NAN-H-18
Turnout
Akure, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) As the Ondo State governorship election got underway on Saturday, there was a high turnout of voters,   allaying fears of apathy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was apprehension of  likely  voter apathy over the violence that broke out in some parts of the state.

A chieftain of the APC, Afolabi Olaposi, was killed on Thursday night in Owo, the hometown of Rotimi Akeredolu, the party’s flag-bearer in the election.

NAN, however, reports that the turnout of voters in many polling units was impressive.

At Ikare Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government Area  of Ondo North Senatorial District, accreditation and voting started at exactly 8:a.m. amidst the massive turnout of voters.

At Iyometa Ward 2, Unit 3, Ikare, the Presiding Officer, Mr Sam Adeniyi, expressed satisfaction with the voter turnout, adding that the accreditation and voting were going on without any hitch.

“As you can see now, we are just starting and  the turnout is very impressive,” he said.

Similarly, at  Iyometa Ward 2,Unit 2,the Presiding Officer, Miss Janet Umes, said that the voters were cooperating and the situation was calm while turnout was impressive

“About 100 people have been  accredited and voted as at 9:10 a.m.,” she said.

Speaking with NAN , Mr Jimoh Lateef, the Presiding Officer at CAC Ward 1 Unit 10,Ogbagi Akoko, said that the card reader was working perfectly.

Mr Oguntumiyin Felix, a former Chairman of Akoko North- West Local Government, Ogbagi Akoko, said that the turnout was impressive.

“The card reader has been misbehaving in my unit as it reads some people’s prints while failing to read some others.

“ But the process is still better compared with the last election,” he said.

A former Commissioner for Transportation in the state, Chief Omoniyi Omodara, also lauded the peaceful atmosphere being experienced.

Omodara told NAN shortly after casting his vote that the concrete preparation by INEC and the orderliness of electorate ensured a hitch-free exercise.

“So far, at least this election has been fair and orderly.

” I am happy that people are coming out to vote for the candidate of their choice and everywhere is peaceful, ” Omodara said.

The Alliance for Democracy chieftain  advised residents to be peaceful after casting their votes and wait for the outcome of the election.

“Let there be no thuggery or fighting,’’ he said.

Also, the PDP Chairman in the state, Mr Clement Faboyede, expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the election.

Faboye made this known while casting his vote at Ward 1,Unit 06 in Ifedore Local Government Area.

He, however, expressed concern over the malfunction of the card reader in most part of the state, especially in Ondo West Local Government Area, saying that it would prevent people from voting.

A PDP chieftain in the state, Mr Fabolagun Ajana, also noted there was a low turnout at his Ward 8,Unit 08 in Ilara-Mokin, Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commissioner for Works, Mr Gboye Adegbenro, said he was pleased with the orderly manner people had conducted themselves.

He urged voters to come out and exercise their civic responsibility as this would enable them elect a leader of their choice.

Meanwhile, food vendors and other traders made brisk business in various polling units across the state.

NAN reports that many voters had trooped to their polling units to buy food, sachet water and other drinks.

The restriction on vehicular movement had forced many shop owners to close their shops, creating business boom for road side hawkers.(NAN)
REPORTERS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-10

Zakkat

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Sokoto, Nov. 26, 2015 (NAN) The Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Committee, on Saturday, began the monthly disbursement of N 10 million for medical assistance to hospitals and pharmaceutical shops across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee also distributed 50 bags of rice, 30 each of sewing machines, grinding machines and mattresses to the needy in the state.

The committee’s chairman, Mallam Lawal Maidoki, in his address in Sokoto, said the assistance was to empower the needy in the state to make them become self-reliant.

“This is to assist the beneficiaries to become self reliant and to serve as a source of encouragement to them to shun all kinds of societal vices.

“We will always support government policies and programmes of encouraging the needy to stop street begging and other acts of begging in the state,” he added.

The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishinku, called on the people to always pray for the government to succeed in its efforts to provide more basic social amenities for them.

According to him, the State Government is always committed to the provision of social amenities for the society in order to ease their hardship.

Maishinku, called on the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the items to make their lives better.

NAN also reports that among the benefiting hospitals were the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto State Specialist Hospital and Orthopaedic Hospital, Wamakko.

Others are the Federal Neuro- Psychiatric Hospital, Kware and IMAN Hospital among others. (NAN)

MNB/AK/YEMI

Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-17

Mob
By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike

Enugu, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) The police in Enugu State are  investigating  the death of a man, allegedly killed by a mob after he allegedly hacked another to death in Achara-Ndiagu community in Nkanu West Local Government Area.

The Enugu State Police Command spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.

“The sleepy and quite community of Achara-Ndiagu in Nkanu West Local Government Area was thrown to mourning on Friday after the gruesome incident,’’ Amaraizu said.

He said available information indicated that an unknown young man had come into the community on the pretext of  praying but later turned violent.

He said the  man allegedly cut off the ear of a lady identified as ‘’Miss Nnamani Mary with a cutlass before gruesomely killing one Ifeanyi Mba ,who had intervened to ward off his attack on Miss Nnamani,’’ by  cutting-off his head.

“It was further gathered that the alleged action of the yet to be known suspect angered sympathisers and allegedly generated a mob action against the suspect which allegedly caused his death,’’ Amaraizu said.

He said that the corpses of  Mba and the alleged assailant had been  deposited at the District Hospital Mortuary, Agbani, in the area. (NAN)

OJI/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-H-19

Attack

Kafanchan (Kaduna) Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) Four persons were killed while several houses including the house of the village head were burnt, when unknown gunmen attacked Mile One Village in Tafan District, Kaduna State on Friday.

 A resident, who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kafanchan that the hoodlums launched an attack against the residents between 2 p.m. and 10p.m on Friday.

The Interim Chairman of Jema’a local Government Area, Dr Bege Katuka, confirmed the incident via telephone.

He said: “I just left the affected village barely 30 minutes ago, I was there to assess the extent of damage.’’

However, reports say the residents of the neighbouring villages of Gidan Waya, Ungwuan Ninzo and Ungwuan Kagoro have fled for fear of possible attacks.

NAN reports that the villages as well as Kaduna State College of Education have been turned to ghost towns.

NAN also recalls that Pasakori Village which share boundaries with Mile One Village came under similar attack on Thursday. (NAN)

MGK/MO
=========Edited by Morayo Omolade

ABU records N1.2bn salary shortfall annually, says VC
NAN-H-20
Shortfall
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Ibrahim Garba, Vice-Chancllor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on Saturday says the university sources for N1.2 billion annually to augment its salary shortfall.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Garba made the disclosure at the 39th convocation ceremony of the unversity.

He said: “The university continues to augment salary shortfalls of about N100 million monthly from the Federal Government in order to settle its full staff wage bill.

“We are barely managing to survive from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) derived mostly from fees and other charges.”

The vice chancellor added that the institution was also contending with poor budgetary releases, especially for overhead.

He announced that of the 11,731 who graduated during the 2015/2016 academic session, 299 had Ph.Ds, 2,697 Masters Degrees, 973 Post Graduate Degrees, and 7,772 Bachelors Degrees.

Garba said 49 of the graduates had first class, 1,269 second class upper division, 4,250 second class lower division, 1,880 third class honours and 141 pass degrees and 183 unclassified degrees.

The vice chancellor used the occasion to praise a Nigerian, Jelani Aliyu from Sokoto State, who was present at the event.

Aliyu made name in automotive industry in the U.S.A. and internationally through his ingenious car designs.

“Jelani Aliyu would have been an ABU architecture graduate but his choice and destiny took him to Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic and then to U.S.A.

“ABU hereby extends its gratitude to Jelani for honouring our invitation to serve as the 39th Convocation Lecturer and looking forward to a close future relationship with him.”

Garba enumerated some of the achievements recorded by the university during the year to include; splitting of the large Faculty of Science into two Faculties of Physical Sciences and that of Life Sciences.

He said the National Universities Council (NUC) had approved new courses for ABU to include; B. Eng. Automotive Engineering and B. Eng. Mechateonic Engineering, as well as B.Sc. Forestry and B.Sc. Fisheries.

