Kaduna armourer arrested for selling police weapons to criminals commits suicide in cell

Deputy Superintendent of Police Nanbol Audu, who was the officer in charge of the Kaduna Armory, has killed himself days after he was paraded with two others for stealing and selling police weapons to criminals and rich people in the state. He was paraded this past Monday October 27th

DSP Audu, an officer who had served in the police force for 30 years and was due to retire in five years, shot himself in the stomach around 5.40am today October 31st inside his detention cell at the police headquarters in Kaduna, it was announced on radio today. The state police commissioner Umar Shehu confirmed the incident.

According to the state police commissioner Umar Shehu, the three men were arrested on October 20th as they tried to leave with 11 rifles that had been provided by DSP Audu from the state armory.
A search on them by other suspicious police officers revealed the stolen armory and N400,000 cash. When interrogated, Audu confessed to the crime and said he provided the guns to the men for personal protection from the Fulani herdsmen who were killing his people in Jos, Plateau state.

Tambuwal drags FG to court over removal of his security aides

A day after his security aides were withdrawn by the Federal Government, the Speaker of the House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal, has filed a suit against the FG before a Federal High court in Abuja.

Tanbuwal filed the suit today Oct. 31st asking the court to declare that the withdrawal of his security aides while he's still the Speaker is unlawful and unconstitutional. He also asked the court to restrain FG from further infringing on his rights and privileges. There are reports they are trying to declare his seat vacant and organize a bye-election for the purpose of replacing him. Tanbuwal asked the court to restrain FG, INEC, PDP and IGP from doing this. In the meantime, he wants the court to order FG to return his security detail pending the determination of the suit.

Canada suspends visas for residents of Ebola-hit African countries

In a bid to also stop the spread of Ebola into its borders, the Canadian government today October 31st announced its suspension of visa applications for travelers from Ebola-hit countries.

Below is the statement released today by Canada's health minister, Rona Ambrose
"Our number one priority is to protect Canadians. We continue to work with domestic and international partners to aid efforts to respond to the outbreak in West Africa, while strengthening our domestic preparedness here at home."
The Canadian immigration minister, Chris Alexander said Canadian immigration authorities will not process any visa application for individuals who have been in any Ebola-affected nation 'within three months prior to the date of the application.'
"Canada has been a leader in the international efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The precautionary measures announced today build on actions we have taken to protect the health and safety of Canadians here at home." he said.

Bukina Faso President resigns following riot, military takes over

The President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Campaore has resigned from office following yesterday's massive protest by people who were opposed to the elongation of his 27 years tenure. In a statement released today, Campaore said his seat was vacant and urged his people to conduct an election in the next 90 days. 

Mr Compaore had earlier said he would remain in power until a transitional government had completed its work in 2015, a position the opposition parties and the army refused, forcing him to resign from power. His whereabouts is currently unknown.

In the meantime, Bukina Faso's army chief Nabere Honore Traore has taken over power and has instituted a transitional body that would conduct elections for the seat of the president in the next 90 days.

Photos: Burkina Faso Parliament set ablaze after members tried to elongate president's stay in office

Anti-government protesters in Burkina Faso today set their National parliament ablaze following a decision by members of parliament to review the country's constitution to allow President Blaise Compaore extend his 27-year rule. The parliament members were due to vote on a change on their constitution which would allow the sitting president, Blaise Compaore - who took power in a coup in 1987 - to stand for re-election again next year, when he was due to stand down.

The angry protesters who did not buy into the proposed constitution review stormed the National Assembly building in the capital Ouagadougou, ransacking offices and setting fire to cars, before attacking the national television headquarters. At least one person died in the mayhem. 

One of the protesters said;

"We did this because Blaise was trying to stay too long. We are tired of him. We want a change. He must go!”

The violence forced the government to temporarily scrap a vote on the constitutional amendments.Relative calm has since returned to the capital city

Jonathan, Emir Sanusi reconcile

After nearly a year of bitter relations, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, met Thursday in Abuja and reconciled differences that once drove both men to the extremes of their offices.

Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was fired by the president in February after accusing the government of diverting $20 billion oil revenues.

The government denied the claim, and in turn, accused Mr. Sanusi of “financial recklessness”.
After leaving office, Mr. Sanusi was appointed the Emir of Kano in June, assuming one of the most powerful traditional stools in Nigeria.

