Okorocha Wins Imo Governorship Election

The gubernatorial flag bearer of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Rochas Okorocha has been declared governor-elect of Imo State. 


 Announcing the results a while ago, Returning Officer Professor Hillary Odoagan said Okorocha polled 336,859 votes to defeat his closest rival, incumbent governor Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party who scored 290,490 votes.

Al-Qaeda : Osama Bin Laden is Dead

Osama Bin Laden
The Founder and Leader of the Al-Qaeda

A message posted on Jihadist online medium indicated that Al-Qaeda has confirmed the death of its Founder and Leader Osama Bin Laden.

Bin Laden was killed on Monday in a US raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The message said the death of Bin Laden would spell doom for the US and its allies as his death would be avenged.

Jonathan’s One Year in Office

President GoodLuck Jonathan

“Within the last year, I have made every human effort to keep my commitments to the Nigerian people and restore their trust in those administering the affairs of government,” said President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria commemorates his one year in office.

In a message posted on his facebook page, Jonathan acknowledged his imperfection, but stated that his administration had made progress in “Electoral Reform with the signing of the Electoral Act on August 20, 2010 and the appointment of an INEC board that has now proved itself independent and capable by conducting an election universally acknowledged by neutral parties to be free, fair and credible.”

Enugu State Correspondents’ Chapel Elects New Chairman

The newly-elected Chairman of the Enugu State Correspondents’ Chapel, Chris Oji has said that the welfare of its members would be his top priority.

Oji said this in his acceptance speech shortly after the Correspondents’ Chapel election yesterday.

He polled twenty votes to defeat his opponent Jude Orji who polled eight votes.

Similarly, the election produced Maurice Okafor of the News World Magazine as elected secretary.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ossy Rockefeller who observed the election commended members of the Correspondents’ Chapel for peaceful election.

Memories of Late President Yar’Adua

Late Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

As Nigeria remembers Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan has eulogized him for his unmatched leadership virtues.

In a statement endorsed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, President Jonathan praise Late Yar’adua’s good governance attributes.

Similarly a senior lecturer at the department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Mallam Musa Usman said, “… We remember late President Umaru Yar’Adua. It’s already a year since he departed. But he remains on our mind. His gait showed the will to serve. His eyes showed genuine concern for Nigeria. Yet ill-health deprived us of the service of this gentleman.”

Mallam Usman who commented on facebook, prayed for the departed soul of the Late President to repose in perfect peace.

He served as the executive Governor of Katsina State from May 29, 1999 to May 2007 before he was sworn in as the 13th Nigeria’s Head of State on the May 29, 2007. 

It could be recalled that in 2009, Yar'Adua left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis, returned to Nigeria in 2010, and died on May 5.

ACN Not Part of Government of National Unity

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said it would not partake in the Government of National Unity as being proposed by Goodluck Jonathan-led government.

This was contained in a statement made public in Abuja and endorsed by the ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.

The statement said the ACN was not in any way negotiating for ministerial slots contrary to wide-spread speculations that the party was seeking for fat appointments for her members.

The statement further reiterated the party’s resolve to maintain its dominance as the major opposition party in the country.

Census of Farmers for Fertilizer Distribution in Anambra

Chief Godson Ezenagu, the Commissioner for Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has disclosed that 75 per cent of people who applied for fertilizers through the Ministry were businessmen.

Ezenagu made the disclosure while briefing news men in Awka.

In view of the ugly development, the Ministry has constituted a committee to conduct a census of farmers in the State to enhance the distribution of fertilizers during this farming season.

Ezenagu said that the census was aimed at determining the number of genuine farmers in the state.

He decried the nefarious activities of some businessmen who purchase and sell the fertilizers at exorbitant prices beyond the reach of genuine farmers.

Obi Calls for Increased Revenue Allocation for States

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has called for increased revenue allocation for prompt implementation of the 18,000.00 naira minimum wage for civil servants.

The Governor in an interview with journalists at the Governor's lodge, Amawbia, said no state was against the minimum wage but the cry over low resources by some states has compelled the Governors' Forum to set up a committee headed by the Lagos state governor, Raji Fashola to look into some of the issues.

Obi restated his commitment to develop the Anambra by tackling the energy problem and has written a letter to the federal government requesting permission to embark on an independent power project.

On Agriculture, the governor said he has asked Micro Finance Companies to inject money into farming this season by giving out loans to farmers on low interest rates.  

Obama: Bin Laden’s Photos Will Jeopardize US Security

United States President Barack Obama has decided that photos of the dead al-Qaeda founder and leader Osama Bin Laden should not be made public.

He said publishing photos of the dead Osama Bin Laden would jeopardize US national security as it could inflame sensitivities.

US officials had been discussing whether to publish photographs of Bin Laden's lifeless body to counter wide-spread speculation that he did not die.

It could be recalled that al-Qaeda leader was shot dead in a raid on Monday by US special forces in Northern Pakistan.

NUJ DEMANDS IMPROVED EMOLUMENT ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

The Chairperson of the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ, Anambra State Council, Toochukwu Omelu has called on all media organisations to champion the crusade for the passage and implimentation of the Media Wage Bill.

Omelu made the call a while ago when the NUJ paid a courtesy visit on the Silverbird Communications Awka Centre office on the occasion of the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day.

She stressed the need for improved financial support for media workers considering the long hours of duty and hazards involved.

Responding, the Business Manager of the Silverbird Communications Awka, Kelly Ihetu said freedom of the press was inevitable in a world where information is regarded as the most precious commodity.
 Ihetu called on media workers to guard press freedom jealously.

Genevieve Nnaji Clocks 32

Nnaji, one of the most popular and highly valued actresses in Nollywood turned a year older a while ago.

The Mbaise-born talented Actress, Model and Singer was born on May 3, 1979. The globally-celebrated actress who first made her debut in the Nollywood in 1998 at age 19 with a movie “Most Wanted,” turned 32 years today.

The award-winning actress has over the years achieved impressive feat of being one of the most talented and celebrated actresses from Africa. Calm, cool, calculating and collected, the actress is always confident on sets. This is one attribute that has made her one of the most highly paid actresses in Nollywood. She has so far acted over one hundred movies both within and outside the Hollywood.

Aside from acting as a career, Nnaji has ventured into Modelling and Singing. The remarkable success of the “Face of Lux” Project which she championed positioned her as one of the leading models in the world.

Her musics also revealed another side of the multi-talented multiple award winner. Her accolades includee the Best Actress of the year award at the 2001 City People Awards and the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2005 African Movie Academy Awards amongst others.

AriNews wishes Genevieve Nnaji many happy returns as her talents take her to places she never imagined. Happy birthday, rare gem!

JONATHAN PROMISES TO GO BEYOND THE MINIMUN WAGE FOR NIGERIAN WORKERS

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that he would go beyond the signing of the Minimum Wage Act in satisfying his goal of putting smiles on the faces of Nigerian workers.

This was contained in the President’s message for the Nigerian Workers to commemorate the 2011 May Day celebration.

“I want to again assure Nigerian workers that having signed the Minimum Wage Act, I will not be slack to implement it at the Federal level and work synergistically with other tiers of government as well as the Private Sector to ensure that not only do we do right by our workers on the matter of wages, but we take every care within available resources to lift up their conditions of service and ensure that the dignity of labour is not just enhanced  in Nigeria but becomes a pride because therein lies the key to the growth of Nigeria’s economy which key is (to paraphrase our National Anthem)-the labour of our workers present,” said President Jonathan.

The President noted that he desired our economy to be driven by “the production of our people and this will only happen when we make a substantial investment in the Nigerian people by way of increasing access to and the quality of education, working with the Private Sector to improve on electricity generation and distribution and motivating our workers by ensuring that the New Minimum Wage as enshrined in the Minimum Wage Act is implemented throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria.”

President Jonathan commended the Nigerian workers for contributing to the success of the just concluded elections in the country.

“I salute the Nigerian worker and organised labour and thank you for your part in making the just concluded elections a success and to let you know that you have a partner in progress in the administration that I lead,” the message said.

The End of Osama Bin Laden

The US President, Barack Obama has confirmed the death of the al-Qaeda founder and leader, Osama Bin Ladin a while ago.

In an address delivered in the East Room, President Obama said, “I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.”

The death of Obama brings to an end the about ten years of hide-and-seek between the United States and Osama, who was believed to be behind the September 9/11 bomb incident in the US which claimed thousands of human lives and property worth billions of US dollars.

President Obama described the bomb incident thus: “It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory - hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.”

He said shortly after taking office, he directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, “to make the killing or capture of Bin Laden the top priority” of the war against al-Qaeda.

After several months of strategizing, the United States launched a targeted operation against a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where intelligence report indicated that Osama was hiding.

“A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability,” said President Obama.

“No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama Bin Laden and took custody of his body.”

Furthermore, President Obama stated categorically that the death of Osama would not be the end of US efforts towards the war against terrorism.

President Obama said “his death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al-Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must - and we will - remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

According to President Obama, “we must also reaffirm that the United States is not - and never will be - at war with Islam. I've made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11 that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al-Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.”