He added that the Department of Vocational and Technical Education had been split into two to form the Department of Home Economics and Department of Vocational and Technical Education. (NAN)
KLM/AK/MZA

==================
Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-15
Economy
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN)Mrs Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, says the Nigeria economy can still move in the right direction through right policies in spite of its present difficulties.

David-Borha said this in Ibadan on Friday night at a lecture she delivered at the 2016 Alumni lecture held at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre.

The topic of the lecture was: “The Nigerian Economy: Creating a Part to Sustainable Growth.’’

According to her, moving in the right direction on the economy will entails the utilisation of its greater asset which is not oil but the people of Nigeria.

She said that the key to creating a path to sustainable growth was to have a clear and consistent economic policies or development programme founded on sound market principles.

“We have to execute these plans in a coordinated manner with both monetary and fiscal policies aligned,’’ she said.

She said that the country had all the resources it needed to achieved double digit growth while “its most important resources is the people’’.

According to her, the people should be creative, educated and resilient, they should not be restrained by restrictive polices but be given the opportunities by which they can monetise their talents.

She said that at the macro level, GDP growth rate for Q3 in 2016, was 2.24 per cent.

According to her, the inflation is at 18.3 while the national external reserve has steadily dropped from 28.9billion dollars in January to 23.94billion dollars at the end of Oct.

The Stanbic IBTC boss, who is also an Alumnus of the university, however, identified three critical ingredients for sustainable development and growth.

According to her, the three ingredients are infrastructure, market driven financial markets and security.

“We need to be definite on the actions to take and speedily remedy these issues to be able to move forward, ‘’ she said.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, in a remark, said he was optimistic about the growth of the economy; “as a nation, things will soon be back on the track’’.

Olayinka thanked the guest lecturer for the lecture and urged the students to see David-Borha as a role model, having broken all barriers to achieve her current feat.

National President of the Alumni, Dr Kemi Emina urged members to ensure that the university maintained its status as the best university in Nigeria and make it the best in the world. (NAN)
MAM/AK/MO

===============

Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Morayo Omolade

Fidel Castro’s funeral set for December 4, government

NAN-F-8

Funeral
Nov.26, 2016  (NAN) The state funeral for Fidel Castro who died at the age of 90, has been fixed for Sunday December 4, in Santiago de Cuba, according to state media report.

But the cremation of the remains of Castro will be carried out according to his wishes, and  has been fixed for Saturday, Cuba President  Raul Castro, announced early Saturday.

According official states media, the government has also declared nine days of mourning  in honour of the fallen hero.

The death of Cuba strongman, Castro, has triggered both celebration and mourning, as critics welcomed his demise while supporters grieved for the polarising strongman who dominated Cuba for decades.

In Maimi, celebrations spilled out over the death of Castro and the state government decrees a nine days of mourning. During the period, all activities and public performances will be halted, and Cuba’s flag will be flown at half-mast in public and at military establishments.

According to reports , the country’s radio and television channels will broadcast informative, patriotic and historical programming.

Castro reigned in Havana for nearly five decades with an iron hand, defying a U.S. economic embargo intended to dislodge his regime.

But he lived long enough to see a historic reunion Between Cuba and the U.S.  The two nations re-established diplomatic relations in July 2015.

Meanwhile messages by world leaders have been pouring in celebration of Castro who ruled Cuba for 47 years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, praised  him, describing Castro as a “symbol of an era”, while former Russian leader Gorbachev according reports from Kremlin hailed him for ”strengthening” Cuba.

Narenda Modi, India prime minister said Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century , says India mourns the loss of a great friend.

Mexico’s President, Enrique Pene Nieto called Castro a friend of Mexico, who had promoted bilateral relaionships based on respect, dialogue and solidatity.

Also, Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuela’s president has sent a solidarity and love message to Cuban people on the loss of the country’s longtime leader.

Maduro has remained a close ally of Cuba, in his twitter message, he called on all the revolutionaries of the world to continue his legacy  under the flag of independence , socialism and homeland.

In his message, China’s president Xi Jinping says, Castro “will live for ever” especially in the minds of those who loved and cherished him. (NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN- 12

Kidnappers

Dutse, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) Mr Rasheed Akintunde, newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Jigawa, has vowed to rid the state of kidnappers and hoodlums.

Akintunde made the pledge Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

He said barely five days after assumption of duty in the state, the Gwaram police Division and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) deployed from the state police command headquarters, dislodged a six-man gang of kidnappers and hoodlums terrorizing people of Gwaram Local Government area.

He said the police had received a distress call from a Fulani settlement that some hoodlums had stormed their community, harassed innocent people and kidnapped a girl.

The commissioner stated that upon receipt of the report, a combined team of regular police men and SARS in Gwaram swung into action, rescuing the girl and apprehending five suspects.

According to the commissioner, the suspects have confessed to have hand in all kidnappings that have taken place in the area.

He said the sum of N132, 140, two locally made guns, four GSM handsets and two Airtel SIM packs, were recovered from the suspects.

The commissioner further stated that on Nov. 17 some people attacked a 37 year-old man, Ali Muhammad, of Jiba Vilage of Dutse local government, inflicting serious injuries on him.

“When the victims raised alarm, the suspect took to his heels but on receipt of the report, police commenced investigation, leading to the arrest of one of the culprits who is now assisting us with information on his accomplices,” he said. (NAN)

AIS/ASH/ASH

Zuma to face ANC integrity panel

NAN-F-6

Zuma
Jo’bourg, Nov. 26, 2016 (Reuters/ NAN) South African President Jacob Zuma will be questioned next week by the African National Congress’ (ANC) integrity commission following persistent allegations of corruption and poor election results, the party has said.

Zuma’s appearance before the panel could deepen divides within the ANC as it gears up for a national conference next year when the 74-year-old leader is expected to stand down as party leader.

Several senior members of the ANC have called for Zuma to resign in recent months after scandals rattled markets in Africa’s most industrialized economy and cost the party votes.

A constitutionally mandated anti-graft watchdog this month called for a judge to investigate allegations Zuma provided special favors for wealthy friends and allowed them to choose ministerial appointments. Zuma denies any wrongdoing.

The president’s office said in a statement that Zuma had received legal advice to challenge the watchdog’s report in court and would do so at a later date.

In the report, the Public Protector watchdog also called for a judicial inquiry to be set up to probe the allegations against him. Zuma told parliament on Wednesday the watchdog had no right to call for a judicial inquiry, describing its report as unfair.

The report, released on Nov. 2, focused on allegations that businessman brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta had influenced the appointment of ministers. The Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.

Zuma’s meeting with the ANC commission is expected to be held on Dec. 3 behind closed doors.

Members of the ANC have been removed from their posts as a result of the commission’s recommendation.

“He will be having a meeting with the IC,” ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe told Reuters, referring to the commission.

He did not say what would be discussed at the meeting.

The Mail & Guardian newspaper reported on Friday that the commission, headed by anti-apartheid stalwart Andrew Mlangeni, would question Zuma over a slew of corruption scandals and the party’s worst local election results in August.

In March, the Constitutional Court ordered Zuma to repay some of $16 million of state funds inappropriately spent on enhancing his country home. He has since paid back more than 500,000 dollars as required by the court.

The ANC formed the commission in 2013 to help protect its image and take “urgent action” to deal with members of the party who face allegations of improper conduct. (Reuters/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN-S-

Tennis

Kano, Nov. 26, 2016 (NAN) Top seed and defending champion, ‎Christy Agugbom, beat her closest rival, Samuel Blessing 6/2, 6/7(4), 7/6(4) in the ongoing 30th Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship in Kano.

Agugbom ‎picked the top prize and the accompanying N500,000 cash reward with Blessing taking the N250,000 second position prize.‎

In the Men’s doubles final Babalola / Shehu beat Enosoregbe/Madueke6/4, 7/6(4)‎ ‎‎to pick top price and the accompanying N500,000 also.

‎At the end of the event, an elated Agugbom expressed her joy at winning the championship, while calling on the defeated players to take their loss as a call to work harder.

“I was determined to win the tournament and I thank God that my determination saw me through,” said Agugbom‎. ‎(NAN)

MNT/IS

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz