China Pledges Military Cooperation With Nigeria

Channels TV
September 18, 2013

Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have pledged military cooperation especially in the training and retraining of security personnel in the areas of tackling terrorism and disaster response capabilities, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Umeh said.

Under the arrangement, both nations would exchange programmes for military officers and students of Defence colleges.

These were part of “bilateral talks between president of the Nigerian Senate Senator David Mark and president of the Chinese Parliament Mr.Zhang Dejiang who doubles as the Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China in Abuja today”.

Senator Mark earlier requested his guest “to prevail on his government for assistance to Nigeria in the mass production of military hardware for the Navy, Army, Air Force and the Police as well as aircraft spare parts production centre in Nigeria”.

He also requested China’s government to support “Nigeria’s bid for the UN Security Council seat as non- permanent member and as the permanent member from Africa in an expanded UN Security Council”.

“He pleaded with the Chinese leader to facilitate a positive review of the cases of 366 Nigerians in Chinese prisons, 120 awaiting trial and four already sentenced to death under the transfer of prisoner arrangement”.

Besides the agreed exchange of parliamentary visits between the National Assembly and the parliament of China, Senator Mark demanded that China reciprocate Nigeria’s friendly visa regime by honoring Diplomatic Notes and simplifying visa procedures for Nigerians.
Although the trade and commercial ties between Nigeria and China have increased with a deficit of N270Billion against Nigeria, Mark requested that the imbalance be addressed by encouraging Chinese government and business community to increase its investments in the non-oil sector in Nigeria as well as offering duty waiver on Nigerian exports.

Mr. Dejiang noted that “China runs a friendly administration and upholds the sanctity of the rule of law but would table the requests of the Senate President before his home government for a possible review especially on those convicted for criminal offences”.

Dejiang promised cooperation with the government and people of Nigeria in all areas that would improve her economy and general welfare of the people.

Fashola Gives Account Of His 2300-Day Stay In Office

 Channels Television
September 14, 2013

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Saturday  rendered tan account of the stewardship of his administration in the last 100 days with an appeal to the citizenry for support, mutual co-existence, ethnic and religious tolerance as well as obedience to law and order. 

 

Saturday’s event, which is the the 23^rd in the series, commemorates the 2,300^th day in office of the present administration and marks a fulfillment of the Governor’s commitment since 2007 to render to the citizenry, through town hall meetings with various segments of the society, the account of the administration’s performance every hundred days. 

Addressing members of the Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs),  corporate and private citizens, religious and traditional rulers as well as artisans and market women and men at the LTV Blue Roof Hall on Agidingbi Road, Governor Fashola said the continued development and transformation of the State would only be possible with the full cooperation of the citizenry in terms of maintenance of peace, law and order.     

 

The Governor, who enumerated the various projects executed across the State in the last 100 days, appealed to the citizenry; “Your support, peaceful co-existence, religious and ethnic tolerance, discharge of your civic responsibilities such as payment of taxes and voluntary obedience of laws and regulations, keeping the peace are all that we ask for, to make your aspirations materialize”.

Beginning with the Budget performance in the first and second quarters of the year, Governor Fashola said the impacts were already being felt in some projects in the Health Sector, Education Sector and in the area of infrastructural development as well as other sectors of the economy.

According to the Governor, such projects include the completion of the Trauma and Burns Centre in Gbagada, two more flagship Primary Health Care Centres in Eredo Epe and in Itire, the Folarin Coker Health Centre for public servants in Alausa, the street light of Carter Bridge, the progress in the Technical and Vocational Education Colleges as reported during the State’s Enterprise Day and the reports from the education sector at the Annual Governor’s Education Award.

On Health, he said while the State Government’s Health  policy remains a matter of non-negotiable commitment, the honest truth is that free healthcare does not cover every illness that afflicts the people, adding, “That answer is insurance. This is the way that I think we can unlock and optimize the idling capacity and specialties that exist in over 3,000 privately owned health facilities that ordinary people cannot access”.

Governor Fashola explained that of the two supplementary budgets presented by the Government after the second quarter, the first, with the size of N7 billion, was to enable Government finance the building of more houses under the Lagos Homes Scheme, while the second, amounting to N7.5 billion was for the early acquisition of the Lekki Concession as provided under the Concession Agreement “in a way that helps us to keep investor confidence and control any possible increase in the toll fees”.

 In the Education Sector, Governor Fashola expressed joy that more students are getting into secondary schools from the JSS 1 placement examination results which, according to him, showed an increase in the number of candidates from 49,316 in 2012 to an almost doubling of 95,255 candidates in 2013 adding that the results show a pass rate increase in the examinations from 67.01 percent in 2012 to 96percent in 2013.

“If you recall that we have since 2011 reviewed conditions of pass from what was about 30% to a minimum of 50% pass in each of English and Mathematics in addition to a total aggregate average of an overall of 50% as the minimum pass, you will appreciate the progress that our children have made and the effort that your Government has made”, the Governor said.

 Expressing optimism that his administration is heading in the right direction in terms of its new education policies the Governor added, “I am also able to report that we have received the results for 2013 WAEC Examinations which show that out of 51,604  students who sat for the examination, 21,193  secured the five credits in Mathematics and English in one sitting representing, according to him, a 41.06% pass rate over the 39% of last year.

“If you recall that we started from a 7% pass rate in 2007 you will appreciate how far we have come, to now record an over 41% pass rate”, the Governor said adding, “For now, all I can say is that, as far as our children’s education is concerned, we are heading in the right direction and I see a brighter and rewarding future, even as our work remains unfinished”.

Throwing more light on the Government directive that all schools in the State, whether public or private, should reopen on the same day (September 23), Governor Fashola said  it was aimed at achieving a unified school calendar for the State adding, “There are many positive consequences for these, ranging from security planning, transportation planning, career development to mention a few”.

On Security, the Governor, who said there has been an aggregate reduction in crime in the State, however, noted that as a daily growing State, “in a world that is getting increasingly complex and where no nation is crime free”, the State was getting its own fair share of problems associated with population increase with some of its citizens falling victims to crimilals.

“But we remain resolute to fight crime and criminals with every resource that we have”, the Governor said, expressing joy that the determination to fight crime in the State has yielded some noteworthy successes against crime and criminals”.

He listed some of the successes to include  arrest of a notorious gang of five robbers who have been terrorizing the Lagos Island and the apprehension of the kidnap gang that abducted a number of people including a Local Government Chairman adding “This was made possible by the dedication of the officers in the Lagos Command after almost a month of surveillance that eventually led to the arrest of the criminals”.

“Another notorious gang leader who had been on the Police wanted list for 14 years, and who had been launching attacks on our citizens from outside Lagos is now in custody after a well-planned operation that led to his arrest in his hiding place outside Lagos”, the Governor said adding that the Command also rescued a foreign national from kidnappers during the period.

Commending the gallantry and dedication of the members of the Command, the Governor declared, “Our officers must be proud of themselves, and so must all of us be, not only for the work that they have done, but also the value they give for the support that we give to them from your taxes and your voluntary contribution to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, “especially MTN Nigeria who just gave 25 new patrol values to the Fund while he urged all citizens to continue to pay their taxes promptly and to support the Trust Fund with donations.

Another area where progress was recorded during the last 100 days, Governor Fashola said, is in the Transportation sector where, according to him, “the commitment of Government in improving efficiency in public transportation is yielding results”. Such results include the recent formal handing over of the 7 kilometer Ibeshe Road, the over 200 inner city roads currently under construction across the State, the on-going resuscitation of five ferries retrieved from the Lagos Lagoon.  

The Governor, who said repairs on three of the ferries would be completed this year so that they could join the 59 already operational ferries on the States waters, put the monthly passenger ridership on at 1,788,370 passengers per month from 495,010 passengers per month in 2010 expressing joy that work is moving towards conclusion of the Osborne and Mile Two Jetties preparatory to making them fully functional in a short while.

On the implementation of the States Road Traffic Law, the Governor said it has resulted in the reduction from 646 reported accidents in August 2012 to 118  reported accidents in July 2013 and the reduction in motorcycle related deaths from an average of 12   in August 2012 to an average of 1 over the same period, adding, “This justifies the commitment with which we intervened”.

Governor Fashola warned commercial motorcyclists who still ride on the restricted roads “either with the wrong motorcycle or without helmets or without registration plate or with more than one passenger” to retrace their steps adding, “Nobody will be allowed to act outside the law made by our House of Assembly. Our commitment to enforcement remains very high”.

He also warned operators of tricycles that they must comply to the same provisions of the Traffic Law relating to safety and the routes they can operate; mainly the inner streets and not on highways adding that except for the fact that the tricycles have cabins, they are not different from the commercial motorcycle.

“However, we understand that our public transport policies are still developing and it is not our intention to inflict any hardship on our people who rely on them. This is why I gave clear directives last year that we will not seek to enforce the Traffic Law as it relates to them if they keep off the major highways”, he said.

The Governor promised that other safety policies under the Traffic Law would soon be unveiled “to make motoring in our State a happy experience and raise standards to global competitiveness”.

He recalled that during period the State hosted the Lagos State International Table Tennis Championship with 350 participants from 13   countries. According to him, ‘Our sporting centres, hotels and transporters were kept busy”, adding, “It is the first of a ten Sport Championships now known as the Lagos Sports Classics”.

Pointing out that the hosting was a fulfillment of his commitment to Lagosians at the closing of the 2012 National Sports Festival that the State’s athletes would be kept busy while keeping all the upgraded sports facilities in good and efficient use, the Governor said soon the State would be hosting the athletics events of the Sports Classics and the remaining other eight sporting events, adding, “So to our sportsmen and women, get ready for a busy sporting calendar. And to our Ministry of Sports, coaches and all supporting agencies, I say keep up the good work”.

