Friday 29 November 2013

Asari-Dokubo Did Not Fly In Presidential Jet – Presidency


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The Presidency has denied reports that it had dispatched a presidential jet to fly former militant and leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, to Abuja, following his release by authorities in the Republic of Benin who had arrested him.
Special adviser to the President, Dr Reuben Abati, told State House correspondents in Abuja that there was no truth in the claim which, he described as another attempt by mischief makers to play politics with facts.
I can tell you that President Jonathan did not send any presidential jet to Benin Republic. Or has Asari-Dokubo told anybody that he was brought to Nigeria in a presidential jet? So what is this all about? Blackmail and mischief obviously.
He added that, “an aircraft is not a ghost in the air. The movement of any aircraft is properly documented and people will see the aircraft if it lands anywhere, particularly the presidential aircraft.
"Nobody can come up with any evidence that any presidential jet was sent to Benin Republic. I can tell you that President Jonathan did not send any presidential jet to Benin Republic. "There is no truth in the report that a presidential jet was used to convey Asari-Dokubo. Again, what we see here is the attempt by people to just tell lies and try to package lies as the truth for gullible Nigerians to believe.
“I have read some reports in which they said ‘unconfirmed reports indicate...’ Nobody has been able to say anything categorically and I think it is very sad that people, in an attempt to just play politics with anything at all, will start packaging lies hoping that gullible persons will believe them.  Nobody can come up with any evidence that any presidential jet was sent to Benin Republic,” he said.
Dokubo was arrested on Tuesday in Benin Republic for unconfirmed reasons but was unexpectedly released yesterday.
However, Dokubo’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo, refused to comment on how his client was released and how he got back to Nigeria.
Dokubo is reported to own a university in Benin Republic and had promised to make the Francophone country his home.

FIFA Rankings: How Keshi, Eagles' Fans React

Coach Stephen Keshi has said he is shocked Nigeria have slipped in the latest FIFA rankings despite some impressive results lately. 
“I am shocked (by the latest rankings). We won the Africa Cup of Nations this year, qualified for the World Cup and four-time world champions Italy held us to a draw, so I am surprised,” said Keshi.
However, Keshi said he will continue to lead the Super Eagles to victory.
“We should continue to win and make Nigerians proud because that is what is most important to me and Nigerians,” he said.
“If we remain in where ever we are in the ranking and keep winning and Nigerians are happy, then I am happy.”
Nigerian football fans expressed mixed reactions to the monthly FIFA rankings, published on November 28, 2013, Thursday.
The Super Eagles’ fans took twitter and other social media to express their emotions, surprise and sarcasm over the credibility of the ratings.
Nigerians can not accept that given Super Eagles’ performance in recent times, and their qualification for the 2014 World Cup Nigeria would have moved up the ladder:
@Das_Spiel_: Even if Nigeria wins the World Cup, as long as we're talking about the FiFa rankings, we'll drop places.
@Valrosssy: if Nigeria's points remained same but we were leapfrogged by other nations who gained more points it would've been und'ble!
@Samuel_Mbah: Impossible! FIFA ain't serious at all
@Dswag994: dey are really mad
‏@Pr8nz: Lmao. What did we do? RT @chiq_magnet Stupid rankings ...even after wat we dd to Italy.
@ridwanadeniyi: Forget FIFA ranking... Team Nigeria.
However, rankings still matter, as they are expected to be considered in next week’s draw for the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53249.html

Nigerian Women Angry over Assassination Attempt on Oduah

Nigerian women have condemned assassination attempt on the embattled Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, describing the act as ‘callous and a total violation of her right to live’.
Mrs. Nkechi Mba, the President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), stated this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.
She also added that the threat on the minister’s life shows that some desperate persons want to tarnish her image for giving the aviation sector a facelift.
Mrs. Mba restated women’s plea to the Federal Government to consider the good works Stella Oduah has done in the sector by tampering justice with mercy, pointing out that Nigerian women will not take it likely if anything happens to the Minister.
“Women are not happy with all that is happening and we will not take it likely if anything happens to the minister. We have been pleading that justice be tampered with mercy yet they are threatening and attempting to kill her.
“She has done well in the aviation sector by achieving what has not been achieved in aviation before she assumed office yet some Nigerians are not happy. This clearly shows that those threatening her life are only after her downfall and drastic measures should be taken to stop this evil act, and perpetrators be brought to book,” she stressed.
The NCWS President further described reports going round on social media and in some blogs that the mentioned said assassination attempt was a calculated plan to divert attention from the controversy surrounding the purchase of the two N255m BMW bullet-proof cars, so as to draw sympathy from Nigerians, as ‘totally false’.
“I think we should all verify the truth before jumping into insubstantial conclusions. It is somebody’s life that is involved here yet some selfish persons are playing pranks with it. How can anybody want to deceive others of an attempt on her life? I urge security agencies to do all it can to fish out the perpetrators of this ungodly act,” Mrs. Mba said. 
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53243.html

Movement Will Be Restricted During Supplementary Poll In Anambra

Human and vehicular movements in two local government areas in Anambra during Saturday’s supplementary governorship election will be restricted, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Friday.
Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state's capital, Awka, said the two local governments are Idemili North and Onitsha South.
The restriction would begin at midnight on Friday and end at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
He warned travelers passing through the state to find alternative routes during the period.
The measure is meant to ensure a successful and peaceful conduct of the supplementary election, Onukaogu said.
The statement also advised politicians and other individuals not to move about with security officials and appealed for total compliance with the directive. It warned that "anybody who flouts this order will be arrested and prosecuted."
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53247.html

ASUU: Police Deploys More Officers To Universities Across The Country 29 November, 2013

Following an ultimatum the Federal Government gave to striking lecturers, the police announced it was deploying more officers to university campuses across the country.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said this Thursday evening in a statement issued by the police spokesperson, Frank Mba. multilifa.blogspot.com
"This is designed to help secure life and property in the Ivory Towers and provide enabling environment for lecturers, students, academic and non-academic staff to go about their lawful businesses without let or hindrance," Abubakar's statement said.
10 hours before that, the Acting Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had told the ASUU hey had one week to resume.
The police boss also directed all Command Commissioners of Police to personally oversee the intensification of surveillance activities around universities within their State Commands.
In the statement, the police advised lecturers and students within the Institutions to abide by the law and go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarters.
It might be that the Wike's ultimatum and Abubakar's announcement signify that the Federal Government is ready to literarily force the lecturers resume work.
ASUU has been on a nationwide strike since July 1, demanding the FG to implement a 2009 agreement it had with the Union. The industrial action will be entering its sixth month over the weekend shoul it not end until Sunday.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53233.html