Blizzwap

Bird flu containment in Ogun Bird flu containment in Ogun

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The outbreak of the Avian Influenza Virus
 (bird flu) about a week ago has posed a great threat to many Nigerians 
especially poultry farmers. The virus which is primarily a disease of 
poultry, causing great economic losses to poultry farmers has killed 
many live birds markets and destroyed lots of poultry farms in time 
past.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Couple of days ago, the Federal 
Government through the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, 
Adewunmi Adesina, announced at a news conference in Abuja, that seven 
states have so far reported the bird flu. They are Kano, Lagos, Ogun, 
Delta, Rivers, Edo and Plateau states.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The minister, who noted that there had 
been unusual mortality rate in two poultry farms and five bird markets 
in Lagos and Kano states, said 140,390 birds have been associated with 
bird flu exposure, with 22,573 (16 per cent) mortality recorded.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Meanwhile, Adesina said till date, 21 
commercial farms, nine live bird markets and one private zoo have been 
affected in the seven states.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Ogun State, it was reported that two 
locations are under watch, with one case positive and another negative, 
while the 1,030 birds currently under watch in the two locations, 163 
(15 per cent) experienced mortality.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was on that note that the 
administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State took urgent 
steps to put in place necessary measures to contain the disease and to 
ensure that poultry farmers in the state do not suffer untold hardship 
due to the outbreak of the virus.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, 
Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, in a press briefing said samples taken from Sango, 
Sagamu and Ifo live birds markets, tested positive to the highly 
pathogenic Avian Influenza, otherwise known as HsN1 or bird flu. Another
 poultry farm on Obalende-Ikangba road in the Odogbolu Local Government 
Area of the state also tested positive.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All these affected poultry farms 
notwithstanding, the state government had taken adequate measures that 
would ensure the protection of public health and safety of the citizens.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Furthermore, Ogun State Government also 
reactivated the emergency preparedness plan for the control and 
containment of the virus by procuring disinfectants and transportation 
logistics, while its officers have been able to contain the disease at 
the three markets where the virus had been discovered.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, efforts are in top gear to look out
 for more of such outbreaks through the surveillance system of the 
veterinary department of the state Ministry of Agriculture which 
implements disease containment measures of the state.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
More so, Ogun State Government is working
 closely with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the
 Veterinary Research Institute, collaborating with the Poultry 
Association of Nigeria, Ogun State branch, the Federal Ministry of 
Health amongst others.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It’s also necessary to note that, the 
Chairman Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter led by Dr. 
Olalekan Odunsi, said the association had held stakeholders’ meeting on 
ways to contain the virus.</div>
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<img alt="Poultry" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="266" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Poultry-360x266.jpg" width="360" /></div>
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Bird flu containment in Ogun Bird flu containment in Ogun

The outbreak of the Avian Influenza Virus (bird flu) about a week ago has posed a great threat to many Nigerians especially poultry farm...

You can now oder online from Chicken Republic

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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span> <span class="post-icons"><span class="item-action"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=9174986572743472561&postID=9025382440053259611" title="Email Post">
</a>
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You can now oder online from Chicken Republic

G uess what people, you can now order online from Chicken Republic and Get Hot and Spicy Food, Delivered in 30 Minutes, with NGN300 naira...

Bomb blast reported close to GEJ's campaign venue in Gombe

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A bomb blast occurred this afternoon at Abubakar Habu Hashidu Road, 
about 200 meters from the  Pantami stadium, venue of President 
Jonathan's campaign in Gombe state today.<br />
<br />
According to reports, the bomb which was planted in a stationed 
tricycle, went off just minutes after president Jonathan and his team 
left the venue of the campaign. Five people have already been confirmed 
dead. More later...(president Jonathan pictured above at the campaign 
rally today)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SbWVSYkBvTlx0_Trzq8iJGclJmJA73eGdWLvI8U2Qo7J4nvW-aHuT1N9Iqi2_H3O0_ss1ZgWoCBuI4DZadEYk1VL5KbNkz8172gaxu7qvt1_p-0FkUGKEoLhIeTjjkzM_JIP6wJsVuv1/s1600/B81-HQICMAIQ1UE.jpg+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SbWVSYkBvTlx0_Trzq8iJGclJmJA73eGdWLvI8U2Qo7J4nvW-aHuT1N9Iqi2_H3O0_ss1ZgWoCBuI4DZadEYk1VL5KbNkz8172gaxu7qvt1_p-0FkUGKEoLhIeTjjkzM_JIP6wJsVuv1/s1600/B81-HQICMAIQ1UE.jpg+large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</h3>
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Bomb blast reported close to GEJ's campaign venue in Gombe

A bomb blast occurred this afternoon at Abubakar Habu Hashidu Road, about 200 meters from the Pantami stadium, venue of President Jonat...

