Archbishop Onaiyekan Blasts Buhari Critics

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan in this exclusive interview with Sahara reporters condemned the criticisms directed at the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), following the controversy surrounding his health and certificates.The revered Archbishop also said there is a general air of fear and anxiety in the atmosphere; expressed by the fact that many people are moving their families to where they consider safe havens.He attributed post-election violence to the disappointment or even anger at election results that are perceived to be not in line with the reality of the votes

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala And The Missing Trillions (1) By Chukwuma Charles Soludo

I read some of the responses to my article, “Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the Election”, and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. I am glad that the debate has finally taken off. I have decided, for the record, to re-enter the debate if only to set some records straight and hopefully elevate the debate further.  Whom do I respond to? First, let me thank Gov Kayode Fayemi for his very mature and professional response on behalf of the APC. It forms a great basis for deepening the conversation. Pat Utomi, Oby Ezekwesili, Iyabo Obasanjo, and thousands of other patriotic Nigerians have raised the content of the debate. Femi Fani-Kayode made me laugh, as usual. The Gov. Jang faction of the Governors’ Forum played the usual politics, although I know what most of them think privately. Who else? Oh, Peter Obi. Well, since he can’t write and designated Valentine as usual to write for him (who never disputed the NBS statistics that Obi broke world record in the pauperization of Anambra people but instead focused on lies and abuses) I won’t dignify him with a response here. His third class performance in Anambra will be the subject of a comprehensive article later.

Mrs. Obiano Boosts Education of Indigent Children in Nnewi with N500,000 Grant

 The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano has boosted the education and upkeep of indigent members of the Holy Childhood Association (HCA) of the Nnewi Diocese of Catholic Church with financial support of N500, 000.00‎. Mrs. Obiano made the grant during the Annual Feast at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Pilgrimage Centre, Okija on January 31, 2015. HCA is an initiative of Nnewi Diocese which seeks the moral upbringing of pupils in the Primary Schools.

Obiano Presents Guber Flag to Bamgbose as APGA Storms Abeokuta

The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano stormed the ancient city of Abeokuta at the weekend with the stalwarts of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to present the party’s flag to Prof. David Olufemi Bamgbose who is running for the governorship of Ogun State on the platform of APGA.

2015 Elections: Catholic Church to deploy 4889 observers in 23 states

The Catholic Church would be deploying 4889 observers in 23 States of the country for the forthcoming general elections.

The Executive Secretary of Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, said this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja where he expressed fears of possible outbreak of violence.

Genesis Cinema, Play Zone, Come To City Mall Onikan

Movie and Game buffs who reside on the Lagos Island and its environs may just be in for more exciting times as Genesis Cinemas, a leading Nigerian cinema brand, and Play Zone, a fast growing family entertainment brand, are set to open shops at the renovated City Mall, Onikan.

This was announced last week by Mr.Emmanuel Efuntayo, Principal Consultant, Ibukun Efuntayo & Company, the managers of The City Mall, during the contract signing ceremony with the two new tenants.

The managements of Genesis Cinemas and Play Zone, expressed their joy and excitement at the prospect of coming into The City Mall which is currently undergoing extensiverenovations.

According to Opeyemi Ajayi, General Manager, Genesis Group, Genesis Cinemas is coming to the City Mall based ontheir conviction that the Mall is about to become a vibrant location once again, given the huge efforts by the current managers at repositioning it. 

Nigerian government restates commitment to N1.3 trillion universities grant

The Federal Government on Saturday restated its commitment to earmark N1.3 trillion as intervention grant to public universities on the platform of National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS, Assessment Programme.

The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, said this in an interactive dinner in Abuja on Saturday, noting that the grant is for five years.

He said that the NEEDS Assessment intervention was a fall-out of several deliberations between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

“We have persistent complaints from for our universities about dilapidated laboratories and so on; then the government took the bull by the horn.

“President Goodluck Jonathan set up a committee to go round the universities on the platform of NEEDS Assessment which was conducted two years ago.

APC welcomes Presidency’s denial of pushing for election shift

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed the statement by the Presidency/Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that they are not behind the ongoing campaign for next month’s general elections to be shifted, saying both must now back up their words with action by cutting off the funding for the surreptitious campaign immediately.

In a statement issued in Ilorin on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said having seen that the election-shift campaign has been rejected by Nigerians, the Presidency and the PDP have wisely backed away from it, that is if they can be trusted to mean what they say.

Lagos judiciary workers suspend strike

The Lagos State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, on Saturday suspended its four weeks old strike

The suspension was the outcome of a meeting held between JUSUN executives and stakeholders in the Lagos State justice sector.

The Chairman of the union, Emmanuel Abioye, who confirmed the suspension in a message to the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, said the decision was taken in the interest of the state.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Ipaye said Lagos State was already implementing the provisions on autonomy of the judiciary.

Maiduguri under fresh Boko Haram attack

Gunshots are sounding in Maiduguri Sunday morning as soldiers and Boko Haram terrorists engage in battle over the control of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
A soldier on the frontline told a Ashiwaju.org reporter that the insurgents initially moved to invade Maiduguri town through a suburb community called Dalwa.
“It is the Boko Haram terrorists we are battling with now as you can hear. They wanted to enter through Dalwa. But we are tackling them”.
The attack is coming a week after the insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on three key Borno towns — Maiduguri, Konguda and Munguno.