Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, has inaugurated National Peace and Reconciliation Committees for each of the six geo-political zones.

The committees are to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Oshiomhole, while inaugurating the committees on Wednesday in Abuja, said its members were expected to help the partys national leadership to find an in-house solution to the acrimony that followed the party`s primary elections.

He added that members of the committees were also to maintain peace and ensure internal harmony within the APC family before the elections.

He further added that the essence of the committees was to bring about lasting peace in the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Help reconcile those who are aggrieved for whatever reasons, do everything that will help in your wisdom to bring peace in your zone, Oshiomhole said.

The national chairman said that members of the committees should meet aggrieved members and leaders of the party in their zones to reconcile them.

He explained that the party had to set up the committee in the six geo-political zones to fast track its reconciliation efforts.

He thanked members of the committees for accepting the responsibility, adding that chairmen of the committees could appoint secretariat staff in their zones to facilitate their work.

Oshiomhole, however, said that the party may not have been able to solve all the countrys problems but had done well in rebuilding the countrys economy.
He said that Nigerians who had good memories would recall that the APC had done better in the last three and half years than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was in power for 16 years.
According to him, the only integrity the PDP has is looting the national treasury, saying that the APC is today delivering on the campaign promises it made to Nigerians in 2015.

Oshiomhole further said that the APC was today a bigger family because of its antecedence which made more Nigerians to join its fold.

We have gone through a very crucial stage in the processes leading to the next Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

I think, from my own records, of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, I believe we have done exceedingly well as it is impossible for the most gifted child to score 100 per cent
in every subject.

The more questions you have to answer, the more chances are that you will miss some of them.

I believe that the house is bigger today than it was before, because those who have reservations, have since realised that President Muhammadu Buhari means business and APC is delivering on its promises, Oshiomhole said.

He maintained that the party`s accomplishment in the last three and half years had enlarged it and brought in more quality political activists and leaders as well as huge electoral value across the states.

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno who spoke on behalf of the committees, thanked the party`s leadership for the responsibility and assured that the committees would deliver on their mandate.

Be rest assured that we will put in our best to ensure the reconciliation of all aggrieved party members ahead of 2019 general election, Shettima who heads the South West National Peace and Reconciliation Committee, said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the full composition of members of the committee for each zone is as seen below:
NORTH-WEST

1. Gov. Abiola Ajimobi Chairman
2. Gov. Mohammed Abubakar
3. Gov. Yahaya Bello
4. Sen. Adamu Aliero
5. Sen. Danjuma Goje
6. Sen. Jim Nwobodo
7. Amb. Fati Balla

SOUTH-EAST

1. Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje Chairman
2. Gov. Samuel Lalong
3. Gov. Kayode Fayemi
4. Sen. Godswill Akpabio
5. Alh. Umaru Dembo
6. Alh. Nasiru Koki
7. Mrs. Ify Okoye

SOUTH-WEST

1. Gov. Kashim Shettima Chairman
2. Gov. Nasiru el Rufai
3. Gov. Akinwumi Ambode
4. Sen. Ken Nnamani
5. Prof. Modupe Adelabu
6. Dr Dakuku Peterside
7. Sen. Seida Bugaje

NORTH-CENTRAL

1. Gov. Ibrahim Geidam Chairman
2. Gov. Godwin Obaseki
3. Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu
4. Gov. Jibrilla Bindow
5. Chief Pius Akinyelure
6. Barr. (Mrs) Vivian Chukwuani
7. Chief Audu Ogbe

SOUTH-SOUTH

1. Gov. Rauf Aregbesola Chairman
2. Gov. Atiku Bagudu
3. Gov. Abubakar Bello
4. Sen. Gbemisola Saraki
5. Mr Emeka Wogu
6. Mr Sullivan Chime
7. Mrs Aleluchi Cookey-Gam

NORTH-EAST

1. Gov. Tanko Al-Makura Chairman
2. Gov. Aminu Masari
3. Gov. Abubakar Badaru
4. Chief (Mrs) Jumoke Anifowoshe
5. Mr Matthew Omegara
6. Hajia Hafsat Baba
7. Gen. Abdullahi Aboki (NAN)
   EEM/AMY

Source: NAN

Leaders from the South East on a thank you visit have confronted President Muhammadu Buhari with a shopping list, including economic free trade zone.

Aside confirming construction work on abandoned Second Niger Bridge, they asked Buhari to make the trade zone in Eyimba in Abia a reality.

The delegation led by Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and governors met with behind closed doors with Buhari on Wednesday.

Chairman of the South East Governors forum and Governor of Ebonyi, Mr Dave Umahi, said after the meeting: We are also asking for economic free trade zone in Eyimba in Abia and he promised to come and commission it; the license has been given.

The governor disclosed that the meeting also deliberated on the state of Enugu international airport.

The president was urged to ensure the completion of the cargo section of the airport and extension of the runway.

Of course, we talked about the geometric power plant in Aba and we asked him to assist in resolving whatever the issues are so that power will be deployed to the industrial clusters in Aba and environs.

We reminded him that the Enugu state government has done quite a lot on the issue of relocating major infrastructure that has been obstructing smooth operations of lives. We requested that he should take over the compensations of the affected lands.

And of course, the issue of gas distribution should be linked to the five eastern states, to the industrial clusters so as to boost economic activities, he added.

They appealed for the reduction of the completion period of the Second Niger Bridge from 42 months to 24 months.

So, we came to ask the president if there is the possibility of paying up to 50 per cent of the sum and secure the other 50 per cent as bond.

According to him, this is expected so that we can sleep with our two eyes closed and be assured that the job will not be abandoned.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who also spoke after the meeting, said: We received very high-powered delegation today led by the Deputy President of the Senate and three of their governors and a deputy governor, and the Director-General of Forum of South-East governors.

I think it is a remarkable visit because they came essentially to thank the president over the major activities that have taken place in the South-East.

The visit by the leaders was remarkable.

Mustapha reminded the people that their political investment in the re-election of Buhari in 2019 election would determine their fate in 2023.

Source: NAN

A South Korean Pastor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping eight of his members more than 40 different occasions at his mega-church in Seoul,Yonhapnews agency reported.

Lee Jae Rock of the Manmin Central Church, which has about 130,000 followers, was convicted by the Seoul Central District Court of using his authority to commit the rapes, the agency reported.

The 75-year-old regularly took advantage of his followers trust in him as a man close to God, Yonhap quoted the court as saying.

The church, which was founded by Lee in 1982 and claims to have more than 10,000 branches around the world, was expelled by the Christian Council of Korea in 1999 under the accusation of heresy.

On its website, the church claims that countless have received Gods healing of such incurable and terminal diseases as AIDS, cancer, and the like on the spot when Rev Dr Lee prayed not by placing his hand on each of the sick but merely from the pulpit.

Source: NAN

By Justina Auta

Nigerian Music star, Olubankole Wellington, a.k.a Banky W says his nine- year old Range Rover Sports will be auctioned for charity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the car had been a subject of ridiculed when two ladies released a video `dragging and stalking Banky on social media for driving an old car in spite of his class and status.

The music star and actor disclosed this in a video posted on his Instagram page, stating that the car had served him for nine years and it was time to let it go for charity course.

He said that the money would be donated to Vocational School for the Blind in Oshodi, Lagos and the Pink Oak Cancer Trust Fund.

This Range Rover has been so good to my Madam and I, but this Saturday, Nov 24 we are auctioning it to raise money for The School for the Blind, and for @pinkoaktrust

If youre looking for a used Car, buy this piece of Nigerian Pop Culture history instead. It has been in more videos and movies than any other option out there lol.

It was also the subject of a stalker video some months ago. Point being, its famous, and these charities need our help.

So come through on Saturday and bid on this and many more cars Hit up @cars45ng @carsbazr with any questions #Carsbazrliveauctuon #Cars45BankyWCharityChallenge #BuyBankysRange #hope19, he captioned the video.
Also, it is a 2008 Range Rover Sport, not a 1999. Amen and Lol. Oh, and additionally, its currently for sale to the highest bidder.

I had decided last month that Id sell it, and whatever I got for it, Id hand over to the Vocational School for the Blind in Oshodi and the Pink Oak Cancer Trust Fund.

Banky W further explained that the car would be auctioned online with autograph of his celebrity friends to enable him raise funds to support his aunt, who works as a volunteer in the school.

You see, Ive never found it necessary to own more than one car. Mostly because I can only ever DRIVE one car at a time; and when I bought the car in 2011, I promised myself that I would never buy another car until I owned the home I live in.

To me, owning a nice car might help me LOOK like I was doing okay, but owning a nice home would help me KNOW. The way my mind is set upwhat good is owning a Rolls Royce, if Im still paying rent on the house I park it in? he wrote.

He started singing at a young age in the church choir and started his record label E.M.E in 2002 while still studying.

