Saudi Blogger faces another round of lashes after years in prison.

Recall the Imprisoned Saudi Blogger, Raif Badawi, whose public flogging in 2015 generated global outcry. His supporters claim he now risk a new round of lashes.

According to Evelyne Abitbol, founder of Raif Badawi Foundation with Badawi’s wife, she said a “reliable source” in Saudi Arabia claims he faces a new flogging soon.

Abitbol declined to name the source but said it was the same person who had alerted Badawi’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, in 2015 before he received his first 50 lashes, the only part of the flogging that was reportedly administered.

The foundation director further stated that the source did not indicate when the flogging would take place, “Unfortunately, it could happen at any time, if it happens,” Abitbol said by phone in Montreal.

She wants Saudi Arabia to withdraw the flogging punishment, strip Badawi of his Saudi citizenship and let him leave the country for Canada.

She added that Haidar has asked countries with ties to Saudi Arabia, including the Canadian government, to intervene on the blogger’s behalf.

However, Haidar, who is in Germany to present a journalism award on Wednesday in her husband’s name, could not be immediately reached for comment. She was granted asylum in Canada, where she lives with the couple’s three children in the province of Quebec.

In addition, Saudi embassy officials in Ottawa and Saudi government officials in Riyadh were not immediately available for comment as at the time this report came out, and Reuters was unable to independently confirm the source’s claims.

The Imprisoned Blogger was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and 1,000 lashes in 2014 for breaking the kingdom’s technology laws and also for insulting Islam and in December 2015, he was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament.

KOREDE BELLO REVEALSMARRIAGE PLANS

Mavin’s record youngest talent, Korede Bello has revealed his disposition towards marriage after the controversy that trailed his wink.

The young artiste explained that the famous wink has indeed fetched him unexpected yet welcomed compliments from fans, but he’s not thinking of tying marital knots soon.

“If Don Jazzy is not married, I cannot think about it. If my boss has not got married, why should I be thinking about it?” Bello asked rhetorically.

Read more here

BOKO HARAM, CONSEQUENCE OF RELIGIOUS PLAGIARISM

n a world where terrorism has become the order of the day with attribution to the religion Islaam, despite several disclaimers from different islamic leaders, the perpetrators of these evil acts still portray themselves as Muslims. Hence it becomes difficult to know who the real terrorists are. 

The consequence of religious plagiarism has been said to be the major cause of religious extremism.

This was said by a lecturer in the department of foreign studies in the Lagos state University, Dr Mustapha Adebayo, at the Annual symposium of the Muslim Students Society in the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Lagos.

The lecturer said that misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the islamic religion gave rise to the ideology held by different islamic sects terrorizing countries in some parts of the world today.

"Religious sects terrorising countries all over the world like the boko haram in Nigeria, Al shabab in the middle east and several others are all results of religious plagiarism" he said.

He further explained the causes and reasons for the birth of boko haram sect in Nigeria in this video clip https://www.dropbox.com/s/wyhd7yq6nz1y9aw/20150603_081609.mp4?dl=0

AGGRIEVED NIGERIAN WRITES OPEN LETTER TO G.E.J.

I published a post earlier about Nigerian youths on social media and the coming election. Well, I came across this open letter to GEJ on social media and as a journalist, I couldn't help but post something this 'Newsy'. Although it is a quite lengthy post, but believe me, you will enjoy it after taking your time to read it through.

