ATIKU TO EARN ONE NAIRA IF ELECTED AS PRESIDENT
Former vice president and All Progressives Congress {APC}presidentialaspirant AtikuAbubakar, plans to earn a token N1 as salary per annum, if he is elected president in the 2015 presidential election.
This intention was revealed on Saturday ahead of the policy retreat review which forms part of his campaign strategy to be held at the Obasanjo presidential library, Abeokuta, Ogun state, beginning on Monday.
According to premium times, it was gathered that Mr. Abubakar’s decision to take a flat rate of N1as salary if elected president, was premised on his desire to give back to the country for all it has done for him.
It was further learnt, he would deploy the balance of his salary to charity homes of his choice.
(Culled from premium times, www.premiumtimesng.com)
NLC URGES FG TO HELP EBOLA HIT COUNTRIES
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Saturday urged the Federal Government to offer as much support as possible to West African countries ravaged by the dreaded Ebola virus in order to save the sub-region.
This was said by the Vice-President of the Congress, IssaAremu, in Lagos. He further Urged Nigeria to see the fight against Ebola in other countries as they saw the struggle for independence of fellow African nations during the colonial period.
The devastation caused by Ebola to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, Mr. Aremu said, is endangering Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria cannot not be said to be free from Ebola if citizens in neighbouring countries are still being ravaged by the disease
“If Cuba could send the highest number of medical contingents to Sierra Leone, then Nigeria could do more being the biggest black nation in the world,” Mr. Aremu noted.
(Culled from premium times, www.premiumtimesng.com
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION TURNS BLOODY
The monthly “Environmental Sanitation” exercise in Ondo state turned bloody at IgbotakoTownship in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state on Saturday as soldiers posted to the council area shot and killed at least two people in the community.
A resident in the area told SaharaReporters that Mr.NiyiPirisola, the local government council chairman led soldiers form the Barracks in Okitipupa to enforce the exercise in the community.
The source gave names of the two deceased persons as; YomiAkinyemi and Sunday Adejuwon both youths in the area who tried to prevent the soldiers from seizing wares of poor women heading to the market to eke out a living. The duo died as a result of bullets fired by the rampaging soldiers while trying to scare away residents; he added.
OSUN CELEBRATES HIJIRA, AREGBESOLA DECLARES PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, on Saturday joined other Muslims to celebrate the beginning of a new Islamic year- Hijra 1436.
The governor who joined Muslim leaders and adherents of the religion at the Osogbo township stadium at a ceremony to usher in the New Year which started on Saturday declared Monday as a public holiday in the state.
He said this would give them the opportunity to reflect on the lessons of Hijra.
The governor called on all Muslims to use the occasion to move closer to God and be at peace with their neighbours.
He said, “There is no basis for anybody or groups to hide under Islam to perpetrate evil.
“Islam is not a religion of violence, any person, group or sects who indulge in violence or its associated vices are not followers of Islam, they are wicked and not good examples of Islam.”
(CULLED FROM THE PUNCH; www.punch.com.ng)
PIRATES; ANOTHER INSURGENT GROUP IN BAYELSA KILLS SIX OIL WORKERS, ABDUCTS FOUR POLICEMEN
Another rising insurgent group in Bayelsa state suspected to be sea pirates on Friday carried out attacks on barges and boats along the Nembe waterways in Bayelsa, abducting six oil workers and four policemen.
According to premium times, the sea pirates, who operated on a speedboat, had ambushed the gunboat and suddenly opened fire on the police officers.
The pirates overpowered the police and later took control of the gunboat between Santa Barbara and Nembe waterways in Bayelsa.
A source in the Joint Task Force said the Agip barge and its occupants were not the target but the gunboat.
The gunboat driver was among those kidnapped after the gunmen hijacked the boat.
The gunboat and the three police escorts and the boat operator were also kidnapped.
“The barge and its occupants escaped because the gunboat was the target of the pirates.
“This incident happened along Santa Barbara and Nembe route at about 1.30pm. The pirates were after the gunboat and the police arms,” the security source said
Also in a separate incident, six personnel aboard a boat belonging to an oil services company, Icon Xearex, were abducted at Oluasiri in Nembe axis of Bayelsa on Friday.
“Six persons were abducted from the boat belonging to that company”, said the source.
(Culled from premium times, www.premiumtimesng.com)