His appointment by Kano State’s Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, a member opposition All Progressives Congress, was opposed by the presidency which ordered the emir’s office blockaded for days.

The emir reportedly initiated peace moves, and the two men met for the first time in July during the breaking of the Muslim fast, a yearly routine in which the president meets top government officials who are Muslims and other prominent Islamic leaders in the country.

Our sources say Thursday’s meeting was essentially for reconciliation between the two sides.

The emir was accompanied to the meeting by all senior members of the Kano Emirate council, while Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali also attended the meeting.

Officials at the meeting say the president urged peace, and announced that he had nothing against the emir and that he had forgotten everything that happened.

In return, Mr. Sanusi also preached peace saying he too had let go of the past.

The president and the emir later met privately for about 15 minutes, according to our sources.

Mr. Sanusi and his entourage left for Kano shortly after, and were on their way to the Abuja airport at the time of this report.

PDP stops Adamawa gov from 2015 race

Governor James Ngilari of Adamawa State has been barred from contesting the governorship election in the state in 2015.

The party said it was bound to comply with the agreement it had with the governorship aspirants from the state about two months ago.

The decision to ban Ngilari was taken at the meeting of the members of the National Working Committee of the party in Abuja on Wednesday night.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja in Thursday.

Metuh said the next governorship candidate of the party would come from the Central Senatorial District of the state.

Ngilari is from the northern part of the state.

He said, “On Adamawa, the NWC has decided that the decision and agreements of the candidates in Adamawa during our last exercise would be upheld.

“Accordingly, the governorship election in 2015 has been zoned to Adamawa Central. All aspirants, who bought forms (eight of them) that signed the agreement and withdrew are advised to come and exchange it without any payment with the new 2015 forms.

“It means they are entitled to run since they are from the same senatorial zone. The party will fully implement that agreement.”

It will be recalled that the Speaker House of Adamawa House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, and seven other governorship aspirants in the state protested at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Wednesday.

They said that the governor must not be allowed to contest the governorship primary of the party in the state.

The eight aspirants insisted that the zoning arrangement earlier reached with them by the party must be kept.

Apart from Fintiri, those who also visited the party to register their grievances were a former political aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak; son of a former PDP national chairman, Awwal Tukur, former minister of health, Idi Hong; Mr. James Barka, Aliyu kama, Marcus Gundiri and Abubakar Girei.

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Mallan Nuhu Ribadu, who was part of the team with whom the agreement was made, was not present.

Tambuwal: Jonathan calls emergency PDP meeting

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday engaged some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in a meeting aimed at taking a common position on the Tuesday defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

The meeting took place hours after the House said the PDP, individuals and groups condemning the defection of   the speaker to the All Progressives Congress should not dictate to it on how to conduct its affairs.

Tambuwal had announced his defection from the PDP before he adjourned sitting till December 3.

The situation made the President to summon the National Chairman of the PDP,   Adamu Mu’azu, to the meeting which had the Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha; the Deputy Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor; and a member from Delta State, Ndudi Elumelu, in attendance.

Some PDP governors such as Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa): Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu) were also part of the meeting.

Top government officials who attended the parley   included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the National Security Adviser,   Sambo Dasuki; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN).

One of those in attendance told one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity that the meeting centered on how to make Tambuwal vacate his seat as speaker.

“The issue of the Speaker and his exit was one of the fundamental issues discussed at the meeting,” he   said.

The source however did not disclose the decision reached at the meeting.

Another source said that Ihedioha “took the heat at the meeting.”

He did not explain further.

The presence of Adoke and Dasuki at the meeting suggested that they might have reviewed the legal and security implications of the options available to them with the two government officials.

Earlier, Mu’azu had at another meeting   the President had   with a delegation of the Federal Capital Territory Council of Chiefs,   dropped the hint that Jonathan summoned him.

“The President had summoned me for a meeting. I was with him when he wanted to come and receive you and he told me to follow you. I only did follow follow,” he had told members of the delegation.

The PDP had shortly after Tambuwal announced his defection called on him to do the needful by resigning as speaker.

The party, argued through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, that since Tambuwal became the speaker on the ticket of the “majority party (PDP), he had no right to continue to occupy the seat.

But the House said on Tuesday that   the PDP and most of the commentators on the issue were “ignorant” of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the House Standing Orders.

The   Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs,   Victor Ogene, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues,   said Tambuwal did not breach any law in defecting to the APC.

He also noted that there was no provision in the constitution prescribing that the speaker must be elected from among the majority party members.

Ogene cited Section 50 (1)(b) of the constitution to buttress his argument.

He said, “The clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution easily settle the worries regarding the continued speakership of Tambuwal – ‘There shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.’’’

He also noted that the speaker was elected as the representative of the “generality of Nigerians” and not necessarily because he belonged to a particular political party.

On the views of some “commentators” that Tambuwal should have vacated his office by virtue of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution, he replied that the matter was still awaiting judicial decision.

Ogene added, “It is common knowledge that following the defection of 37 members of the House in December 2013, from the PDP to APC, there has been multiple court cases on the matter, thus rendering it subjudice to discuss any likely outcome.

GEJ to collect PDP Nomination form for 2015 presidential elections today

Read the State House press releases below...

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will tomorrow, Thursday, October 30 pick up the PDP nomination form for the 2015 Presidential elections.

President Jonathan thanks all Nigerians, members of the PDP, friends, associates, and all groups who in sincere appreciation of the achievements of the administration in the last four years, have been urging him to seek a second term in office.

President Jonathan is greatly encouraged by the overwhelming outpouring of goodwill and support, as well as the  confidence of the generality of Nigerians in his ability to continue to transform the country for the good of all of its  people.

The President is also grateful to all the persons, groups and communities who have sent donations, and made pledges to assist him to pay the required N22 million for the PDP Presidential Nomination Fee and Expression of Interest Form.

He acknowledges, and accepts with immense gratitude, the following donations and pledges that he has received from a broad section of Nigerians:

1.      Mr. Kennedy Ikenna Odoeme – N5, 000

2.    Mr Ezemagu Sunday Nnamdi – N10, 000

3.    PDP Governors – N22 Million

4.    Transformation Agenda of Nigeria  (TAN) – N22m

5.     Ogbia LGA Stakeholders, Bayelsa state – N5m

6.    Otuoke Community Stakeholders – N2m

7.     Brass LGA Stakeholders, Bayelsa state – N50, 000

8.    Bayelsa State PDP Stakeholders- N5m

9.    Northern Youths Forum – N2m

10.                        Central Market Traders Union, Kaduna State – N1m

11.  PDP Stakeholders, Zaria LGA – N500, 000

12.PDP Stakeholders, Yobe State – N500, 000

13.PDP Stakeholders, Kaduna State- N2m

14. Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore – N5m

15.  The Goodluck Support Group, Gombe State – N1m

16. Adamawa State PDP Stakeholders – N3m

17.  Ebonyi State PDP Stakeholders- N2m

18.Kogi State PDP Stakeholders – N5m

19. Rivers State PDP Stakeholders – N5m

20.                      The 2015 Project – N1m

21.Team Goodluck, Ondo North Senatorial District – N5m

22.                       Middle Belt PDP Women Support  Group for GEJ 2015 – N500, 000

23.                       King David Generation Foundation, Jos – N200, 000

24.                       Behwong Weneng Yere Duk, Jos – N200,000

25.                       Redemption 3 Youth Organization, Plateau State – N500, 000

26.                       Plateau State Indigenes Association, Abuja – N300,000

27.                       Gombe Youth United for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 2015 – N500, 000

28.                       Gombe Youth Vanguard for PDP- N500, 000

29.                       Yamahu/Deba Goodluck Support Group – N200, 000

30.                      Coalition of Gombe Support Groups for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan – N2m

31. Hinna Youth Coalition for Goodluck – N500, 000

32.                        Nigerian Women Pray for Jonathan - N1m

33.                        National Association of Widows - N100, 000

34.                       National Council of Women Societies - N500, 000

35.                       Female members of the PDP Board of Trustees - N500,000

36.                       Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities - N100,000

37.                       National Association of Market Women - N500, 000

38.                       Community Awareness and Development Network – N1 m

President Jonathan assures the donors that he will continue to do his utmost best at all times to fully justify the great confidence they have placed in his leadership.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 29, 2014

Boko Haram reportedly sacks Army HQ in Mubi, Adamawa state

According to a report by Sahara Reporters, suspected members of Boko Haram entered Mubi town in Adamawa state today Oct. 29th and took over the army headquarters of the 234 battalion in the town.

The troops guarding the barracks reportedly initially exchanged fire with the sect men but fled after they realized they were outnumbered by the militants and their heavy firepower. 

