Saturday for tighter gun laws in March For Our Lives in the United States.

The protests led by survivors of the Florida school massacre, which re-iginited public anger over mass shootings.

Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington.

The protests orchestrated by survivors of the rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are aimed at breaking through a legislative gridlock that has long stymied efforts to tighten firearms controls. Mass shootings at American schools and colleges have become a regular occurrence.

This issue is going to turn into the No. 1 issue in this country. I know thats not only what I want, but I know its what you guys want, Alfonso Calderon, a junior at the Florida school, told Washington students at a pre-march event on Thursday.

The Washington rally is among more than 800 events scheduled worldwide, with U.S. demonstrations set from San Clemente, California, to New York and Parkland, according to gun-control group Everytown For Gun Safety.

The teenage organizers have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities, with singer Ariana Grande and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda among those performing in Washington.

Trainwreck star Amy Schumer is set to appear at the Los Angeles rally. Actor George Clooney and his human rights attorney wife have donated $500,000 and said they would be at the Washington rally.

Organizers want Congress, many of whose members are up for re-election this year, to ban the sale of assault weapons like the one used in the Florida rampage and to tighten background checks for gun buyers.

On the other side of the debate, gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms.

On Friday, Republican President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence.

David Hogg, a senior at Stoneman Douglas, said the protests were a way for young Americans to show their opposition to the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby.

Were asking people (to) put the USA over the NRA, he said at the Thursday event in Washington.

An NRA spokeswoman said it had not taken a position on the protests.

Democrats and nonpartisan groups hope to register at least 25,000 first-time voters at the rallies, potentially a boost for Democrats, who generally favor stricter gun controls .

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Students at Columbine High School in Colorado join their fellow students in the nationwide protests against gun violence. Amazing.

Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila)

Source: NAN

The trade war ignited by U.S President Donald Trump against China has caused a dip in the stock markets of both countries..

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 700 points as investors worried that trade tensions between the worlds largest economies would escalate, reports on Friday.

The planned sanctions include tariffs on $60 billion worth of Chinese imports as well as restrictions on Chinese investments.

Mr Trump said he is taking those steps in response to theft of American technology but the Chinese government was quick to confirm it will defend itself.

Investors are worried that trade tensions would hurt US companies and harm the world economy.

On Thursday they fled stocks and bought bonds, which sent bond prices higher and yields lower.

With interest rates falling, banks took some of the worst losses. Technology and industrial companies, basic materials makers and healthcare companies also fell sharply.

Peter Donisanu, an investment strategy analyst for the Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said the risk of a damaging trade war is still low because the Trump administration is targeting specific goods that are not central to Chinas economy.

That could change if it puts tariffs on products like electronics or appliances imported from China.

also reports that war between the worlds two largest economies jolted Chinas markets on Friday, with the countrys main stock indexes tumbling the most in six weeks, while bond yields fell as investors rushed into less risky assets.

But in contrast to stock market ructions, the countrys currency markets remained quiet, with analysts expecting that any Chinese response to U.S. trade actions is unlikely to include changes in its foreign exchange policy.

China shares fell sharply after Beijing unveiled plans for tariffs on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports in retaliation to U.S. duties on Chinese steel and aluminium products went into effect on Friday.

China urged the United States to pull back from the brink, while its embassy in Washington vowed Beijing would fight to the end in any trade war with the United States.

The Shanghai Composite index closed down 3.6 percent at 3,152.76 points, its lowest close since Feb 9.

Chinas blue-chip CSI300 index was down 2.9 percent at 3,891.47, its lowest close since Feb. 12.

Source: NAN

Report by UN and EU on food crisis has predicted that the impact of severe dry weather on crop and livestock production is likely to heighten food insecurity in pastoral areas.

The areas are Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia and eastern Kenya, and in the Sahel in Senegal, Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, the report said.

The report said that Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan are among the countries that faced the worst food crises in 2017, the UN and EU said Thursday.

Yemen also features among the countries that hosted some 124 million people worldwide whose food security was under acute threat, the two organisations said in an annual report.

Conflicts and climate-related shocks have recently sent levels of world hunger marching back up, following decades of steady decline.

The figure of 124 million is 15 per cent higher than the number in 2016.

The report says was untouched while pointing out that in Africa, the Middle East and in parts of South Asia, conflict and insecurity undermined food security.

Likewise, persistent drought in the Horn of Africa, floods in Asia, and hurricanes in Latin America and the Caribbean have all contributed to the spread and intensification of hunger.

Looking ahead, the report said that conflict and insecurity were likely to remain major drivers of food security crises in 2018, affecting Afghanistan, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, north-east Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen as well as Libya and the central Sahel (Mali and Niger).

Yemen will continue to be the largest food crisis by far, the report said.

