Monday, 8 December 2014
Plane crash kills three in Washington D.C.
A small jet airplane crashed into a neighborhood in
the Washington, D.C. suburb of Gaithersburg,
Maryland Monday, reportedly killing at least three
people aboard the aircraft.
The Embraer EMB-500 twin-engine jet was a mile
away from Montgomery County Airport on
approach to land when the accident occurred,
according to a statement from the Federal Aviation
Administration.
Three people were killed in the crash, all
passengers of the plane, according to local
newspaper The Gazette.
Several homes were hit by debris from the plane,
destroying large sections of the houses.
Numerous homes were set on fire by the crash as
well.
How Oduah won PDP ticket for Anambra North Senate
For her philanthropic activities,
delegates at the just concluded senatorial
primaries in Anambra State threw their weight
behind former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella
Adaeze Oduah which enabled her clinch the
People’s Democratic Party ticket for Anambra
North Senatorial.
Out of a total of 297 accredited delegates that
voted, 259 opted for Oduah, while other contestants
in the race, including Senator Margery Okadigbo,
former Minister of State for Water Transport, John
Emeka and Chief Samuel Ikefuna shared the
remaining votes, apart from the five votes that
were declared invalid.
Some PDP leaders in the zone commended the
delegates and the contestants for their peaceful
conduct during the exercise and urged others
participating in the electoral process presently in
different capacities to toe the same path during
their own elections.
Also the delegates said they voted for her because
of her feat in the Aviation Ministry, as well as her
penchant for remembering the down trodden
through her foundation.
The Returning Officer, Anthonia Nwankwo while
declaring Oduah winner having polled the highest
number of votes described the election as the best
so far in the history of PDP in Anambra State.
In an acceptance speech, Oduah said she was
overwhelmed by the love demonstrated by her
people in the PDP by choosing her to fly the party
flag during the 2015 elections.
She said she has accepted the outcome of the
election as a response to the call by her people for
service and promised not to let them down. She
acknowledged that there are difficult tasks ahead
but expressed optimism that with the support of
the people, they will overcome all challenges. She
also called on other contestants in the race to join
hands with her to ensure victory for the PDP and
to bring positive developments to the people of
Anambra North.
Also speaking, a former Member House of
Representatives ,Hon. Jessie Balonwu and former
Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government, Chief
Basil Ejidike lauded the PDP delegates for their
maturity and for voting their conscience without
any form of coercion which manifested in the
outcome of the election.
The Member Representing Oyi/ Ayamelum Federal
Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Chizor
Obidigwe said the outcome of the election has
shown that the people’s wish has prevailed. He
advised other contestants to support the winner
because according to him, it’s not a do or die
affair.
delegates at the just concluded senatorial
primaries in Anambra State threw their weight
behind former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella
Adaeze Oduah which enabled her clinch the
People’s Democratic Party ticket for Anambra
North Senatorial.
Out of a total of 297 accredited delegates that
voted, 259 opted for Oduah, while other contestants
in the race, including Senator Margery Okadigbo,
former Minister of State for Water Transport, John
Emeka and Chief Samuel Ikefuna shared the
remaining votes, apart from the five votes that
were declared invalid.
Some PDP leaders in the zone commended the
delegates and the contestants for their peaceful
conduct during the exercise and urged others
participating in the electoral process presently in
different capacities to toe the same path during
their own elections.
Also the delegates said they voted for her because
of her feat in the Aviation Ministry, as well as her
penchant for remembering the down trodden
through her foundation.
The Returning Officer, Anthonia Nwankwo while
declaring Oduah winner having polled the highest
number of votes described the election as the best
so far in the history of PDP in Anambra State.
In an acceptance speech, Oduah said she was
overwhelmed by the love demonstrated by her
people in the PDP by choosing her to fly the party
flag during the 2015 elections.
She said she has accepted the outcome of the
election as a response to the call by her people for
service and promised not to let them down. She
acknowledged that there are difficult tasks ahead
but expressed optimism that with the support of
the people, they will overcome all challenges. She
also called on other contestants in the race to join
hands with her to ensure victory for the PDP and
to bring positive developments to the people of
Anambra North.
Also speaking, a former Member House of
Representatives ,Hon. Jessie Balonwu and former
Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government, Chief
Basil Ejidike lauded the PDP delegates for their
maturity and for voting their conscience without
any form of coercion which manifested in the
outcome of the election.
The Member Representing Oyi/ Ayamelum Federal
Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Chizor
Obidigwe said the outcome of the election has
shown that the people’s wish has prevailed. He
advised other contestants to support the winner
because according to him, it’s not a do or die
affair.
Ayogu,Ugwuanyi conduct parallel guber primaries in Enugu State
Three parallel primaries of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, took place at
different locations within the Enugu metropolis.
The Ayogu Eze’s faction of the party moved away
from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to conduct a
separate primary at Filbon Hotel, Enugu, following
confirmed reports that the list of delegates
approved by the National Working Committee,
NWC, of the party was changed for a fresh one by
the Ikeje Asogwa’s faction, while the group led by a
transport mogul, Evang. Samuel Onyishi, boycotted
the primary over the illegality of the delegates list
provided for the primary, saying that their p.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon.
Eugene Odo is also in the race but eventually
showed up at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium an
indication that he has aligned with the Sullivan
Chime/ Asogwa faction. Senator Eze won at a
parallel primary conducted at Fibon with 530 votes
out of 614 votes cast.
Both Anayo Onwuegbu and Chinedu Onu who are
close allies of the Deputy Senate President, Chief
Ike Ekweremadu withdrew for Hon Ugwuanyi on the
prodding of Ekweremadu.
Ugwuanyi, House Committee Chairman on Maritime
is the anointed candidate of Governor Chime.
However, going by the outcome of the delegates
election conducted by Elder David Aja, on
November 1, 2014, which was boycotted by the
Chime’s group led by Mr Asogwa, Ekweremadu
produced majority of the delegates from Enugu
West Senatorial District, while Eze produced most
of those from Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
Onu later said that he withdrew for PDP and not for
any person as he was not satisfied with the way
the primary was organised by the party.
However, the delegates from the Enugu East
Senatorial zone owe their victories to the former
Minister of Information, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr and
his group including Senator Gil Nnaji among
others.
Sources said that although Ekweremadu had lent
his weight to the aspirations of Hon. Ugwanyi,
there would not have been any major upset as his
two allies who withdrew from the race on his
instructions had no control over the delegates from
their zones.
At the time of filing this report, Ugwuanyi group
were still holding their primary at the Stadium were
he is expected to emerge winner.
As at Sunday night, almost all the delegates
approved by the National Working Committee,
NWC, had gathered at Senator Eze’s Enugu home
while those from Enugu East who were loyal to
Nweke Jnr and his group were also camped in the
former minister’s country home in Nkanu, waiting
to vote for the Senator.
At a news briefing presided over by the Chairman
of the PDP Electoral Panel in Enugu State, King
Asarah A. Asarah, Eze and Onyishi raised concerns
over the genuineness of the delegates list used in
yesterday’s exercise.
Onyishi said,”why should the delegates list to be
used in today’s (yesterday) governorship primary
be different from what was used in the House of
Reps and Senatorial primaries. It is purely a case
of selective delegates.
“I am still in the race of governorship. If I had gone
to the stadium, venue of the primary, it will mean I
am giving impetus to the adulterated delegates
list.”
Responding,the electoral panel chairman Asarah A.
Asarh said,”I know the list was not the certified list
from the court. My hands are tied. I cannot go
contrary to the mandate given to me.”
It was expected that the combined efforts of
Senator Eze and his friends in Enugu East would
have whittled down the efforts of Senator
Ekweremadu, who had already got his ticket back
to the Senate for the fourth time following the
withdrawal of Governor Chime from the race.
Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, took place at
different locations within the Enugu metropolis.
The Ayogu Eze’s faction of the party moved away
from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to conduct a
separate primary at Filbon Hotel, Enugu, following
confirmed reports that the list of delegates
approved by the National Working Committee,
NWC, of the party was changed for a fresh one by
the Ikeje Asogwa’s faction, while the group led by a
transport mogul, Evang. Samuel Onyishi, boycotted
the primary over the illegality of the delegates list
provided for the primary, saying that their p.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon.
Eugene Odo is also in the race but eventually
showed up at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium an
indication that he has aligned with the Sullivan
Chime/ Asogwa faction. Senator Eze won at a
parallel primary conducted at Fibon with 530 votes
out of 614 votes cast.
Both Anayo Onwuegbu and Chinedu Onu who are
close allies of the Deputy Senate President, Chief
Ike Ekweremadu withdrew for Hon Ugwuanyi on the
prodding of Ekweremadu.
Ugwuanyi, House Committee Chairman on Maritime
is the anointed candidate of Governor Chime.
However, going by the outcome of the delegates
election conducted by Elder David Aja, on
November 1, 2014, which was boycotted by the
Chime’s group led by Mr Asogwa, Ekweremadu
produced majority of the delegates from Enugu
West Senatorial District, while Eze produced most
of those from Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
Onu later said that he withdrew for PDP and not for
any person as he was not satisfied with the way
the primary was organised by the party.
However, the delegates from the Enugu East
Senatorial zone owe their victories to the former
Minister of Information, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr and
his group including Senator Gil Nnaji among
others.
Sources said that although Ekweremadu had lent
his weight to the aspirations of Hon. Ugwanyi,
there would not have been any major upset as his
two allies who withdrew from the race on his
instructions had no control over the delegates from
their zones.
At the time of filing this report, Ugwuanyi group
were still holding their primary at the Stadium were
he is expected to emerge winner.
As at Sunday night, almost all the delegates
approved by the National Working Committee,
NWC, had gathered at Senator Eze’s Enugu home
while those from Enugu East who were loyal to
Nweke Jnr and his group were also camped in the
former minister’s country home in Nkanu, waiting
to vote for the Senator.
At a news briefing presided over by the Chairman
of the PDP Electoral Panel in Enugu State, King
Asarah A. Asarah, Eze and Onyishi raised concerns
over the genuineness of the delegates list used in
yesterday’s exercise.
Onyishi said,”why should the delegates list to be
used in today’s (yesterday) governorship primary
be different from what was used in the House of
Reps and Senatorial primaries. It is purely a case
of selective delegates.
“I am still in the race of governorship. If I had gone
to the stadium, venue of the primary, it will mean I
am giving impetus to the adulterated delegates
list.”
Responding,the electoral panel chairman Asarah A.
Asarh said,”I know the list was not the certified list
from the court. My hands are tied. I cannot go
contrary to the mandate given to me.”
It was expected that the combined efforts of
Senator Eze and his friends in Enugu East would
have whittled down the efforts of Senator
Ekweremadu, who had already got his ticket back
to the Senate for the fourth time following the
withdrawal of Governor Chime from the race.
2015 tensions increases
One of the aspirants in the Peoples Democratic
Party Lagos State governorship primaries, Mr. Jimi
Agbaje has said he is not sure if he will emerge as
the candidate of the party.
Agbaje said this while fielding questions from
journalists at the venue of the primaries.
Agbaje who is being supported by the leader of the
party in the state, Chief Olabode George, said there
was nothing wrong with the leadership of the party
supporting him.
The aspirant said if he was given the ticket of the
party, he would be able to give the All Progressives
Congress a tough time at the February elections.
*Agbaje
He, however, stated that he would not leave the
party if he was denied the ticket.
Agbaje, who will have to defeat his fiercest rival,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro , before he could win,
said he was the best candidate.
He said, “In politics you are supposed to bring all
that you can offer to the table and try to convince
the party hierarchy and the membership at the
lower level that you are the best and if they are
supporting me, it is because I have been able to
convince them. “This whole thing is about winning
the election, it’s not just about giving the ticket to
anyone but giving it to the person that can win.
“Elections can be tricky but I have done my work.
It’s a delegate thing and you can never know how
the voting could go. I could win by a wide margin,
by a small margin or I could lose.”
Party Lagos State governorship primaries, Mr. Jimi
Agbaje has said he is not sure if he will emerge as
the candidate of the party.
Agbaje said this while fielding questions from
journalists at the venue of the primaries.
Agbaje who is being supported by the leader of the
party in the state, Chief Olabode George, said there
was nothing wrong with the leadership of the party
supporting him.
The aspirant said if he was given the ticket of the
party, he would be able to give the All Progressives
Congress a tough time at the February elections.
*Agbaje
He, however, stated that he would not leave the
party if he was denied the ticket.
Agbaje, who will have to defeat his fiercest rival,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro , before he could win,
said he was the best candidate.
He said, “In politics you are supposed to bring all
that you can offer to the table and try to convince
the party hierarchy and the membership at the
lower level that you are the best and if they are
supporting me, it is because I have been able to
convince them. “This whole thing is about winning
the election, it’s not just about giving the ticket to
anyone but giving it to the person that can win.
“Elections can be tricky but I have done my work.
It’s a delegate thing and you can never know how
the voting could go. I could win by a wide margin,
by a small margin or I could lose.”
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Nysc wahala
THE move by the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to introduce online registration and call-up of prospective Corps members has raised a lot of controversy which, if not quickly addressed, might affect the activities of the organisation.
The full computerization of the call-up process was approved at the meeting of the management in Calabar, and aims to begin with the 2014 Batch “C” mobilisation exercise. Under the scheme, prospective corps members are given the option of registering and processing their call-up from the comfort of their homes or the nearest business centre if they choose not to travel to their schools.
The snag, however, is that they have to pay the sum of N4,000 to cover the cost of this computerized processing, since the NYSC says, a private firm is handling the computerization project on its behalf under a private/public partnership arrangement.
The concerns and outright rejection of this project by well-meaning Nigerians is quite understandable, in the wake of the Immigration job recruitment disaster in which job seekers were forced to cough out N1,000 each to apply for the jobs. More than 20 young people lost their lives in various centres.
The difference, however, is that the NYSC insists that the N4,000 call-up registration is not compulsory. Prospective corps members have merely been given the option to either save themselves the old troubles of travelling to their schools for the call-up letter, with the risks involved or simply option for the seamless computerized registration.
The choice factor is very important, as it will enable those who live quite close to their schools not to carry out the online process and fee payment if they so wish. We, however, hope that those who opt for the old style of registration will not be subjected to any form of punitive sanction or disadvantage simply because they do not opt for the computerised scheme.
We call on prospective corps members who choose not to apply online to report any cases of victimisation, as this will expose the genuine intentions or otherwise of those behind it.
It is a welcome development that the House of Representatives has already waded into the matter with a view to ensuring that the right thing is done in the public interest.
We advise the legislators not to be carried away by sentiments but to focus on ensuring that when implemented the rights of corps members to chose to register online or not are respected with absolutely no room left open to the victimisation of those who prefer not to.
Particular attention should be paid to the cost attached to the call-up registration to make sure that due processes of the law were followed in arriving at it, and that the benefits are commensurate with what corps members are required to pay.
If foul play is suspected it should be dropped. But if the programme will make life easier for stakeholders in the NYSC scheme, let it go ahead.
Jeb Bush Former United State's President Set To Run For President Come 2016
It may just be brotherly love, but former president George W. Bush said Thursday that his younger sibling Jeb wants the White House in 2016 — and he’s encouraging him to run.
“I think he wants to be president,” George Bush told Fox News.
“I think (Jeb would) be a great president. He understands what it’s like to be president.”
Jeb Bush, a favorite among some establishment Republicans who believe he would be a prime opponent to an increasingly likely run by former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, has said he will decide next year.
“(Jeb) and I had a conversation. I of course was pushing for him to run for president, he of course was saying, ‘I haven’t made up my mind,’” the former commander-in-chief said.
But George Bush said there was plenty of family presidential precedent to turn to in helping make a decision.
“He’s seen his dad (George H.W. Bush), he’s seen his brother. And so he’s a very thoughtful man, and he’s weighing his options.”
Jeb Bush, 61, is viewed as a mainstream Republican and less ideologically rigid than the conservatives considering a presidential run, like Senator Ted Cruz.
Jeb Bush, who served as Florida governor from 1999 to 2007, has notably expressed support for immigration reform, including the mass legalization of undocumented workers.
A survey of Florida voters this month showed odds-on Democratic frontrunner Clinton ahead of all potential Republican rivals — including Bush and Florida native son Senator Marco Rubio — in a hypothetical 2016 race.
The Clinton-Bush matchup was closest at 46 percent to 44 percent, within the poll’s margin of error.
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