President Jonathan Escapes Fire incident in a proposed meeting with the JNI

A fire incident inside the main hall of the secretariat of the Jama’atul Nasr Islam venue of the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and Islamic leaders in Kaduna on Sunday caused panic among Northern religious and traditional rulers awaiting the arrival of the president.

At about 3.03pm, some JNI leaders and members of the police band scampered out of the hall carrying their musical instruments while the JNI Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar, dashed to the main entrance shouting “fire in the hall! Call

Faleke - It is Unfair to Use Numbers of LGAs to allocate Revenue to States

The only way to stop agitation for creation of new local governments is for the Federal Government to desist from using the number of local governments in the states of the federation as the formula for sharing revenue from the Federation Account.

Action Congress of Nigeria candidate for Ikeja Federal Constituency, Mr. Abiodun Faleke, stated this on Sunday in Lagos. According to him,

IBB Supports Ribadu

Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retd)

Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Former military head of state, (retd.) has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his running mate, Mr. Fola Adeola, describing them as “the pair that the country needs to turn its fortune around.”

Babangida made the statement when he hosted

FG appoints VC, registrars for nine new Universities

The Federal Government on Wednesday announced the appointment of vice-chancellors and registrars for the nine new federal universities.

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, made the announcement at a media briefing in Abuja.

She explained that the decision to appoint the chief executives was in line with the Federal Government’s desire to ensure the commencement of academic activities in the institutions in September 2011.

PDP ticket: I can't compromise my chance - Bankole

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, on Wednesday declared that he would not give up the struggle for a return ticket to the legislature.

Bankole spoke in a veiled reference to the uncertainty surrounding his bid. This is even as majority of the 360 members of the House failed to secure return tickets in the primaries of their respective parties.

President Goodluck Jonathan on a hot Seat

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday came under fire for describing governors in South-West states not controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party as ‘rascals.’

The attacks came from the Action Congress of Nigeria which has three out of the six governors in South-West and the Labour Party which has one governor.

16 Political parties adopted Shekarau as presidential candidate

KANO—leaders of 16 registered political parties have adopted the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, flag bearer in the forthcoming election, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau as their common candidate for the April presidential polls.
A communiqué read on behalf of the other parties by Dr. Lawrence Atuanan, of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, explained that the step was informed by Shekarau’s political maturity which the group believed was needed for the improvement of the national polity.
Lawrence, who is the chairman of NNPP, explained that the parties would offer tacit support to Shekarau candidature, stressing that the group would stop at nothing short of ensuring his victory.
The Communiqué enjoined Nigerians of voting age to offer wholesome support to the ANPP flag bearer for him to showcase the ’Kano magic’ in the overall interest national cohesion and development.
The communique read in part: “We have collectively and voluntarily agreed to avail Shekarau of the structure of our parties from the wards to the national level to work for the realisation of Shekarau Presidency come April.”

Two Teenagers in Police net for $9.7m, €664,100 at Lagos airport

The Airport Command of the Nigerian Police Force has arrested two teenagers with $9,734,225 and €664,100 at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The 18-year-old teenagers, identified as Abdul Bashir and Rabiu Bashir, said to be brothers, were arrested at the old domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport at about 6.30 pm on Thursday, shortly after arriving with the huge sum of money aboard an Arik Air flight from Kano.

According to security and airline sources, the money was packed in four travelling bags, which the suspects checked in as hand luggage.

Tension arises as INEC prepares to release list Sunday

There is rising anxiety among the political class, especially with the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and their supporters as the Independent National Electoral Commission releases the lists of candidates for the 2011 general elections (on Sunday) tomorrow.

Forty-three parties had submitted the names of their candidates to INEC, as the official list for the general elections holding in April across the nation is being awaited.

Some PDP candidates, who emerged from the controversial primaries of the party, are worried that some of their rivals who lost out in the primaries, but had been contending with them for the tickets, may smuggle their names into the INEC list.

April General Election: Three governors anxious for Jonathan’s endorsement

President Goodluck Jonathan

There are indications that at least three sitting Peoples Democratic Party governors in the North are currently desperate for the support of President Goodluck Jonathan in the run-up to April’s governorship election.

Investigations by our correspondents on Friday showed that there was concern among the supporters of Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi; his Sokoto State counterpart, Alhaji Aliyu Wamako; and Alhaji Usman Dankigari (Kebbi State) because of the fallout from this month’s PDP presidential primaries.

It was gathered that the chapters of the party feared that the President might not support them in the governorship poll because of his loss to former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the three states.

Ebonyi State University ASUU Strike Over

ASUU, Ebonyi State University chapter has finally reached a concensus with the state government on the lingering strike which has lasted for about six(6) months.A source reliably informed us that this was the outcome of the ASUU/Ebonyi State Government meeting held this afternoon, at about 12:30 pm to reach an understanding amongst them over the issue.

We were also reliably informed by the source that The Ebonyi State University Students may likely take off their uncompleted second semester studies tomorrow being the 7th day of January 2011.
This may not be the end of the tossle among them i.e The Ebonyi State Government and ASUU Ebonyi State University since the agreement was conditionally reached.