The situation is expected to deteriorate, particularly because of restricted access, economic collapse and outbreaks of disease.

On a more optimistic note, the report predicted that southern Africa was headed for a better year thanks to bumper cereal production in 2017 and falling food prices.

The report was presented by the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

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Source: NAN

The United Nations (UN) has noted that Boko Haram fighters have stepped up the use of women and girls for suicide bombings.

Noting a progress in the war against the jihadist by the four countries of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the UN said while children were deployed in 135 such attacks in 2017 a five-fold increase over the previous year.

Therefore, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina Mohammed, said it was critical to shore up areas of Lake Chad Basin that have been freed from the grip of Boko Haram terrorists.

Mohammed, in a video address to the Security Council, also called for efforts to rebuild the lives of women and girls that had suffered at the hands of the terrorist group.

She said recent joint efforts of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger had resulted in considerable progress in the fight against the extremists.

Mohammed, speaking via videoconference from Liberia where she participated in celebrations to mark the end of the UN peacekeeping mission noted the liberation of hostages as well as territorial gains.

It is now key to stabilise the areas that have been reclaimed, and that we seize the opportunity to really promote sustainable development, she said.

Mohamed was joined by Mohammed Bila, a representative of the Lake Chad Basin Commission based in NDjamena, and Senior Conflict Adviser at Adelphi, Chitra Nagarajan.

They painted a picture of the factors behind peoples suffering in the Lake Chad Basin and driving some to terrorism one year after the Council adopted its first resolution on the activities of Boko Haram in the region.

Boko Haram, an Islamist militant organisation based in north-east Nigeria, has carried out raids, suicide bombings and kidnappings across the Lake Chad region over the past decade.

Their operations have led to displacement, insecurity, destruction of infrastructure and what Mohammed described as a complex and dire humanitarian situation, with nearly 11 million people requiring assistance.

The group gained international notoriety in 2014 after abducting more than 270 girls from a Government school in Chibok, Nigeria.

It is believed to be behind the kidnapping last month of 110 schoolgirls from the Nigerian town of Dapchi, most of whom were safely returned this week.

Overall, Boko Haram has abducted more than 4,000 women and girls, according to the UN deputy chief, who added that those who return to their communities are often stigmatised.

As the violation of human rights continues to fuel insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin region, Mohammed said investing in community justice mechanisms would be essential for reconciliation, as well as for ensuring accountability and promoting peace.

She stressed the need to incorporate human rights and gender dimensions into activities aimed at countering terrorism or preventing violent extremism.

She said the increase in Boko Harams use of women and girls as suicide bombers could be due to a lack of women security officers who could search other women at checkpoints.

The UN deputy scribe also called for more international action to support children affected by the upheaval in the region.

Also briefing, Nagarajan, who is based in northeast Nigeria, also used her briefing to touch on the gender-related aspects of the crisis and its impact on persons with disabilities.

She spoke of how women and girls were pushed into early marriage with combatants, for example, or they fall victim to sexual abuse and exploitation, including at the hands of people who were supposed to protect them.

Men and older boys are often the first to flee insecure areas, she said, speaking via videoconference from Maiduguri adding, women and girls were deliberately targeted, killed and forcibly recruited by armed groups.

Theyre viewed with suspicion, arrested, and detained by security agencies, and they are involved in fighting, leaving women of all ages, as well as girls, younger boys and older men struggling to cope.

Mohammed Bila, a Remote Sensing Expert with the Lake Chad Basin Commission, spoke of how climate change had had an impact on water governance.

Bila said the shrinking of Lake Chad had affected communities which depended on its shoreline to grow crops, leading to increased competition for water, accusations of river diversion, loss of livelihoods and social tensions.

He told the Council that the environmental monitoring network there was inadequate, sparse, poorly funded and operated, with only one water level measurement station for the entire lake.

The environmental challenges facing the Lake Chad basin are interconnected to the challenges of climate change faced by the region of the Sahel of Africa.

The Sahel is increasingly facing extreme variability of climate resulting in frequent droughts, short-duration high-intensity rainfall, desertification, water scarcity, land degradation, and ultimately food insecurity.

Consequently, addressing the climatic root causes of local challenges through risk assessment and management will require a similar solution at the Sahel regional level, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

No fewer than 17 people were killed and eight others injured in an explosion on Thursday outside a popular hotel in Somalias capital Mogadishu.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Internal Security, Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim, told the media that the wounded were being treated at the citys hospitals.

Seventeen people died including a young girl, some workers and persons having tea at roadside teashops popularly known as bibiito, said Mr Ibrahim.

He said a tricycle taxi, locally known as bajaaj, may have been used for the explosion.

The blast occurred opposite one of Mogadishus oldest lodges, the Weheliye Hotel, along the busy Maka al-Mukarrama Avenue.

The jihadist Al-Shabaab group claimed responsibility.

The group carries out frequent attacks in Mogadishu as it seeks to overthrow the internationally recognised Somali government.

In October last year, al Shabaab killed more than 500 people in the deadliest attack at a busy intersection in Mogadishu.

Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, more commonly known as al-Shabaab, is a jihadist fundamentalist group based in East Africa.

Founded in 2006, the jihadists In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda.

It emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalias now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled Mogadishu in 2006, before being forced out by Ethiopian forces.

There are numerous reports of foreign jihadists going to Somalia to help al-Shabab, from neighbouring countries, as well as the US and Europe.

It is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters.

Al-Shabab advocates the Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam, while most Somalis are Sufis.

It has imposed a strict version of Sharia in areas under its control, including stoning to death women accused of adultery and amputating the hands of thieves.

Source: NAN

Mr. Basile Kouna, Cameroons former water and energy minister, was arrested in Nigeria and flown home on Thursday.

Kouna was removed from his ministerial position during President Paul Biyas March 2, cabinet reshuffle.

In February, he was ordered not to leave the country.

Kouna is in Cameroon. He was arrested in Nigeria and sent back to Cameroon.

He arrived this evening, one police source, who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the press, told Reuters.

Vision 4, a private television channel considered allied to Biya, reported that the former minister arrived at the international airport in the capital, Yaounde at 6:20 pm (1720 GMT) escorted by police officers.

Another channel, Canal 2 International, also reported his arrest in Nigeria and subsequent extradition back to Cameroon.

Cameroons government spokesman was not immediately reachable for comment. Neither were officials in neighbouring Nigeria.

It was not clear what charges Atangana Kouna was facing, but there was speculation on Thursday that he was arrested as part of an anti-corruption drive known as Operation Sparrowhawk.

A former Ministry of Public Works official, the head of a state company, and the ex-rector of the University of Douala, were arrested as part of the operation on Monday.

Cameroons oil wealth has spawned a sprawling political patronage system fueled by revenues from crude exports.

Transparency International ranked it 153 out of 180 countries on its annual corruption perceptions index.

Biya has ruled virtually by decree since taking over from a retiring predecessor in 1982 and then winning an election with 99.98 per cent of the vote a year later.

Now 85, Biya is expected to again seek re-election in presidential polls later in the year, but he is currently facing some of the biggest challenges to his 35-year rule.

Cameroons oil-dependent economy has been crippled by low crude prices.

And separatists are mounting a guerrilla campaign in the countrys two English-speaking provinces, demanding independence from the majority Francophone Central African nation.

Nigeria had warned it will not be used as a staging post by any dissident to attack the Republic of Cameroon,

The Security Adviser, Major. General Mohammed Monguno (rtd) at the opening of the 6th session of Cameroon-Nigeria Trans-Border Security Committee Meeting.

He spoke amidst local and international outcry over the deportation by Nigeria of 47 Cameroonian Anglophone secessionist campaigners to Cameroon on 26 January.

Although the NSA did not address the issue, he said President Paul Biya and the entire people of Cameroon have the full backing of President Buhari in finding solution to the countrys internal cisis and will not be pawn in the hand of any group that may want to destabilize Cameroon.

It is critical for me to re-emphasize that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari assures you that we will take all the necessary measures within the ambit of the law to ensure that Nigerias territory is not used as a staging area to destabilize another friendly sovereign country.

Maj. Gen Monguno said it is the hope and belief of Nigeria that Cameroon will emerge from the challenges it currently faces as a stronger and more united country where peace, justice and prosperity reign.

I hereby assure you that there should be no doubt whatsoever, of Nigerias support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cameroon. I need not stress that the bond of friendship and unity between our two countries is strong and can never be broken, he said.

He, however, advised and encourage the Cameroonian authorities to engage all aggrieved parties in a constructive manner to de-escalate tensions in the Anglophone regions and facilitate the return of Cameroonian refuges that have crossed the borders into Nigerian territory due to heightened tension and apprehension.

He said it is also important to observe that Nigeria as a signatory to most of the United Nations international protocols on the Rights of Refugees and their humane treatment, strictly enforces these provisions, not only as an obligation, but without prejudice to the cordial relations between our two countries.

He said it is against this backdrop that the Abuja meeting is expected to exhaustively examine all these developments as well as build on the successes recorded so far in the actualization of peace and security along the common borders.

In carrying out the mandate of Presidents of both Nigeria and Cameroon especially in the area of sub-regional security, the Security Adviser acknowledged the close cooperation Nigeria continues to receive from Cameroon in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group and other transborder criminal elements.

To Cameroon, he said your steadfast commitment and resolve has no doubt contributed significantly campaign and other security concerns in the sub-region.

(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN