Hate campaign: Buhari fights back, bars AIT from covering his activities

Hate campaign: Buhari fights back, bars AIT from covering his activities


President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari may have just started a revenge mission on the African Independent Television, AIT when, Monday, the security men attached to him barred the station’s correspondent, Bebei from covering Buhari’s functions.

Vanguard gathered that directive was discreetly given to the correspondent by an official at the Defence House where the crew had gone to cover the visit of Cuban ambassador to Buhari.

Constitution: Mark faults FG’s court action

Constitution: Mark faults FG’s court action


Senate President, David Mark, on Monday faulted the Federal Government for dragging the National Assembly before the Supreme Court over some sections of the Constitution Amendment Bill.

Federal Government had invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to scuttle the ongoing amendment process of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

The government contended that the National Assembly did not comply with the constitutional procedure of altering the constitution before transmitting it to President Goodluck Jonathan for assent.

Significant among the items that scaled the amendment hurdle at both chambers of the National Assembly are the creation of constitutional role for traditional rulers, electoral reforms, separating the offices of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Accountant-General of the Federal Government, separation of the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and making aspects of the Constitution relating to the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy in Chapter II, which deal with political, economic, social, educational and cultural objectives, enforceable and granting state legislatures financial autonomy, among others.

But Jonathan declined his assent to the bill.

He was said to have accused the NASS of having arrogated to itself the power to pass any constitution amendment without the assent of the President.

He was also said not to be comfortable with aspect of the amended Bill capable of eroding presidential powers should he assent to the bill.

In the suit already lodged at the registry of the Supreme Court, the Federal Government prayed the apex court to hold that due process was not followed by the lawmakers during the amendment process.

Mark, who spoke while answering questions from journalists at the induction course for elected and returning federal lawmakers in Abuja, said he could not understand the rationale behind the said suit.

Mark said: “The President has taken a Bill to the court and you heard people saying it is a Bill at the moment, unless it is signed, I really don’t see why they are in court. But anybody can go to court, so I can’t stop you from going to court, can I?”

On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the National Assembly is not aware that the Presidency has taken the legislature to court over the 4th alteration to the Constitution.

Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said that the National Assembly has not been served any court process regarding the constitution alteration.

Nepal Earthquake: Death toll rises to over 3,000

Nepal Earthquake: Death toll rises to over 3,000


The body count from the deadly Nepal earthquake now stands at over 3,000 people.
According to BBC, at least 3,617 people are now known to have died from the disastrous earthquake which struck Nepal on Saturday, while over 6,500 people were injured.
In a related development, dozens of people are also reported to have been killed in neighbouring China and India. Also over 200 climbers were rescued around Mount Everest which was struck by deadly avalanches following the deadly Nepal 7.8-magnitude quake.
In the Nepal capital, Kathmandu, vast tents were set up for those displaced by the disaster and those who were too afraid to return home or fear of being struck by the strong aftershocks which still continued.
Officials have warned that the number of casualties could rise as rescue teams reach remote mountainous areas of western Nepal.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Dhading district which is about 80km from Kathmandu, people were camped in the open as the hospitals were overflowing. Reports say there was no power either while shops remained shut.
Also reports say that in some villages of more than 1,000 homes, nearly all have been destroyed by the earthquake while a senior official in Gorkha district, the location of the earthquake's epicentre reported that 70% of the houses were destroyed.
Rescue operations have also continued amidst fears of disease outbreak as water becomes a scarce commodity and people shelter out in the open with very little protection. To this end, cremations have been taking place since the morning as authorities are keen on disposing of bodies as quickly as possible to prevent a health hazard

‘We didn’t recall SA ambassador,’ Minister denies reports

‘We didn’t recall SA ambassador,’ Minister denies reports


Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro has denied reports that Nigeria recalled its High Commissioner to South Africa.


Acting High Commissioner in Pretoria, Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner in Johannesburg, Uche Ajulu – Okeke were summoned back to Nigeria on Saturday, April 25, 2015.


Obanikoro however stated on April 26, that the envoys hadn’t been recalled as widely reported.


“Please disregard rumours and reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled its High Commissioner to South Africa,” the minister stated via Twitter.


“The MFA summoned the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa for consultation. He was not recalled,” he added.


 

SA doesn’t deserve to be a leader,’ Ex-President responds to xenophobic attacks

SA doesn’t deserve to be a leader,’ Ex-President responds to xenophobic attacks









Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has responded to the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.


Obasanjo expressed his opinion on the issue on Saturday, April 25, 2015, while speaking at the Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas.


The former President stated that if South Africa can’t accommodate other Africans, then it doesn’t deserve its leadership role in the continent.


“The xenophobia incidents in South Africa are really unfortunate,” Obasanjo said.


‘South Africa is one of the most developed countries in Africa and will continue to be one of the leaders of Africa. If a country that is a leader in Africa can’t accommodate other Africans then it doesn’t deserve to be a leader,’ he added.


Meanwhile Nigerians in SA are said to have lost about N84 million to the incident which left seven foreigners dead and many others displaced.

‘Governor lied, court didn’t stop impeachment,’ APC lawmakers allege

‘Governor lied, court didn’t stop impeachment,’ APC lawmakers allege



The impeachment saga in Ekiti State is ongoing as the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers have accused Governor Ayo Fayose of lying that an Abuja court had stopped proceedings against him.


The lawmakers further urged the court to find Fayose guilty of contempt for misrepresenting the facts of its ruling.


The comments were made on Saturday, April 25, 2015, via a statement released by Wole Olujobi, the media aide to Speaker, Adewale Omirin.


The statement reads:


“It is incredible that the governor and the PDP lawmakers could manipulate the press again to mislead the public that the ruling by Justice Evoh Chukwu was in their favour.”


“While the judge clearly ruled that it could not stop Fayose’s impeachment without hearing from the APC lawmakers, the governor’s storm troopers went to town in a contempt of court to turn full circle the ruling by the judge.”


 “He first raided the courts and chased the judges under their tables and subsequently closed the courts. After that, he closed the House of Assembly and chased the lawmakers out of town.”


“Fayose is now creating for himself a reputation as an enemy of the state who within few months killed all democratic institutions and their supporting structures in Nigeria in a mindless pursuit of power.”


The statement further urged the court to cite the governor and his officials for contempt for the “thoughtless manipulation and misrepresentation of the ruling to put the court in bad light.”


Earlier reports had it that after two denials, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had finally stopped impeachment proceedings against Fayose.


The case has been adjourned till May 13, 2015.

Governor Mimiko appoints new deputy

Governor Mimiko appoints new deputy


Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state has appointed a new deputy governor.


Commissioner for Agriculture, Lasisi Oluboyo was nominated by Mimiko today, April 27, 2015 following the impeachment of former Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi.


Olanusi was impeached earlier in the day by 24 out of 26 members of the State House of Assembly.


The former deputy governor had been accused of gross misconduct by the Assembly after his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March
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