₦airaland Forum

Justice Elizabeth Ipejime today at the High Court in Osogbo Declared Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Winner of the Election Tribunal this morning.

Aregbesola had defeated PDP's Senator Iyiola Omisore during the polls with 392, 284 votes to 292, 742 votes, both Aregbe and Omisore were absent in court but were ably represented by their party's agents

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/breaking-news-election-tribunal.html

[b]BREAKING: Tribunal declares Aregbesola winner of Osun Guber election



The Osun State Election Tribunal headed by Justice Elizabeth Ipejime, Friday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, declared Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the winner of the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state.

Governor Aregbesola had defeated his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP rival, Senator Iyiola Omisore in the keenly contested election scoring 392, 284 votes to the 292, 742 ballots that Omisore got.

However, the results were contested by Omisore and his party who both opted to challenge same at the tribunal.

At the time the judgment was delivered, the duo of Aregbesola and Omisore were absent in court although their party agents represented them.

The Lagos State Government Thursday declared Friday a work-free day for its workers just as the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, enjoined private Sector employers to release their workers early to enable those of them who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card to do so in their various Polling Units.



The Head of Service, Mrs. Oluseyi Williams, who gave the directive in a statement, said the State Government was desirous of ensuring that all public servants in the State participated in the voting process adding that they should take the opportunity to go out and collect their cards at their Polling Units. Enjoining Private sector employers to release their workers early today for the same purpose, Governor Fashola said the desired prosperity and the brighter rewarding future being sought after by the people, both for themselves and for their children, would be determined by their willingness or otherwise to sacrifice time to key into the election process by collecting their Permanent Voters’ Cards for the elections.





He declared, “The prosperity and the brighter rewarding future that we all seek, for ourselves and our children over the next four years, will be determined by what we do in the next few days”, adding that no sacrifice could be too much a price to secure a better future over the next four years and beyond.



The Governor, who noted that in order for democracy to be truly representative, it must be participatory, added that such participation confers eligibility and imposes a duty on all the citizens from the age of 18 years to vote in the elections even as it also enables them to have a say in the elections.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/breaking-news-lagos-state-declares_5.html

he National Examination Council (NECO) has released its November/December 2014 results with 52.94 per cent credit pass in English Language and 55.37 per cent credit pass in Mathematics.

Prof. Promise Okpala, the NECO Registrar, who announced the results on Wednesday, said that the results were improvement on the previous exams conducted between 2011 and 2014.

Okpala said that 63,445 candidates registered for the examination but 61,386 candidates sat for it, with 30.57 per cent candidates recording five credits and above.

“In an analysis of other core subjects, indications showed that 53,848 sat for Biology with 26,947 pass at credit level representing 50.04 per cent.

"Chemistry had 28,250 candidates with 14,8585 pass at credit level representing 51.62 per cent, 28,222 sat for Physics with 57 pass cat credit level, representing 0.20 per cent.

“1,753 sat for Further Mathematics while 395 passed at credit level, representing 22.53 per cent, Agricultural Science had 41,080 candidates with 12,006 pass at credit level, representing 29.22 per cent," he said.

Okpala said that an analysis of the malpractices showed that 620 cases were recorded depicting a decrease in malpractice the examinations.

“It is an eloquent testimony of painstaking efforts the council has consistently made to eradicate examination malpractice in Nigeria,” he said.

He said that the council was able to sustain its timely release of results less than 60 days from the date of the last paper written, adding that there was no leakage of examination.

“Under this administration, we have worked toward ensuring integrity of results to curb malpractice to zero tolerance,” he said.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/neco-releases-novdec-2014-exam-results.html

Two brothers along with three other persons have been shot dead in the Ajegunle area of Lagos after hoodlums hijacked a campaign rally while the politicians were distributing gifts to the residents.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the campaign rally, which was organised by a Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, went through Oduduwa and Layinka streets in the area, and moved down to Cemetery Road in Amukoko.

Our correspondent gathered that the rally, however, turned violent on Layinka Street when some politicians, who were said to have accompanied the Senatorial candidate, began to share out gifts.

It was learnt that as the supporters and residents scrambled for the items, some thugs, who felt they were being sidelined, attacked the supporters.


Two other factions of the thugs also reportedly clashed, shooting at one another and vandalising property.

Our correspondent learnt that two young men of the same parents, identified simply as Abeeb and Idris, were among the five persons killed by the bullets.

It was gathered that Abeeb, more commonly called Abere, was shot twice in the belly and died instantly, while Idris, his younger brother, was initially rushed to a private hospital in the area before he died.

The two youths lived with their parents on Alayabiagba Street, Boundary, Ajegunle.

When PUNCH Metro visited the area on Wednesday, a police source told our correspondent that two corpses were brought to the Ajegunle Police Division on Tuesday after the police had restored normalcy to the area.

He said,

“Two dead bodies from the rally were brought to the station by evening. Later, a well known politician showed up to arrange how they would be buried. This morning, we have gone to the Cemetery Market, Ajegunle, to pick up another corpse.”

Our correspondent also observed broken bottles and smashed windows and doors on Layinka Street where the rally had turned bloody.

A shop owner, who gave her name as Ojedokun, said the thugs looted her goods and shot continually, during which stray bullets injured several passersby.

She said,

“Trouble started when the aspirant began to share out gifts to supporters. He gave out mobile phones, pressing irons, among other things. As people scrambled for those gifts, trouble began.
“The thugs brought out guns and began to shoot to scare away people. They began to smash bottles on the ground and attack one another. Even the policemen, who accompanied the rally, fled for their lives.
“Stray bullets hit people. We later heard that about six people were shot dead.”


Another resident told our correspondent that the corpse recovered by the police at the Cemetery Market was a young man, who was hacked to death.

He said,

“The two brothers, who were shot dead, are being buried as I speak to you. There is no one in their house as they have gone away. The corpse that we saw at the Cemetery Market was a man hacked to death, but the police have taken him away.”


When PUNCH Metro got to the Amukoko Police Division, our correspondent observed yet another dead victim of the violence, who was covered with a wrapper and laid on the ground.

It was learnt that the parents of the deceased, who hailed from Badagry area, had shown up at the station and were planning to come back for the corpse.

Our correspondent was told that a policeman was also shot during the unrest and had been taken to a hospital for treatment.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/two-brothers3-others-shot-dead-over.html

The Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has declared Thursday, February 5 and Friday, February 6, 2015 as public holiday in the state.

According to a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the holiday is to enable the people of the state to collect their Permanent Voters Card.

The governor urged the people to take full advantage of the public holiday by coming out massively to collect their PVCs, reiterating that it was an opportunity for them to connect with their future through voting for the candidates of their choice.
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During a meeting with women groups in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rufus Akeju, said the Independent National Electoral Commission would not disenfranchise any voter by withholding the PVC.

He assured the people of the state that the cards would go round before the close of distribution on Friday.

Akeju said, “INEC is doing its very best and we will see to it that all those who registered will get their PVC by Friday. Without the card, no one can vote, in fact anyone without the PVC has no business at the polling unit on election days.

“All the remaining cards are available in our office and we urge the electorate to visit the ward where they registered to collect the cards. We have realised that some people have refused to come for their cards while they claim that their cards were not ready.

“If you like your country, you will use your voting rights justly, but you can only do that if you collect your PVC.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/pvc-oyo-declares-thursday-friday-as.html

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, 90, fell down steps from a podium after speaking to supporters upon his return from Ethiopia, say witnesses.

According to AP,Mugabe appeared to miss a step and toppled when he left the raised lectern at the airport Wednesday afternoon, according to several witnesses, who insisted on anonymity because of security concerns.

His aides quickly helped him up and escorted him to his limousine which sped away, they said.

"He addressed supporters who welcomed him ... He missed a step as he walked down from the podium and immediately fell down," said a witness.

Some press photographers who captured the fall said they were forced to delete their pictures by security personnel

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/photo-robert-mugabe-falls-down-from.html

Sixteen political parties and four presidential candidates have called for the postponement of the general elections

This was made known on their behalf by the presidential candidate of the
United Democratic Party, UDP, Godson Okoye, on Tuesday at a news
conference in Abuja.

Among the parties are United Democratic Party, UDP; the Citizen Peoples
Party, CPP; the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN; the Action Alliance, AA;
the Peoples Democratic Congress, PDC; the Labour Party, LP; Unity Party
of Nigeria, UPN; Alliance for Democracy, AD; the Democratic Peoples
Party, DPP; the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP; and the Independent
Democrat, ID.
The
other presidential candidates who want the election dates shifted are
Sam Ekeh of CPP, Anifowose Kelani of AA, and Ganiyu Galadima of ACPN.
There are 26 registered parties and 14 presidential candidates.

The
presidential and the national assembly elections are fixed for February
14 while the governorship and state houses of assembly come up on
February 28.The
parties said the current security challenge in the north east zone of
the country and the untidy manner the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, handled the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card
informed their “patriotic” call for the postponement of the polls.</span></div>
In
their words, a credible election could not hold in a country where a
geo- political zone would be practically excluded due to insecurity.We
the concerned leaders of political parties have observed some dangerous
trends, which if not checked may negatively and adversely affect our
democracy”, the parties said.

They
also argued that the postponement of the election would not in any way
contravene the provisions of Section 25 and 26 of the Electoral Act.
According to him, it would give the electoral body adequate time to
distribute the remaining PVCs to registered voters.

They
said, “We are not urging INEC to do anything that is unlawful, illegal
or unconstitutional. It is unfortunately becoming clear by the day that
most Nigerians appear not to be ready for election but are ready for
violence”.They said they would not participate in the election if INEC failed to heed their call to shift the elections.

They
also criticised the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, for meeting
only the PDP and APC presidential candidates, President Goodluck
Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari during his recent visit to Nigeria.Also
on Tuesday, the presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party,
UPP, Chekwas Okorie, kicked against calls for the postponement of the
polls.

He
said since INEC had admitted that over 80 per cent of the PVCs had been
distributed, there was no need shifting the elections.
He
also argued that there is no country in the world, including the United
States, where 80 per cent of the voting population participated in an
election.Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, had earlier spoken against postponing the elections.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/16-political-parties-threaten-to.html

Billionaire businessman, the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo, Odofin of Ife, the current Chancellor of Lagos State University and chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas has died. He died today February 2nd. He was 79. Details as to what caused his death hasn't been made public yet. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/billionaire-businessman-chief-molade.html


http://lindaikeji..com/2015/02/billionaire-businessman-chief-molade.html?m=1

Nine of the 14 candidates cleared by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for the presidential election have begun crucial talks with the Candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan, on the possibility of stepping down for him.
The collaboration meeting is being anchored on behalf of Jonathan by the National Unity Group (NUG), one the support groups canvassing for his re-election, reports Nigerian Tribune.

Though the identities of the candidates and their political parties remain unknown, it was gathered that the meeting held in Abuja, was adjourned till today for the candidates to brief their different political parties.
After today’s final meeting, the nine candidates will make their decisions to step down from the race and team up with President Jonathan, reports Nigerian Tribune, citing a competent source at the meeting.

National Secretary of NUG, who is also the National Vice-Chairman of the PDP (South-South), Dr Cairo Ojougboh, confirmed the development on Saturday. According to him, the meeting with the nine presidential candidates was with the aim of collaborating with President Jonathan and it was cordial and fruitful.

“We are still incubating the process. What has happened today is very encouraging. We made appreciable progress. They have gone back to discuss with their political parties. The core of the meeting is collaboration for the unity and progress of the country.
“For now, it will not be proper to start naming the nine candidates involved.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/9-presidential-candidates-may-step-down.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday, February 8, a statement by Kayode Idowu, the spokesperson for the INEC Chairman, has said.



“This supersedes the earlier deadline of Saturday, 31st January 2015, and is intended to give registered voters yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so in readiness for the February 2015 general elections,” the statement said.


Mr. Idowu added, “INEC hereby calls on duly registered persons not to delay in going to collect their cards before the expiration of the new deadline.


“The Commission reaffirms its determination to make the 2015 elections free, fair, credible and peaceful; and urges all stakeholders, including voters, to spare no effort in working towards the same objective.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/breaking-news-inec-extends-deadline-for.html

Iran has announced plans to help Nigeria fight Boko Haram.



Iranian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Amir Hossein Abdollohian, made the announcement while addressing the press on Saturday at the on-going 24th Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.



He said “Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa are similar with Al-Qaeda and ISIL in parts of the Middle East, using similar methods of operations to cause havoc to the people of the two regions. Iran is, therefore, willing to use its experience in dealing with terror groups to assist in combating these groups in Africa.”



He added that Iran is willing to share its terrorist experience gathered over the years with Nigeria and Somalia in order to ensure global peace.

Iran is attending the AU Summit as an observer with interest in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with some AU member states.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/iran-offers-to-help-nigeria-combat-boko.html

Abia state governor, Chief Theodore Orji has urged Ndigbo to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan because among all the presidential candidates, he is the best option.



While speaking at PDP campaign rallies held at central school Ubakala in Umuahia South local government and Ndoro central school, Ikwuano local government, Orji insisted that the south east has developed under President Jonathan.



He noted that apart from completed infrastrustural projects, Jonathan also has ongoing projects like the Second Niger Bridge that will be completed during his second tenure.



He advised that in order to allow continuation of these projects, the Ndigbo should vote for President Jonathan because another administration might halt these projects if elected into power.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/jonathan-is-best-option-for-ndigbo-orji.html

The excited Nigerian striker took to Instagram after she played her first game for her new team Liverpool FC of England against Aston Villa Ladies yesterday.

Asisat scored a goal in the enthralling game that ended 4-1 in favour of Liverpool.

Lets hope Brendan Rodgers won't request for her to come to the men's team to replace Mario Balotelli.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/01/nigerian-striker-asisat-oshoala-scores.html

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, has said the alleged missing money from the treasury has been shared by all the governors.

Akpabio, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Forum, said this at the PDP presidential campaign rally holding in Lagos.


The governor said the alleged missing money was a propaganda tool created by the All Progressives Congress.

He said the money which was about 55bn was shared because of the needs of the people in their states.

He however did not say whether it was Naira or Dollars.

http://metronaija.com/weve-shared-missing-money-governor-akpabio/

Two German men have been killed in Nigeria, the foreign ministry in Berlin said Wednesday, as media reported they were engineers shot dead while on a motorcycle trip.
“Unfortunately we can confirm that two German nationals were killed in Nigeria last weekend,” a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.

“The German embassy in Abuja is seeking clarification and is in close contact with Nigerian authorities.”
The ministry did not release further details, either on the victims or the suspected killers.

Regional German newspaper Ostseezeitung said the men, one aged 34 and the other in his mid-50s, were engineers working for German construction company Julius Berger.

Originally from the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, they had lived in Nigeria for years and were on a private trip when they were killed last Saturday, the newspaper said.

http://metronaija.com/breaking-news-two-germans-killed-in-nigeria/#ixzz3NUToxGnD

First Ebola Case Recorded in Scotland

The first case of Ebola virus has been recorded in Scotland. According to the Scottish government, the Ebola patient is a health worker who arrived Scotland from Sierra Leone today December 29th where she was helping to care for Ebola victims.

She arrived Glasgow in Scotland from London Heathrow Airport on a British Airways flight. All passengers on-board the flight are now being traced for examination. Meanwhile the woman has been quarantined at the Gartnavel hospital.

http://metronaija.com/first-ebola-case-recorded-scotland/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said there is every likelihood that the commission may not be able to conduct a possible run-off in the presidential election between the two leading candidates, General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan within the constitutionally stipulated time.

The 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) stipulates the conduct of a run-off within seven days of a presidential election, if there is no outright winner at the first ballot.

Although, there is already a proposal to amend that section of the Electoral Act at the National Assembly since 2012, it may not be done with before the 2015 elections.

The timetable for the 2015 poll published by the Secretary to INEC, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, on January 4, 2014 included a caveat for run-off.

It said: “Note: Run-off election to the Office of President or Governor of a state (if any) will be held within seven days after the announcement of the result of the election in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN).”

“The more the process becomes credible, the likelihood of a presidential run-off. But INEC management is in a fix on how to go about the presidential run-off, if it becomes necessary for the nation to go through it in 2015.

“The seven-day gap between when the presidential election will hold and the run-off is not feasible for us to print ballot papers, result sheets and distribute the sensitive election materials nationwide.

“In 2011, we did anticipatory printing of ballot papers for presidential run-off, but some people/groups wrote petitions against INEC. They said we printed run-off ballot papers ahead because we wanted to rig the elections.

“They also accused INEC of wasting taxpayers’ money on run-off ballot papers when the poll did not hold. Some of our officials were taken to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), queried and subjected to unnecessary interrogation.

“With this nasty experience, INEC will not want to print presidential run-off ballot papers in advance again. It has learnt its lessons in a hard way.

“But in 2012, we made a proposal to the National Assembly for the amendment of the seven-day clause in the Electoral Act for more days to prepare for any run-off.

“As I speak with you, the National Assembly is yet to effect the amendment. This kind of lapse can lead to more electoral challenges in 2015.

“And at the end of the day, Nigerians will be blaming INEC. If you ask me now, I will say we have no position yet on how to go about any run-off.”

http://metronaija.com/may-not-conduct-run-off-election-inec/

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Akinwunmi Ambode, has alleged that the Federal Government owed the state N51bn.

Ambode stated that there has been no meaningful federal project in Lagos State since 1999.

He therefore urged Lagosians to vote for the APC at the governorship and presidential elections next year in order to make the state and federal governments to work in synergy for the progress of the state.

Ambode, who is a former Accountant-General of the state, said this during the ‘10,000-man March’ organised by the Ambode Youth Initiative in Lagos on Saturday.

He said, “If you want heavy traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge to stop, ensure that the APC gets to the centre. They (Federal Government) don’t allow us to make any meaningful changes on that bridge.

“In the past 16 years, no Federal Government project has been done in Lagos. They owe us N51bn for all the projects that we have been doing on Federal Government property. I just need half of that money to make all the changes that we need.”

The governorship candidate said, having worked as a civil servant for 27 years, he understood the workings of the state. He therefore urged the people of the state to vote for experienced people and not beginners.

He said he was a grass roots politician, adding that he had worked in the local government service for 10 years and was at various times the council treasurer in Alimosho, Somolu, Mushin and Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government councils before rising to become the youngest ever auditor-general for local government in the state.

He said he would ensure job creation in Lagos and improve security, which he stated was already being taken care of by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

“We will work on the areas that are pinching you. We will work on entertainment, arts, sports and hospitality sectors so that if you can’t get a white-collar job, we can create jobs for you in these sectors.

“We will create an employment trust fund just like the Lagos State Security Trust Fund which we have been using to keep the people of Lagos safe. The Peoples Democratic Party has not been able to keep Nigeria safe and they want us to hand over Lagos to them.”

Also on the occasion, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, said Ambode was the most qualified person to rule Lagos.

He said when former President Olusegun Obasanjo had failed to release federal allocations to the state for several months, Ambode devised a financial mechanism which raised the state internally generated revenue.

http://metronaija.com/fg-owes-lagos-n51bn-says-ambode/

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia state, Wednesday, granted state pardon to 14 prisoners in the state.

A statement signed by the Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, said the gesture which was part of activities commemorating this year’s Christmas celebration, was in line with the governor’s prerogative of mercy.

The statement said the exercise was based on the recommendations of the state Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, adding that section 212 of the 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, confers such powers on the governor .

According to a statement the beneficiaries include : Uchechi Egwu, Kennedy Ikpeazu, Nnanna Kalu, Udoh Ufomba and Chibuzor Ezenwoko.

http://metronaija.com/abia-frees-14-prisoners/

There was an explosion at the Central Mosque in Kano this afternoon as Muslim faithfuls were holding their Friday Jumat service. It’s the same Mosque where Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido usually leads prayers but he wasn’t there this afternoon. Many are feared dead.

http://metronaija.com/photo-explosion-rocks-central-mosque-kano-many-feared-dead/

The football Governing body has declared the Nigeria Football Federation elective congress that produced Chris Giwa as illegal and ordered his board to leave office by Monday

Fifa has rejected the Chris Giwa led excutive board of the Nigeria Football Federation and ordered the group to vacate office on or before midnight, Monday September 1.

Giwa was declared the president of the country’s apex football body on Tuesday at an elective congress held at Chida Hotel, Abuja where he defeated former NFF Vice President Mike Umeh.

In a letter signed by Jérôme Valcke and addressed to NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu and dated August 29, the world football governing body declared the election congress that produced Giwa as unacceptable, based on its recieved correspondence.

Fifa highlighted the implications should Giwa continue to parade himself as the NFF President, stressing that the governing body will seek no other option than presenting Nigeria’s case before its executive committee for sanction.

The body further declared the congress held at Bentley Hotel as valid while that of Chida Hotel as not acceptable as it contradicted the earlier proposed agenda for a non-elective congress.

“We refer to the enclosed reports we have received from members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria, as well as to information relayed by the media with regard to the events linked to the general assembly of the NFF on 26 August 2014,” the statement read.

“We understand from the sequence of events that the general assembly duly convened by the NFF Executive Committee could not start as planned because some NFF members, including the president, were being held by security forces for questioning.

“We also note that, despite these absences, some members decided to hold an impromptu ‘elective general assembly’ while the delegates were supposed to be deciding on a new roadmap leading to elections for a new NFF Executive Committee.

“According to the enclosed reports, 39 out of 44 of the delegates then resolved to hold an ad-hoc general assembly during which they decided that elections would be organised for 4 September 2014 and elected new members to the electoral committees.

“Finally, we have learnt that the persons who claim to have been elected during the so-called ‘elective general assembly’ have come to the NFF offices claiming to be the legitimate president and members of the NFF. It also appears that the Ministry of Sports has recognised them.

“As stated previously, FIFA deems the general assembly to be the highest decision-making body of any football association and that its decisions are consequently binding, provided that these comply with the member association’s own statutes.

“According to the facts reported to us, it appears that the vast majority of the NFF members decided to set the elections for 4 September 2014 and we consider this decision to be valid since it was taken by the highest decision-making body (the NFF general assembly) and conforms to what has been previously reported to FIFA.

“As a consequence, we will not recognise the outcome of the abovementioned elections and should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on Monday 1 September 2014, we will bring the case to the appropriate FIFA body for sanctions, which may include the suspension of the NFF.

“We ask you to inform all parties concerned accordingly and we thank you in advance for keeping us informed of any developments in the situation. In particular, we would like you to confirm that the date of 4 September 2014 will be met because the timing seems very short,” it concluded.

http://metronaija.com/fifa-rejects-chris-giwa-nff-president/

Some 160 people are being medically monitored in Nigeria’s oil-producing hub Port Harcourt after a doctor died from the virus, the local government said on Friday.

“As of today, none of them has shown symptoms of any kind. We are in touch with them constantly and they also call us to tell us their condition,” Rivers State health commissioner Sampson Parker told a news conference in the city.

The Nigerian government announced on Thursday that the doctor was Nigeria’s sixth person to die from the haemorrhagic fever and the first outside the country’s biggest city, Lagos.

Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state, is the centre of Nigeria’s oil industry and is home to a number of oil majors, including Anglo-Dutch giant Shell, France’s Total and US firm Chevron.

The doctor, Ikyke Samuel Enuemo, fell ill after treating an official from the ECOWAS regional bloc, who travelled to the city after coming into contact with a Liberian-American man who brought the virus into Nigeria and died on July 25.

The official slipped through the surveillance net in Lagos. He was brought back to Lagos but found to have recovered from the virus, health minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said.

Enuemo’s wife, who gave birth only three months ago, is ill with symptoms of the disease and has been placed in quarantine.

She requested to be moved out of Port Harcourt for “emotional reasons” and has been taken to an isolation unit in Lagos for further observation and treatment, Parker told reporters.

“She is also a doctor. Her three-month-old baby is alive and well. The result of the test conducted on her (for Ebola) is not yet out,” he added.

Six people have died of the disease in Africa’s most populous country.

Specialists from the World Health Organization, the United States and Britain have joined experts from the Nigerian government in Rivers State to check the spread of the virus.

Rivers state has a quarantine centre at Oduoha, about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of the city as well as a special isolation ward for Ebola patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

Neither has received any patient, Parker said.

A mobile laboratory has arrived in the city while the hotel where the ECOWAS official was treated has been decontaminated, as have the hospital where Enuemo was treated, his house and the morgue at UPTH.

http://metronaija.com/nigeria-monitors-160-ebola-kills-doctor-port-harcourt/

Reports reaching us have it that the Nigeria Football
Federation Secretariat in Abuja is on fire, the cause
of the fire is unknown and fire fighters are on their
way as at the time of filing this reports.
More details to come

www.metronaija.com/breaking-news-nff-building-is-on-fire-photos/

Chelsea’s Nigeria winger Victor Moses joined Stoke on a season-long loan on Saturday.

Moses has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge since moving from Wigan for £9 million ($15 million) in 2012 and spent last season on loan at Liverpool.

The 23-year-old, who can play on both flanks and in a more central attacking role, is Stoke’s sixth signing since the end of last season.

Stoke’s chief executive Tony Scholes said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of such an exciting young talent in Victor.

“He will certainly add to our attacking options and from talking to him it’s obvious that he’s really excited about the prospect of making an impact in the Premier League with Stoke City.”

Moses, who started his career in England at Crystal Palace, started six Premier League games for Liverpool last term and featured in a further 13 from the bench, scoring his only goal on his debut against Swansea.

Born in Nigeria, Moses chose to represent England at various youth levels up to the under-21s before deciding to play for the country of his birth in senior internationals.

He started all four games at the recent World Cup as Nigeria reached the last 16 before losing to France.

http://metronaija.com/photo-stoke-city-signs-moses-loan-chelsea/

The Oldest Person Who Ever Lived, Is said to be from Ekiti state, he is aged 170 Years Old.

Could This be Real? I’m speechless. .170 years of age?? Wow!

Read more: http://metronaija.com/photo-oldest-man-world-aged-170-yrs-still-alive-ekiti-state/

The Lagos State government has said it is yet to receive any financial assistance from the federal government to help stop the spread of the Ebola virus in the state.

Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health, told journalists at a press conference in Lagos, Friday, that the state is yet to receive a “penny” from the federal government.

“This effort is a collaborative effort between the Lagos State government and the federal officials and their partners,” said Dr. Idris.

“As far as I know, the federal government has been very good in providing technical support, technical support especially through the consultant partners.

“As at now we have not received a penny from the federal government. All the money we’ve spent at the state are money released by the state governor, who released the money immediately we had this thing. And that’s the money we’ve been spending. Perhaps the federal government will release it later, as at now we have not received a penny.

“But again we are grateful for all they have been doing to provide technical support, so many of their staff are working with us in contact tracing, case management, and they are part of the emergency response centre,” Dr. Idris added.

Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the immediate release of a N1.9 billion Special Intervention Plan to strengthen the ongoing steps to contain the spread of the Ebola virus.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, the Health Minister, had also said that an experimental drug for treatment of the Ebola Virus Disease had been provided by a Nigerian in diaspora and would arrive the country on Thursday.

But Dr. Idris also said that the state government has not received the drug as at Friday evening.

“We heard on the news that the thing is on its way to Lagos. We have not received it as of now,” said Dr. Idris.

“But let me say I go for evening briefing at the EOC (Emergency Operation Centre), when I go there for 6 o’clock briefing I’ll get the full details. As at now, I am not aware of the drug yet. Perhaps it’s there, perhaps not.

“We in Lagos we are also exploring such possibilities, because we sent our pharmacists to enquire properly from the two manufacturing companies how best to get them. If they are here in Lagos, I’ll confirm this evening,” he added.

Only Lagos State has recorded Ebola cases, with four deaths (including the Liberian) and eight people in isolation, according to Dr. Idris.

The Health Commissioner also appealed to striking medical doctors to shelve their industrial action.

“Because of our request for volunteers, a number of people have come. They’ve trained some people. As at now, we have five doctors, about eight nurses and some health workers,” he added.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/jonathans-n1-9-billion-ebola-intervention-fund-yet-arrive-lagos/

National president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Kayode Obembe has withdrawn his resignation letter.

Obembe had issued the letter of resignation on Friday, following the confusion that trailed conflicting statements regarding the suspension of medical doctors’ 40-day strike.

In a statement on Thursday, the NMA president stated that doctors had suspended the strike but he was countered by some officers of the NMA, who insisted that the industrial action was still on.

Reacting to the issue Friday, Obembe, tendered his resignation letter saying “I want to make it categorically clear that I stand by every letter of the document I signed-‘that the strike was suspended..and since upon my integrity and honour, I cannot continue to drive the doctrine that ‘strike continues,’ I hereby tender my letter of resignation as NMA president. What I have written, I have written.”

The NMA has however revealed via its twitter handle that its president had rescinded his decision.

“In the wake of incessant controversial reports flying around on the purported resignation of the NMA President and suspension of #NMAstrike, We wish to state unequivocally that the said letter has since been WITHDRAWN and the substantive President of NMA is still Dr Kayode Obembe” the association tweeted.

The Secretary-General of the NMA, Alayaki Adewunmi, further confirmed that Mr. Obembe had indeed withdrawn his resignation letter.

“The letter was written and issued in the morning, but was withdrawn this night. We had a meeting, a national officers meeting, and he (Obembe) believed that was not the right thing to do, so he withdrew the letter. We would be having another meeting on Tuesday to discuss the way forward,” Mr. Adewunmi said.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/president-nigeria-medical-association-resigned-yesterday-changed-mind/

Obi Justina Ejelonu is from Mbaise in Imo State, a graduate of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki and was previously working at Otunba Tunwase National Pediatric Centre Ijebu Ode in Ogun state before relocating to Lagos to work at First Consultant Hospital Obalende. Here’s a post she shared on Facebook group – Igboville last week:

“I never contacted his fluids. I checked his vitals, helped him with his food (he was too weak)…..I basically touched where his hands touched and that’s the only contact. Not directly with his fluids. At a stage, he yanked off his infusion and we had blood everywhere on his bed…..but the ward maids took care of that and changed his linens
with great precaution. Every patient is treated as high risk …..if it were airborne, by now wahala for dey. I still thank God.

Friends, up to our uniforms n all linens were burnt off. We r on surveillance n off work till 11th. Our samples v long bn taken by WHO n so far we v been fine. For me, kudos to my hospital managt cos we work professionally wt every patient considered risk cos thats d training. Had it been it’s a hospital where they manage ordinary gloves lik Govt hospital n some supporter of APC private hosp..:lol….wahala for dey o. I must also thank Lagos Govt….infact! Even fed govt sef….all been supportive. I’m good n so r the others in d hosp…..”

SouthEastNigeria has since confirmed Justina was among those who attended to the Liberian Ebola patient, Mr Sawyer, in Lagos. She is currently being quarantined at Mainland hospital Yaba Lagos alongside about 40 others. This clinic is immediately after Yaba Tech. She is still alive and spoke with SEN yesterday on phone.

Justina had shared this on another Igbo Facebook page earlier on.


Read more: http://metronaija.com/nigerian-nurse-ebola-treating-patrick-sawyer-speaks/

Vandy Jawad 7, is a reminder of hope and survival in an otherwise deeply tragic situation. He was in the treatment centre at Kenema for more than one month after contracting the virus in Daru village about 40 km out of Kenema town, and one of the worst affected communities in Sierra Leone.

According to nurses, he displayed some very serious symptoms when first admitted, “That small boy was very, very sick. We did not think he would survive as so many haven’t,” said Sister Nancy Yoko, the nurse in charge of the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kenema.

Vandy started showing signs of recovery a couple of weeks ago slowly gathering his strength. When he finally achieved a negative test result, which revealed there was no more Ebola virus in his system, it was time for him to go home.
the girl that survived ebola
“Little Vandy provided laughter at the most unlikely moments inside that ward, I’m so happy for his recovery, “ a British volunteer nurse who treated him inside the centre told UNICEF.

“Isata Konneh (35) was another patient who I met leaving the ward. She had tears in her eyes and proudly displayed her certificate to the nurses “I am so happy for this day, I thank God that he has helped me survive” she says.

Many of those contracting the virus are themselves health workers who come in daily contact with very sick patients. Six nurses from the Kenema Treatment Centre, have died. Among the staff infected is survivor Fatmata Sesay who I met after she was released from the ward along with her 11-year-old daughter Tata. Fatmata spent three weeks in the ward while Tata was there for two, “I am the happiest person in the world right now.”

“I knew I was very sick as I was bleeding through my nose and vomiting blood clots, but I am lucky, I am better now and so is Tata. It is not easy to recover from this terrible disease,” says Fatmata.

As the survivors leave the hospital there are often several local media waiting to photograph them and hear their story. Fatmata raises her arms in the air, “I thank Allah and the nurses who have cared for me, we are alive.”

Before patients leave the ward, they are presented with transport money to get home (about US$10), a clean set of clothes, and a certificate declaring that they are healthy and no longer have Ebola. They are photographed and congratulated by staff, and in humble way, celebrated for their resilience.

Hope!

Sources:

http://blogs.unicef.org/2014/08/07/ebola-in-sierra-leone-the-joy-of-survivors/

http://metronaija.com/photos-meet-7-year-old-sierra-leonan-boy-others-survived-ebola/

As night fell in Osun State, many leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were arrested, some by hooded policemen, the latest in a series of clampdown targeting opposition leaders and members ahead of Saturday’s polls in Osun, the party said in a statement.
APC said the Government Reservation Area home of Senator Bayo Salami was invaded by armed soldiers and security agents at midnight, while the Ede country home of the first civilian Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke was not spared of the invasion.
“The entrance gate of Salami’s house was forced open by the hooded security agents who fired sporadically to gain entrance into the sprawling compound to arrest him.


“The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the State Secretary of APC, Prince Gboyega Famoodun were also arrested at midnight by armed soldiers.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Friday night, his personal assistant, Mr. Williams Adeleye, said Alhaji Lai Mohammed was arrested along with Mr. Sunday Dare, Media Aide to APC National Leader ,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Deputy Chief of Staff to Ogun State
Governor, Mr. Salisu.

“They were arrested Gestapo Style by a team of soldiers and DSS agents while they were heading to the Government House, and taken to anunknown destination in an unmarked truck.

“Already, the State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Adetona Ayedun, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Wale Adedoyin,, the Executive Secretary of Osogbo Local Government, Mr. Isiaka Faramade, the House of Assembly member representing Obokun and Ilesa State Constituencies, Hon. Femi Fafiyebi and Folarin Fafowora have all been arrested by armed soldiers and hooded security agents from their homes on Friday night,” APC said.

The party said APC agents in Ifelodun and Ede South Local Governments have been arrested at the time of distribution of election materials by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while those of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were excluded.
“The Ede South Local Government chairman of APC, Alhaji Surajudeed Opalola was also arrested by the security agents who were led by the Youth Leader of PDP in the council
Spokesman of the APC, Kunle Oyatomi, in a swift reaction, said the wave of arrests and intimidation would further deepen defeat of the PDP.
“It is a shame this is happening. This is democracy and our people are resolute on electing the leader they can trust,” Oyatomi said.

http://metronaija.com/breaking-news-lai-mohammed-dare-many-apc-leaders-arrested-osun/

THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has suspended all meetings involving member states of the commission, due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in some West African countries.

Vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Toga McIntosh, announced this at a briefing organised by the Nigerian government for the diplomatic corps on Ebola outbreak, in Abuja, on Thursday.

McIntosh said the management of the commission took the decision as a precautionary measure to check the spread of the virus.

He said only meetings that were “very essential” would be convened by the commission, but he did not provide any specifics.

“We know that all of our meetings bring together stakeholders from the member states.So, on August 4, when we had our management meeting, we took a decision to suspend all meetings that will bring us together from our various countries.

“Let’s watch this spread and let’s see how this will go down, and then thereafter, we can see how we can proceed,” he said.

McIntosh thanked the Lagos State government, the hospital that treated Patrick Sawyer in Lagos and the Nigerian media for their support to contain and combat the deadly disease.

According to him, the Lagos office of ECOWAS had been temporarily closed until after the fumigation exercise.

Read more: http://metronaija.com/ebola-ecowas-suspends-meetings-of-member-states/