PDP Rice Warehouse In Ogun State

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The People’s Democatic Party are not joking with their campaign 
strategies. I just got hold of this picture of some members of the party
 inspecting their alleged warehouse filled with bags of Rice which has 
President Jonathan’s picture on them.<br /><br />On when they intend to 
share the rice is still unknown but if the rice comes your way collect 
it BUT vote according to your conscience because rice go finish one day,
 Ask Ekiti people they know better.</div>

PDP Rice Warehouse In Ogun State

The People’s Democatic Party are not joking with their campaign strategies. I just got hold of this picture of some members of the party...

Why Obama won't call terror fight a war on radical Islam

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President
 Barack Obama once again refused to label the fight against terrorism as
 a war on radical Islam or any kind of "religious war," insisting that 
such labels hurt efforts to root out radical ideologies in Muslim 
communities.</h2>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Obama also cautioned
 against the risk of overplaying the threat of terror groups and said 
the U.S. should instead align itself with the overwhelming majority of 
Muslims who reject the radical ideology and tactics of terrorist groups 
like ISIS and al Qaeda.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsKE0vz2mq9Ts6lkuulbZtAUOKCDb_cjZgy5LGbZ2212ZsZPmCX3fk3WXhAvNOCHA56reBgNqQor6Jp5WD9tk0KcHSWX0cAiWs4BmkjBXfkdAP8Tn6aXAGqn7cJxKyAB53Fbw64RxsA2J/s1600/150127122830-exp-gps-obama-sot-drones-white-house-00005401-large-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsKE0vz2mq9Ts6lkuulbZtAUOKCDb_cjZgy5LGbZ2212ZsZPmCX3fk3WXhAvNOCHA56reBgNqQor6Jp5WD9tk0KcHSWX0cAiWs4BmkjBXfkdAP8Tn6aXAGqn7cJxKyAB53Fbw64RxsA2J/s1600/150127122830-exp-gps-obama-sot-drones-white-house-00005401-large-169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/politics/obama-saudi-arabia-zakaria/index.html"><strong><br /></strong></a></div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"I
 don't quibble with labels. I think we all recognize that this is a 
particular problem that has roots in Muslim communities," Obama said in 
an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria. "But I think we do ourselves a 
disservice in this fight if we are not taking into account the fact that
 the overwhelming majority of Muslims reject this ideology."</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Republicans
 have criticized Obama in recent weeks for refusing to label the terror 
threat the U.S. and the West faces as Islamic extremism or rooted in 
radical Islam. Obama stuck to condemning the terrorism and violent 
extremism in the wake of terror attacks in Sydney and Paris carried out 
by jihadists.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"We are in a religious 
war with radical Islamists," Sen. Lindsey Graham proclaimed on Fox News 
earlier this month. "When I hear the President of the United States and 
his chief spokesperson failing to admit that we're in a religious war, 
it really bothers me."</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
But
 Obama said the U.S. needs to be wary of handing terrorists "the victory
 of overinflating" their actions and the threat they pose to the U.S.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Obama
 emphasized that while he is mindful of the "terrible costs of 
terrorism," terror groups aren't an "existential threat to the United 
States or the world order." </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/28/politics/obama-netanyahu-iran/index.html"><strong><br /></strong></a></div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"The
 truth of the matter is that they can do harm.  But we have the capacity
 to control how we respond in ways that do not undercut what's the 
essence of who we are. That means that we don't torture, for example, 
and thereby undermine our values and credibility around the world," 
Obama said. "It means that we don't approach this with a strategy of 
sending out occupying armies and playing whack-a-mole wherever a 
terrorist group appears because that drains our economic strength and it
 puts enormous burdens on our military."</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The
 U.S. needs to instead keep its response "surgical," Obama said, to 
address the specific threat the U.S. faces without alienating the 
majority of Muslims who are peaceful and reject extremism -- those who 
"have embraced a nihilistic, violent, almost medieval interpretation of 
Islam."</div>
</div>

Why Obama won't call terror fight a war on radical Islam

President Barack Obama once again refused to label the fight against terrorism as a war on radical Islam or any kind of "religious ...

3-year-old boy shoots father, pregnant mother in New Mexico

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Story highlights</h3>
<ul class="el__storyhighlights__list">
<li class="el__storyhighlights__item el__storyhighlights--normal">Police say the boy removed a handgun from his mother's purse</li>
<li class="el__storyhighlights__item el__storyhighlights--normal">He fired one shot, striking his father </li>
<li class="el__storyhighlights__item el__storyhighlights--normal">The bullet apparently exited through the father's hip and hit the mother </li>
</ul>
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<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<cite class="el-editorial-source"> </cite>A 3-year-old boy shot his father and pregnant mother over the weekend inside a hotel room in Albuquerque, New Mexico. </div>
</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Police
 say the boy removed a handgun from his mother's purse Saturday and 
fired one shot, striking his father in the lower backside. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The
 bullet apparently exited through the father's hip and hit the mother in
 the right shoulder. She is eight months pregnant, said Officer Simon 
Drobik of the Albuquerque Police Department. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The
 father was treated and released from the hospital while the mother was 
hospitalized in stable condition. The condition of her unborn child is 
unknown. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The boy and his 2-year-old 
sister, who was also in the hotel room, are under the care of the 
Children's Youth and Families department. They were not injured in the 
incident. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Drobik
 says the case has been sent to Albuquerque District Attorney's Office, 
which will determine whether the parents will be charged with criminal 
negligence. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Police did not identify the family. </div>
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3-year-old boy shoots father, pregnant mother in New Mexico

Story highlights Police say the boy removed a handgun from his mother's purse He fired one shot, striking his father The bull...

Japan: 'We will never, never forgive' ISIS for apparent beheading

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk4vLPApzUgJmsDILfBEPIMQP_So0NON1zjqZowUt9hGU49pWzlfLyQ90CSlQ2SCEzmcNQXhjWSVOZakHu3at4mRRO0KcanyAtFbXrxn1ybLiVYfvbx-AeOFZoSEcG2UnJqPUywWmI-W6/s1600/150201173655-nr-pkg-ripley-kenji-goto-obit-00004813-large-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk4vLPApzUgJmsDILfBEPIMQP_So0NON1zjqZowUt9hGU49pWzlfLyQ90CSlQ2SCEzmcNQXhjWSVOZakHu3at4mRRO0KcanyAtFbXrxn1ybLiVYfvbx-AeOFZoSEcG2UnJqPUywWmI-W6/s1600/150201173655-nr-pkg-ripley-kenji-goto-obit-00004813-large-169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<cite class="el-editorial-source">)</cite>He ventured to Syria to tell the stories of lives torn apart by war. <br />
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
But in doing so, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/29/world/isis-hostage-kenji-goto/index.html" target="_blank">Japanese journalist Kenji Goto</a> suffered his own gruesome fate -- apparently becoming the latest foreigner to be decapitated by ISIS. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
A
 newly distributed video from ISIS appears to show the beheaded body of 
Goto. It came one week after a video surfaced showing him holding a 
photo of what appeared to be the corpse of his fellow Japanese captive, 
Haruna Yukawa.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Just like ISIS' previous
 beheading videos, the 67-second footage released Saturday was issued by
 the terror group's media wing, Al Furqan Media. The video cannot be 
authenticated by CNN.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
And now, Japan finds itself more deeply embroiled in the global fight against ISIS. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"We
 are deeply saddened by this despicable and horrendous act of terrorism,
 and we denounce it in the strongest terms," Japanese Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe said, according to broadcaster NHK. "To the terrorists, we 
will never, never forgive them for this act."</div>
<div class="el__image--standard js__image--standard">
<img alt="Kenji Goto  in Aleppo, Syria, on October 24, 2014." class="media__image media__image--responsive" data-demand-load="loaded" data-eq-pts="xsmall: 0,  medium: 460,  large:  780" data-eq-state="xsmall" data-src-full16x9="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150131173352-kenji-goto-jogo-02---restricted-full-169.jpg" data-src-large="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150131173352-kenji-goto-jogo-02---restricted-super-169.jpg" data-src-medium="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150131173352-kenji-goto-jogo-02---restricted-exlarge-169.jpg" data-src-small="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150131173352-kenji-goto-jogo-02---restricted-large-169.jpg" data-src-small1x1="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150131173352-kenji-goto-jogo-02---restricted-large-11.jpg" itemprop="image" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150131173352-kenji-goto-jogo-02---restricted-large-169.jpg" /><br />
<div class="media__caption el__gallery_image-title">
Kenji Goto  in Aleppo, Syria, on October 24, 2014.</div>
</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The
 members of the United Nations Security Council said in a statement that
 they strongly condemned Goto's "heinous and cowardly murder," adding 
that those responsible should be held accountable.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"This
 crime is, yet again, a tragic reminder of the increasing dangers 
journalists and others face every day in Syria. It also once again 
demonstrates the brutality of (ISIS), which is responsible for thousands
 of abuses against the Syrian and Iraqi people," the Security Council 
said.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States stands in solidarity with Japan "in denouncing this barbaric act."</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"We
 applaud Japan's steadfast commitment to advancing peace and prosperity 
in the Middle East and globally, including its generous assistance for 
innocent people affected by the conflicts in the region," Obama said in a
 statement. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Unlike the United States, 
Britain and other allies, Japan is not involved in the military campaign
 against ISIS. But Japan has been providing humanitarian aid in the 
Middle East as ISIS continues its bloody quest to solidify an Islamic 
state across parts of Iraq and Syria. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
And Japan's efforts to provide humanitarian aid won't stop, one top official said Sunday.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"We
 would like to expand our support for refugees," Chief Cabinet Secretary
 Yoshihide Suga said. "We are surely going to have necessary support in 
terms of not yielding to terrorism." </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<b>'Let the nightmare for Japan begin'</b></div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The
 ISIS video opens with a black slate that reads, "A Message to Japan." 
It then shows a kneeling Goto . The man known as "Jihadi John" is 
standing behind him. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The terrorist speaks in English while holding a knife in his left hand.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"Abe,
 because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, 
this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and 
cause carnage wherever your people are found," the man says. "So let the
 nightmare for Japan begin." </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The video
 cuts to black as the militant puts the knife to Goto's throat. It then 
shows the apparent result of the decapitation. It's not clear who 
conducted the apparent killing.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The 
knife-wielding masked man with a London accent has been nicknamed 
"Jihadi John." He has appeared in at least six videos with hostages and 
has overseen the beheadings of other captives. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<b>The race to save Goto's life</b></div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Goto,
 47, left Japan last fall, when his younger daughter was 3 weeks old. 
His wife, Rinko, first heard from his captors December 2. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
On
 January 20, an ISIS video posted to social media showed Goto and Yukawa
 dressed in orange, kneeling in front of a masked man dressed in black. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
In
 that video, the ISIS militant issued a $200 million ransom demand to 
the Japanese government  in order to free the Japanese men within 72 
hours. That's the same amount of money Abe recently pledged for those 
"contending" with ISIS. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Days later, a 
new message surfaced featuring what appeared to be the corpse of Yukawa.
 And Goto would also be killed, the new message claimed, unless Jordan 
freed prisoner and convicted terrorist Sajida al-Rishawi. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Suga said Japan tried hard to save both Yukawa and Goto.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"Since
 the beginning of the incident, we have been trying to use all kind of 
means and to do our best to save their lives by using our diplomatic 
route, as much as possible," Suga said Sunday. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
When asked whether Japan negotiated over the ransom, Suga said no. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Jordan
 also said it did everything it could to free Goto in cooperation with 
Japan, government spokesman Mohammed Al-Momani told Jordan's official 
Petra news agency Sunday. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
But that country is still grappling with its own hostage situation. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<b>Jordanian pilot's fate unclear</b></div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Among
 its web of threats, ISIS said it would kill Jordanian military pilot 
captured in Syria if Jordan doesn't release convicted terrorist 
al-Rishawi. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
But pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh's fate remains unclear. He was not mentioned in the latest video featuring Goto. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Jordan
 will continue trying to secure the release of the pilot, Al-Momani told
 Petra on Sunday. But he said officials are still seeking "proof of 
life" evidence that al-Kaseasbeh is alive. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<b>No answers</b></div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Goto,
 a veteran journalist, had said he felt compelled to document the 
stories of war, even if it meant going to some of the most dangerous 
places in the world. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"Syrian people 
(have been) suffering for three years and a half. It's enough," he said 
in a video shot in October. "So I would like to get the story of what 
ISIS wants to do." </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
<a href="http://ipgoto.com/" target="_blank">In a statement posted on the website of Goto's media company</a>, his family thanked those who had "prayed for his safe return" and said they were "deeply saddened" by his death. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Goto's mother, Junko Ishido, said her son wanted to help create a world free of wars.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"I'm
 shedding tears of sorrow, I just can't think of any words to say," she 
said, according to NHK. "But I don't want this sorrow to create a chain 
of hatred." </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Rinko praised her husband's work in a statement released Sunday.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
"While
 feeling a great personal loss, I remain extremely proud of my husband, 
who reported the plight of people in conflict areas like Iraq, Somalia 
and Syria," she said. "It was his passion to highlight the effects on 
ordinary people, especially through the eyes of children, and to inform 
the rest of us of the tragedies of war."</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
But now, she<b> </b>must raise the couple's two girls without their father. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
The 2-year-old daughter has been asking when her dad will come home. </div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph zn-body__footer">
CNN's
 Yoko Wakatsuki, Yousuf Basil, Greg Botelho, Jennifer Deaton, Will 
Ripley and Elizabeth Johnson and journalist Asako Akai-Ferguson 
contributed to this report. </div>
<br />
<br />
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Japan: 'We will never, never forgive' ISIS for apparent beheading

