Blog

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Suicide
Hillah, (Iraq) (dpa/NAN) At least 73 people were killed in a suicide attack on a road between Iraq’s central cities of Hillah and al-Diwaniyah, the Iraqi police have said.

Another 105 people were injured when a suicide bomber driving a car with explosives targeted eight buses at a petrol station.

Most of the passengers in the buses were Shiite Iranian pilgrims coming from the city of Karbala.

The Islamic State extremist Sunni militia claimed responsibility for the attack using the Telegram messaging app.

Islamic State considers Shiites to be heretics.

On October 17, joint Iraqi forces, supported by US-led alliance air cover, began an offensive to dislodge Islamic State from its last stronghold in the city of Mosul. (dpa/NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-107

Dissolution

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, Nov. 24, 2016 (NAN) The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) has dissolved the party`s national executive officers led by Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim following acts of misconduct.

This, according to the party`s NEC, is part of resolutions reached at its meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

It said the dissolution became necessary to save the party at the national level from dying.

The NEC also constituted a 15-member caretaker/ convention committee theaded by Alhaji Munir Waziri to immediately take charge of the party`s affairs.

Mr Ifeanyi Igwe, Secretary of the committee while reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting, said the party`s national officers were relieved of their positions because of their misconduct and anti-party activities.

“NEC has immediately dissolved all national principal officers of the party currently occupying offices for their compromise on the oat they subscribed to promote the party.’’

He said the party`s NEC also directed the committee to petition the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate the conduct of Ibrahim, the party`s sacked national chairman.

Igwe, however, said that NEC had also approved all findings and recommendations of the membership rights and disciplinary committee constituted by the party`s National Working Committee and presented to NEC.

He also said that contrary to speculations in some quarters, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was not a member of the PDM.

Igwe added that like every other Nigerian, the former Vice President was free to join the party any time he wanted.

The committee which is expected to review the party`s activities at all levels and plan its national convention for the purpose of electing new leadership, has three months to complete its assignment.

Responding on behalf of other meebers, Waziri, the Chairman of the committee commended the party for the opportunity given them to serve.

He assured that the committee would strive to build a vibrant and credible party that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

He maintained that the committee members would work within the party`s constitution to ensure the attainment of its mandate while remaining true democrats.

The committee chairman said that he was motivated to work by the price paid for the country`s democracy by the party`s founding fathers.

Reacting to his sack, Ibrahim alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was behind the action of the party`s NEC.

According to him, the former Vice President wants to use the party as an alternative platform to contest for the presidency in 2019 if he failed to get the APC ticket.

“Unknown to him, PDM has been a burden in terms of financial resources, I have been dispensing to run the party. All he needed to do was ask.

“But since he has chosen this path, let’s see how it goes.’’

Ibrahim said he only received a letter this morning through DHL from the party accusing him of failing to open its National Secretariat.

He said he was given 24 hours to respond to the letter failure of which punitive measures would be taken against him. (NAN)

EEM/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NAN-AE-6
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy to partly cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Friday.

NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Thursday.

It said the region would have day and night temperatures of 30 to 36 degrees Celsius and 14 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.

The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy to partly cloudy in inland and coast cities with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over Calabar, Eket and Port-Harcourt in the morning hours.

It also predicted isolated thunderstorms over the region in the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperature of 33 to 35 degrees Celsius and 22 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

According to NiMet, the northern states will be under sunny and hazy conditions with chances of dust haze over Kano, Katsina and Nguru.

It added that the dust haze might reduce horizontal visibility between 2 to 5 kilometres.

“The region will also have day and night time temperatures of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius and 16 to 21 degrees Celsius respectively.

“The North is expected to be sunny and hazy, central states will experience cloudy to partly cloudy conditions with chances of isolated thunderstorms over the south in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted. (NAN)
OYS/AK/AEA
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Archibong Asuquo

APC says Nigeria’s history incomplete without Atiku

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Atiku

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, Nov. 24, 2016 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Nigeria’s history will be incomplete without reference to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s contributions to the social, political and economic development of the country.

Mr Edegbe Odemwinge, APC Assistant Director of Publicity, stated this on Thursday in Abuja in the party’s felicitation statement to Atiku as he turns 70 on Friday, Nov. 25.

He applauded Atiku for his solid contributions to the growth of the APC and for entrenching democracy in the country.

“Our great party, the APC celebrates with your Excellency on the occasion of your 70^th birthday.

“Over the years, you have proven yourself as a democrat, detribalised leader, elder statesman, successful businessman, political icon and philanthropist,’’ Odemwinge quoted Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC National Chairman, as saying.