After moving to Nigeria in 2009, he established the label in Lagos.

Banky W has signed artists like Niyola, Shaydee, Skales and Wizkid to the label at the time.

His breakthrough debut studio album, Back in the Building was released in 2005.
He wrote the first theme song of Etisalat Nigeria titled 0809ja for life.

Source: NAN

By Hilary Akalugwu

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has announced that its members would boycott the 2018 convocation of the university.

The Chairman of the chapter, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Abada, made the announcement in Nsukka on Thursday at a news conference after a congress to update members of the union on the ongoing nationwide ASUU strike.

He said the union agreed at the congress to write the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, to suspend the 2018 convocation of the university, billed to start on Nov. 26 and end on Dec. 2.

One of the resolutions reached at this congress is that Ozumba should suspend arrangements for the 48th convocation of the university until the ongoing ASUU strike is suspended.

If he refuses and decides to go ahead with the convocation, academic staff of UNN will boycott all the activities lined up for the convocation

I wonder what the convocation will look like in the absence of lecturers, heads of departments, directors and deans of faculties, who have the responsibility of presenting graduating students to the university during convocations.

Abada said that severe sanctions would be imposed on any academic, who might sabotage the union by participating in the convocation if the university decided to go ahead with it.

ASUU executives in Nsukka zone, who attended this congress are in support that the convocation should be cancelled since the ongoing ASUU nationwide strike is total and comprehensive.

Serious sanctions will be placed on any academic staff who participates in the convocation if UNN decides to go ahead with it.

If some universities in the country can cancel their convocations because of ongoing ASUU nationwide strike, I see no reason why UNN will not do same.

The unionist said the congress was happy with the compliance of UNN workers with the ongoing strike of the union, urging the members to keep it up.

The congress is happy that the strike since it startedhas been total and comprehensive in UNN.

The total compliance has paralysed academic activities at both the Nsukka Campus and the Enugu Campus of the university.

The nationwide strike embarked upon by academic staff of public universities in the country will continue until the Federal Government meets the demands of the union, he said.

Source: NAN

Nissan Motor Cos board voted unanimously to oust Chairman Carlos Ghosn on Thursday after the shock arrest of the industry heavyweight, ushering in a period of uncertainty for its 19-year alliance with Renault.

The Japanese firm said its board also voted to remove Greg Kelly who like Ghosn has been arrested after allegations of financial misconduct from his post as representative director.

The moves, which leaves the chairman position vacant, came despite Renault urging Nissans board before its meeting to delay removing Ghosn, sources close to the matter told Reuters.

The Franco-Japanese alliance, enlarged in 2016 to include Japans Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T), has been rattled to its core by the arrest of the 64-year-old Ghosn in Japan on Monday.

Ghosn had shaped the alliance and was pushing for a deeper tie-up, including potentially a full Renault-Nissan merger at the French governments urging, despite strong reservations at the Japanese firm.

Japanese prosecutors said Ghosn and Kelly conspired to understate Ghosns compensation at Nissan over five years from 2010, saying it was about half the actual 10 billion yen ($88 million).

Shin Kukimoto, deputy public prosecutor at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, said on Thursday that court approval was received a day earlier to detain Ghosn for 10 days but he could not comment on whether he had admitted to the allegations.

Nissan executives have five seats on the nine-member board, Renault loyalists have two seats and the remaining two are held by unaffiliated outside directors, a former bureaucrat and a race driver.

With Ghosn and Kelly still in detention, neither of the men were able to vote or defend themselves at the meeting.

Renault has refrained from firing Ghosn as chairman and CEO.

But Mitsubishi Motors plans to remove Ghosn from his post of chairman at a board meeting next week.

Amid growing uncertainty over the future of the alliance, Japans industry minister and Frances finance minister are due to meet in Paris on Thursday to seek ways to stabilize it.

For me, the future of the alliance is the bigger deal, a senior Nissan official told reporters on Wednesday, when asked about Ghosns arrest. Its obvious that in this age, we need to do things together. To part would be impossible.

Nissan said on Monday an internal investigation triggered by a tip-off from an informant had revealed that Ghosn engaged in wrongdoing including personal use of company money and under-reporting of his earnings for years.

Ghosn and Kelly have not commented on the accusations and Reuters has not been able to reach them.

Prosecutors said Ghosn is being held at the Tokyo detention centre, which is known for its austere regime, a far cry from his usual luxury lifestyle, including restrictions on sleeping during the day and a requirement to wear a mask when meeting with visitors to prevent the spread of disease.

