Fed Govt declares Friday public holiday

Fed Govt declares Friday public holiday


THE Federal Government has declared Friday as public holiday to mark the 2015 Workers’ Day.

Making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, congratulated the citizens for their resilience and commitment in the face of the challenges of daily living.

He enjoined them to sustain the support for President Goodluck Jonathan in his efforts to build a stable, peaceful and economic vibrant nation.

The Minister, according to a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji, wished all workers a joyous and peaceful celebration.

Indonesia Executes Nigerians Despite Plea

Indonesia Executes Nigerians Despite Plea


Three Nigerians, a Brazilian, a Ghanaian and Indonesian nationals were also among those believed to have been put to death.
Breaking: Indonesia Executes Nigerians Despite Plea

Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise, 47, is one of Nigerian citizens, sentenced to death in Indonesia. Photo: Getty Images
Breaking: Indonesia Executes Nigerians Despite Plea

Martin Anderson, 50, is one of Nigerian citizens, sentenced to death in Indonesia. Photo: Reuters

The men were allowed to see their families for the last time not long ago.

The Australian, Andrew Chan used the opportunity to get married to his girlfriend of a long time.

Andrew Chan, 31, married his Indonesian girlfriend Febyanti Herewila in a ceremony on Nusakambangan Island, home to several high-security prisons.

Michael Chan, the convict’s brother, urged the country’s president to show compassion to the newlyweds.

Micheal said:“He could be put to death by firing squad as soon as Tuesday, along with seven other foreign drug convicts, after authorities at the weekend gave then formal notice of their executions” the brother said.

“We’ve had a special day today. We’ve celebrated with some family and close friends.

“Hopefully the president will show some compassion, some mercy, so these two young people can carry on with their lives. It’s in the president’s hands,” he added.

A Filipina woman was sparred from being executed at the last-minute.

Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was left out after the person who recruited her as a drug courier surrendered to police, the Jakarta Post reports.

Indonesia has some of the toughest drug laws in the world and ended a four-year moratorium on executions in 2013.

Obiageli Ezekwesili Accuses Army Of Human Rights Violations In War Against Boko Haram

Obiageli Ezekwesili Accuses Army Of Human Rights Violations In War Against Boko Haram


Co founder of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and former Nigerian Minister of Education told Al Jazeera that the Nigerian military are guilty of human rights abuses in their fight against the violent group Boko Haram in the north of the country.

The former World Bank vice president for Africa, told Al Jazeera’s Head to Head “It clearly does have instances where human rights violations have happened” .
Obiageli Ezekwesili Accuses Army Of Human Rights Violations In War Against Boko Haram
Oby told host Mehdi Hasan and an audience at the Oxford Union that one year over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Chibok, northern Nigeria, by Boko Haram, the #BringBackOurGirls campaign was not a failure. “No, I wouldn’t say that we have failed. I would say that we have not been able to move the elephant.”

Oby blamed the President Goodluck Jonathan administration for the failure to secure the freedom of the kidnapped girls and said it was still possible to defeat Boko Haram.

Oby said that Nigeria has a political class problem but she refused to put her former boss and mentor President Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled between 1999 and 2007 on blast.

She however said that OBJ was “aware of the elements of corruption, and it was his responsibility to tackle” them, but denied that he was corrupt during his administration.

She said: “Of course it [the government] was [corrupt]! [But] There was no way it could have been more corrupt than the government of Abacha”.

Oby said that they failed to fully tackle corruption during OBJ’s term and denied being a window dressing for a corrupt regime.
She insisted that she was not a politician despite holding two ministerial positions in the Nigerian government, being an advisor to presidents and holding high office at the World Bank.

Ezekwesili and Hasan talked about the widespread poverty, inequality and corruption as the reason why Boko Haram insurgency began, and debated whether World Bank policies have helped or hurt Africa’s development.

Oby Ezekwesili is known in Nigeria as “Madam Due Process” due to her fierce anti-corruption drive.

Oby founded Transparency International in 1996 and was an advisor to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and served in two of his cabinets as Minister of Education and Minister of Solid Minerals between 2003 and 2007.

She became a the vice president of the World Bank for Africa, where she stayed until 2012.

Hausa Community Says Fayose Not Oppressing It

Hausa Community Says Fayose Not Oppressing It


The Ekiti state Hausa community has rejected ever accusing governor Ayodele Fayose of supposedly clamping down on them and crippling their businesses in the state for not voting for the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan during the March 28 presidential election.

In a comment issued by its leader, Alhaji Musa Kanga, they said barring of selective display of goods, mainly on highways, by the government should not be linked to politics.
The community distanced itself from the rumour, saying it was targeted at making friction between the government and the Arewa people who have co-existed in a mutual manner since Fayose came on board last year.

The body was responded to the rumour hovering around that the barring of products from being exhibited on Fajuyi- Adebayo-Opopogbooro road, a place dominated by Hausa traders by the state government, was a campaign against Hausa people for voting Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari during the election.

The Hausa community said: “Anybody, irrespective of tribe or State of origin contravening environmental law should be sanctioned according to the law.
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“That the government decided to act to prevent violation of the law, such should not be linked to politics or be perceived to translate to a clampdown on Hausas for not voting President Jonathan during the presidential poll.

“Election has come and gone and the governor must be allowed peace of mind to govern the State properly.”

Peter Ayodele Fayose was the PDP flag bearer in the 2014 Governorship election in Ekiti state slated for June 21, 2014. He won the election and has been declared by the electoral commission as the new governor.

APC lawmakers at the Ekiti state House of Assembly have served Fayose an impeachment notice, and have given him 7 days to react. This would make him the first Nigerian governor to be impeached twice in office.

Filipina Spared From Execution In Last Minute

Filipina Spared From Execution In Last Minute


Mary Jane Veloso was spared from death by firing squad in response to a request from Filipino authorities after a woman who allegedly gave her a suitcase with a false bottom containing 2.6 kg of heroin gave herself up to police in the Philippines on Tuesday. The request came last minutes before the execution. However, the other convicts, including four Nigerians, had to face a firing squad. Here are their last minutes:
11pm-11.30pm (Indonesian time)

A firing squad of twelve policemen gathered at the execution site. They were given wages of less than $100 for execution.
Policemen take position ten steps from where the inmates will be positioned.
The commander loads each policeman’s rifle with one round. Only three of twelve are live ammunition.

11.30-11.59 p.m. (Indonesian time)

Sentenced to death escorted from their cells.
Their hands and feet bound and eyes blindfolded.
Sentenced to death can choose whether they want to be shot standing, sitting or kneeling.
After final minutes with a religious counsellor the commander draws a black mark over inmates’ hearts.

11.59pm-00.00 a.m.

The commander raises a sword and policemen fire their rifles after he swishes sword down.

Nigerian Troops Storm Sambisa, Rescue 300 Females… Identities yet to be confirmed

Nigerian Troops Storm Sambisa, Rescue 300 Females… Identities yet to be confirmed


In a daring and precise operation the Nigerian troops have stormed the Sambisa Forest and rescued about 300 women and girls. We gathered that at least three major terrorists camps have been destroyed in the well-cordinated attacks that include the destruction of the notorious Tokumbere camp in the Sambisa Forest. While confirming the operation the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said he could not confirm the identity of the freed victims and their origins and he would state if any of them was from Chibok until after the . He said: “I can only confirm the rescued this afternoon of 200 girls and 93 women in different camps in the forest. We are yet to determine their origin as all the freed persons are now being screened and profiled. Please don’t misquote me on their origin. We will provide more details later.”

Four feared dead, many injured as bomb explosion rocks Kogi radio

Four feared dead, many injured as bomb explosion rocks Kogi radio


Four persons were feared dead after a bomb explosion at a community radio,  TAO FM,  in Kogi Central senatorial  zone , Monday night.

Sources said that the explosion occurred around 8 pm .

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing of the station located at the centre of Okene town.

Although the number of casualties was yet to be ascertained , unofficial sources said four persons were feared dead with many injured.

The Source also said the attack may not be unconnected with its hard-line on some politicians; especially those who have received verbal attack from the radio station over their role in the Saturday House of Assembly re-run election in some part of the senatorial axis.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relation Officer, Shola Collins said, the police have already been mobilised to the scene of the incident.

Collins said the attack which affected part of the radio station building, said four persons have already been declared dead while many are still in the hospitals.
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