He said the party particularly commends Atiku’s investment in the country’s education sector and other business ventures.

According to him, the investments had touched lives positively and generated employment for many Nigerians.

Oyegun added that the APC attest to Akitu’s solid contributions to its growth and wished him many more happy, healthy and fulfilled years of service to the party and country. (NAN)

EEM/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-102

Education
Kano, Nov. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Government said on Thursday in Kano that it would collaborate with the Regional Government of Cantabria in Spain, through the state-owned North-West University.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer to the Deputy Gov., Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi, said the collaboration was aimed at boosting the status of the university and the overall socio-economic development of the state.

The Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Malam Sule Yahaya, told officials of Cantabria Regional Government that the university was on the verge of embarking on an expansion plan.

According to him, the university is particularly interested in tapping from the experience of the University of Castalia, in the areas of research, staff/students exchange programmes and ICT deployment.

“We hope our visit will open a door that will trigger a partnership with the University of Cantabria in the areas for capacity building for the staff of North-West University in the deployment of ICT, library resource management and short-term Staff/Student exchange programmes,” the statement said.

It said that the delegation also made a passionate move to explore potential ties between the Cabarceno Wild Life Park and the Kano State Government, in the areas of wild life management and tourism.

According to the statement, Eva Diaz Tezanos, the Spanish Vice President and Minister for Universities, Research, Environment and Social Policy, said her region was ready to establish new relationships with Kano State in education, commerce, industrial development and tourism exchange.

Tezanos explained that the Northwest University stands to immensely benefit from the potential of the University of Cantabria, particularly with its track record of a 40-year teaching experience. (NAN)
BO/AK/PIO
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(Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Idonije Obakhedo)

Vintage Air Rally pilots detained after entering Ethiopia

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Investigation

Addis Ababa, Nov. 24, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Pilots of 20 light aircraft who entered Ethiopia as part of an air rally are under investigation in the western town of Gambela, an official said on Thursday.

Wossenyeleh Hunegnaw, head of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, denied that the pilots were under arrest.

However, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa said that several of its nationals taking part in the rally had been detained.

The Vintage Air Rally has described on its official website as an attempt to recreate “the African aviation of the 1920s”.

Using vintage aircraft, participants fly from Crete in Greece to Cape Town in South Africa, passing through 10 countries on the way.

“This group entered Ethiopia without getting permission to access our airspace,” Hunegnaw said.

“Besides, according to Ethiopian aviation law, non-scheduled flights into the country should first touch the Addis Ababa International Airport before departing to other parts of the country.

“But these pilots arrived at the Gambela Airport,” he added.

Vintage Air Rally said on Facebook that its “crews are currently in Gambela, where the Ethiopian authorities have elected to allocate accommodation at the airport rather than permit them to proceed to their pre-booked hotel.

“The reasons for this, at this time, are not 100 per cent clear.”

Hunegnaw declined to name the nationalities of the pilots.

A source at the U.S. embassy said it was trying to get consular access to the Americans. (dpa/NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

S’Africa’s biggest union group backs Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma

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Support

Johannesburg, Nov. 24, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa saw his chances of becoming South Africa’s next leader increase on Thursday when a powerful union group backed him to succeed President Jacob Zuma as party head.

Zuma is expected to stand down as African National Congress (ANC) president at a party conference in December next year, ahead of national elections in 2019, when his tenure as president will end.

Ramaphosa, a former anti-apartheid leader popular with investors, Thursday got the assurance of the support of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

He is likely to face strong competition if he does throw his hat in the ring, including from Zuma’s ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is head of the African Union.

No one has declared an ambition to compete.

However, unofficial jockeying has begun and the debate over who should succeed Zuma has heated up since the ANC suffered its worst local election results in August, exposing party divisions.

A split has emerged between those who want a successor loyal to Zuma, and a faction that wants a fresh start under Ramaphosa.

COSATU, which is part of the ruling political alliance and claims to represent 1.8 million workers, became the latest to weigh in, telling reporters it had “resolved to campaign” for Ramaphosa.

“This is a victory for the camp opposing Zuma and backing Ramaphosa.

“They are still up against it because Jacob Zuma’s support base is dominant, but Cyril is still very much in the game,” said political analyst Nic Borain.

Zuma’s popularity has waned due to a raft of recent scandals.

He, however, remains in favour among the ANC grassroots and can count on the backing of large sections of the party, including the youth and women’s leagues.

A lawyer by training, Ramaphosa, 64, was a founding member of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), forged in the crucible of the struggle against white-minority rule in the 1980s.

