Syria Crisis: UK & US Finalise Plans For Military Strike

Britain and the US are finalising plans to launch limited punitive military strikes at the end of the week against the regime of Bashar al-Assad over the "abhorrent" use of chemical weapons near the Syrian capital, Damascus, last week.

As the Arab League threw its weight behind the allies' judgment that the Assad regime was responsible for the chemical attack, the US and Britain paved the way for intervention, saying it would be a response to a violation of international law and not aimed at regime change.

General Sir Nick Houghton, chief of the defence staff, will outline a series of arm's-length options for targeted attacks against Syria during a meeting on Wednesday of the UK's national security council (NSC) .

Houghton, who is expected to reiterate the military's misgivings about entering the conflict, is expected to tell ministers the UK could assist US forces with cruise missile strikes launched from submarines, warships and aircraft against targets such as command and control bunkers.

David Cameron announced a recall of parliament on Thursday to allow MPs to formally debate the proposed intervention.

The Commons is expected to endorse military action – with a few rebels on all sides – after Ed Miliband indicated on Tuesday that Labour will reluctantly support the government motion, which will closely refer to international law.

Cameron said any use of chemical weapons was "morally indefensible and completely wrong," adding that any action taken "would have to be legal, would have to be proportionate. It would have to be specifically to deter the future use of chemical weapons".

Without spelling out any detailed plans, he signalled limited action. "This is not about getting involved in a Middle Eastern war or changing our stance in Syria or going further into that conflict … it is about chemical weapons. Their use is wrong, and the world shouldn't stand idly by."

44 people killed in Borno

At least 44 people were slaughtered at Dumba village on the outskirts of Baga town, in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, by gunmen on Tuesday night in what is believed to be a continuation of reprisal attacks since the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau became public.
According to sources, about 50 gunmen stormed Dumba village which is some kilometers away from Baga and slaughtered 44 people. Many people were also said to have been injured during the attack that lasted for hours.

It was learnt that the gunmen also set fire on some houses in the village.

Rescue workers have been mobilized to the area from Maiduguri with the aim of providing medical services to the surviving victims.

The assailants were said to have removed the two eyes of some of the victims while many others had their bodies decapitated.

A rescue worker told Journalists in Maiduguri that the village came under attack late Tuesday when some unknown gunmen stormed the settlement and killed many people when they were fast asleep.

"As I'm speaking to you now, Red cross officials and the San Medicine Frontier are attending to the injured victims," a rescue worker with a federal government agency who does not want to be named said.

According to him, the village has been deserted, as the people are now taking refuge at the Baga central primary school.

A source with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) who confirmed the incident, said the agency has mobilized to the area to access the situation with a view to render humanitarian assistance to the injured victims and those who were psychologically traumatized in the attack.

According to him, the agency will on Saturday(today) set up camp at the Baga central primary school for the displaced victims.

2015: Only Supreme Court Can Determine Jonathan's Eligibility

AHEAD of 2015 presidential election, Adamawa stakeholders in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Wednesday, that only the Supreme Court can determine whether or not President Goodluck has the right to run for the presidential election.
According to the PDP stakeholders, if President Jonathan contests for another term of four years in 2015 and gets the position, he will have then succeeded himself in office as President for a cumulative period of nine years 23 days, against the constitutional provision of eight years.
The PDP stakeholders, who warned that PDP must be careful not to play into the hands of the opposition, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM and others, stressed that those currently pushing for Jonathan's Presidency come 2015 on the basis of ethnicity or religion as a yardstick for their support for him, were not doing him or the polity any good.
In a statement signed by former governorship aspirant, Dr. Umar Ardo, the stakeholders said: "It has the tendency of alienating other ethnic and religious groups against the President. How then does that help the cause of the PDP and the President, seeing that the alienated groups are by far in the majority?
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/2015-only-supreme-court-can-determine-jonathans-eligibility/

NASS, FG, Urge ASUU To Call Off Strike

As the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,   enters   it second month,   the     leadership of   the National Assembly, NASS, and Federal Government, yesterday, appealed   to  the lectures to end the strike.
The NASS and FG made the plea after a meeting with Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of public universities in Abuja.
They pleaded that  the FG has made offers and commitment to necessitate the resumption of academic activities in the nation's public universities.
According to Senate Chairman on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, "The Senate Committee has always sought the required fund for our nation's universities.
We plead with ASUU for immediate end of the strike.   We want to plead with lecturers to be more sensitive to their  scale of priorities especially in the area of education and timely implementations of agreements. The present ASUU strike must end. It is time  for  the nation to take the bull by the horn".
Chairman House Committee on Education, Honourable Aminu Suleiman said, "I want to commend all those who have fought for the proper funding of our universities in the country.     The Federal Government have also taken position to identify the needs of all our Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to stop this problem once and for all.
"It is gratifying to know that government has shifted grounds and it is also in our position to passionately appeal to the aggrieved members of ASUU in the interest of the system to also make concession so  that students can resume school".
He noted, "We always agree to disagree we can always disagree without disrupting the system. We must appreciate that by prolonging this strike we are doing more harm to the system and causing more problems for the country in general.
What government has done is quite in line with the legislative agenda which we set out for ourselves as members of House of Representatives. No sacrifice is too much in ensuring the development of the sector".
The SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the FG has already demonstrated sufficient commitment to the implementation of 2009 FG/ASUU agreement.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan has set N100 billion to develop infrastructure in 61 universities and N30 billion to support the university councils in settling the earned allowances.
The SGF therefore appealed to the university teachers to call of the two months old strike.
 