The detention house is pretty cold at this of time year, internet entrepreneur and convicted fraudster Takufumi Horie told his followers on Twitter.

Motonari Otsuru, a former public prosecutor who is known for overseeing the case against Horie, was hired as Ghosns lawyer, NHK reported. Otsurus law office declined to confirm that he represented Ghosn and said no one was available for comment.

The Asahi Shimbun said on Thursday, quoting unnamed sources, that Ghosn had given Kelly orders by email to make false statements on his remuneration. Tokyo prosecutors likely seized the related emails and may use them as evidence, the report said.

The Yomiuri, Japans biggest-circulation daily, cited unnamed sources as saying Nissans internal investigation found that Ghosn had since 2002 instructed that about $100,000 a year be paid to his elder sister as remuneration for a non-existent advisory role.

The paper said Nissan had found through the investigation that Ghosns sister had in fact been living in and managing a luxury apartment in Rio de Janeiro that the company had bought through an overseas subsidiary, but had done no advisory work for the car maker. Nissan has shared the information with prosecutors, Yomiuri said.

Shares in Nissan closed up 0.8 percent, in line with a broader market .N225, ahead of the board meeting.

Source: NAN

By Felicia Imohimi

The Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON) has solicited the support of government on strategies for the prevention of hearing loss, early detection and other interventions

The society made the call in a communique issued at the end of its Annual General Conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The communique was signed by Prof. Onyekwere Nwaorgu, the President of Pan African Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (PAFOS) and immediate past President of ORLSON as well as Prof. Titus Ibekwe, immediate past Secretary of ORLSON.

The society noted that such strategies should include hearing screening programmes and enforcement of legislation against noise pollution.

The society commended the Federal Government for constituting technical committee to produce the Nigerian National Strategic Policy on Ear and Hearing Care.

It however, urged government to enforce legislation against avoidable risks of Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) diseases.

It further urged the populace to embrace the culture of early presentation of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) cases to specialists to ensure good management.

The society assured of its commitment to ensure the production of highly specialised manpower for Otorhinolaryngology practice in the country.

It identified the conference as part of efforts by ORLSON to champion the cause of uplifting and advancing Otorhinolaryngology Practice in Nigeria to compete favorably with global best practices.

The communique, however, urged government to support training and research, and to establish more National Ear Care Centres (NECCs), at least one in each geopolitical zone.

It noted that government should encourage and establish suitable training programmes for the development of human resources in the field of ear and hearing care.

It is desirable that government funds researches to determine national prevalence of common ORL diseases in Nigeria.

Government should support and fund cochlear implant surgery programmes and also encourage programmes that will improve availability and accessibility of diagnostic and adjunct therapeutic tools in the country.

The communique identified new leadership of ORLSON as Prof. Abubakar Salisu (President) and Dr Aliyu Kodiya as Secretary.

The theme of the AGM was Manpower Development for Otorhinolaryngology Practice in Nigeria: Time for Subspecialist Training, with Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation in Nigeria and Emerging Infections in Otorhinolaryngology as sub theme.

Source: NAN

(dpa/NAN) The Head of the Russian Military Intelligence Agency Col.-Gen. Igor Korobov, who Britain accused of poisoning a former double agent with a chemical weapon in Southern England this year has died.

Korobov, 62, had served as chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate, commonly known by the Russian acronym GRU, for nearly three years.

A distinguished aviator, Korobov died of a serious and long illness, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, using a phrase that implies cancer.

Korobovs agency entered the international spotlight this year when Britain accused it of perpetrating the near-fatal attack on former Russian spy turned double agent Sergei Skripal in the southern English city of Salisbury.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was cited in the statement as expressing condolences over Korobovs death, which occurred on Wednesday, but he did not name a successor.

Russian state media reported that the most probable successor is the agencys first deputy chief, Igor Kostyukov, currently serving as the interim chief.

Source: NAN

Nigerias Visa on Arrival (VOA) policy has increased the influx of tourists as well as facilitated ease of doing business in the country.

Mr Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (CGIS), said on Thursday: The VOA Policy has boosted influx of tourists into the country; people do visit the country now, because the policy has made the acquisition of visa very simple and easy.

Babandede made the observation in his presentation entitled Encouraging Tourism in Nigeria: Role of Nigeria Immigration Service at the fourth Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) in Abuja.

NTIFE is an annual meeting organised by Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) to attract relevant stakeholders and chart a way forward for the tourism sector in the country.