NUM, which has 200,000 members, backed Ramaphosa in September.

He went on to become the ANC’s chief negotiator in talks that led to the end of apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s election as South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

His business interests have ranged from mining to McDonald’s outlets. (Reuters/NAN)

IAA/MST/MST

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

EU Parliament votes to freeze Turkey membership talks

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Talks
Brussels, Nov. 24, 2016 (dpa/NAN) The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of freezing the EU’s membership negotiations with Turkey.

Of the 623 lawmakers present for Thursday’s vote in Strasbourg, France, 479 were in favour, 37 against and 107 abstained.

The non-binding vote has no legal impact on the talks, but it sends a strong political signal to Ankara and puts pressure on the European Commission, which is leading the negotiations.

“Turkey is an important partner of the EU,” lawmakers said in an emailed statement. “But in partnerships, the will to cooperate has to be two-sided.”

“The [Turkish] government’s actions are further diverting Turkey from its European path,” the lawmakers added.

Membership negotiations between the EU and Turkey began in 2005, but aversion to Turkey joining the 28-member bloc has grown steadily over the past four months against the backdrop of Ankara’s heavy-handed response to a failed military coup on July 15.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the significance of the European vote, saying it had “no value” regardless of the outcome.

Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik echoed Erdogan’s comments on Thursday, adding that the resolution was “a short-sighted political decision lacking in vision.”

EU lawmakers should look to Turkey for tips on democracy, Celik said, adding that the EU was experiencing a “crisis of values, specifically right-wing extremism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.”

“Relations with the EU are not very close anyhow,” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Thursday in Ankara. “It’s a relationship that grudgingly goes on with effort and out of necessity.”

Erdogan declared a state of emergency days after the putsch, allowing him to rule by decree and carry out thousands of arrests and suspensions within the military and civil service.

The imprisonment of 10 journalists and employees at opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet and the arrest of 10 opposition lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party added to worries about the rule of law and freedom of expression in Turkey.

The crackdown in Turkey is said to target supporters of a movement led by US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who was once an ally of Erdogan and is now blamed for the coup.

Erdogan has repeatedly threatened that his government could to reintroduce the death penalty – something that the European Union has said would exclude Turkey from membership.

Under the EU parliament’s proposal, the return of capital punishment to Turkey would trigger an automatic, formal suspension of membership talks that would require unanimous approval from member states to reverse.

According to a draft of Thursday’s resolution, lawmakers pledged to review their position when “disproportionate measures under the state of emergency in Turkey are lifted” and then evaluate “whether the rule of law and human rights are restored throughout the country.” (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

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Arraignment

By Sandra Umeh

Lagos, Nov. 24, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday ordered the remand in prison custody of four accused persons charged with possession of firearms.

The accused are: Ganiyu Alabi, David Murphy, Folarin Isiaka and Kehinde Isiaka.

Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered their remand pending the perfection of a N5 million bail conditions granted them by the court after their arraignment.

The accused are standing trial on a six-count charge of conspiracy, possession of firearms, breach of public peace, stealing, willful damage, and unlawful assault.

They were first arraigned on Nov. 18, but were re-arraigned following an amendment of the charges.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the charge, the prosecutor Mr Dennis Abi, said that the four accused and others now at large, on Oct. 15, at about 10 a.m. invaded Oko-Olomi community in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

He said they were armed with three pump action guns, a double barrel gun and two live cartridges.

The offences according to the prosecutor, contravened the provisions of sections 27 (1) (a) (I) and 27 (1) (b) (ii) and 516 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Buba has adjourned the case till Dec. 7 for trial. (NAN)

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NAN-F-15
Arrest
Istanbul, Nov. 24, 2016 (dpa/NAN)  A Turkish court has arrested Ahmet Turk, the pro-Kurdish former mayor of Mardin, on terror charges.

The public prosecutor’s office in Mardin, in the south-east of the country, is investigating Turk regarding membership of a terrorist organization, the news agency DHA reported.

Among other things, Turk is being accused of using state resources to support the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Turk was removed from post last week and replaced with an unelected state trustee. He was then detained Monday before being formally charged.

Although he does not belong to any political party, he is closely affiliated to the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

According to the HDP, the Ankara government has placed 34 Kurdish municipalities that had been run by democratically elected HDP officials under the control of trustees.

The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been stepping up measures against the party, accusing it of links to terrorism. The HDP, the third-largest party in parliament, denies the charges. (dpa/NAN)

Edited by Julius Enehikhuere