In a related development, the sect members are reported to have attacked Uba and Hildi towns and other locations in Borno and Adamawa states this morning Oct. 29th. According to residents of the villages, the sect men arrived in the early hours, shooting at them, burning buildings and forcefully took away their food stuff.

3 daily glasses of milk linked to higher mortality rate in women

Milk is often touted as an elixir for bone strength, but new research suggests that those superpowers may be true only to a certain extent.

A study published in the Oct. 28 issue of The British Medical Journal suggests that consuming three glasses of milk per day may double women’s risk of dying in 20 years, compared to drinking less than one glass daily, Medical News Today reported

Researchers in Sweden found that the sugar D-galactose— which comprises half of lactose— increases oxidative stress and inflammation of the body. Experimental evidence in various animal species shows that chronic exposure to galactose can expedite aging and decrease lifespan.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends three daily cups of milk for maintaining healthy blood pressure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, protecting from colorectal cancer, and boosting high-quality protein for muscle mass.

“Our results may question the validity of recommendations to consume high amounts of milk to prevent fragility fractures,” the researchers write.

The research focused only on the association of fractures and overall mortality with milk consumption, not on links to cardiovascular disease. There is no definitive evidence that indicates whether milk is good or bad for heart health, but a 2005 study published in BMJ links milk consumption with a decreased risk of heart disease and stroke.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calcium-rich low-fat and nonfat milk can reduce the risk of osteoporosis in women, who are more at risk for the disease.

To learn whether the bone health effects of galactose in animals matched that of humans, researchers studied two groups— one comprised of men, the other of women— to analyze whether milk was linked to higher mortality and fracture rates. They questioned more than 61,000 women ages 39 to 74 from 1987 to 1990, and more than 45,000 men ages 45 to 79 in 1997.

In a questionnaire, participants reported their average consumption of up to 96 common foods and beverages, including dairy products. Researchers took the participants’ lifestyles, weight, height, education levels and marital statuses into account, and they analyzed their fracture and mortality rates through national registers. After the initial survey, study authors monitored the women for 20 years and the men for 11 years.

Researchers noted that drinking three glasses of milk was linked to a 50 percent increased risk of hip fracture and a higher risk of mortality among women. They saw a similar trend among men, but the effects were less pronounced than those among the women.

The study authors pointed out that the results should be interpreted cautiously due to the observational design of the study. The study shows only association rather than cause and effect and  further studies are needed before dietary recommendations are altered.

“As milk features in many dietary guidelines and both hip fractures and cardiovascular disease are relatively common among older people, improving the evidence base for dietary recommendations could have substantial benefits for everyone,” Mary Schooling, a professor at City University of New York, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

“As milk consumption may rise globally with economic development and increasing consumption of animal source foods, the role of milk in mortality needs to be established definitively now,” Schooling said.

How Boko Haram raped, beat us every night – Abducted girls

He soon began to threaten me with a knife to have sex with him and when I refused, he brought out his gun, warning that he would kill me if I shouted.“Then he began to rape me every night … I had never had sex before; it was very painful and I cried bitterly because I was bleeding afterwards.”

These were the words of a 15-year-old girl, who was abducted by Boko Haram and forcibly married to one of its commanders in a camp in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.

The girl, according to a report by Human Rights Watch, was abducted in 2013 but she escaped after four weeks in captivity.

The teenager is one of the five girls that personally recounted their ordeals in the publication which was made public on Monday. She said that after her marriage to the commander who was in his early 30s, she was ordered to live with him in cave.

The experiences of three others who suffered sexual violence were narrated by witnesses in the 63-page HRW report titled, Those Terrible Weeks in Their Camp: Boko Haram Violence against Women and Girls in North-East Nigeria.’

The publication provides details of how hundreds of girls and women aged between 15 and 22 were being made to suffer other forms of abuses and used for ambushes.

The HRW said in the report that it spoke to 47 witnesses and victims, including some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped from their hostel in April this year.

The group also described how some of the Christian abductees were ordered to convert to Islam or be executed.

It claimed that four of the eight sexual assaults it recorded occurred after the girls and women were forced to marry Boko Haram combatants.

According to the HRW, before “marriage,” the commanders appeared to make some efforts to protect the women and girls from sexual assault.

It said that in two cases, the insurgents took advantage of the absence of a commander and sexually abused abductees who had yet to be “married.”

An 18-year-old victim also described how an insurgent sexually abused her when she went to use the bathroom.

She said, “I did not know he followed me when I walked a short distance away from the tree under which we slept. He grabbed me from behind, roughly fondling me while trying to take off his pants. I screamed in fright and he hurriedly left me as I continued to shout for help.”

Another woman, who was raped in 2013 in one of the militants’ camps near Gwoza, described how a commander’s wife seemed to encourage the crime.

“I was lying down in the cave pretending to be ill because I did not want the marriage the commander planned to conduct for me with another insurgent on his return from the Sambisa camp. When the insurgent who had paid my dowry came in to force himself on me, the commander’s wife blocked the cave entrance and watched as the man raped me.”

Another woman aged 19, who was married and had children, described how she and one other woman were raped after having been abducted in April 2014.

She said, “When we arrived at the camp, they left us under a tree. I managed to sleep. I was exhausted and afraid. Late in the night, two insurgents woke me and another woman, saying their leader wanted to see us.

“We had no choice but to follow them; but as soon as we moved deep into the bush, one of them dragged me away, while his partner took the other woman to another direction.

“I guessed what they had in mind and I began to cry. I begged him, telling him I was a married woman. He ignored my pleas, flung me on the ground, and raped me. I could not tell anyone what happened, not even my husband.

“I still feel so ashamed and cheated. The other woman told me she was also raped but vowed never to speak of it as she was single and believes that news of her rape would foreclose her chances of marriage.”

The HRW had previously documented the widespread abuses carried out by the Nigerian security forces in responding to the attacks by Boko Haram.

However, the rights organisation asserted that few members of the security forces implicated in “serious violations of humanitarian and human rights law, including violations against girls and women, have been prosecuted.”

It advised that “to ensure accountability, Nigerian authorities should investigate and prosecute, based on international fair trial standards, those who committed serious crimes in violation of national and international laws during the conflict, including members of Boko Haram, security forces, and pro-government vigilante groups.”

The group said that “in addition, the government should provide adequate measures to protect schools and the right to education, and ensure access to medical and mental health services to victims of abduction and other violence.

“The government should also ensure that hospitals and clinics treating civilian victims are equipped with medical supplies to treat survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.”

Nigerian Government Sues Coca-Cola For Quality Violations

In an unprecedented move to compel businesses operating in Nigeria to comply with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Council Act, especially relating to product quality standard, the federal government has instituted legal action against the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, NBC, and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, alongside their chief executives before at a federal high court in Abuja over an alleged criminal breach of the CPC Act.

The charge filed before the court by the Attorney General of Nigeria and Minister of Justice accused the managing directors of the companies, Mr. Ben Langat, for Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, and Mr. Adeola Adetunji, for Coca Cola Nigeria Limited, and their companies respectively, of having committed an offence by violating the Orders of the Consumer Protection Council by deliberately failing, refusing and/or neglecting to comply with the Council’s Orders duly made and served on them. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Council Act, Cap C. 25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

In the first count of the two-count charge against Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its Managing Director, Mr. Adeola Adetunji, the federal government alleged that the accused committed an offence by refusing to attend the hearing of the Consumer Protection Council held in Abuja in relation to investigation of violation of product quality standard under the Consumer Protection Council Act after Summons was duly issued and served on them and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Council Act Cap C. 25 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

Coca-Cola and its Chief Executive, as in the case of NBC, were also charged with violating the Orders of the Council by deliberately refusing to comply with the Order duly made and served on them, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Council Act, Cap C. 25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

CPC had earlier found NBC and Coca-Cola culpable following its findings from the administrative panel set up over a consumer complaint regarding two half-empty cans of Sprite manufactured by Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Limited under the license and authority of Coca Cola Nigeria Limited.

The Council had alleged that the Coca Cola company bluntly refused to attend the proceedings at the administrative panel level where, following an extensive investigation, findings by the panel substantiated the allegation of product defect and a violation of the Consumer Protection Council’s Act. It thereafter based on made some recommendations and Orders to Coca-Cola and NBC.

According to Mrs. Dupe Atoki, the Director General of the CPC, part of the recommendations and orders issued Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Bottling Company was to subject their manufacturing processes to COC’s inspection for a period of 12 months to ensure compliance with laid down safety standards and regulations and compensation for the consumer who filed the complainant.

The case has been assigned to Justice Evoh Chukwu but no date has been fixed for the hearin

DStv and GOtv Sales Rep recruitment drive

1. What is the DStv and GOtv recruitment drive about?: It is an opportunity for unemployed Nigerians to make extra income working as DStv or GOtv sales agents. 

2. Who is it targeted at?: It is mainly targeted at young school leavers, or the unemployed who are interested in a flexible plan to make more money.



3.    How do interested people contact you? Interested people should sms YES to 08141380848.


4.      What does being a sales rep entail? The sales reps will be responsible for selling DStv and GOtv decoders. He will then receive payment based on an agreed percentage of decoder sales. It is very straightforward.
 
5.   How much can sales rep make every month? A rep can make up to N60,000 or more every month, depending on how many decoders he is able to sell. 

6.      Is there an opportunity for growth for the sales rep? Yes there is an opportunity for growth. The sales rep can grow to become vendors and have even more flexibility in their businesses.
 
7.   Describe the opportunities that exist There are various steps in the value chain and beyond being a vendor; the reps can rise to become major dealers. 
8.      Can these sales reps quit whenever they want to? Yes the reps can pull out of the scheme when they wish to.


9.      What does this mean to you as an organisation? For us it is a way of celebrating Nigeria’s independence by providing a platform the Nigerian youth to be gainfully employed. It will keep them off the streets and focus them on the importance of working for money, especially as it is a flexible venture that will enable them chase other dreams.

Read heartbreaking last letter Iranian woman wrote before she was hanged

27 year old Reyhaney Jabbari was executed on Saturday October 25th by hanging in Iran seven years after she killed a man that she claimed had attempted to rape her.  Before she was killed, Reyhaney wrote a very emotional letter to her mother, asking that her organs be donated to those who need them. See the full text of the letter after the cut...

The full text of the letter was translated by the National Council of Resistance of Iran:

Dear Sholeh, today I learned that it is now my turn to face Qisas (the Iranian regime's law of retribution). I am hurt as to why you did not let me know yourself that I have reached the last page of the book of my life. Don’t you think that I should know? You know how ashamed I am that you are sad. Why did you not take the chance for me to kiss your hand and that of dad?

The world allowed me to live for 19 years. That ominous night it was I that should have been killed. My body would have been thrown in some corner of the city, and after a few days, the police would have taken you to the coroner’s office to identify my body and there you would also learn that I had been raped as well. The murderer would have never been found since we don’t have their wealth and their power. Then you would have continued your life suffering and ashamed, and a few years later you would have died of this suffering and that would have been that.

However, with that cursed blow the story changed. My body was not thrown aside, but into the grave of Evin Prison and its solitary wards, and now the grave-like prison of Shahr-e Ray. But give in to the fate and don’t complain. You know better that death is not the end of life.

You taught me that one comes to this world to gain an experience and learn a lesson and with each birth a responsibility is put on one’s shoulder. I learned that sometimes one has to fight. I do remember when you told me that the carriage man protested the man who was flogging me, but the flogger hit the lash on his head and face that ultimately led to his death. You told me that for creating a value one should persevere even if one dies.

You taught us that as we go to school one should be a lady in face of the quarrels and complaints. Do you remember how much you underlined the way we behave? Your experience was incorrect. When this incident happened, my teachings did not help me. Being presented in court made me appear as a cold-blooded murderer and a ruthless criminal. I shed no tears. I did not beg. I did not cry my head off since I trusted the law.

But I was charged with being indifferent in face of a crime. You see, I didn’t even kill the mosquitoes and I threw away the cockroaches by taking them by their antennas. Now I have become a premeditated murderer. My treatment of the animals was interpreted as being inclined to be a boy and the judge didn’t even trouble himself to look at the fact that at the time of the incident I had long and polished nails.

How optimistic was he who expected justice from the judges! He never questioned the fact that my hands are not coarse like those of a sportswoman, especially a boxer. And this country that you planted its love in me never wanted me and no one supported me when under the blows of the interrogator I was crying out and I was hearing the most vulgar terms. When I shed the last sign of beauty from myself by shaving my hair I was rewarded: 11 days in solitary.

Dear Sholeh, don’t cry for what you are hearing. On the first day that in the police office an old unmarried agent hurt me for my nails I understood that beauty is not looked for in this era. The beauty of looks, beauty of thoughts and wishes, a beautiful handwriting, beauty of the eyes and vision, and even beauty of a nice voice.

My dear mother, my ideology has changed and you are not responsible for it. My words are unending and I gave it all to someone so that when I am executed without your presence and knowledge, it would be given to you. I left you much handwritten material as my heritage.

However, before my death I want something from you, that you have to provide for me with all your might and in any way that you can. In fact this is the only thing I want from this world, this country and you. I know you need time for this. Therefore, I am telling you part of my will sooner. Please don’t cry and listen. I want you to go to the court and tell them my request. I cannot write such a letter from inside the prison that would be approved by the head of prison; so once again you have to suffer because of me. It is the only thing that if even you beg for it I would not become upset although I have told you many times not to beg to save me from being executed.

My kind mother, dear Sholeh, the one more dear to me than my life, I don’t want to rot under the soil. I don’t want my eye or my young heart to turn into dust. Beg so that it is arranged that as soon as I am hanged my heart, kidney, eye, bones and anything that can be transplanted be taken away from my body and given to someone who needs them as a gift. I don’t want the recipient know my name, buy me a bouquet, or even pray for me. I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to have a grave for you to come and mourn there and suffer. I don’t want you to wear black clothing for me. Do your best to forget my difficult days. Give me to the wind to take away.

The world did not love us. It did not want my fate. And now I am giving in to it and embrace the death. Because in the court of God I will charge the inspectors, I will charge inspector Shamlou, I will charge judge, and the judges of country’s Supreme Court that beat me up when I was awake and did not refrain from harassing me. In the court of the creator I will charge Dr. Farvandi, I will charge Qassem Shabani and all those that out of ignorance or with their lies wronged me and trampled on my rights and didn’t pay heed to the fact that sometimes what appears as reality is different from it.

Dear soft-hearted Sholeh, in the other world it is you and me who are the accusers and others who are the accused. Let’s see what God wants. I wanted to embrace you until I die. I love you.

Boko Haram kills four Nigerian refugees in Cameroon

Four Nigerians taking refuge in a village in the far north of Cameroon have been killed by members of Boko Haram in an attack that took place on Friday October 24th.

According to a statement made available today to AFP, the Cameroonian Ministry of Defence said the sect members attacked "the village of Glawi,  killing four Nigerian refugees and wounding one Camerounian, before being pushed back by defence forces which pursued them”.

The ministry also said two groups of Boko Haram members had also tried to enter another border village with Nigeria but they were “immediately intercepted and neutralised by our defence forces who destroyed three 4×4 vehicles equipped with machine guns, killing 27 assailants,”.

39 members of the sect were confirmed dead after the various attacks

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Cautions APC About Muslim-Muslim Ticket

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has warned political parties not to toy with the idea of selecting a Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket in the upcoming election.

The former Nigerian leader was tacitly referring to an interview granted by the likely presidential candidate of the All Progressives congress where he stated that he was not opposed to a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

In a brief press statement, Obasanjo said it will be absurd for any party to make the costly mistake of choosing both top candidates of their party from the same religious background

Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace,
security and stability at this point in the political discourse and
arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust.

It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader, or any
political party to be toying with Muslim- muslim or
Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture.

Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of
Islamization or Christianization. The idea of proselytization in any
form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any
serious-minded politician at this delicate  situation in Nigeria, as
this time is different from any other time.

Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to be
allayed at this point will amount not only to insensitivity of the
highest order but will also amount to very bad politics indeed.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
Oct. 28, 2014

UK ends Afghan combat operations

The last UK base in Afghanistan has been handed over to the control of Afghan security forces, ending British combat operations in the country.
The union flag was lowered at Camp Bastion, while Camp Leatherneck - the adjoining US base - was also handed over to Afghan control.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said "mistakes were made" but much had been achieved since troops arrived in 2001.
The number of deaths of Briti sh troops throughout the conflict stands at 453.
Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, has been UK troops' main Afghan base since 2006.
The last US Marines unit in Afghanistan ended its combat operations with the handover of Camp Leatherneck. So far, 2,349 US military personnel have died in Afghanistan.

Mr Fallon said: "It is with pride that we announce the end of UK combat operations in Helmand, having given Afghanistan the best possible chance of a stable future.
"Our armed forces' tremendous sacrifice laid the foundations for a strong Afghan security force, set the security context that enabled the first democratic transition of power in the country's history, and stopped it being a launch pad for terrorist attacks in the UK."
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC One, he said the Taliban had not been defeated, but Afghan forces were now taking "full responsibilities".
Mr Fallon said UK support would continue through "institutional development", the Afghan National Army Officer Academy and development aid.