Dear President Jonathan,
As I started reading the transcript of your speech in your flag off campaign for 2nd term in office, my heart was gladdened to know that the speech was directed to Nigerian youths of which I am one. I must say that up to this time I decided to read your manuscript I have heard a lot of bad things that seemed true about your government and hence had a poor view of your time in office. It was only after working hard to put my sentiments away and after listening to Oguntola Adelowo, a colleague of mine who has been preaching about you did I read online the transcript of your speech. When you said 'my speech is directed to the youths, those who will be voting for the first time', I began to doubt my earlier beliefs of you being incompetent and lacking a plan, I was eager to hear from you what and how you have worked tirelessly for my generation in the past 6 years in office and also what you intend to do in the next 4 years to consolidate your efforts. Therefore sir, it came as a shock to me that you spoke of everything but your plans, you addressed every issue but the germane ones that has so far affected my generation and is already shaping out our future. Sir, I did what you requested, I asked my father, a middle-class citizen, who is 66 years old now about Buhari's tenure and here was his reply 'I remember those days, we had very stable electricity, youths didn't fancy travelling abroad because they felt they could get even better here, I bought a carton of tin peak milk for #1.20k, I could iron press my clothes minutes to going out, fuel was sold for 50k per litre, corrupt people like umaru dikko were jailed and killed, no minister or government official could be accused of corruption and resign only to run for an higher office, and no public official was alleged with fraud only to be seen on National T.V laughing in court' and he ended by saying that during those times, everyone knew the rules and tried as much not to break the law but that now the same laws made to protect the average Nigerian like him is what his used to oppress them and he concluded by saying that there is no perfect government and that though it was military they enjoyed many good things that our own generation may never enjoy due to the high level of corruption in our government, except of course things change. Sir, in your speech you spoke of building 12 federal universities, yet the one I school in which is 30 years old can not still provide enough sitting stools for students. You speak of producing more megawatts, yet I rarely have power supply to view many of the interesting programs and football matches shown on DSTV. You speak of needing time to tackle insecurity, yet you have had 6 years already, you fail to forget that Obama took down the world's greatest terrorist in just 3 years. You speak of fertilizer distribution, yet we buy beans for #200 per derica from #140 in 2010 when fertilizers where stolen (I think I would prefer to have the fertilizer stolen and buy food cheaper than now. You speak of improved economy yet we buy fuel for #97 from #65 (49.32% increase), beans for #200 from #140 (42.86% increase), housing #200,000 from #120,000 (66.67% increase), transportation #50 from #30 (increase of 66.67%), Salary #18,000 from #15,000 (increase of 20%). Where then is the improvement in Nigeria's economy not to forget their over 100% increase in fees paid by tertiary institutions nationwide. Thank you for admitting that your generation has failed us, but my generations have decided to do things differently, to succeed where our fathers have failed; to vote for a change in government. Thank you sir for serving us to the best of your abilities sir, your lack of confidence to focus on your plans for us within the next for years during your speech has betrayed my generations trust in you. Please ensure our votes count as we intend to have a landslide victory on February 14th.
I am a Nigerian youth.

SOCIAL MEDIA DETERMINES WHO NIGERIAN YOUTHS VOTE FOR IN FEBRUARY ELECTION

 

 Social media has been discovered to have tremendous effect on the political consciousness of Nigerian youths towards their participation in the forth-coming election.
  Their participation and level of political awareness could be measured by their posts and comments on social media sites like facebook, twitter, whatsapp, instagram among others.
 According to some of these Nigerian youths, the social media has really been an eye-opener especially concerning this coming election.
 "social media has helped me in deciding who to vote for due to the way it elaborates the wrongs and rights of these political candidates and their parties" a student of tertiary institution, Badejo Folarin, said.
  Another higher institution student, Omale Grace said "I really think social media has helped in the awareness of we youths, not just politically but also in other areas."
  Judging by some of their posts on these media with tags from "concerned Nigerians" otherwise Known as Anonymous, some of such posts include: 

"35 days to presidential elections. If you're voting remember this factors;1. The chibok Girls 2. NNPC Scam 3. Police pension fund 4. Missing 20Billion 5. $9million Arms deal 6. Bomb Blasts 7. Immigration job scam 8. Petroleum pump price 9. Devaluation of Naira 10. Oil theft 11. Power outage 12. Selling of Nepa 13. Selling of Refineries 14. Skyrocketed Nepa Bills 15. Asuu & poly Strike 16. Doctors Strike 17. National Assembly tragedy 19. Stella Odua's Aviation Scam 20. Kerosene subsidy" (facebook/whatsapp)

"We're not saying that Buhari is the awaited Messiah who will take all our pains and sorrows away and establish all living and unborn citizens on 'Easy Street' of Nigeria forever. 

Rather, our point is that the ruling party (PDP) has stayed in power for one and a half decade without any commensurate achievement.

Similarly, GEJ has been in power for six out of those 15 years of PDP administration or maladministration as the case maybe. Now he wants another four years to get 10 years of GEJ administration or maladministration as the case maybe.

Yet, insecurity, corruption, and poverty remain the lot of the masses.

