Mimiano

National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Mu’Azu A Federal High Court in Abuja has served the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Muazu, an order warning him about the consequence of disobedience to its ruling over the conduct of the party’s primary election in Oyo State. The court in Abuja had earlier given a ruling, which said only delegates presented by three of the five members of the Aliyu Idi-Hong Ad- hoc Ward Congress Panel should be used by the party for its primary elections in Oyo State. But the party, as well as delegates from the congress, waved aside the ruling to conduct the Monday primary, using statutory delegates instead. The order dated December 9, 2014, warned that unless the party and others obey the directions contained in the ruling instituted by the party’s House of Assembly aspirant, Mr Adelowo Ademola, they would be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be committed to prison. Apart from the PDP chairman, others

Mr. Taofik Gani The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, was imposed by a national leader of the party. The Publicity Secretary for the PDP in Lagos, Mr. Gani Taofik, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, alleged that there would be defections from the APC before the February 2015 general elections. He cited the defeat of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in the state’s June governorship election as the reason why some APC members defected to other parties. Fayemi, who was the committee chairman of the recently held third national convention of the APC, on Wednesday, had described the special convention of the PDP holding on the same day as undemocratic. He described the PDP event as a coronation, rather than a convention, saying it was a ruse to endorse Jonathan. But Taofik described the reaction as a busybody’s stance, saying

Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu| credits: File copyNiger state Governor, Babangida Aliyu, on Saturday reiterated that Boko Haramwas not fighting a religious war and did not represent the tenets of Islam.Aliyu, who expressed sadness over the negative perception some “ignorant andmisguided” Nigerians had about Islam, stated that the religion was not only peaceful but democratic and with broadperspective in relating with people of other faiths.The governor, while speaking as the special guest at the 29th edition of the state’s Quran recitation competition in Bida, said those behind the terrorist group were infected with religious ignorance, adding that Islam is a religionof peace.Aliyu said the only way to correct the menace of religious ignorance was to encourage Quranic trainings and competitions. He said until ignorance of Islam was completely tackled, mischievous and self-serving people would continue to project the peaceful faith in a negative perspecti

Handsome upwardly mobile dude and deputy CEO of printing & signage company, Digiprints, Kingsley James, may not have a name and face that cuts across the society but he’s sure influential and connected in his own right. He is also doing very well for himself. Some got to know about him years back when his wife was shot dead in a robbery in Lagos. His little girl was lucky to have survived the bullet wounds. Frontline entertainers like D’Banj, Tee A, Gbenga Adeyinka among others had staged a walk to the state assembly and governor’s office to protest the activities of robbers in the state. Six years after he lost his wife, amiable James has a reason to smile

Mikel’s Russian girlfriend celebrates his first Champions League goal on December 12, 2014   /   in Sports 9:12 am   /   Comments By Abiodun Alade, @biodunpen Olga Allegra, th e Russian girlfriend of Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, is proud of her man netting his first UEFA Champions League goal during the London side victory over Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. Mikel scored on Wednesday when he was the first to react after Fabregas swung in a free kick from the left hand side that was flicked towards goal by Cahill. His goal was the third on the night for the London side, who won 3-1. Allegra, delighted after her man scored the goal in the 56th minute against Sporting Lisbon, took to her Instagram page to celebrate the goal by posting a photo with Mikel. She captioned it: ‘So proud of you my love.’ Few days ago, Mikel was in the company of his in-laws-to-be and friends as the Russain model celebrated her birthday.

By Victor Ahiuma-Young R everend Chukwudi Eke is the Commissioner representing Ndokwa ethnic nationality on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC and also   the leader of Integrity for Leadership and Sustainable Empowerment Initiative, based in Asaba, the Delta State capital, with member drawn across the states if the federation. In this interview, he spoke on DESOPADEC, Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan second term bid. Excerpts There appears to be no end to insinuations that the 2015 general elections are likely to be shifted forward. What is your view? I do not see a reason to postpone the general elections. What are the reasons being giving? I do not think there should be need for it except in areas where the state of emergency could affect the elections until peace prevails. Unless, in one or two states where we have continuous violence and destruction of lives and properties. Other than that, I don’t see

Strong winds, torrential rain and snow caused widespread blackouts in Northern California as a powerful storm whacked the West Coast Thursday. The brunt of the storm hit San Francisco, flooding roadways, downing trees and keeping thousands from school and work. "It's a big storm, as we expected, and it's headed south with very powerful winds and heavy rainfall," said National Weather Service meteorologist Will Pi. In Oregon, strong winds felled a tree, killing a homeless man who was sleeping on a trail, and a teenage boy died after a large tree fell on the vehicle in which he was riding, causing it to swerve and hit another tree. The “Pineapple Express” storm system carried warm air and moisture in a powerful current stretching from Hawaii to the mainlaind and up into the mountains where winds were recorded as high as 140 mph damaging homes in the Lake Tahoe area. The current left San Francisco drenched but balmy, with 60-degree temperatures, about

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has disclosed that over 20 dogs, specially trained on explosives detection, search and rescue operations and other areas in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency have so far been deployed in various operational theatres in the North East. Minimah made this disclosure Wednesday when he commissioned a newly constructed block of Kernels for War Dogs at the Army Headquarters Provost Dog Platoon, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Barracks, Abuja. He noted that a Dog section was established under his predecessor, Lt-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika (rtd) in 2012 in order to enhance the operational efficiency and effective of the service in the fight against insurgency. Details later

Kayode Fayemi Party not yet notified of aspirants' withdrawal Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Lagos The Chairman of the Presidential Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) charged with organising the primary to elect the party's flag-bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has explained the reason for the delay in the commencement of the party's national convention. Fayemi who spoke to THISDAY a while ago at the venue of the convention, Taslim Balogun Stadium, said the organisers are waiting for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to round-off with its programme in Abuja before declaring their convention open. "We cannot be sharing air space with the Abuja people. We want Nigerians to listens to us and watch and hear what are doing,"he said. When asked to comment on the rumoured decision by two aspirants, Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rochas Okorocha to step down for Buhari, the chairman said the party had not been notified.

ExPresident Olusegun Obasanjo Gets 21 days to show cause why he should not be punished Orders IGP, DG, DSS, Customs boss to confiscate books Tobi Soniyi in Abuja An Abuja High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, Wednesday held that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in contempt of court for flouting its orders restraining him from, among others, publishing his autobiography, "My Watch." Justice Valentine Ashi, in a ruling Wednesday, gave Obasanjo 21 days (from the day of service of the court's orders on him) to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt for going ahead to publish the book in spite of the ex-parte interim order made by the court on December 5 and a pending libel suit before the court involving him. The judge restrained the former president from further publishing, printing or offering for sale, the book, My Watch, whose content touched on the subject matter before the court. Justice Ashi also ordered the Inspector Ge