Egyptian Ex-President Hosni Mubarak Released From Jail

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been released from prison after appealing against his detention.

He was flown out of Cairo's Tora prison by helicopter to a hospital, but is now expected to be put under house arrest.

Mr Mubarak, 85, still faces charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of demonstrators during the protests that toppled him in 2011.

His release is seen by many as a sign that the military is rolling back the changes that flowed from the uprising.

Egypt is currently under a state of emergency amid the bloodshed which has accompanied the army-backed interim government's crackdown on Islamists opposed to the army's ousting of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi on 3 July.

Hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood - the movement from which Mr Morsi comes - have been detained, including its most senior leader Mohammed Badie, who was wanted over alleged incitement to violence and murder.

Those Fighting Amaechi Are After Rivers Resources- Senator Abe

Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Down-Stream), Senator Magnus Abe, has said that those against Rivers State governor and factional Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, were only after the control of Rivers state resources.Abe made this known at Nchia, headquarters of Eleme Local Government Area of the state, during a public hearing on a bill for a bye-law organised by the Eleme Local Government legislative assembly.

The serving lawmaker representing Rivers South-East in the National Assembly, said "the reason, I know all these, is because the governor is vocal and he speaks his mind on issues. Some people are interested in getting control of the government of Rivers State by hook or crook not because they love Rivers State, not even because they hate Amaechi, but because they want to be the ones to control the resources of Rivers State."In the past six years, we are witnesses to what our resources have been used for.

All those things would not have been possible if the resources of Rivers State were not in the hands of those who think that the people mattered more than the big men."Abe while stressing that security had been compromised in the state due to the interest of the Nigeria Police in politics rather than security, called on people to be alert at all times.He hailed the decision of the National Assembly to take over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly so as to find a permanent solution to the crisis ravaging the state.

Thankfully, the National Assembly has taken over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly. It was done to cool down the problems, so that mature heads will begin to look for a solution that will restore constitutional rule.

This report was prepared by our reporter at the National Assembly.

Manning Gets 35 Years Prison Time

Bradley Manning, the Army private whose disclosure of hundreds of thousands of U.S. military and diplomatic documents gave American officials a global case of heartburn, was sentenced to more than three decades in prison Wednesday.
A military judge sentenced Manning to 35 years -- less than the 60 prosecutors sought and far shorter than the 90 he could have received -- minus credit for the about three and a half years he's already been behind bars.
He showed little to no reaction when the judge, Army Col. Denise Lind, sentenced him at Fort Meade, outside Washington. But in a statement read by his attorney afterward, he said he acted "out of a love for my country and a sense of duty," to expose what he said were abuses committed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The attorney, David Coombs, said the statement was part of Manning's application for a pardon from President Barack Obama.
Key WikiLeaks figures in Manning trial
Bradley Manning apologizes in court Bradley Manning verdict: Messages differ Manning still faces harsh sentence
"If you deny my request for a pardon, I will serve my time knowing that sometimes you have to pay a heavy price to live in a free society," the statement said. "I will gladly pay that price if it means we could have a country that is truly conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all women and men are created equal."

Amaechi swears in new acting chief judge

GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi has sworn in Hon Justice Peter N.C. Agumagu as the new Acting Chief judge of Rivers state.
At a brief ceremony in Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor charged the new acting Chief Judge to discharge his duties conscientiously just as he congratulated him.
Justice Agumagu was the President of the customary court of Appeal, Rivers state before his new appointment.
He was sworn in Tuesday after the former Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Iche Ndu, retired from service.
Amaechi said the new Acting Chief Judge shall hold his office pending when the National Assembly would approve the candidate recommended for appointment as the State Chief Judge by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

ASUU, FG meeting end in deadlock

Negotiations  between the Federal Government and the  leadership of the Academic  Staff Union of Nigeria Universities (ASUU)  over the on-going strike  by members of the union  ended in a deadlock in Abuja  yesterday.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting which lasted several hours, the Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam who is Chairman of the Needs Assessment Implementation Committee set up by the Federal Government  stated that President Goodluck Jonathan had pledged to commence release of N100 billion for the  infrastructural  development of the universities from the beginning of  September.
He further stated that due process for the release of the funds to execute the identified projects in all federal universities across the country had already started.
Said he: " Among the  infrastructures that would be provided  are chairs, classrooms, laboratories , libraries and  student hostels. There would also be renovation of existing infrastructures and  execution of fresh projects."
He further stated that ASUU leaders were members of the the Needs Assessment Committee adding that they had agreed with resolutions on how to address the infrastructural decay in federal universities.
On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim stated that the Federal Government delegation and ASUU had almost agreed on all disputed issues adding that the only outstanding one was that of earned allowances of academic staff of federal universities.
He further stated that even  though  ASUU had demanded for the release of  N87 billion to settle the outstanding allowances, the Federal Government had agreed to disburse the sum of N30 billion to all the universities.
Said he: "However,  we cannot determine what is owed individual lecturers in different universities. Hence we have agreed that councils of various universities should determine how much teachers in  the various institutions are owed".
However, the President of ASUU Dr. Nasir Fagge in his  own remarks said that the union still insisted that the Federal Government should implement the 2009 agreement reached between both parties.
Said he: "If you remember  our objective  for going on strike  was to get government to implement the 2009 ASUU/ Federal Government agreement, particularly  the memorandum of  understanding  we reached.
I want to say that at today's (yesterday's)  meeting, we looked at all the issues in that  MOU  and it is clear to us that the  the Governor  Suswam  committee that is working on the funding requirement for  rehabilitating  the university system based  on the implementation of the needs assessment  report; it is clear to us that that we have not really gone far in that aspect.  Secondly,  remember in our earlier discussion, we said there are other aspects of the agreement that  were refered to eitherthe Implemenatation monitoring committee or the federal ministry of education. We are yet to commence work on those aspects."
He continued: "On the earned academic allowances, since  the government made it clear that it doesn't have the money to implement that  aspect,  we were  made to understand today that government is going to consult the universities' governing councils and then if there is any need for further meeting, we would be consulted.
So, on the basis of that, we will also go back and inform our members  on this development. I think at this point, what the union is talking about is the implementatioin of 2009 agreement not the renegotiation of the agreement."

Doubtful Future For Education

THERE is a paradox governments have built around education – they are spending billions of Naira on education, yet the financial issues around education are not being resolved. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike is only one of many matters that are dogging education.
Government's supposed interests in negotiating with ASUU, the speed being applied, and the uttermost neglect of other aspects of education confirm the diminishing importance that governments attach to education.
ASUU's case is exceptional, in that governments appeared concerned. When the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, went on strike, it took almost three months before governments started talking to the union. The issue remains partially resolved.
With the ASUU strike, the failure of governments and their programmes are obvious. Governments sign agreements they do not intend to keep. ASUU is on strike over a 2009 agreement. Governments want to re-negotiate implementation of a four-year-old agreement.
They also know that the negotiations for a new agreement are due. We have governments that plan for immediate needs, if they ever do. They are exhausting themselves over ASUU strike as if meeting ASUU's demands would solve all the challenges that our education faces.
How do governments spend billions of Naira they budget annually for education? Bureaucracy consumes the bulk of the money. Duplication of agencies that manage education is the biggest cost centre in our national education management. Governments are running up new costs.
New higher institutions are being built with emphases on physical structures. Laboratories, libraries and research centres that they require to be centres for meaningful academic engagements are available in inadequate numbers.
It is absurd that governments – the owners of the universities – would need an ASUU strike to determine the status of the facilities in universities.
What plans do governments have for education? How would they tackle sustainable funding so that we are not soon back to another wave of strikes in a matter of months? Would governments ever consider education important enough that it should run without disruptions from strike?
There would be no easy solutions. Many of the federal agencies on education just drain resources that should have been invested in improving learning facilities. States imitate the waste the federal make in education, making it one of governments' biggest cost centres, without commensurate value for the expenditures.
Governments can save costs by eliminating the duplication in the functions of education agencies. There should be clearer lines about the roles of governments in different levels of education. The Federal Government should not be dabbling in primary school education.
Finally, the future of education is too important to be left to haphazard funding. Governments should tackle funding of education beyond ASUU's strike.
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Manning's Lawyer Pleads Leniency Amidst Sentencing Tomorrow

— Pfc. Bradley Manning's defense lawyers on Monday made a last-minute personal plea to the military judge hearing his court-martial, asking her to be lenient in sentencing and allow Private Manning a chance to rehabilitate himself.

Private Manning, 25, has been convicted of disclosing hundreds of thousands of government documents to WikiLeaks, and as the sentencing phase of his trial nears its end, his lawyers are arguing that he is an idealistic if naïve young man who was let down by a commander aware of his troubled mental state.

One of the defense lawyers, David E. Coombs, said Private Manning had demonstrated that he could return to being a productive member of society after a brief prison sentence.

Prosecutors urged the judge, Col. Denise R. Lind, to sentence Private Manning to at least 60 years in prison for violating his oath to serve and protect the United States. The government has said Army commanders could not have known that Private Manning would leak classified materials, no matter his emotional health.

"He's been convicted of serious crimes," said Capt. Joe Morrow, a prosecutor. "He betrayed the United States, and for that betrayal he deserves to spend the majority of his remaining life in confinement."

But Mr. Coombs said Private Manning should not be denied the chance to live a normal life for a leak that has not been proven to be a long-term threat to the country's security.

"Long after this information probably is no longer even classified — if it's still classified — long after that day has passed, the government still wants Pfc. Manning rotting in a jail cell," he said.

Private Manning faces up to 90 years in prison after being convicted on most charges, including six counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917. Colonel Lind will begin deliberating the sentence on Tuesday. It is unclear when she will announce his sentence.

13 militants killed in gun battle with Navy

The Nigerian Navy has announced the recovery of MT NOTRE in the early hours of Monday from armed militants who hijacked it.

MT NOTRE, carrying 17,000 metric tonnes of petrol, was hijacked by the armed militants in the Gulf of Guinea.

In the process of recovering the vessel, the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy shot dead 13 of the militants, who engaged them in a gun battle.

The shootout reportedly lasted over 30 minutes.

Child Marriage: A violation Of human right

The ongoing constitution amendment, particularly section 29 (4) (b), highlights a significant issue that has been begging for attention. It is  girl-child marriage. To lay the matter to rest, there is a need to answer some questions raised by the section. These include–who is a child? What are  the constitutional consequences of childearly marriage?

The Child's Rights Act defines a child as a human being who is less than eighteen years of age. This is line with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children's Charter) which Nigeria has ratified and domesticated. 18  years is the age of majority in Nigeria agreed, albeit implicitly, by some constitutional provisions. These include Section 29 (4) (a) which provides that 'full age" means the age of eighteen years and above, though dealing with citizenship; Section 35 (1) (d) permits denial of right to personal liberty to a person less than eighteen years for education or welfare. Section 36 (4) (a) authorizes the exclusion of the public from courts/tribunals hearings for the welfare of persons who have not attained the age of eighteen years; and Section 77 (2)/ 112 (2) provides that to be eligible for registration as a voter for either national or state legislative house, a Nigerian must have attained eighteen years.

Children are generally excluded from activities like voting, driving, entering into a contract, because such activities demand physical, psychological and mental maturity. Children are believed to lack the capacity to enter into contracts. Marriage is a contract requiring the consensus of the parties involved. Marriage is also widely believed to be of adult concern as a child lacks the full understanding  to comprehend fully what marriage is about. This is understandable because there is a time for everything, a time to be a child and a time to be an adult.

Experts have noted grave effects of girl-child marriage. These include susceptibility to the health risks associated with early sexual initiation like obstetric fistula. Their partially developed reproductive organs could predispose them to complications during childbirth, Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), secondary infertility, maternal and infant mortality. Their Inability to negotiate safe sex increases their vulnerability to Sexually Transmitted Diseases and infections, including HIV. They are victims of sexual and other forms of domestic abuse, social isolation and are deprived of  the opportunity to maximize their potentials in order to make meaningful contributions to their worlds, perpetuating gender inequality and female poverty.

It is little wonder that besides the Child's Rights Act, a plethora of international and regional conventions have  ratified and domesticated treaties like the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Protocol to the African Charter on Rights of women in Africa (Women's Protocol) and the African Children's Charter, specifically prohibit Child marriage.

The Nigerian Constitution, also  guarantees fundamental human rights to the citizens.. These rights are divided into Civil /Political and socio-economic, rights with the distinction lying in the justifiability of Civil/Political rights. This articles will not overstress the indivisibility of rights, the pertinence of making socio-economic rights enforceable or even Nigeria's duty of upholding obligations voluntarily imposed on itself by ratification as was held by the African Commission. It focuses on the guaranteed fundamental rights provisions of Constitution and domesticated treaties in relation to child marriage. Section 33(1), in guaranteeing right to life, provides that 'every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court …' When girls are forced into marriages, they begin procreation before the full development of their reproductive organs, predisposing them to complications of

ASUU Strike: Jonathan Approves N400bn

The end to the present strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may be in sight as President Goodluck Jonathan has approved N400 billion for the infrastructural development of Nigerian universities.

The document to this effect is expected to be made available today at the meeting of the presidential committee on implementation of the NEEDS assessment in the universities with the leaders of the four university-based unions – the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, made the revelation while addressing his union members at the SSANU National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the weekend at the University of Abuja.

Ugwoke, briefing the SSANU members on the activities of the NEEDS assesment implementation committee, led by Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam. He noted that the fund was different from the N100 billion Governor Suswam had raised from donor agencies and big companies to tackle the problems of Nigerian universities in 2013.

The labour leader said: "Let me give you a tip on what the NEEDS assessment committee is doing. The president has approved that within the next four years; N400 billion would be expended in infrastructural development of Nigerian universities, to transform the universities to international standard.

"N100 billion has already been raised by Suswam committee out of which 61 universities have been pencilled down, as contained in the NEEDS assessement committee. The N100 billion is expected to address needs of the universities in the areas which include re-furbishing and renovation of lecture theatres and lecture halls, re-furbishing and renovation of laboratories/libraries and the renovation of hostels.

"The second category is building of new hostels of international standard, self-contained rooms, the latest model in the world. That is the standard to be built in every university, and also the state-of-the-art laboratories as well as classrooms, lecture theatres and the halls."

Ugwoke pointed out that the money had been shared and out of the N100 billion, N96 billion had been sent to universities.

He added: "The committee is meeting again on Monday, and by Monday (today), the document will be out. This time around, it is not only by giving university money, but it will be monitored to ensure that the money is used to transform the universities, to bail universities out of the present situation and developed to an international recognized university standard."

Amnesty: Not A Solution To Niger Delta

No nation can afford sections of its population romance violence in sequences that frighten the citizenry. Nigeria runs on purely ethnic platforms and each group tries to compete and outwit the others using all means. The effect is that while many people give allegiance to their ethnic consideration, only a microscopic few think about Nigeria. That is why every ethnic bracket in Nigeria is associated with one militia group or the other.

The amnesty programme of late President Umaru Yar'Adua, which was energized by the present administration, has only achieved a temporary relief for the nation as the core issues that gave rise to militant agitations in the Niger Delta are still unresolved.

Underdevelopment, lack of infrastructural facilities, unavailability of social amenities, unemployment and deficient manpower profile, environmental degradation, etc, are some of the issues that triggered off the violent struggle in the Niger Delta. For now the oil has continued to flow without the activities of militants although the question of oil theft has equally proved more economically lethal. In all these sad events, the search for better conditions of living by the people of the region has remained at the forefront.

Nothing has proved to the federal government and those who hate to hear about better living for the Niger Delta people what peace can do to an economy. It has often been said by analysts and admitted by those saddled with the task of upping power availability in Nigeria to 6000mw that without gas which comes from the troubled Niger Delta, the target in power supply would never be met soon. Now, if peace can come to the oil region, if gas can flow, if oil export can resume, if the economy can bounce back to earn huge revenue from selling about 2mbpd and above, if Nigeria can edge out Angola as number in oil in Africa, would the FG and Nigeria not be on the course of economic recovery?

For now, everyone seems to be carried away by the noise of amnesty and the temporary peace it offers. Instead, the governors and their opponents are busy profiteering from the oil earnings. The governors of the region seem to have abandoned the credible part they towed when they did not understand what the amnesty package meant to the people.

The amnesty period is almost over but no one in the region seems to understand what happens next. Will there be resumption of hostilities? Would the FG not utilize this window to announce what it intends to do next? Why won't the FG begin a heavy mobilization of all the influential leaders in the region to arrive at a consensus of opinion on what should happen to Nigeria and oil henceforth?

The key militant groups still holding out have made it clear that they do so for want of a clear agenda to address the real issues that caused the agitation in the first place. Even if they are accused of ulterior and selfish motives, they still have a point strong enough to form a rallying point after the amnesty period.

Now, what is hollow in the entire scheme and which was the great expectation was the need to announce that the FG acknowledges that injustice led to the violent agitations and what the FG would do to resolve the crisis in the first place. The amnesty, to reasonable humans, merely offered a ceasefire kind of window in a no-victor-no-vanquished style. This would have given the FG the opportunity to pursue the peace by announcing activities, post-amnesty, that would lead to a kind of consultation/summit, conference that would finally or seriously put the issues to rest. Such issues as the split-of-the-barrel would have come up, even if fiscal federalism is not squarely addressed. What this would mean is to say: look, for every barrel of oil drilled, the owners of the land/community would get 'xyz' percent, the local council would get this, and the state would get that. The implication would be that each time, henceforth, that oil is spilled or pipelines sabotaged, the community, LGA and state where the loss is suffered would lose their share.

The FG could say, this agreement would begin by say, January 2014, but that revenue earned above 1.5mbpd between October 2009 and December 2013 would be used to execute massive infrastructural development of the region, and that the amounts owed the development agencies such as the NDDC would be released in full within this period.

EMMA OKOH

I Won 1999 Election

Chief Samuel Oluyemisi Falae, a retired technocrat was the 1999 presidential candidate for All People's Party (APP), which transmuted to All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

He contested against former president Olusegun Obasanjo of People's Democratic Party (PDP).

In an interview with PAUL ORUDE, the Ondo-born chief, who was in Bauchi as part of his tour to revive the Social Democratic Party (SDP), spoke on how he defeated former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 presidential election, and how Social Democratic Party (SDP) was going to shape Nigeria politics.

Excerpt

What is your mission in Bauchi?

I have been hearing of the development going in Bauchi and I wanted to come and see for myself. I am very impressed with what I have seen. I am also impressed that because of the good work of the governor Boko Haram has not found its foothold in Bauchi. I am also here because recently the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was revived by some of us who felt that the political situation in Nigeria requires something new, different, decent, honest and purposeful.  And so I am here to meet friends, talk to former members and leaders of the SDP to let them know that the party is back and also ask them to join hands with me to establish it as the third force in Nigeria politics.

During the two presidential elections you asked members of your party on both occasions to vote a presidential candidate whose party is different from yours. Why?

My former party, the SDP was the remnant of the Mega Movement. About four or five years ago there was a movement of 24 political parties to come together and merge into one and offer a credible alternative. I was dragged into that movement and at its second meeting I was made its spokesman. I was prevailed upon to lead the movement and as time went on the various parties were withdrawing. At the end of the day three or four of us were left because everybody thought that he alone would win power without sharing it with anybody else. This in my view was very unwise. I have always held the view that it is better to have one percent of 100 than 0 percent of 1000. One percent of 100 is one and 0 per cent of a 1000 is 0.

So, it is therefore better to work and win power in collaboration with others so as to give Nigeria a new direction to begin to eliminate corruption, which is the key to our crisis and problems.

SDP has one of the most fantastic manifestos that you have ever seen. It addresses every issue of concern to Nigerians. That was why it was able to win elections in every part of Nigeria. Membership of SDP was like a family. The rancour, the backbiting, and the bitterness that we see today were very rare. For example, late General Shehu Yar'Adua and I were two leaders of the party vying for nomination to be the presidential candidate of the party. And yet anytime I was in Kaduna the first place I visited was Shehu's house despite the fact that we were contesting. That is the spirit I want to bring back. And whenever he came to Lagos he would come to my house and smoke all his cigarettes and we would talk for two, three hours. That is missing now. It is now do or die affair because people are fighting for money for themselves not for the country.

Are you going to run for the presidency in 2015?

That is most unlikely. The political arithmetic does not support that because Obasanjo left the presidency just a few years ago and we are from the same zone. Other zones must have their chance because Nigeria belongs to all of us.

 

How are you going to revive the defunct SDP when there are mega parties like APC, PDP among others?

That is exactly why we want to revive SDP because most of the other parties are what I call, opportunistic gang up for power. People came together to form parties so they will win power and grab the treasury and use it for their own purposes. Most of these parties are not formed around core values or programmes that are articulated for the benefits of the masses of Nigeria.

Somebody has been asking me will your SDP work with other parties and particularly APC and I said SDP will work with any party that agrees to a programme with us for the advancement of Nigeria. But I will not go into any cooperation based on nothing. Just like we get together, we have the majority, we win the election, no. We are going to come together only on the basis of composite programme showing how we are going to eliminate corruption, which is the enemy number one of Nigeria, how we are going to create employment for the people, how we are going to solve the problem of power shortage and instability and non availability of power, how we are going to revive the decaying infrastructure, etc. If we agree on those programmes then we can work with anybody after all we are in politics for the sole purpose of maximising the welfare of the people.

How do you see the merger that brought about APC?

Well, I will not comment on the parties coming together. I was recently asked about it a

Rafael Nadal Back to World No 2

Rafael Nadal completed his preparations for the U.S. Open by claiming the title in Cincinnati for the first time with a hard-fought 7-6 7-6 win over home hope John Isner Sunday.
It was his 26th victory at a Masters 1000 tournament and second in succession after lifting the trophy in Montreal last week.
Nadal, who has won nine titles in 2013 in a remarkable run since returning to the ATP circuit after injury in February, has moved to No.2 in the world off the back of that success.
It has relegated Britain's Andy Murray, who will be defending his U.S. Open crown when the action starts at Flushing Meadows on August 26, to third seed when the draw is made later this week.
Nadal wins 8th French Open title Maharajas play host Rafael Nadal returns to the court
Only a shock first round exit at Wimbledon has interrupted Nadal's charge to the top of the rankings with three of his successes coming on hard courts on top of his traditional dominance on clay.
Isner, who had beaten World No.1 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, forced two set points at 6-5 on Nadal's service in the opener, but could not punish his Spanish opponent.

Chelsea Marks Mourinho First EPL With a Win

) -- The Stamford Bridge faithful gave their returning hero a rapturous reception before Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team made sure the "Special One" would be celebrating Sunday as they beat Hull 2-0 in their English Premier League opener.
Mourinho, returning for a second spell in charge at Roman Abramovich's Chelsea, said after the win that it was proof he had made the right decision.
"It was fantastic, something you don't forget. I know they (the fans) love me and that's the reason I'm back and could say 'yes' to Mr Abramovich," he told Sky Sports.

Bolt Completes Golden Hatrick

- Usain Bolt rounded off the world championships Sunday by claiming his third gold in Moscow as he anchored Jamaica to victory in the men's 4x100m relay.
The fastest man in the world charged clear of United States rival Justin Gatlin as the Jamaican quartet of Nesta Carter, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Nickel Ashmeade and Bolt won in 37.36 seconds.
The U.S finished second in 37.56 seconds with Canada taking the bronze after Britain were disqualified for a faulty handover.
The 26-year-old Bolt has now collected eight gold medals at world championships, equaling the record held by American trio Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson and Allyson Felix, not to mention the small matter of six Olympic titles.

Egypt Unrest: Death Toll Climbs 750

Supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi announced new demonstrations on Sunday as the country grew increasingly polarised and the death toll in four days of violence topped 750.
The fresh protests come after a violent standoff between Islamists and security forces at a mosque in central Cairo on Saturday, that briefly turned the area into a battleground.
Security forces traded fire with gunmen inside the Al-Fath mosque before eventually dragging protesters outside, where angry mobs awaited them, chanting "terrorists."
The interior ministry said 385 people inside the mosque had been arrested, and the government gave new death toll figures that brought the number of dead in four days to 751.
Despite the violence, the Anti-Coup Alliance of Morsi supporters said they would hold several rallies in Cairo and elsewhere.

President Jonathan Creates New Army Infantry Division, Sends 8000 Troops Against Book Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan appears set to boost the strength of the military in the insurgency infested North-east after indications emerged that about 8,000 troops are being sent there.
The troops, according to

Mourinho Promises Chelsea Exit

Jose Mourinho has declared that Roman Abramovich, will not have to pay another huge compensation bill if he fails to win silverware.

The Chelsea owner paid Mourinho and his backroom staff £18million, when he sacked them in 2007. But the former Real Madrid manager has promised to leave on his own accord this time around, if it does not work out.

"Of course, it is about winning trophies.My DNA didn't change, my nature didn't change. I am not the kind of person to be at the same club for three or four years without winning a trophy," he said ahead of the Blues' game against Hull.

"In this case, I don't need the club to say 'we are not happy with you, goodbye'. I will be the first one to say 'I gave everything I could but I didn't succeed, so let's both go and try a different thing'.

2015: Fashola Denies Presidential Ambition

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has denied speculations that he was behind an advertisement published in some Nigerian newspapers on Saturday, rallying support for him as a Presidential candidate in 2015.

The advertorial calls on Nigerians to back Fashola as the country's next leader.

His denial was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hakeem Bello, and made available to journalists on Saturday evening.

82 Child Soldiers Rescued In The Democratic Republic Of Congo

- Scores of child soldiers, some of them as young as eight years old, have been rescued from an armed group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.N. mission in the African nation said.
The 82 children, 13 of them girls, were recovered since Sunday from the Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga armed group in the southeastern Katanga province, MONUSCO said Friday in a statement.
The children, aged up to 17 years, had reportedly been recruited by the armed group within the past six months, it said.
Forty of them have been reunited with their parents.
The others are being cared for until they can be returned home, the statement said.
CNN

Deregistered Political Parties Dare INEC; Vows To Field Candidates In Amambra & Ekiti Election

The 20 political parties de-registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Thursday, vowed to field candidates at the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State and the Senatorial election in Ekiti State.
Operating under the aegis of Coalition of Concerned Political Parties, CCPP, the affected parties have also demanded the immediate dismissal of the commission's chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, for going against provisions of the constitution.
The coalition at a briefing said that INEC must declare whose interest it was protecting by deliberately flouting the ruling of the court on party de-registration.
National Chairman of Peoples Progressive Party, PPP, Engr. Damian Ogbonna, who read out the position of the 20 parties, accused Professor Jega of having publicly exhibited partiality and disdain against many political parties in the country,
His words: "We state for the avoidance of doubt that we have lost faith in Professor Attahiru Jega as an unbiased umpire in the political process. Having publicly exhibited his partiality and disdain against many political parties in the country, we believe he is no longer in a position to honourably superintend in elections where the same parties are participants. Accordingly, we demand that Jega be dismissed immediately as the chairman of INEC."

Aspirants speaks on Anambra election

Come November 16, 2013, the governorship election will take place in Anambra State to elect the person that will succeed Governor Peter Obi whose tenure will terminate on March 17, 2014. The aspirants are already jostling for votes and talking of what they will do for the people of Anambra State if elected.
Those who spoke include Prince Chinedu Idigo (APGA), Mr. Oseloka Obaze (APGA), Chief Godwin Ezemo (APC), Senator Chris Ngige (APC), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (PDP) and Dr Ifeanyi Uba of Labour Party. Others are Chief Emeka Nwogbo (APGA) and Mrs. Uche Ekwunife (APGA).
Prince Chinedu Idigo, a lawyer from the ancient Aguleri royal family in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra North is contesting on the platform of APGA. According to him, service spurred him into the race.
" My main consideration for seeking to govern Anambra State is service. I have over the years been considering what will happen when Governor Peter Obi completes his tenure. Actually, I started nursing the governorship ambition in 2009 but I realized that there was no vacancy in the Government House because it was obvious Governor Obi was going to win to continue his second tenure. And having performed so well in office, if a worthy successor does not take over from him, all the things he has done in eight years will lack continuity.

Bolt Wins 3rd Consecutive World Title

Usain Bolt has won a third consecutive world 200m title at the world championships in Moscow.
The Jamaican sprinter powered home in a time of 19.66 seconds at the Luzhniki stadium to take his tally of world championship gold medals to seven.
His compatriot Warren Weir took the silver in 19.79 seconds while U.S. sprinter Curtis Mitchell claimed the bronze in a time of 20.04 second

Rivers State Government Vows To Appeal High Court Ruling

The Rivers State Government says it will appeal the high court judgement restraining the commission of enquiry set up by Governor Amaechi. from further carrying out its functions.

The State Government in a press. statement said the Governor did not take the position of the judge in the. matter as he has the powers under the law to set commission of enquiry into. any matter.

It said although the. law did not state the category or circumstances in which the Governor  can be prevented from constituting such an enquiry, Justjce Iyayi Lamankara failed to recognise the principle

Soccer: Liverpool wins Season Opener

- Liverpool kicked off the new English Premier League season with a 1-0 win against Stoke City at Anfield on Saturday.
A first-half goal by Daniel Sturridge was enough to earn the Reds all three points despite a spirited performance from Stoke, watched by new manager Mark Hughes.
The home side were supported by a full house at Anfield that included Luis Suarez, who is serving the fifth match of a ten-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in April.

The Uruguayan's future at the club remains in doubt with Suarez agitating for a move away from the club he joined in January 2011 so he can play Champions League football. But bids from Arsenal in excess of £40 million ($62 million) have been rejected with Liverpool owner John W Henry stating that the controversial striker is not for sale.

INEC to prosecute 72 cases of double registration in Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to prosecute 72 out of some 93,000 cases of double registration recorded in 2011 in Anambra.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Awka on Saturday.

