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Vigils are continuing across South Africa as thousands mourn the death of former leader Nelson Mandela

People have been remembering his legacy, dancing and singing in front of Mr Mandela's former home in Soweto.<br />
He is to be accorded a state funeral on Sunday 15 December, President Jacob Zuma announced.<br />
Mr Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95, spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa's first black president in 1994.<br />
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  <img alt="Nelson Mandela" height="96" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/68387000/jpg/_68387789_mandela_factbox_304x96.jpg" width="304" />

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<strong>1918</strong> Born in the Eastern Cape<br />

<strong>1943</strong> Joins ANC<br />

<strong>1956 </strong>Charged with high treason, but charges dropped after a four-year trial<br />

<strong>1962 </strong>Jailed for five years for incitement and leaving country without a passport<br />

<strong>1964</strong> Charged with sabotage, sentenced to life<br />

<strong>1990 </strong>Freed from prison<br />

<strong>1993 </strong>Wins Nobel Peace Prize<br />

<strong>1994-99 </strong>Serves as president<br />

<strong>2004 </strong>Retires from public life<br />

<strong>2010 </strong>Last major public appearance at football World Cup in Johannesburg<br />
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His administration replaced the 
racist white-minority regime that had enforced segregation of black and 
white people in a policy known as apartheid.</div>
Mr Mandela went on to become one of the world's most respected statesmen.<br />
South Africans across the country have been saying prayers, singing anti-apartheid songs and lighting candles.<br />
Hundreds are gathered outside Mr Mandela's home in 
Johannesburg's northern suburb of Houghton where he died, and thousands 
of flowers laid outside have begun to resemble a wall.<br />
They have been sharing memories of the former leader, recounting how they drew inspiration from his life. <br />
A stage has been erected near the house, from where priests have led the crowd in prayers.<br />
One of his grandsons. Mbuso Mandela, laid wreaths in his grandfather's memory. <br />
People have also been gathering before the Union Buildings in the administrative capital Pretoria.<br />
"I was born after he became president and  I just remember 
the South Africa he left to us, the South Africa he gave to us," one 
mourner at the site was quoted as saying by Reuters.  <br />
"So today will be a good day to give him, some flowers to remember him and the South Africa he fought for." <br />
President Zuma visited the house on Friday to pay his respects.<br />
At a news conference, Mr Zuma outlined a week of events to mourn the former president.<br />
<ul>
<li> Sunday will be an official day of prayer and reflection with special religious services   </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> On Tuesday, a service of national mourning will be held at a 95,000-seater stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Mr Mandela's body will lie in state from Wednesday to Friday in the capital, Pretoria</li>
</ul>
Next Sunday's funeral will be held in the village of 
Qunu in the Eastern Cape, where Mr Mandela grew up. South African 
Airways has announced that it will provide extra flights to Qunu for 
mourners.<br />

<br />
Hundreds have attended an interfaith remembrance service 
outside Cape Town's City Hall. The Johannesburg stock exchange suspended
 operations for five minutes on Friday as a mark of respect.<br />
<br />
"We sincerely thank all South Africans for the dignified manner in 
which they have respected and responded to the monumental loss of this 
international icon," Mr Zuma said.<br />
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  <img alt="Wall of flowers outside Mr Mandela's home in Houghton. 7 Dec 2013" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71596000/jpg/_71596972_020256190.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">Flowers outside Nelson Mandela's home in Houghton are taking the shape of a wall</span>
  </div>
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  <img alt="A man lights a candle outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71593000/jpg/_71593322_020250147-1.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">Mourners lit candles in Mr Mandela's memory across South Africa, such as here in Pretoria</span>
  </div>
<div class="caption full-width">
  <img alt="Mourners gather outside former President Nelson Mandela"s house in Houghton, Johannesburg, on 6 December, 2013" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71594000/jpg/_71594169_020249623-1.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">Hundreds came to pay their respects outside Mr Mandela's home in Houghton</span>
  </div>
<div class="caption full-width">
  <img alt="People take pictures with their cell phones as they pay a tribute to late former South African president Nelson Mandela outside his former house in Soweto on 6 December, 2013" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71594000/jpg/_71594171_020251332-1.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">Many also gathered outside Mr Mandela's former home in Soweto</span>
  </div>
Speaking in Cape Town, Mr Mandela's long-time ally, Archbishop 
Emeritus Desmond Tutu, described him as an "incredible gift" to South 
Africa. <br />
"He taught us extraordinarily practical lessons about forgiveness, compassion and reconciliation."  <br />
He also cited Mr Mandela's weaknesses, including "his 
steadfast loyalty to his organisation and some of his colleagues who 
ultimately let him down".<br />
Mr Mandela had been receiving treatment at home for a 
recurring lung illness since September, when he was discharged from 
hospital.<br />
As soon as the news of his death broke late on Thursday, 
small crowds began to gather in Soweto's Vilakazi Street, where Mr 
Mandela lived in the 1940s and 1950s.<br />

<br />
Across the world, leaders, celebrities and members of the public have been paying tribute

Vigils are continuing across South Africa as thousands mourn the death of former leader Nelson Mandela

People have been remembering his legacy, dancing and singing in front of Mr Mandela's former home in Soweto. He is to be accorded a sta...

1:18:00 pm

World Cup draw: Nigeria to play Argentina, Bosnia, Iran

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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">COSTA DO SAUIPE  (AFP) -</span>World
 Cup organisers on Friday opened the draw ceremony for next year’s 
finals in the Brazilian resort of Costa do Sauipe. A total of 32 teams 
qualified for the finals and they were drawn into eight groups of four.</div>
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Nigeria
 will begin it’s 2014 world cup campaign in Group F as the country will 
play against Argentina, Iran and Bosnia and Hezogovina  in Brazil.</div>
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<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/world-cup-draw-fifa-puts-nigeria-pot-2-raises-prize-money/fifa/" rel="attachment wp-att-422891"><img alt="BRAZIL, Costa do Sauipe : Fifa president Joseph Blatter gestures during a press conference in Costa do Sauipe, state of Bahia, Brazil on December 3, 2013. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil final draw will take place December 6. AFP PHOTO" class="size-full wp-image-422891" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Fifa.jpg" width="412" /></a><br />
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BRAZIL,
 Costa do Sauipe : Fifa president Joseph Blatter gestures during a press
 conference in Costa do Sauipe, state of Bahia, Brazil on December 3, 
2013. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil final draw will take place December
 6. AFP PHOTO</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">      </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">In Group A – Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon</span></div>
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      Group B – Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia<br />
Group C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan</div>
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      Group D – Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy</div>
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      Group E – Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">      Group F – Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria.</span></div>
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      Group G – Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA</div>
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      Group H – Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea</div>
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World Cup draw: Nigeria to play Argentina, Bosnia, Iran

COSTA DO SAUIPE (AFP) - World Cup organisers on Friday opened the draw ceremony for next year’s finals in the Brazili...

11:34:00 am

Bad: Two (2) Female Students And A Guy Stripped Nák*d For Robbery In Calabar[pic&video]

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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We all agree stealing is a bad habit but why take justice into ones hand? Two female undergraduate robbery suspects and their male partner in crime were battered and stripped nakked in Calabar on Friday afternoon for attempting torob a Calabar-based businesswoman of N1. 5million Naira <a href="http://www.datafilehost.com/get.php?file=e85fc0d2" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD</a></span>

Bad: Two (2) Female Students And A Guy Stripped Nák*d For Robbery In Calabar[pic&video]

We all agree stealing is a bad habit but why take justice into ones hand? Two female undergraduate robbery suspects and their male partner...

9:36:00 am

Universities open registers for lecturers

ABUJA — As the deadline given by Federal Government to the Academic 
Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off the six month-old strike 
or be sacked expires tomorrow, several universities have opened 
registers to be signed by the lecturers even as the leadership of ASUU 
insisted that the strike will continue.<br />
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<b>Lectures resume at AAUA</b></div>
At
 Ondo state-owned AdekunleAjasinUniversity, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) 
lectures resumed, yesterday, but few lecturers and students were seen in
 the lecture theaters. Lectures were held in the Department of History 
and the Faculty of Education as time table for the session has been 
released by the university authority. The university, in a reminder, by 
the Registrar, Mr. Bamidele Olotu confirmed the resumption of lectures. 
Olotu said in a statement that: “In line with an earlier circular to all
 students on resumption for the second semester 2012/2013 academic 
session, all students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko in 
particular, their parents and the public in general are hereby informed 
that commencement of lectures on Monday, December 2, 2013, remains 
sacrosanct as announced. It added that “registration had indeed 
commenced in accordance with the university approved academic calendar.”<br />
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Cross
 section of stakeholders at a meeting to review the ongoing strike by 
ASUU held at the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan on Monday. 
Photo by Dare Fasube</div>
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Some of the academic staff who spoke 
with the Information Unit of the university but would not want their 
names in print confirmed that they had resumed for work and that they 
attended the faculty board meetings held on Monday and Tuesday last 
week. Some of the students who also spoke said they were happy about the
 development. They urged ASUU to cooperate with the Management and 
expressed optimism that lectures would begin in full swing as announced.<br />
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<b>ESUT lecturers, students back to school</b></div>
Students
 and lecturers of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology 
(ESUT) have also returned to school following a directive by the school 
authorities. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, correspondent who 
monitored the situation at the Enugu and Agbani campuses of the 
university reports that the students were in their various departments 
exchanging pleasantries and checking the notice boards.<br />
At the 
faculties of engineering and management sciences in the Enugu campus, 
students in their numbers were copying the second semester examination 
timetables pasted on the notice boards.<br />
The lecturers, on the 
other hand, held a meeting with the governing council of the university 
at the Agbani campus on the resumption of work.<br />
Addressing the 
lecturers, chairman of the council, Chief Chilo Offiah, appealed to them
 to sheathe their swords and return to classes in the interest of the 
students. Offiah thanked the lecturers for attending the meeting and 
assured them that the council would do all it could to ensure the 
improvement of their welfare.<br />
The executive members of the ESUT 
branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which called 
the strike, did not attend the meeting.<br />
It was however a different
 story at the Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka as only a
 few students and lecturers were on campus. NAN reports that the few 
lecturers were in their various offices discussing or reading while the 
non-academic staff members were busy working. Some of the lecturers who 
spoke on conditions of anonymity said they were waiting for directives 
from both the school authorities and the ASUU branch.<br />
“We heard on
 the radio that we should resume classes but we have not received any 
circular to that effect,” some of them said. Only the medical students 
who did not join the strike were fully on campus.<br />
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<b>Lecturers shun registers at UI</b></div>
At
 the University of Ibadan, ASUU members resolved not to sign any 
register as directed by the government. The lecturers took the decision 
during a congress held in the institution yesterday.<br />
This came as 
all lecture rooms in various faculties were under lock and key. The 
campus was a ghost of itself as few people were seen moving around. 
Apart from the fact that students feel the government’s order would not 
help the face-off, the advice given by the academic union to parents 
that they should not expose their wards to danger may have been adhered 
to by most parents.<br />
Speaking with newsmen, the chairman, UI 
chapter of ASUU, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye said the union remained on course 
at ensuring that government funds public universities.<br />
Though, he 
stated that the union respects the office of Mr President, he alleged 
that Dr. Doyin Okupe and others in his government were trying to 
ridicule the office of the President through their unguarded utterances 
against the union.<br />
<b>Uniben</b><b> students stay away to honour Iyayi</b><br />
At
 the University of Benin, in spite of announcement by the university 
authorities that academic activities would resume today, there were no 
signs of resumption in the university yesterday, as both the Ekenwa and 
Ugbowo campuses were empty.<br />
Students of the university said they 
would not resume until the remains of ProfessorFestus Iyayi who they 
held in high esteem is buried. <b><i>Vanguard</i></b> also learnt that 
ASUU members in both UNIBEN and the state owned AmbroseAlliUniversity, 
Ekpoma were not ready to resume duties today.<br />
ASUU chairman, 
UNIBEN chapter, Dr. Tony Monye when contacted said they were busy 
preparing for the burial of Professor Festus Iyayi even as he added that
 ASUU members would not resume duties.<br />
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<b>No lecturers at Ambrose Ali University</b></div>
Meanwhile,
 at the AmbroseAlliUniversity, Ekpoma, there were no signs that the 
university would soon re-open as no student was at the two campuses of 
the university at Emuado and the main campus. A lecturer who spoke with <b><i>Vanguard</i></b>
 on condition of anonymity said there has been no directive from the 
state government for the re-opening of the institution. He said the 
lecturers would continue to stay at home until ASUU leaders give the 
directive to go back to work.<br />
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<b>Lecturers shun directives at Unijos, Abu, FUT Minna, and others</b></div>
At
 the University of Jos, the governing council directed heads of 
departments to open attendance registers for academic staff. Registrar 
of the university, Danjuma Jilly-Dandam in a statement yesterday, also 
requested departments to publish lecture time tables by today (Tuesday) 
to signal the resumption of academic activities and keep daily 
compliance registers for academic staff that report for work.<br />
However,
 despite the directive, lecturers were not visible at both the Bauchi 
Road and Naraguta campuses of the institution as only the non-academic 
staff members were seen in their offices.<br />
Students are also yet to return to school as hostels remained largely desolate when <b><i>Vanguard</i></b> visited, yesterday.<br />
The
 situation was the same at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
 Umudike, AbiaState, the two campuses of the Bayero University Kano, 
Federal University of Agriculture, FUT, Minna, AhmaduBelloUniversity, 
Zaria, and GombeStateUniversity as the lecturers and students have 
shunned the directive to resume<br />
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<b>ASUU vows to continue strike</b></div>
Meanwhile,
 the National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge who briefed journalists
 in Abuja on the position of the union following the ultimatum, said the
 Federal Government was free to open all the federal universities in the
 country but all the members of ASUU would not go back to work unless 
government met all their demands.<br />
According to Fagge, “we shall 
bow only to what we as academics are convinced will serve the interest 
of Nigeria and its people, no matter their ethnic, religious or class 
origins. This is where we stand. We shall never be cowed. Since the 
issuance of the union’s response to the said letter, the salvos that 
have been coming out, allegedly from the Minister of Education makes one
 to wonder whether the person that is charged with the responsibility of
 superintending over Nigeria’s education system has the wherewithal to 
handle such a vital national assignment.<br />
“It is my intention 
therefore, to clear the air on the rumours, lies and mischief that are 
milling out of government circles (especially from Ministry of Education
 and National Universities Commission) all with the intent of misleading
 the Nigerian public.<br />
“I will establish, to all discerning minds 
that ASUU did not bring any ‘new conditions’ as claimed by the Minister 
of Education Nyesom Wike and Senior Special Assistant to the President 
on Public Affairs, Mr. Doyin Okupe. Rather, it is the government that is
 trying to avoid taking responsibility.”<br />
Fagge stated that ASUU 
had no role in closing and opening of universities in Nigeria, rather it
 could withdraw its services which he said was the right of every 
worker.<br />
He said:  “The fact is very clear that our members are not
 going back to work and it is part of the sacrifice we are making that 
our universities meet up with other universities in the world.”<br />
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<b>Our agreement with FG</b><i> — ASUU</i></div>
Dr.
 Fagge said in the agreement, the Federal Government promised to provide
 N1.1 trillion in the next six years starting from  2013 with N200 
billion, 2014, N220billion, 2015 N220billion, 2016 N220 billion, 2017 
N220billin and 2018 N220 billion, for the revitalization of the 
University system. It was further agreed that a dedicated revitalisation
 account should be opened at Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, by the 
Federal Government and fund would be paid into the account on quarterly 
basis from which the universities will draw.<br />
The ASUU President 
said after the November 4, 2013 meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan
 and after the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Kano, the 
union communicated to the Federal Government on the agreement. He said 
ASUU also asked the Federal Government to include non-victimization 
clause and that a new Memorandum of Understanding should be signed by a 
representative of government, preferably the Attorney General of the 
Federation and a representative of ASUU, with President of Nigeria 
Labour Congress, NLC as witness.<br />
He denied speculation that 60 per
 cent of ASUU branches voted for the unconditional suspension of strike 
and 40 per cent voted against it.<br />
Fagge said instead, out of the 
52 branches of ASUU, 48 branches which was roughly 92 per cent supported
 suspending the strike only if certain conditions were met while four 
branches advised the suspension of the strike before pursuing the 
implementation of certain conditions.<br />
<b>Sack threat, a tragedy</b><br />
He
 continued:  “For a Minister of Education to issue threat of sack of 
academic staff is a tragedy of huge proportion for Nigeria and Africa. 
While ASUU has been struggling for conditions in which Nigerian students
 would benefit from, the Minister of Education is thinking of a 
thoughtless mass sack as a solution to the problems arising from 
Government’s non-implementation of an Agreement reached with ASUU as if 
Nigerian rulers have made no intellectual progress since Abacha.<br />
“To
 be clear; Nigerian lecturers — from graduate assistants to professors, 
are not begging anybody for jobs. It is now well known that since 2003, 
successive governments have told Nigerian people, repeatedly, that the 
solution to Nigeria’s social and economic crisis is to kill public 
economic and educational institutions and institute the reign of private
 control of the economy and education, whereas the constitution of 
Nigeria states clearly that the commanding heights of Nigeria’s economy 
shall be publicly owned.<br />
“From all indications, the Minister of 
Education, on behalf of the present Government, is set to carry out in 
the sphere of education what one of its predecessors did with 
universities, Transcorp and the Nigeria Airways.<br />
“The way is being
 paved for privatization of education. Academic staff have a duty to 
defend the right of Nigerians to sound public education. To succumb to 
the present threat by Minister of Education on behalf of Government is 
to give-up on Nigeria. We in the academic profession have no such 
intention.<br />
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<b>ASUU and Nigeria’s past leaders</b></div>
“We
 resisted Abacha’s dictatorship. We refused to succumb to Obasanjo/IMF 
attempt to weaken public in favour of private universities. We convinced
 Yar’adua to keep faith with interests of Nigeria’s youth and desist 
from privatising education. We remember Obasanjo’s position that the 
solution to ASUU resistance is to flood Nigeria with private 
universities.<br />
“In spite of all these, stretching from ASUU’s 
principled resistance since the military, we have noticed with disgust 
how easy it is for ministers and government to take refuge in political 
blackmail. We shall never succumb to this. Our country is our union’s 
constituency”.<br />
The ASUU president said instead of the Minister to 
respond to their letter which expressed understanding of their 
resolution on the November 4, 2013, meeting with President Jonathan, he 
chose to go public accusing ASUU of making new demands.<br />
On the 
allegation that ASUU was sponsored by the opposition political parties 
against the Federal Government, he said, “lot of people have asked me 
this question, am I a politician? ASUU is non partisan, non religious, 
non ethnic and tribal organisation, we are interested in addressing the 
problems of this country.<br />
“Politicians are the people that are 
compounding the problems of this country so how can we be influenced by 
any political party?  ASUU is a trade union of high intellectual people,
 so no political party can influence or sponsor us.”

Universities open registers for lecturers

ABUJA — As the deadline given by Federal Government to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off the six month-old strike...

8:53:00 am

I can’t give all Rivers people bottled water – Amaechi

<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">PORT HARCOURT – 
GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi has appealed to the House of Representatives 
to summon the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the 
Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and her counterpart in the Ministry of 
Water Resources, Stella Ochekpe to explain why the government had 
continued withhold the World bank and African Development Bank , ADB 
loans approved by the National Assembly to provide potable drinking 
water for people of the state.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkP97-p-BlTZVHvhOqCF-BKIDGd5AB-vomFmA3Ecfmx_Fo-tQFFyCD8EG_nJ380dVB4l-CTZgXGH6UJr3rN4OIofcHEh-5eeyJ2PrCogc0pDpai7KE38Wv16NNtTEKkeHmhPPjOurG_A/s1600/amaechi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkP97-p-BlTZVHvhOqCF-BKIDGd5AB-vomFmA3Ecfmx_Fo-tQFFyCD8EG_nJ380dVB4l-CTZgXGH6UJr3rN4OIofcHEh-5eeyJ2PrCogc0pDpai7KE38Wv16NNtTEKkeHmhPPjOurG_A/s1600/amaechi.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_404576" style="width: 422px;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
*Governor, Rotimi Amaechi</div>
</div>
The
 governor who made the appeal Monday when the House Committee on Water 
Resources and the Executive Directors, Niger Delta basin Development 
Authority paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt 
said residents in the state were dying from absence of potable drinking,
 adding that he cannot provide all families in the state with bottled 
water for consumption.<br />
Wondering why the state had not benefited 
from the loan the governor said his administration had fulfilled all 
conditions for it. Continuing, the governor said he would not mind if 
the Minister of Finance award contract for availability of portable 
drinking water in the state but all he wanted was for people of the 
state to access portable drinking water.<br />
” It is embarrassing; 
completely embarrassing for somebody who has been Managing Director of 
World Bank to neglect the impact water has on the citizenry. We are 
prepared to allow the Minister of Finance (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) to award
 the contract to any person she wants to.<br />
We are only interested 
in the provision of potable drinking water for our people. The National 
Assembly has approved it, and we have fulfilled all requirements with 
the World Bank and African Development Bank (ADB).<br />
We are now at 
the point of release of the funds for execution of the water projects 
for our people, and she (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) has refused to allow the 
release of the funds to us”, Amaechi said.<br />
.<br />
“The Minister of 
Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is using her position to undermine the 
safety and health of the people of Rivers State. I can’t afford to give 
all Rivers people bottled water,).”, Amaechi noted.<br />
Chairman of 
the House Committee on Water Resources in the House of Representatives, 
Hon. Aliyu Ahman Pategi said his Committee was in the state on its 
oversight functions even as he commended the governor for his projects 
so far in the state<br />
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>

I can’t give all Rivers people bottled water – Amaechi

PORT HARCOURT – GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi has appealed to the House of Representatives to summon the Minister of Finance and Coordinating ...

11:23:00 pm

Guy Sets Himself On Fire In Online Suicide Attempt, as 200 Viewers Watched & Encouraged Him (PHOTOS)

<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A  disturbed young man has shocked North America after he tried to kill 
himself by setting his room on fire while 200 people watched on an 
online message board. </span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5Ogjtam51vcGhrS8Y18clMr5lMO-sVPEzwO-Z1_2Md-fVrAuqvhG4u_trPE3zemi-WiPW2FtZEMag-h1wnDmJSsQoQjThhyOaT-y7ekBbc-VqSQGCbYYJnMOUMzuQxQ5qkIbblEH7OI/s1600/article-2516641-19c51f7d00000578-0_634x374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5Ogjtam51vcGhrS8Y18clMr5lMO-sVPEzwO-Z1_2Md-fVrAuqvhG4u_trPE3zemi-WiPW2FtZEMag-h1wnDmJSsQoQjThhyOaT-y7ekBbc-VqSQGCbYYJnMOUMzuQxQ5qkIbblEH7OI/s1600/article-2516641-19c51f7d00000578-0_634x374.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>The 
20-year-old identified himself only as "Stephen" but is thought to be a 
student in Canada and announced on the anonymous 4chan that he intended 
to commit suicide and broadcast the event for others to see.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<strong>
Disturbingly,
 scores of online users signed up to watch the suicide attempt and 
helped the man to set up the video stream for the "an hero" - online 
slang for suicide attempt.</strong></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After 200 
users had signed up to his video stream, "Stephen" swallowed a handful 
of pills and drank vodka lighting a fire in the corner of his room about
 7pm on Saturday.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He retreated
 under his bed as smoke appeared to billow around him. 4chan is an 
imageboard website allowing users to post anonymously.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydbT5L02urOu-_hYsP3tr8SwsLsuQBQlVzkyvKJ9OaV9eX-SOv5lhA7wMSjk1ctTl1YGSYuduWVLBgp8TuYaG03lnhv4f0jRjgCjFIJQlpCsIRbK1Yf3eslXdFpcQpOIev4eDdDa-m_M/s1600/article-2516641-19c51ff500000578-140_634x233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydbT5L02urOu-_hYsP3tr8SwsLsuQBQlVzkyvKJ9OaV9eX-SOv5lhA7wMSjk1ctTl1YGSYuduWVLBgp8TuYaG03lnhv4f0jRjgCjFIJQlpCsIRbK1Yf3eslXdFpcQpOIev4eDdDa-m_M/s1600/article-2516641-19c51ff500000578-140_634x233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<em>"As an oldf*g who’s been on 4chan since 2004, I thought I would finally give back to the community in the best possible way,' </em>he wrote on the notorious imageboard.<em></em></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<em>I am willing to an hero [commit suicide] on cam for you all.</em></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<em>All that I request is for you guys to link me to a site where I am able to stream it for you guys."</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
"Stephen", using the name "LOLdoge", set up a camera to film his suicide attempt.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38m2au1UBe6I6wACuEg1M_9FoqovighMTYte6JPdvkIM53bjw5a3uydp7kGQamomU6iM4GpADCvaQgKlcCBegJlb1aBwPjLjP-q3mr2dPm9d7JPquwqqTZAZz-y_87V2DQ14fLIiZfVo/s1600/article-2516641-19c51d8a00000578-677_634x494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38m2au1UBe6I6wACuEg1M_9FoqovighMTYte6JPdvkIM53bjw5a3uydp7kGQamomU6iM4GpADCvaQgKlcCBegJlb1aBwPjLjP-q3mr2dPm9d7JPquwqqTZAZz-y_87V2DQ14fLIiZfVo/s1600/article-2516641-19c51d8a00000578-677_634x494.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<em>Strange community: 200 viewers watched as Stephen's room filled with smoke and firefighters pulled him from the room</em></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
Another user set up a video chatroom on streaming website Chateen which "Stephen" joined.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
"Stephen" used the username LOLDoge, a reference to a meme featuring a photo of a Shiba Inu dog that is popular on 4chan.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
With 200 
viewers - the maximum allowed on Chateen - watching him and even more 
trying to get in, Stephen downed booze and pills before setting his room
 alight.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
As the camera rolled, he crawled under the bed where he typed: #imdead #omgimonfire' and'I’m f*ck3d.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARs0P_3cxx9NwU_8b8VDkmLGb9jCzOn24JMcEMay7VtQFhyphenhyphenthDO7MASyjO27Ft_J1xuqux7Xu24-Dd3urmsbRaNDQ3VorRZiAoIN-7UaW4MB6eIURbJ2g_tTRetLcwp8Y_6bZfsH1dps/s1600/article-2516641-19c520db00000578-973_634x507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARs0P_3cxx9NwU_8b8VDkmLGb9jCzOn24JMcEMay7VtQFhyphenhyphenthDO7MASyjO27Ft_J1xuqux7Xu24-Dd3urmsbRaNDQ3VorRZiAoIN-7UaW4MB6eIURbJ2g_tTRetLcwp8Y_6bZfsH1dps/s1600/article-2516641-19c520db00000578-973_634x507.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
The troubling video, still available online, shows firefighters pulling him out of the smokey room.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
A number of 
viewers disturbingly encouraged "Stephen" during his suicide attempt, 
while others clamored to view the horrific scene.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
One wrote: "Let's all of us use his photo as wallpaper for one week. He's doing it."</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
Another who 
was frustrated at not being to watch the suicide attempt because the 
chat room was full wrote: "Leave someone so we can join."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
Another anonymous user wrote:"'PROVIDE PICS ROOM IS FULL DAMN IT."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbpBy8STZ8EvoN2eE-mSySEQ6_m5OecZbXqR2JBzdMR2nsvCQm4CxHvctycQpIUf0I63O6A7wF2Faht0-pcx6N0CjOoIa8tCsoBDTy8k4xlq9E_F4KIpnEABOxv7_adJ5JBny-qC0sqI/s1600/article-2516641-19c5232000000578-940_634x399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbpBy8STZ8EvoN2eE-mSySEQ6_m5OecZbXqR2JBzdMR2nsvCQm4CxHvctycQpIUf0I63O6A7wF2Faht0-pcx6N0CjOoIa8tCsoBDTy8k4xlq9E_F4KIpnEABOxv7_adJ5JBny-qC0sqI/s1600/article-2516641-19c5232000000578-940_634x399.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<em>As 200 viewers watched, "Stephen" ingested pills and vodka, lit a fire with his toaster and hid under his bed</em></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
The disturbing video captured the moment firefighters pulled "Stephen" out of the smokey room.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
It is not known whether he is still alive</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
It is not 
known whether 'Stephen' survived the fire. YourAnonNews, a Twitter 
account associated with the hacktivist group Anonymous, reported that 
Stephen was the fatality in a Spring Garden, Pittsburgh, house fire.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
Other users say he is an injured student from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
According to the Guelph Mercury, one person was injured in a dorm room fire on campus.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
CTV reported
 that the cause of the campus fire has not yet been released but added 
that the fire department said there's evidence it may have been set 
deliberately.</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
An anonymous
 user tonight posted their own account of the incident, claiming 
"Stephen" had taken prescription drugs in his dorm room, cheated on his 
girlfriend, was disowned by his parents and "in debt for useless 
degree".</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
They wrote fire crews arrived on scene 20 minutes after "Stephen" lit the fire and he is now injured in hospital.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

</div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
"Stephen" has quickly become the subject of cruel taunts on the messageboard, being dubbed "Toaster Steve".</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</span></div>

Guy Sets Himself On Fire In Online Suicide Attempt, as 200 Viewers Watched & Encouraged Him (PHOTOS)

A disturbed young man has shocked North America after he tried to kill himself by setting his room on fire while 200 people watched on an ...

10:24:00 pm

"Go And Die": Gov. Oshiomhole Apologizes To Widow, Donates N2m + Offers Assistance (PHOTO)

<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On 
Monday, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole apologized to the widow he 
insulted while on inspection tour of the state. He donated N2 million to
 her, offered her employment and promised to help her second child in 
getting education.</span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9uLD6eA5PvggPDtSh5J48YXqamVJnfs8aVh_kDX6_PHVEKqDg85FYGWMsGZWGhmb4TLn42z-q4l3roVY-JiVvv58TmqMEk3071KL9OjFhoWNh8NbJktBDkXbQHFJhKLCDtw9txvwOkU/s1600/oshiomhole_sharing_a_cup_of_tea_with_the_widow-411Vibes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9uLD6eA5PvggPDtSh5J48YXqamVJnfs8aVh_kDX6_PHVEKqDg85FYGWMsGZWGhmb4TLn42z-q4l3roVY-JiVvv58TmqMEk3071KL9OjFhoWNh8NbJktBDkXbQHFJhKLCDtw9txvwOkU/s1600/oshiomhole_sharing_a_cup_of_tea_with_the_widow-411Vibes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It will be 
recalled that Mr. Oshiomhole has found himself in a predicament after a 
video of him telling the widow to "go and die" leaked online and became 
viral. The remarks earned public outcry.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the 
video, the Governor is seen issuing an order to men of the State War 
Against Indiscipline to confiscate some goods of an alleged roadside 
hawker. The woman was accused of obstructing the Mission Road. Upon 
hearing her pleas for mercy on grounds that she was a widow, the 
Governor infamously retorted, "You are a widow, go and die."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">According to a <em><strong>statement</strong></em> signed
 Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Peter Okhiria, 
"The Governor, who announced the job offer to the woman, in addition to a
 N2 million grant for her to get a shop and trade, said during a 
breakfast meeting with her at the Government House, yesterday, that her 
job would be to join State's War Against Indiscipline in the campaign 
against street trading and to keep the state clean."</span></div>
<div class="" id="moreContent" style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px;">
<div style="margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The widow, <em><strong>Joy Ifije</strong></em>,
 was invited to the Edo Government House by the Governor who personally 
apologised to her over his uncomplimentary remark. She was accompanied 
to Government House by her sister Patience Ajayi and the landlord, Mr 
Omobude Osakpanwa.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I am doing 
my best to see that we make Benin City a beautiful city that it was 
before. You see, when you send a lot of money, government money to try 
and beautify the city, to build roads and all that, you find the roads 
are not working, I get very angry. The second issue is that when you put
 your goods on the roads, the buses can run into you or like those that 
sales tomatoes or pepper, those things can be contaminated because of 
the exposure which is not good.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"That was 
why I said to you if you are a widow, do you want more people to be 
widows? But when I said go and die, I was really touched that I said 
that to you because I understand that looking at you, you are struggling
 but I was really angry, but I realized that even at anger I can achieve
 the same result without talking to you the way that I did.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Let me 
apologise to you for the way I spoke to you, I am very sorry about the 
statement. I have also realised that even in anger, one could still 
achieve the same result that he set out to without provocative 
outburst. I apologise from the bottom of my heart, but sometimes you get
 angry when people compromise your efforts."</span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He noted 
that trading on the road and walk ways could hinder free flow of traffic
 as well as cause accidents. Also, exposing consumables to unhygienic 
sanitary conditions can cause "disease and pose dangerous health hazards
 to humans." Governor Oshiomhole asked Joy Ifije to join in the campaign
 against road- and walkways trading.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By 
announcing automatic employment to the widow, the Governor explained 
that the employment would help her ease the burden of widowhood and give
 her children good and proper education.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"For your 
child, who is preparing to enter into the university, my daughters and 
myself have agreed to support him. If he does well as we pray he does, 
he would assist the family. Maybe this is the way God wants it. That is 
why I asked them to look for you so that I can personally offer my 
apology, but also to support you, so that God helping you, you can 
overcome the pain of widowhood," the Governor said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px; margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"As a single
 mother, I want to see how I can help you to train your children and God
 can use any of them to become a leader of our country. Please, resist 
the temptation to do anything that would break the law. The law is the 
law; it is no respecter of persons. If Government does not enforce the 
law, there would be confusion," he pleaded.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mrs. Ifije, 
for her part, apologized to the Governor as well, saying, "I know I was 
wrong, that was why I quickly knelt down to beg when I realised I was 
face to face with the Governor."</span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">According to
 her, she had been a victim of theft by a truck pusher who went away 
with her goods, a week before her encounter with the Governor. That was 
why she was on the road with her goods that day as she no longer trusted
 truck pushers not to do away with her goods.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She promised
 to work with the state government in its campaign against street 
trading and obstruction. She also promised to make judicious use of the 
money donated to her by the governor.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>

"Go And Die": Gov. Oshiomhole Apologizes To Widow, Donates N2m + Offers Assistance (PHOTO)

On Monday, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole apologized to the widow he insulted while on inspection tour of the state. He donated N2 m...

9:51:00 pm

Anambra: APGA dedicates victory to Ojukwu

AWKA—The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has said it was 
dedicating the victory of its candidate in Anambra governorship poll, 
Dr. Willie Obiano, to the late leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka 
Odumegwu Ojukwu.<br />
This came as jubilant youths and women took to 
the streets and community squares in Anambra State Sunday, following the
 declaration of Chief Willie Obiano, the candidate of APGA as the winner
 of the governorship election in the state.<br />
Jonathan for 2015<br /> 
The party also announced the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as 
its Presidential candidate for 2015 apparently in appreciation of his 
support for the party in the governorship contest.<br />
Leaders of the 
party, including the National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, Governor 
Peter Obi and the Governor-elect, Dr. Willie Obiano made these known 
while briefing newsmen, at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka, where they 
expressed gratitude to the people of the state for renewing the party’s 
tenure in the state.<br />
Governor Obi who expressed gratitude to 
President Jonathan for his tremendous support to the state, which made 
the governorship election very successful said that APGA  would 
reciprocate the gesture by adopting him as the party’s presidential 
candidate in 2015 election.  He said the party would not field any 
candidate in the presidential election.<br />
Umeh speaks<br /> Umeh, who 
spoke on behalf of the party, said the APGA family was very grateful to 
God for the “historic victory” which he attributed to the good works the
 Governor Obi-led APGA government had done in the state since the past 
eight years.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">From left – Chief Mike Kwentoh, APGA Chairman, Anambra state, Nkem 
Okeke, Deputy Gov-elect, Dr Wilie Obiano, Anambra Gov-elect; Chief 
Victor Umeh, APGA National Chairman; Gov Peter Obi, Anambra Gov; Chief 
Onwuka Ukwa, APGA Chieftain and Chief Austin Ndigwe, APGA chieftain at 
the briefing after the declaration of Anambra governorship election 
result in Awka. Photo: Tony Edike</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
He said: “On behalf of APGA, I want to say we are very grateful to 
God for this historic victory which our party recorded after a fierce 
but very easy battle for the party going by the result of this election.<br />
“We
 dedicate this victory to the evergreen memory of our late leader, Dim 
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, whose vision and legacy have been sustained
 by this emphatic victory by APGA in this election.  The light which our
 late leader put on while he was alive is now shinning gloriously with 
this victory.”<br />
Jubilation<br /> Meanwhile, jubilant youths and women
 took to streets and community squares in Anambra State yesterday 
following the declaration of Chief Willie Obiano, the candidate of All 
Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as the winner of the governorship 
election in the state.<br />
Many people stayed up till 12.00 midnight 
on Sunday when the winner of the election was announced by the state 
returning officer, Professor James Epoke, and as soon as the 
pronouncement was made, canon shots were heard in many communities.<br />
Some
 people who were already asleep woke up and joined in the celebration 
which lasted till the later  hours of the morning in many communities.<br />
Clerics thank God<br />
 In some churches in parts of Anambra State Sunday, officiating priests 
thanked God for assisting the people in making their choice even in the 
face of obvious frustration.<br />
At his country home in Aguleri 
ancient Kingdom in Anambra East Local Government Area, Obiano read an 
acceptance speech titled: ‘Sustaining our Steady March to Progress’ in 
which he thanked God and the people for electing him and his running 
mate, Dr. Nkem Okeke.<br />
He called for continued support to ensure 
that the progress already made in the state by Governor Peter Obi in the
 last eight years was sustained.<br />
Obiano on opponents<br /> He said: 
“Throughout history, societies that have crossed the threshold of 
development have always worked together collectively as one. Development
 comes faster where there is a social contract between leaders and the 
people.<br />
“History has shown that no remarkable advancement ever 
comes through without a price. As industrious people, Anambrarians are 
naturally built for the tasking commitment that the long stride to 
greatness requires.”<br />
To his opponents in the election, Obiano 
said: “I extend my hand of fellowship to all my brothers who contested 
this election with me. I specifically urge my brothers: Tony Nwoye, 
Ifeanyi Ubah, Senator Chris Ngige, Godwin Ezeemo and many others that I 
cannot easily mention now, to join us in the march to make Anambra State
 a better place.<br />
“Please always remember that the blood that binds
 us is thicker than the politics that separates us. By my victory at the
 polls, the people have affirmed the long struggle of our great father, 
Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and have also upheld his view that our 
people should preserve our heritage through one united political roof.”<br />
The
 governor-elect said he and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke were ready and 
adequately prepared to expand the boundaries of development so as to 
place Anambra State on the map of rapidly advancing states on all 
parameters of development.<br />
According to him, “we are fully aware 
that after Governor Obi’s glorious reign, Anambra can only advance to 
higher glory and as inheritors of this tradition of purposeful 
leadership, we shall dedicate ourselves to a life of service to be able 
to meet the needs of our people.”<br />
Gov. Obi on the election<br /> 
Speaking after the election, Governor Obi also said that the election 
was a testimony that those who hoped on winning through rigging of 
election would always be disappointed in the face of continued 
improvement in the country’s electoral system.<br />
He assured the 
people of Anambra State that they have made a good choice and expressed 
confidence that the in coming government would not disappoint them.<br />
<br />
<br />

Anambra: APGA dedicates victory to Ojukwu

AWKA—The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has said it was dedicating the victory of its candidate in Anambra governorship poll, Dr. W...

12:39:00 am

Anambra Governorship Election: Obiano declared winner

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, has 
been declared winner of the governorship election in Anambra State.<br />
The returning officer,  Prof James Epoke said Obiano satisfied all the requirements of the law “and is hereby declared winner. ”<br />
The result showed APGA polled 180,178 votes, PDP polled 97,700 votes; APC got 95,963 votes,<br />
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while LP had 37495 votes.</div>
<br />
Before yesterday’s supplementary 
election conducted in 210 polling units in 16 local councils across the 
state where the exercise was cancelled during the November 16 exercise, 
Obiano was already coasting home to victory, having scored the highest 
number of votes and securing 25 per cent in 18 of the 21 local 
government areas of the state.<br />
The 16 local government areas where
 INEC conducted the supplementary election are Aguata, Awka North, Awka 
South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Anaocha, Ekwusigo, Idemili 
North and Idemili South. Others are Ihiala, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, 
Onitsha South, Orumba North and Oyi.<br />
Residents flout restriction order<br />
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ADHOC
 Staff wait for voters during the Governorship supplimentary election at
 Chukwura Primary School II, Abatete in Idemili North LCA  <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Though
 there was restriction of movement in the affected areas, some people 
were still doing their normal businesses and traffic was light on the 
roads in all the areas.</span><br />
Soldiers were stationed along all 
the roads leading to Idemili North local government area and Onitsha 
South local government area, which had the highest number of polling 
units of 160 and 17 respectively where the supplementary election took 
place.<br />
APC, LP agents take part<br />
Though the All Progressive 
Congress, APC, the Labour Party, LP, and the campaign organization of 
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye, said 
they would not participate in the exercise, their agents were seen in 
many polling units. However, while APGA and PDP agents wore tags, those 
who claimed to be APC agents did not wear their tags. At Abatete in 
Idemili north, agents of the PDP and LP were at the polling units.<br />
Voters’ apathy<br />
In
 all the polling units where the supplementary polls took place 
yesterday, there was very low turnout of voters and heavy presence of 
security operatives.<br />
In most polling units visited by Sunday 
Vanguard, electoral officials and sensitive electoral materials arrived 
early. But, despite the early arrival of these materials, the number of 
eligible voters, who came out for the accreditation exercise, was very 
low compared to the turn-out during the November 16 and 17 elections.<br />
Early results<br />
At
 Zik Avenue, Onitsha polling units 8, 9 and 10, APGA scored 18 votes, 
APC – 8, while PDP polled 6. At polling unit 006, APC scored 9, APGA got
 26, while PDP scored 2.<br />
REC commends Anambra voters, says there’s no boycott<br />
Despite
 the low turn out, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, 
Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, who supervised the election in Onitsha South and 
Onitsha North council areas, commended the people of Anambra for coming 
out to vote yesterday’s supplementary governorship election.<br />
Ikoiwak spoke at Okija Hall where voting took place in four polling units.<br />
APC out to cause mischief – PDP chairman<br />
Meanwhile,
 the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, 
Prince Ken Emeakayi, has accused the APC of causing mischief and 
deceiving Nigerians.<br />
Emeakayi spoke with journalists at Akpkogwe polling booth Ogidi ward 1 where he had gone to observe the supplementary election.<br />
He said that despite APC’s call on voters to boycott the election, the party has agents in all the polling units.<br />
INEC ignores Ubah’s case<br />
Meanwhile,
 the supplementary poll held, yesterday, in apparent disregard of a case
 by the LP candidate in the November 16 election, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, 
seeking to stop it.<br />
A letter by Ubah’s lawyers, Olagoke Fakunle, 
SAN, and Co, to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, dated  November 29, 
2013, notified  INEC about the case.<br />
“You would have noticed that 
amongst the processes is a Motion on Notice for interlocutory in juntion
 restraining you from conducting any further election in Anambra State, 
with regard to the office of the Governor of the State, until the court 
has had an opportunity to review the legality of your pre-election 
processes towards that election”, the letter said.<br />
“It was for the
 reason of the urgency and importance of  this action that the Federal 
High Court, on 28th November 2013, made an order to abridge the time 
within which you and other Defendants may file your responses to both 
the application for injunction and the originating summons. The court 
also granted accelerated hearing of the matter by adjourning the hearing
 to 9th December, 2013.<br />
“We therefore hereby demand that you 
postpone the proposed supplementary election for the Governor of Anambra
 state to avoid a situation whereby you would have foisted a fait 
accompli on the court and the court in response will therefore be 
constrained to void everything you have done including the outcome of 
the proposed supplementary election, with attendant waste of national 
resources.<br />
“The appropriate thing for you to do at this stage, 
therefore, is to enter appearance and file your responses to the 
processes you have been served with and await the court’s determination 
of the illegality or otherwise of the pre-election process leading to 
your decision to hold a supplementary election for the Governor of 
Anambra State, before you continue with any further plans for the 
conduct of any election of the Governor of Anambra State.”<br />
<br />

Anambra Governorship Election: Obiano declared winner

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, has been declared winner of the governorship election in Anambra State. Th...

11:52:00 pm

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