Blaming Jonathan for insurgency won’t exonerate APC -PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said no amount of allegations against President Goodluck Jonathan can exonerate the All Progressives Congress of blame for insurgency and wave of violence ravaging some northern states of the country.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, alleged that the body language and inciting utterances of APC leaders, including their Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), had served as fuel to the raging flame of terrorism.

He said that by going to the international media recently to distance themselves from complicity and in turning round to blame the PDP, he said the APC was asking Nigerians to suddenly grow forgetful of the barrage of statements by their leaders that he alleged promoted insurgency.

Bomber hits Bauchi market, casualties unknown

Less than eight hours after a female suicide bomber detonated explosives at the Dukku motor park in Gombe, another blast has rocked Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened at about 5.30pm Monday at a market place in the town.

Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Maohammed, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday, said he had yet to be briefed on the bombing.

Police Flee As Soldiers Foil Access Bank Robbery, Kill Armed Suspect In Delta

In a dramatic scene Monday, Nigerian policemen on patrol fled for their lives when a group of armed robbers stormed the Access Bank in Agbor, along old Lagos-Asaba road, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Ashiwaju.org gathered that the suspects, numbering approximately seven and armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the bank in a Toyota vehicle around 2 p.m., shooting into the air as customers and bank employees scampered for safety.
The suspects allegedly killed a policeman said to be working with the bank.
Eyewitness accounts disclosed that the alleged thieves were overpowered by the operatives of the Nigerian army on patrol in the area, killing one of the suspects on the spot.
According to Ashwaju.org sources, as the shooting was on, police on patrol took to their heels, driving off before the soldiers arrived.

Ondo APC begs primaries losers to support candidates

Following the outcome of the All Progressives Congress national and state assembly primaries in Ondo State, losers have been urged to shelve their personal ambitions and support those who emerged as the party’s candidates.

Chairman of the party, Mr Isaac Kekemeke, while meeting with the party leaders from the 18 local governments in the state on Monday, said it was the only way the party would be successful in the coming elections.

He said, “The only way for the party to win the forthcoming general elections in the state and country as a whole in 2015, is to be united and go to the elections as a team and not as a divided house. Elections cannot be won when members of the party are aggrieved.

Jang names son as commissioner

The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Jonah Jang, has named his son, Yakubu, as the state Commissioner for Lands and Urban Planning.

Before this new development, Yakubu was his father’s Special Adviser on Special Duties. Yakubu, according to the Commissioner for Information. Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, will take over from Mr. Yilji Gomwalk, who has been picked as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for the 2015 governorship election, Mr. Gyang Pwajok.

Abubakar, who briefed newsmen in Jos on Sunday, said the action was to allow for continuity in governance.

Meanwhile, the PDP governorship candidate has appealed to all those who contested with him in the primary to close ranks and work with him for the growth of the state.

New video shows B’Haram killing captives in dormitory

Militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, has vowed that “from now on, killing, slaughtering, destruction and bombing’’ would   be its religious duty anywhere it invades.

The group, in a new video released to journalists on Saturday, showed its armed members   mowing down civilians lying face down in a dormitory.

My dad died twice, says ex-minister’s son

Femi, the son of the late former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, has said that his father died and came back to life, before he finally gave up the ghost on November 29.

Femi made this revelation during the service of songs organised in honour of his late father at the All Souls Anglican Church, Lekki, Lagos on Sunday.

In an emotion-laden voice, Femi narrated how his father spent his last days on earth and how his mother stood by him.

Why PR Agencies Should Adopt The ‘AMEC’ Measurement Standard - PHILIP ODIAKOSE

 In world over today, the importance of measurement can never be over emphasized. According to the world acclaimed scientist, Galilee Galileo, “Measure what is measurable, and make measurable what is not so.” In recent times, measuring PR effectiveness is being overhauled with the establishment of the Barcelona Principles and dispensing with outmoded (and possibly harmful) methods like AVE. But will the industry, especially locally, make the shift? This is a multimillion dollar question that is still begging for answer. AMEC (the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication) held its first ever Measurement Week from 15- 19 September,2014 to educate communications and public relations practitioners about the latest best-practices in measuring the effectiveness of their communications and reputation campaigns. AMEC is the global trade body and professional institute for agencies and practitioners who provide media evaluation and communication research.

You can’t arrest us, Omirin tells Fayose

The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, has reacted to the directive by Governor Ayodele Fayose urging the Ministry of Justice to write a memo authorising the Commissioner of Police to arrest the 19 APC lawmakers that sat in a plenary last Thursday in the state capital.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Wole Olujobi, Omirin said APC lawmakers acted within the law to conduct its sitting in a public building in the state capital.
“The governor or the police cannot arrest us for performing our constitutional duty. Section 101 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes it explicit that the House can regulate its activities, including conducting its sittings in public buildings in the state capital. The Supreme Court had also ruled that the House can conduct its sittings in public places in the state capital if conditions exist that endanger members in the conduct of their sittings.

Dana Renews Operational Licence

Dana Air

By Chinedu Eze

As a confirmation of its improved safety and stability in its operations, the Nigerian civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has renewed the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Air Limited, just as the airline hopes to get safety certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2015.

The airline said it earned AOC after passing through an exhaustive and successful audit of its entire operations by NCAA.