Gunbattle at Cairo mosque as security surrounds Islamists

Egyptian police exchanged gunfire Saturday with Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi holed up inside a Cairo mosque, an AFP correspondent reported.
The clashes came on the fourth day of bloodshed between the two sides, with the government saying 173 had died in the past 24 hours alone.
That brought the country's toll to more than 750 people since Wednesday, when 578 people were killed in nationwide clashes that erupted after police cleared two camps of Morsi loyalists in the capital.
The standoff at Cairo's Al-Fath mosque in central Ramses Square began on Friday, with security forces surrounding the building where Islamists were sheltering and trying to convince them to leave.
The Islamists had lined up the bodies of dozens of protesters killed in "Friday of anger" demonstrations inside the mosque-turned-morgue.
One of the protesters told AFP by telephone that they were demanding they not be arrested, or attacked by hostile civilians outside.
By Saturday afternoon, the situation turned violent, with an AFP reporter on the scene saying gunmen inside the mosque were trading fire with police outside.
The correspondent said police stormed the Fath mosque and security forces firing tear gas.
In the process, they managed to drag outside seven or eight men and were then confronted by angry neighbourhood residents who attacked them with sticks and iron bars.
Police fired in the air in a bid to disperse the mob.
An AFP reporter saw one man dressed in civilian clothes was wounded by police gunfire.
The violence has left Egypt divided as never before in recent history, splintering the army-installed interim government and inviting international censure.

Teacher Can't Read Own Certificate

When the  late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang his popular number, Teacher, Don't Teach Me Nonsense, many thought it was just a song but the song had become a reality in time.

It was sometime in 2011, when Governor Adams Oshiomhole paid an unscheduled visit to a primary school in Edo North senatorial district of the state that he found out the rot which has pervaded the Universal Basic Education in the state.

For someone who has embarked on massive construction and rehabilitation of schools in the country of course, he must be concerned with the quality of teachers in these schools. Oshiomhole beckoned on a teacher in the school and asked him what are his workings hours. The teacher could not answer and said I don't know and later murmured "7am to 4pm Sir".
A visibly shocked Oshiomhole now called a pupil and asked, "where is your teacher? The teacher standing beside him replied on behalf of the pupil "na me". That was when the governor knew that he has a serious problem in the educational sector.
Read More on Vanguard

Mali’s presidential poll ‘major step’ towards restoration of democracy – Security Council

The successful conduct of the presidential election in Mali represents a "major step toward the restoration of democratic governance and constitutional order," the Security Council said

Council Vice -Chairman Orders Thugs To Manhandle Civil Servants

Mr. Biodun Adeleye, the Vice-Chairman of Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State, allegedly took the law into his hands, as he seized six officials of the

Rivers Crisis: Court Sacks Commission Of Inquiry

A Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, has sacked the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,  to look into the crisis that  erupted in the state House of Assembly on July 9 and 10, 2013.
The court also restrained the governor and the state Attorney-General from receiving, accepting or implementing any report or recommendation from the commission.
 Read more

Inec Registers 2 New Political Party

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday registered two new political parties in  the country.
This was contained in a press statement issued yesterday  by  Mrs Chinwe Ogakwu, Secretary  of the  Commission.

Rivers Crisis: Panel Summons Wike, CP, Others

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered  all persons and organizations mentioned in the memoranda already submitted  to also turn

Suspected Boko Haram Members Kills Eleven

Suspected Boko Haram Islamists have stormed a town in Borno, opened fire on police and civilians and killed 11 people, residents and a local lawmaker told AFP Friday.
The attack happened late Thursday in the town of Damboa in Borno state, Boko Haram's stronghold and where Nigeria has imposed a state of emergency as it pursues an offensive against the insurgent group.
Read more http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/suspected-boko-haram-islamists-open-fire-on-civilians-kill-11/

Soludo, Five Others Disqualified For Anambra Governorship Race

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has disqualified the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and five other aspirants on the party's platform for the November 16th Anambra state governorship elections.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the APGA gubernatorial screening  panel, Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi, its Secretary, Barrister  Ifeanyi Mbaeri and a member,

Man beheads son for N1 million

  Detectives attached to the homicide unit of the Adamawa State police command have commenced investigations to unravel the circumstance that made a 24 years old man to behead his 5 years old boy.
The dastardly act occurred penultimate Wednesday last week in Ganji suburb of

Army Promotes 9 Officers

The Nigerian Army Headquarters has promoted nine officers in the 23 Armoured Brigade, following records of meritorious service.
Brig.-Gen. Fatai Oladipo, the Brigade Commander, while decorating the officers in Yola, urged the officers to show more dedication to the service of the Nigerian Army and carry

Family Dies After Eating Cassava Meal In Enugu

TRAGEDY struck at Owerre Obukpa in Igbo-Eze South Local  Government area, Enugu State as three children from same mother have reportedly died after taking cassava meal allegedly suspected to have been poisoned. Vanguard gathered that the three children whose names were given simply as Ikechukwu Ugwuanyi, Chinecherem Ugwuanyi and Nnenna Ugwuanyi died serially after

Students Begs President Jonathan To Wade into ASUU Strike

Students of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) on Friday begged President Gooodluck Jonathan to wade into the lingering ASUU and Federal Government crisis. The students said that they looked up to Mr President to personally intervene in the face-off. Mr Louis Onwe, a 300-level biochemistry student said: ‘’His intervention into the ongoing crisis will lead to timely resolution of

Mugabe's Party Wins 2/3 Majority Of Parliamentary Election

President Robert Mugabe’s party has won at least a two thirds majority in parliament, enough to amend the country’s constitution, according to a tally of official results Friday. With over 180 seats declared by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Mugabe’s ZANU-PF had won 142 seats in the 210-member