) He ventured to Syria to tell the stories of lives torn apart by war. But in doing so, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto suffered his ow...

Egypt sentences 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death

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<br />
<br />
An Egyptian court sentenced 183 
supporters of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement to death on 
Monday over the killing of police officers during unrest in 2013.<br />
The men were convicted of playing a role in the killings of 16 
policemen in the town of Kardasa in August, 2013 during the upheaval 
that followed the army’s ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi. 
Thirty-four were sentenced in absentia.<br />
Egypt has mounted one of the biggest crackdowns in its modern history
 on the Brotherhood since the political demise of Morsi, the country’s 
first democratically elected president.<br />
Thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested and put on 
mass trials in a campaign which human rights groups say shows the 
government is systematically repressing opponents.<br />
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who as army chief toppled Morsi, describes the Brotherhood as a major security threat.<br />
The movement, however, says it is committed to peaceful activism.<br />
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Egypt sentences 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death

An Egyptian court sentenced 183 supporters of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement to death on Monday over the killing of police of...

MTN, INEC deploy mobile platform for voter education

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MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, the Independent National 
Electoral Commission and the National Orientation Agewncy have 
inaugurated a mobile application to educate consumers on voter 
education.<br />

At the inauguration, the 2015 BetterMe app by MTN Nigeria was 
described as innovative and a milestone in voter education and 
engagement towards enhancing and deepening Nigeria’s electoral process.<br />

The app, which is available to MTN subscribers, has a vast content 
offering, including segments on the 2015 elections, among others. The 
new app enables subscribers to seamlessly access information relating to
 the elections from the comfort of their mobile phones.<br />

A subscriber can access information on candidates for the elections, 
their plans and manifestoes as well as the strategic thrust and policy 
direction of the various political parties, among others, from their 
mobile phones.<br />

The segment on the 2015 election of the BetterMe app is a collaborative effort of the INEC, NOA and MTN Nigeria.<br />

Director, Voter Education at INEC, Mr. Oluwole Uzzi, while speaking 
at the event on Friday stated that the app was a major platform for 
voter engagement and a big step forward in Nigeria’s quest for 
participatory democracy.<br />

Uzzi said the app had unusual application for security agencies, 
election observers, among other stakeholders in the electoral process.<br />

He said, “When the idea was mooted, we were quite excited because of 
the positive benefits that the app has in engaging the voter and 
enhancing their participation in the electoral process.<br />

“We commend MTN and NE02 (developer of the app) because without being
 prompted, they have developed the app to help enhance access to 
information and voter education. For elections to be credible voters 
must participate in the electoral process in an informed manner; without
 information, voters can’t participate in the electoral process in an 
informed manner.<br />

“The ease of using the app for voter education is quite commendable. 
We hope the scope of the partnership can be expanded in other areas and 
that other organisations will take a cue from this initiative in their 
Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.”<br />

General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge, 
said the BetterMe app was one among several unique initiatives MTN had 
introduced to enable its subscribers to derive more value from the 
internet.</div>

MTN, INEC deploy mobile platform for voter education

MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Orientation Agewncy have inaugurated a...

I won’t probe military, says Buhari

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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Sunday 
denied a newspaper’ s report (not The Punch) that he would subject the 
military and other arms of government to probe, if elected as president 
in the February 14 election.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari, made the clarification through a 
statement signed by Garba Shehu of the Directorate of Media and 
Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The retired general, however, said his 
administration would decisively deal with all cases of impunity and 
corruption without minding whose ox would be gored.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The statement further reiterated Buhari’s
 stance that “when elected into office in February, the era of impunity 
will be over for the rogues. But there is no time for   engaging in 
probes or a witch-hunt.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It also quoted Buhari as saying that he was passionately concerned about the conditions of the armed forces at the moment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari, according to the statement, 
lamented that despite the huge budgetary allocations, the country had 
failed to effectively deal with manifest security threats including the 
Boko Haram challenge.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The statement read in part, “What he 
(Buhari), said at every given opportunity is that he is keenly 
interested in knowing what has gone wrong, if any with the Army that he 
knew. When he has access to them as the Commander-in-Chief, he (Buhari) 
will like to hear from his commanders what are the problems they are 
dealing with so that they can be solved.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In a democracy such as ours, all 
institutions of government, including the armed forces, are accountable.
 No country can achieve results in its counter-terrorism efforts when 
there is no transparency in the management of huge resources for the 
purpose.”</div>
</div>

I won’t probe military, says Buhari

Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Sunday denied a newspaper’ s report (not The Punch) that he would subject the military and othe...

INEC extends PVC collection to Feb 8

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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Independent National Electoral 
Commission has extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter 
Cards to Sunday,   February 8, 2015.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This new date is contained in a 
statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the national 
chairman of the commission, Kayode   Idowu.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Idowu, who explained that the new date supersedes the earlier deadline of Saturday,   January, 31, also disclosed to <em>The PUNCH</em> that INEC had received the last batch of 3.4 million PVCs.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
He
 said in the statement that the extension was intended to give those who
 had yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Idowu, who stressed that the commission 
was ready for the polls, enjoined all   registered persons to ensure 
that they   collected their cards on or before February 8.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“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,” he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He told <em>The PUNCH</em> that INEC 
had   taken delivery of the 68.8 million PVCS and that the last batch of
 3.4 million   cards   had been   sent to all the 36 states and the 
Federal Capital Territory   for distribution to all registered voters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Idowu said, “We have taken delivery of 
all the PVCs, which is 68.8 million and they have been sent to all the 
states for distribution to the voters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The last batch of 3.4 million PVCs have been sent to   the field for distribution to the registered voters.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The All   Progressives Congress and the Labour Party has hailed the commission for extending the PVC collection deadline.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The action is commendable. It is a sign
 that the commission is a listening body and it is ready to conduct free
 and fair elections,” its National Publicity Secretary,   Lai Mohammed, 
told one of our correspondents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The party however asked the Federal 
Government to help the commission by declaring a two-day public holiday 
to enable voters pick up their PVCs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The party said states under its 
control   had agreed to declare public holidays this week, but said each
 state governor would pick the dates they prefer.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC caucus   in the House of 
Representatives also welcomed the decision but wondered why INEC allowed
 itself to be put under pressure before extending the PVC collection 
deadline.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The voice and resolution of the House 
helped tremendously in putting pressure on INEC on the absolute need to 
give people the opportunity to vote and not to be disenfranchised,” its 
leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The caucus however admitted that “the 
extension and assurances from INEC will go a long way “ in making the 
elections hitch-free.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In passing the January 13 resolution, the House had noted that INEC was slow in the distribution of the PVCs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The House observed that it was unlikely that the commission would give every registered voter a card before February 14.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gbajabiamila was the one who moved the motion leading to the House resolution.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Part of the motion read, “INEC has been 
and is still issuing permanent voter cards to eligible voters in 
replacement of the temporary voter cards issued to Nigerians about four 
years ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Concerned that the general elections 
being just four weeks or 31 days from now, it is very unlikely that the 
commission will be able to distribute the PVCs to all registered and 
eligible voters before the elections.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Disturbed that if the current position 
of the commission (that only voters with the PVCs are qualified to vote)
 is not addressed, many registered and eligible voters will be 
disenfranchised in the 2015 general elections to the detriment of the 
growth of democracy in Nigeria.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The House resolves that the commission 
should include in its election guidelines for the 2015 general elections
 a provision(s) allowing registered voters with the temporary voter card
 (TVCs) whose names are on record to vote during the 2015 general 
elections.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, the LP applauded the commission for the extension, but wondered whether the one week extension would be enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In order to ease the distribution of the cards, it asked the commission to employ Ad hoc staff to handle the exercise.</div>
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You are here: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/">Home</a> / <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/">News</a> / INEC extends PVC collection to Feb 8</div>
<h1 class="entry-title">
INEC extends PVC collection to Feb 8</h1>
<div class="post-info">
<span class="date published time" title="2015-02-02T00:00:57+00:00">February 2, 2015</span>  by John Ameh and Olusola Fabiyi <span class="post-comments"><a data-disqus-identifier="299450 http://www.punchng.com/?p=299450" href="http://www.punchng.com/news/inec-extends-pvc-collection-to-feb-8/#disqus_thread">11 Comments</a></span> </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Independent National Electoral 
Commission has extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter 
Cards to Sunday,   February 8, 2015.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This new date is contained in a 
statement on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the national 
chairman of the commission, Kayode   Idowu.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Idowu, who explained that the new date supersedes the earlier deadline of Saturday,   January, 31, also disclosed to <em>The PUNCH</em> that INEC had received the last batch of 3.4 million PVCs.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
He
 said in the statement that the extension was intended to give those who
 had yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Idowu, who stressed that the commission 
was ready for the polls, enjoined all   registered persons to ensure 
that they   collected their cards on or before February 8.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“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,” he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He told <em>The PUNCH</em> that INEC 
had   taken delivery of the 68.8 million PVCS and that the last batch of
 3.4 million   cards   had been   sent to all the 36 states and the 
Federal Capital Territory   for distribution to all registered voters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Idowu said, “We have taken delivery of 
all the PVCs, which is 68.8 million and they have been sent to all the 
states for distribution to the voters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The last batch of 3.4 million PVCs have been sent to   the field for distribution to the registered voters.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The All   Progressives Congress and the Labour Party has hailed the commission for extending the PVC collection deadline.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The action is commendable. It is a sign
 that the commission is a listening body and it is ready to conduct free
 and fair elections,” its National Publicity Secretary,   Lai Mohammed, 
told one of our correspondents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The party however asked the Federal 
Government to help the commission by declaring a two-day public holiday 
to enable voters pick up their PVCs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The party said states under its 
control   had agreed to declare public holidays this week, but said each
 state governor would pick the dates they prefer.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC caucus   in the House of 
Representatives also welcomed the decision but wondered why INEC allowed
 itself to be put under pressure before extending the PVC collection 
deadline.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The voice and resolution of the House 
helped tremendously in putting pressure on INEC on the absolute need to 
give people the opportunity to vote and not to be disenfranchised,” its 
leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The caucus however admitted that “the 
extension and assurances from INEC will go a long way “ in making the 
elections hitch-free.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In passing the January 13 resolution, the House had noted that INEC was slow in the distribution of the PVCs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The House observed that it was unlikely that the commission would give every registered voter a card before February 14.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gbajabiamila was the one who moved the motion leading to the House resolution.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Part of the motion read, “INEC has been 
and is still issuing permanent voter cards to eligible voters in 
replacement of the temporary voter cards issued to Nigerians about four 
years ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Concerned that the general elections 
being just four weeks or 31 days from now, it is very unlikely that the 
commission will be able to distribute the PVCs to all registered and 
eligible voters before the elections.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Disturbed that if the current position 
of the commission (that only voters with the PVCs are qualified to vote)
 is not addressed, many registered and eligible voters will be 
disenfranchised in the 2015 general elections to the detriment of the 
growth of democracy in Nigeria.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The House resolves that the commission 
should include in its election guidelines for the 2015 general elections
 a provision(s) allowing registered voters with the temporary voter card
 (TVCs) whose names are on record to vote during the 2015 general 
elections.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, the LP applauded the commission for the extension, but wondered whether the one week extension would be enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In order to ease the distribution of the cards, it asked the commission to employ Ad hoc staff to handle the exercise.</div>
<strong><em>Copyright PUNCH.<br />
</em></strong><em>All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on</em><h1 class="post-heading">
Rotimi Amaechi In His APC-Customised Reflective Sunglasses [See Photo]</h1>
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<li class="author"><a href="http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/author/lanrecoded/" rel="author" title="Posts by Lanrycoded">Lanrycoded</a></li>
<li class="date">January 30, 2015</li>
<li class="cat"><a href="http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/news/" rel="category tag">Naija News</a></li>
<li class="comment"><a href="http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/01/30/rotimi-amaechi-apc-customised-reflective-sunglasses-see-photo/#comments">57</a></li>
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Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi was for some minutes the 
cynosure of all eyes at the APC presidential rally in Lagos today when 
he danced to Davido’s Aye.<br />
Asides his dance steps, his outfit also stood him out.<br />
Amaechi was decked in the APC-customized agbada and ‘abeti aja’ cap, complemented with the APC-crested reflective sunglasses.
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”SOLDIER WHO FIGH TO DEFEND THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA, N PAY, GET 
SENTENCED TO DEATH… BUT A GROUP OF GUYZ WILL FIGHT AGAINST GOVT, GET 
AMNESTY”. he tweeted..
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STATE OF OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH-EAST AS OBSERVED BY SOME CONCERNED OFFICERS<br />
1. We the concerned officers participating in the North East 
Operation Zaman Lafiya do resolve to write this letter for the following
 reasons:<br />
a. To save our country Nigeria.<br />
b. To stop the bloodshed of innocent officers, soldiers and civilians in the North East.<br />
c. To appeal to the president of the United State of America Mr. 
Barrack Obama, United Nation Secretary General Mr. Banki Moon and other 
world leaders to as quickly as important to intervene and urge President
 Goodluck Jonathan to do the needful in addressing the issue of 
insurgency in Nigeria especially in the North East.<br />
2. As members of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
 it is our responsibility to defend our country Nigeria which we are 
ever ready to do so as the call arises.<br />
But firstly, the civil authority has the first responsibility to equip us effectively to enable us to carry out such task.<br />
This is common practice all over the world. As professional officers 
and soldiers, we did not want to go public with details of our 
frustrations concerning this operation because doing so will boast the 
moral[e] of our enemy.<br />
But the persistent neglect of our plight made us to do otherwise.<br />
3. It is well known fact that of recent, a commanding officer from 
this theater of operation wrote a letter to our President intimating him
 of a few out of numerous problems affecting us in this operation which 
we believe Mr. President will address.<br />
It appears Mr. President has chosen to ignore it because none of his 
relations are among us. In this 21st century, how can an accused [be] a 
judge of his own case? That letter clearly exposed the rot within the 
military authorities concerning this operation.<br />
This is because, the Army authority that was accused of poor 
administration in that letter, set up a kangaroo investigation that 
harass[ed], intimidate[d], and forced the officer to deny the authorship
 of the letter.<br />
4. We authoritatively learned that, the Army authority succeeded in 
forcing the officer to deny the letter through the Provost Marshal 
(Army) who happen[ed] to be of the same tribe with the officer 
concern[ed].<br />
For President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore such kind of allegation 
made us to believe the rumor going round that he has a hand or knowledge
 in the so-called Boko Haram.<br />
We are also aware of how the funds meant for these operations are 
being looted through the office of the Chief of Training and Operations,
 Major General J.A.H. Ewansiha.<br />
Despite our strong [belief] in democracy, we condemn a democratic 
government that condones corruption, especially in its military.<br />
The President is reported to always turn a blind eye to issues of 
corruption. For instance, the ADC to Mr.President is presently one of 
the richest officers in the army.<br />
He owns properties in choice places all over the country and even 
abroad. We are going to make public details of his wealth and assets at 
the appropriate time.<br />
5. We are appealing to all well meaning Nigerians and leaders of 
International Community to please speak out with loud voice in [order] 
to make President Jonathan to constitute an independent high-powered 
committee to investigate the content of that letter written to him by 
the commanding officer.<br />
Should this request be ignored, the resultant consequence could only be imagined.<br />
6. We stand bold to state that we are speaking the minds of all the officers and soldiers in Operation Zaman Lafiya.<br />
Concerned Officers and Soldiers of Operation Zaman Lafiya<br />
- See more at: http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/01/31/open-letter-president-jonathan-army-officers/#sthash.16Tvyz2g.dpuf</div>
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The Nigerian army has a new director of Public relations.<br />
He is Col SK Usman. He takes over from Gen Olajide OLaleye who is on 
transfer to the 4th Brigade of the Nigeria Army in Benin, Edo state 
where he will serve as the Commander.<br />
Until his appointment, Col. Usman was the Spokesman of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri in Borno state..<br />
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