Therefore, all we're essentially canvassing is a democratic change of the party at the centre to any other available option so that perchance, Nigeria will gradually become a better place for us all. 

our political-philosophy is "government by the most competent irrespective of demographic peculiarity. The next president may be a Buddhist or Hindus for all we care as long as he or she can deliver enduring welfare for all law-abiding citizens." (facebook/whatsapp)

 The above quoted texts are some of the posts from these social media, however, much is yet to be said about whether these youths would be able to realize their political hopes concerning the coming election, as most of them are yet to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

LECTURERS DECRY STATE OF DECADENCE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTES.

 The level of decadence among the youths of today has risen to a state which every parent and straight-thinking youth must take seriously. 

  Lecturers now decry the display of wantonness among students, their attitudes towards their academics, their colleagues and even the lecturers.

  Speaking with a civic education lecturer in the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr. Tene John, he said, the problem lies with the family which is a basic institution, they’re lacking behind in giving their wards proper home training.

  “Parents hardly have time for their wards and where they should have run to for proper admonition, that is the religious institutions, are not helping issues, clerics no longer pay attention to the less privileged but to those who offer fat tithes” John said.

  He added that “some of these students even use phones and tablets that lecturers cannot afford, and when you look at their phones, what will be found there is alarming, they visit pornographic sites and get distracted by meaningless relationships.”

  Another lecturer of mass media and society in the Lagos state polytechnic, Mr. Ifedayo Akinwalere also concurred by saying decadence can be traced to individual homes and the schools.

  “The parents and the schools have a lot of work to do concerning these youths, there is the need to intensify the degree of discipline among the students, its one thing to have the certificate and its another to have the moral standard to back it up, it might be easy to get a job but it is only your attitude that will retain you there.” He further said.

   The lecturer however advised the youths to be conscious of their morality because the best certificate they can have is the degree of their moral.

MAR’YAM THAWBAAN.

STATE POLICING, A LIKELY SOLUTION TO INSECURITIES IN NIGERIA.

An interview with a lecturer at the Nigerian institute of journalism, ogba Lagos, on the security issues in the country. In this interview, the problem of insecurity in Nigeria, and the suggested solutions were discussed.

Interviewer: can you please tell us about yourself, qualifications, profession etc.?

Interviewee: I am Tene John, a B.Sc. M.Sc. holder in political science and international relations respectively. I’m a lecturer by profession, in the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and I am a Nigerian.

Interviewer: what can you say about the current state of security in Nigeria?

Interviewee: what we have in Nigeria is insecurity, the opposite of security, where there is inadequate security, properties are being destroyed and even the government is scared. 

Interviewer:  what will you say the federal government is doing right or wrong about the issue of boko haram in the country?

Interviewee:  the federal government have not folded their arms on the issue of boko haram but I would say their major failure is negotiating with the terrorists, the amnesty those insurgents were granted made them feel that the government is scared of them and they continued asking for more, there’s no place in the world where terrorists should be negotiated with. The government shouldn’t have allowed the boko haram issue get to this point where they have kidnapped over 200 girls, to do what?! Whenever I think about those girls and all they would be going through, my heart cries out.

 Interviewer: what steps do you think the federal government should take in ensuring adequate security in the country?

Interviewee: Like I tell people, state policing is important, with state police around, there will be less evil in the country, the presence of policemen would curb violence and crime in the society, so FG should consider putting them on concurrent list, whereby it is done by both the government at the central and the state, they should allow the state to control their own police. Also, vigilante groups can also offer a lot of help; they should be permitted in the country.

Interviewer: Do you think that the involvement of other countries on the abducted girls’ issue and boko haram issue generally would yield a positive result?

Interviewee:  well em, by and large, to my little knowledge, in international system,  whatever happens to Nigeria happens to Cameroon and would also happen to the neighbouring countries and that is why the world itself is a global village, we will look at it when the issue of terror first started that no, no, no, the issue of terrorism is not a Nigerian thing, it is common with Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, no, no, no, it has not come here to stay. But you’ll discover that the world has become a global village, the issue of technology has gone to the extent that you’ll see what takes place almost in every part of the world, and that alone has exposed people to a lot of violence, a lot of crime and a lot of evil and you see people trying  to express or exhibit their own kind of opinion in fighting the government of the day. But the truth of the matter is that we need a follow up from these countries, they have the Intel and technology and we have the foot soldiers, in fact, Nigerian soldiers are highly respected when it comes to combat and in the United Nation’s peace keeping mission. But the government of U.S., China, U.K. will help in the aspect of technology, not that they’re coming to fight, they’re coming to help us out like what happened in Malaysia also, about the missing Jet, it concerns everybody it has become a global fight and that is why their involvement is normal it is a welcome development an attack on one is an attack on all. They never can tell the effect to their own country and that is why you can see the wife of the American president Michelle Obama supporting the protest then and even carried placards saying “bring back our girls”. I believe with their involvement, they would make it easier to discover the hide out of the boko harams and where the girls are. To be sincere there’s a limit to what the Nigerian soldiers can do because it is not that they can no attack but I believe that government is playing politics with the issue of this attacks because you cannot tell me that the soldiers cannot attack the terrorists, they can, but we can say because of the ethnic differences, that by the time he gives the order the people in the north can say oh, no wonder, when his people started, they did negotiation, they gave them amnesty, no wonder he wants to kill us. So there’s a little bit of politicking with the issue of boko haram.

Interviewer: So can you categorically say that you believe politicking is involved in the boko haram issue in Nigeria?

Interviewee: yes, yes! I can say that, categorically because with what they exhibit, looking at it, if you look at the primary function of government, constitutionally, it  is the duty of the government to save lives and properties, but where lives are being taken, look at Nyanya attack for example; repeating itself twice and the government is sitting, folding his hands and doing nothing, lives and properties are being wasted everyday, on a daily bases, so I can say categorically that politicking is involved.

Interviewee: what advice can you give Nigerians in order to secure their lives and properties in view of the current state of insecurity in the country?

Interviewee:  well, gone are the days we sleep with our two eyes closed, I want to advice Nigerians that this time around when you sleep, close one eye and open the other eye to watch, (chuckles) even the bible says “watch and pray” you cannot pray without watching and you cannot watch without praying, what I’m trying to say is that let us be vigilant, let us be conscious of our environment, if you see a strange fellow in your environment or in your neighborhood, ask questions. I once saw a strange lady in my environment at the night and she was by a corner making phone calls, I asked her what she was doing there and ended up sending her away, people like that kidnap babies. When you see them patrolling your area, challenge them with questions so that they’ll now you’re vigilant. Because if they’re allowed, you won’t know when they will plant a bomb and before you know it there’ll be explosion. Also, the issue of security is not for government alone, in our community we need to take challenges, we can get the vigilante groups, employ them and pay them so that they watch over, at times you’ll see some people saying that they cannot pay while others are paying and before you know it, thieves would come to that area and they would point at that house that is not paying, so  let there be community development you don’t wait for government to do everything for you. E.g. if your roof is leaking, you don’t wait for the landlord to come and do it for you, you should save your properties first.

Interviewer: thank you very much sir.

Interviewee: (smiles) you’re welcome.

MAR’YAM THAWBAAN

G.E.J.'S TRANSFORMATION AGENDA A FAILURE; B.R.F

President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation agenda has been described as a failure and he has done nothing to merit a second term.
  This was said by Lagos state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola at the opening ceremony of Women In Business Conference in Lagos.
  According to Punch, the Lagos state governor lambasted the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria for “plotting to ensure that Jonathan returns to power through propagation of false claims.”
  Fashola who was a keynote speaker at the ceremony said he remained convinced that the country under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was not transforming the country as portrayed by TAN’s numerous adverts.
The governor noted that the nation’s power supply was worsening while unemployment was on the rise. He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria, a major oil exporter, was depending on importation.
  He said when the price of oil stood at a $100 per barrel for almost a decade, the PDP-led Federal Government had not been able to transform the country. He therefore wondered how the same government could do better in 2015 since oil price had dropped to $80 per barrel.
  The Lagos state governor said, “Where the North East is under siege and the economy has continued to nosedive, the transformation ambassadors have continued to distort the true information that all is well. All it takes to cripple our economy by those countries from where we buy oil is to say they won’t sell to us any longer.
“We have seen a good example where the country was denied access from buying arms. This is the situation we are in as regards importation of oil. In 2010 alone, we spent N2.5trillion importing fuel into this country. Now, we have less money to import. If we can’t pay for our oil importation, we all know its implication for the country. In not too distant a future, the fuel queues will return.
“The government has yet to give us power as promised, they have yet to give us fuel, we have yet to see the standard highways they promised. There are so many Nigerians living without electricity.
“Within their transformation period, thousands of people in the North East have been killed, thousands turned refugee in their father land, over 200 girls are still in captivity of insurgents and the North East is still under siege. With all these, the transformation ambassadors are telling Nigerians that all is well.”
  He  added that the Jonathan administration in 2011 promised to generate 16,000 megawatts by 2013, including harnessing coal opportunity, wind and solar to generate 13,000 megawatts electricity, noting that this had yet to become a reality.

Source: PunchNg

EBOLA: THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY-UN.

United Nations Security Council has declared the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa as a threat to international peace and security.

A resolution was unanimously adopted by the council, calling on states to provide more resources to combat the outbreak.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned an emergency meeting of the council that the number of Ebola infections was doubling every three weeks.

More than 2,600 people have now died in the worst Ebola outbreak on record.

Mr Ban said the "gravity and scale of the situation now require a level of international action unprecedented for a health emergency"

The UN heard that the international response would need to be 20 times greater than it is now if the outbreak were to be controlled, as the number of cases is doubling every two weeks in west Africa.

He announced the establishment of an "emergency UN mission" working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the crisis, saying he would convene a "high-level meeting" next week.

The resolution attracted 130 co-sponsors - a UN record - and calls on countries to provide urgent aid, such as medical staff and field hospital.

Reports have it that it is only the second time that a public health issue has been addressed at the council, the first instance being HIV/Aids.

Source: BBC

"AFRICAN PRINCE"; KOREDE BELLO SHARES EXPERIENCE ON LIFE AS A STUDENT AND AN ENTERTAINER

In this interview, the "African Prince" opens up on how he has been balancing his academics with the entertainment industry. Enjoy...!

Can we meet you?

My name is Korede Bello and I'm a musician, a guitarist, a song writer and I'm a student as well.

What can you say about the entertainment industry in relationship to your academic pursuit?

Well, it depends on what one is studying in school that would determine if the academics can be combined with the entertainment industry. Like myself, I'm studying Mass Communications and I'm in the entertainment industry, mass communication is about the media, so its not totally divergent from what I'm doing professionally.

You mentioned you're a student, so how has your career choice in music affected your relationship with your colleagues in school?

Well, anytime any day, my colleagues are my friends and my musical career hasn't changed that at all.

Would you say, the music industry has affected your academic pursuit?

No, it hasn't, honestly speaking, it hasn't because music and education are two things I'm very passionate about and like I said earlier, what I'm studying is not totally different from what I'm doing professionally. I'm studying about how to reach more people and professionally, I'm reaching more people, so I'm practicing what I'm studying.

Do you intend to further your education after completing this present stage?

Yes, definitely, I intend to go all the way in my education, it might not be the regular sit-in-class type of education, but I'll definitely go forward and reach for higher heights in my education.

How does your parents feel about your career choice?

 My parents have always been supportive of all I do because they know that it makes me happy, and they are proud of my educational performances so they have no problem with my career choice.

 How has the entertainment industry made you into who or what you are presently?

Hmmn, the entertainment industry has impacted me because, even before I joined the industry, I've always loved it, i'v always been glued to my t.v, magazines etc. and I've always looked forward to seeing my mentors on the t.v. So what Korede Bello is today is as a result of the media/entertainment industry.

Which of your songs would you say brought you into limelight?

That will be "I love Naija", it's a patriotic song I did a few years back, it got international recognition and both old and young love the song because it was a song about the country.

When was the happiest day of your life?
Well, I'm very optimistic by nature and I see everyday as my happy day but I can say I was very happy when I got signed onto Mavins Records on 29th of February this year, it was on my birthday, it was a surprise and I was really really happy that day.

How soon should we be expecting another hit song like the "Dorro Bucci"?

Well, Mavins Records is known for delivering hit songs, I can only tell people to watch out because the next songs will be a mega super hit.

With your looks, how do you manage your female fans/admirers?

Well, (smiles) it didn't start today, even as  a kid, I've always been attracted to the opposite sex, all I can say is that they love me and I really really appreciate and love them too.

A word for your fans.

I love and appreciate everybody who has been supporting Korede Bello brand, and family, every body who knows me before now and those who know me now as a mega super star. I cannot say enough thank you(s). And also, believe in yourself. I love you all!

 *The Mega Super Star is a student of the premiere Institute of mass communication in Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
See more pics of his live in school after the cut...
 

NIJ students week

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014: SPECULATIONS RISE AS GERMANY AND ARGENTINA FACE-OFF FOR THE 3RD TIME IN W.C. FINALS.

  The 2014 world cup is finally going to come to end end today, sun 13th of July, and the air between the two finalists, Argentina and Germany, is definitely thick with apprehension as one of them would be going home as a FIFA world cup champion.
  Report has it that this year's world cup final turns out to be the third time the two finalists would be having a face off.
    According to CNN, Germans and Argentinians have faced each other in the World Cup finals twice before. Back when West Germany was still a country, it lost to Argentina in 1986. Four years later, Argentina lost to West Germany in 1990. 
  Although, much is expected from the Germans, especially after delivering a very fatal blow of 7 to 1, to the host country, Brazil, during their semi-final. A blow so brutal that the Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff , described it as the worst nightmare she could never imagine herself dreaming.
  More so, the Argentinians have been showing wonderful signs of honing for the Champions Cup, especially after their 4-2 victory against the Netherlands in their semi-finals which led to the team's qualification for the world cup finals since the past 24 years.
  However, Brazilians have doubled their mournings after losing 0-3 to Holland in the third-place match yesterday.
  Speculations still remain as to who would come out FIFA 2014 Champion. Is it the fierce and fearless Germans or the calm but gritty Argentinians?

COMMENCEMENT OF RAMADAN 2014/1435

photo credit

  Muslims in some parts of the world are set to commence fasting tommorrow Sunday, 29th of June and 1st of Ramadan (2nd to those who started today) while some Muslims have commenced theirs today, saturday, 28th of June 2014.

 In Nigeria for instance, some Muslims in some parts of the country have commenced fasting and counting the Islamic month of Ramadan today. According to reports from the leadership online publication, The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III yesterday urged the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria to commence their fast today, Saturday, June 28, 2014, following the sighting of the moon in various parts of Nigeria.Read it here

 Also, in the United States of America, it was announced by The Fiqh Council of North America that the month will begin Saturday, read it here.

 Meanwhile, some Muslims especially in the eastern part of the world are maintaining that Sunday, 29th of June will be the commencement of the month and fasting therein.

According to Doha News online, they reported that Ramadan would be starting on Sunday following the Islamic (hijra) calender of this year, click doha news to read more on that.

 However, sources from Saudi Arabia reported that the Saudi government has declared that the Islamic month Sha'aban would complete 30 days today and Ramadan would commence tomorrow due to the fact that the moon was not sited yesterday in the country and neighboring countries.

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE DRAWING OF GUN DURING PROTEST IN BRAZIL

Authorities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are investigating an incident in which a man drew a gun during a protest against the high cost of the World Cup.

Police say it happened Monday as dozens of protesters gathered on Avenida Paulista, the city's main avenue and a popular destination for tourists.

Sao Paulo civil police say they are investigating whether the man in civilian clothes was a police officer and whether he actually fired the gun that he waved in the air. Local media say that shots were heard and that riot police fired stun grenades to disperse the protest.

A week ago, a man who identified himself as a police officer appeared to have fired a live pistol at an anti-World Cup protest in Rio de Janeiro.

source: AP

TOP NIGERIAN POLITICIANS PAY CONDOLENCE VISIT TO FAMILY OF LATE ICON

 

 Five days after the death of the business and religious icon Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao, Nigerian top politicians paid a condolence visit to his family in Ibadan, capital of Oyo state.

According to punch, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and the first son of the late MKO Abiola, Kola, on Monday paid condolence visits to the family of the late Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, who died in London Wednesday last week.

In his tribute, Tambuwal, described the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland as a sincere person who was always confident to defend what he believed in.

“Arisekola-Alao is a very sincere person and genuine in whatever he did and lived a life of piety and of closeness to God. He has lived a good and simple life; a life of being there for all and not for himself and his immediate family. We will surely miss him. If you have, share it with the rest of the people and that is the nature of Arisekola-Alao,’’ the speaker said.

Atiku also said the late Islamic leader lived a life worthy of emulation.

“Arisekola has created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill. I pray that Allah grant him the highest place in paradise,” he said.

Kola Abiola said that the deceased lived a purposeful life, calling on Nigerians to uphold the legacy he left behind.

One of the children of the deceased, Isa, who spoke on behalf of the family, thanked the visitors for their concern for the family.

Atiku later visited Governor Abiola Ajimobi in his office to commiserate with the governor.

Ajimobi said the late Arisekola-Alao would be immortalised through the naming of an important institution in the state after him.

He said that the deceased epitomised service to humanity as he lived his life for both the rich and the poor, adding that the people of Oyo State in particular and Nigerians as a whole would continue to remember the deceased for his philanthropy.

AREA G POLICE STATION FLOODED AFTER HEAVY DOWNPOUR IN LAGOS

The Area G police station, Ogba Lagos has witnessed serious flooding after heavy rainfall in Lagos state last evening.
 The downpour didn't only affect the police station as traders and other residents could be seen struggling to have their ways through the heavy flooding along Ogba-Ijaiye road after the rain.
 More photos: 

























 Meanwhile, the downpour also led to heavy traffic which had most residents trekking all the way from Berger and Ogba to pen-cinema, Agege and Ikeja.

SHOT UKRAINIAN MILITARY PLANE CLAIMS 49 LIVES

 


 A Ukrainian military plane transporting personnels and supplies was shot down early Saturday, killing all 49 people on board, a spokesman said. It is likely one of the bloodiest single events in that nation's current period of turmoil.

   Military spokesman  from the anti-terror operation unit, Vladislav Seleznyov  said that the Ilyushin-76 military transport plane went down while approaching an airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk.

   In a statement, Ukraine's defense ministry said the plane, which was transporting military personnel, was shot down by insurgents using anti-aircraft machine guns.

   Also, Video posted to YouTube claimed to show the plane being shot down. Small flashes can be seen climbing skyward, followed by large flashes on the ground on the distant horizon.

The plane was also carrying military machinery and supplies, the ministry said.

Officials originally had said the incident occurred late Friday but later updated the time. 

   It was reported that some hours before the plane went down, Ukraine's Kiev-based government -- which is trying to regain control of the country's restive south and east -- announced that an operation targeting pro-Russian separatists in the city of Mariupol had been successful.

Anton Geraschenko, adviser to acting Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov,  said more than 30 "terrorists" had been detained and their base destroyed. Other separatists are hiding in homes and basements for safety, he said.

Four Ukrainian soldiers were injured in the operation, he said.

Residents of the southeastern port city may in the past have blocked Ukraine's security forces, he said, but "today, not one resident of Mariupol protected terrorists."

Source: CNN.

EGYPT ELECTIONS: MAJORITY VOTE IN FAVOUR OF SISI

Cairo AFP reported that Ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was assured Thursday of an overwhelming victory in Egypt's presidential election, securing 96.2 of the vote with most of the ballots counted.
At least 21 million voters, or 96.2 percent chose the retired field marshal, who deposed the elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last July, with the ballots counted from 312 of 352 counting stations, state television reported.
His victory had never been in doubt with the main Islamist opposition crushed since Morsi's ouster.
Sisi's only electoral rival, leftist Hamdeen Sabbahi, received 3.8 percent of the votes counted.
Sisi rode on a wave of support for a potential strongman who can restore stability after several years of tumult.
Hundreds of his supporters took to the streets waving Egyptian flags, setting off fire works and honking their car horns.
"It's a victory for stability," said Tahra Khaled, who joined the crowd celebrating in the iconic Tahrir Square, the nerve centre of mass protests that toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
The army-installed government and Sisi were eyeing a large turnout as an endorsement of the overthrow of Islamist president last year, and the subsequent crackdown on his supporters.
Voting had been scheduled to end on Tuesday, but was extended for an extra day in a last minute decision that sparked protests from Sabbahi, a leftist politician who came in third in the 2012 election Morsi won.
An election committee official said turnout has "surpassed 25 million (46 percent)" out of almost 54 million registered voters, the official Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.
The move to extend polling for a day fuelled criticism of an election already marred by a deadly crackdown on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement.
An electoral official had said after Tuesday's voting, when the election had originally been scheduled to end, turnout was around 37 percent, well below the 52 percent of voters who cast their ballots in the 2012 election which Morsi won.
Sisi had appealed for a large turnout, seeking vindication for his overthrow of Morsi, Egypt's only freely elected president, after a single turbulent year in power.
Sisi had urged "40, 45 (million) or even more" to give credibility to an election boycotted by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and secular opposition groups.
After reports of meagre numbers at polling stations on the first day of voting Monday, Sisi's backers in the state-run media appealed to people to get out and vote.
 CCTV News  reported that the official results of the votes will be out in two days.

FATAL CRASHES AND SEVERAL DEATHS LINKED TO FAULTY SWITCHES IN GM MOTORS, CANADA.

General Motors Co., Canada is undergoing probing, subject to a recall to fix faulty switches which allegedly led to two fatal crashes and at least 13 deaths in the United States. The country's top transportation official told Reuters on monday.
According to Reuters,
"Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said she was sure the number of complaints potentially linking accidents to the switches would rise as people became aware of the recall.

"There were two accidents into which we are currently having investigations which may be related to this defect and this recall and I can confirm that," she said in a telephone interview.

An official at Transport Canada - the federal transportation ministry - earlier said both accidents involved vehicles which were subject to the recall. The airbags did not deploy in either case.

Complaints about the crashes were filed in June 2013 and April of this year. Raitt said she did not know how long Transport Canada's probes would take to wrap up.

The United States this month fined GM $35 million for not recalling cars with faulty ignition switches as quickly as possible.

At least 13 deaths in the United States have so far been linked to the problem.

Asked whether she felt fatal crashes in Canada could be linked to the faulty switches, Raitt told Reuters: "I think people are going to take a look at the accidents they had and wonder whether or not the faulty switch was at fault and I expect Transport Canada will get more phone calls."

Raitt said Ottawa is trying to determine whether the firm had delayed the recall of some cars, breaking the law in doing so, but she added that there was no evidence that GM Canada had contravened Canadian laws.

"If information comes to light that GM Canada is not being truthful with us, we do have the ability to go back and prosecute," she said.

Raitt said she did not know how Transport Canada would handle the nine complaints. Asked about the complaints, GM Canada said it was working closely with the ministry.

"We will continue to offer our full cooperation with the federal government as we work through these difficult issues," said spokeswoman Adria MacKenzie."

NIJ STUDENTS' WEEK 2014; UNUSUAL IS THE STANDARD

The 2014 edition of students' week in the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos promises to be more interesting and fun filled than the previous ones as various events are already taking place in the pre students' week activities to get the students prepared for the never-stopping fun still to come during the week itself.

 The chairman of the students representative council (SRC), Ojebola Mathew revealed to the students that this year's students' week is going to be unusual, he said "unusual is the slang as we the committee shall see to it that our fellow students  experience something unusual from time past".

 Also, speaking with the leader of the sub-committee in charge of the pre students' week activities, Motunrayo Ganiyah, she expresses her hopes that the activities of the pre student week will be effective in getting the students involved during the student week proper, she said " the whole idea of the pre students' week activities is to get students fully prepared for the week it self, and with activities like the hilarious beauty contest in which the winners won cash prize, the intra-school debate, the five-men football competition and several others still to come, I believe that the students are well prepared for the main week come june."

  According to the leader of the sub-committee handling publicity, Olubunmi Adeyera, he said " we are committed to keeping the students  and the general public informed and ensuring success during the pre-students' week and the students' week itself, and i believe we are making progress through publicity on social platforms and also posting bills all around the campus, with all these, i believe we're going to make it."

 Other sub-committees are also doing genuine jobs to ensure the success of the week.

10 MISSING AFTER ATTACK ON CHINESE CAMP IN CAMEROON

About ten people have been confirmed missing after an attack carried out by unknown people in a chinese enterprise camp in cameroon today.
  According to CCTVNEWS, Nigeria's boko haram are suspected to be behind the attack.