The theme for the two-day forum and exhibition is Infrastructure and Security: Catalysts for Sustainable Tourism Development.

Visitors and tourists now come into the country and get their visa within 48 hours and go to patronise hotels and get involved in other leisure activities.

Babandede, who was represented by an Assistant Controller General, Caroline Adepoju, said that the VOA had resolved the naughty issue of having to return to ones country of residence before applying for visa.

He explained that businessmen, tourists and visitors could apply for the visa from any part of the world.

According to him, the VOA has facilitated ease of doing business in Nigeria, eliminated unnecessary human contact which can encourage corrupt practices and elimination of error in visa classification.

As a leading agency responsible for migration, the importance of encouraging tourism to the Nigeria Immigration Service cannot be over emphasised.

In other to encourage international tourism, the service has taken various measures which include contributing to national security through taking seriously issues of border patrol and security.

Our personnel are trained in `host-manship to engender a friendly atmosphere for migrants, tourists and visitors and the personnel are expected to treat people with courtesy.

The issue of multiple clearance procedures in our ports of entry has been addressed by collaboration with sister security agencies such as Port Health and Nigeria Customs.

Check points along our ways from International Border routes have been dismantled and our personnel have been directed to do more of border patrol because this allows for easy movement, he said.

The Immigration boss also urged groups, government agencies and corporate orgainsations who invited persons from outside the country to always inform the service ahead of their arrival.

It will assist us to provide dedicated desks to facilitate easy and effective clearance of the invited persons at our entry points, he said.

Source: NAN

A man who strangled his pregnant wife and suffocated their two young daughters wanted to escape his marriage and growing family, prosecutors said Monday as a judge imposed a sentence of life without parole after a plea deal kept the killer from facing the death penalty.

Christopher Watts, who pleaded guilty two weeks ago, did not speak during the hearing. One of his attorneys said Watts was sincerely sorry.

Prison is too good for you.

This is hard to say, but may God have mercy on your soul, Rzucek said.

Prosecutors have said Shanann Watts relatives, who live in North Carolina, asked them not to seek the death penalty when defense attorneys made the proposal.

Watts, 33, was formally sentenced to consecutive life sentences for the murders.

He also received a 48-year sentence for unlawful termination of a pregnancy and 12 years each for tampering with a corpse, totaling 84 years.

The girls bodies were found submerged in separate oil tank on property owned by the company Watts worked for.

His wifes body was found in a shallow grave nearby.

As a prosecutor detailed the injuries found on the bodies, Rzucek leaned forward, gasping.

Michael Rourke said Shanann Watts was strangled, but her lack of significant injuries suggested that her death came slowly.

The girls were smothered, and Rourke said there were signs Bella fought for her life. Celeste had no visible injuries, he said.

Christopher Watts parents, Cindy and Ronnie Watts, were permitted to speak as the girls grandparents.

We love you, Cindy Watts said into a microphone before turning to look directly at her son. And we forgive you, son.

Watts wiped away a tear with his shirt after his parents left the podium. He kept his head down for much of the hearing, speaking only once to confirm that he did not want to make a statement before Judge Marcelo Kopcow imposed his sentence.

Friends of Shanann Watts lined up inside the courthouse Monday morning. More people filed into an overflow room to watch a video stream.

The killings captured national media attention and became the focus of true crime blogs and online video channels, which showed dozens of family photos and videos that Shanann Watts shared on social media showing the smiling family.

Prosecutors said the images belied a hidden truth, that Christopher Watts was having an affair.

A friend asked police to check on Shanann Watts on Aug. 13 after not being able to reach her and growing concerned that the expectant mother had missed a doctors appointment.

Rourke said police later found that Watts spoke to a real estate agent about selling the familys home and called the girls school to report that they could not be present when fall classes began.

Investigators quickly became suspicious of him after he was unable to square his claims that his family had disappeared from a tightly secured home in a busy subdivision.

Meanwhile, Watts spoke to local television reporters from the front porch of the familys home in Frederick, a small town on the plains north of Denver where drilling rigs and oil wells surround booming subdivisions.

He pleaded for his familys safe return, telling reporters their house felt empty without Bella and Celeste watching cartoons or running to greet him at the door.

Within days he was in custody, charged with killing his family.

Rourke said Watts has never discussed a motive for the killings with police, but investigators could find no explanation other than his ongoing affair with a co-worker.

I cant speak as to why anyone would take the steps that he did we couldnt find anything else that was a significant enough motive to annihilate your family, he said.

Source: NAN