Governor Fashola also reported with joy the verdict of the National Census Tribunal on the petitions by his administration, on behalf of 14 local governments in the State against the Census figure allocated to the State by the National Population Commission after the last 2006 Census exercise in the country saying as a result of the petitions, the Tribunal has ordered a recount in 14 out of 20 communities in the State.

The Governor advised, “No nation that wants to prosper and solve human challenges should ever be tardy or play politics with data collection projects such as population census. You cannot manage what you cannot measure”.

He also announced the Supreme Court verdict on the State Government’s case against the Federal Government  relating to the latter’s incursion in the area of tourism saying the the Supreme Court was emphatic in affirming the position of the State Government that it is only a State Government and its House of Assembly that have powers to regulate tourism, with the exception of tourist traffic which deals with issuance of visas, length of stay and immigration into Nigeria.

He declared, “Apart from the revenue erosion, the incursions made it difficult to grow that sector and create jobs, because the operators were caught between two governments; and understandably were often unsure of who their appropriate regulator should be, between the State and the Federal Government” , adding that the victory   “is victory for federalism and for all the 35 other States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who can now take their tourism destiny in their own hands”.

Still on the courts, Governor Fashola said the State Government was ready to go to the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal which acquitted Major Al Mustapha on charges of conspiracy and murder of late Qudirat Abiola.   

Governor Fashola declared, “Because our Constitution permits a further appeal to the Supreme Court, and because we place the highest premium on every human life and because the families of the victims deserve every right to agitate the matter to the final court, just as the accused would have been entitled, your Government has appealed on behalf of the people to the Supreme Court”. 

 Other areas which the Governor reported include the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC),which he said became a reality in spite of the criticisms of the opposition, commencement of Saturday service in Government departments such as Lands, Physical Planning, Motor Vehicle Administration and the Vehicle Inspection service from 10am to 2pm and the payment of compensations to those who lost property as a result of the Dana air crash and erection of a cenotaph at the site of the crash among others.

 Noting that  the periodic briefings have helped to deepen the democratic experience in the State, Governor Fashola  said its uniqueness, in the sense that no other no other government in the country has committed to a regular 100 day, town hall style meeting, the State Government has never failed to hold it and has never changed the date.

“It has been beneficial to you and to us because it keeps us on our toes to deliver and it reinforces how seriously we hold your mandate and value your support”, he said adding that apart from the fact that the administration has remained true to it as a commitment it freely made, the unsustainable attempt by competitors “to sloppily copy it, in a very poor imitation about which they have now gone quiet, speaks volumes about the commitment of your Government”. The credit, he said, “certainly belongs to all our public servants and officers who work tirelessly to deliver the progress that I am always delighted to report”.

N4.5 Billion Fraud: Court Grant Nnamani’s Travel Request

The Federal High Court, Lagos, has granted former Enugu State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani leave to travel to the United States of America for medical treatment.

Presiding Justice Mohammed Yinusa, while dismissing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) opposition to the application, held that the former governor needed not to justify his journey because “he can as well travel abroad for any other reason apart from health grounds.”

It will be recalled that the trial of the former governor, who was arraigned six years ago along with others for alleged money laundering involving about N4.5 billion of the state’s funds is yet to commence.

The court had on four previous occasions permitted the former governor to travel abroad on health grounds.

The court noted that by the ruling of the former presiding judge, Justice Peter Olayiwola, who granted bail to the former Governor on August 2, 2007, the only condition needed to be satisfied before travelling abroad was for the accused person to file an application seeking leave to travel abroad.

Justice Yinusa said that, “The applicant was granted bail by Justice Peter Olayiwola on August 2, 2007 and one of the conditions of the bail granted was that the first accused/applicant shall give a written undertaking that he will not travel outside the country without the permission of the court.

“My understanding of the above bail condition is that anytime the accused/applicant intends to travel outside Nigeria, he must seek the leave of court.

“It is very clear to me that what the first accused/applicant (Mr Nnamani) is required to do is to seek for leave of this court before travelling of Nigeria either on health grounds or any other grounds.

“The emphasis is on seeking leave of court and not on providing justification for the journey.

“It is therefore my considered opinion that the first accused/applicant has fulfilled the requirement and the conditions provided under the bail bond by seeking for leave of court before embarking on the medical treatment in the United States of America.”

Justice Yinusa further held that denying the request of the former governor as contained in his application, would amount to altering the bail conditions earlier granted him in 2007.

“To insist on or to compel the applicant to provide reasons or justification will amount to altering the order of the court granting bail to the accused/applicant,” Yinusa said.

The judge, however, ordered that the former governor must ensure he appears in court at the next adjourned date fixed for May 28, adding that he must also submit his passport and file a notice of return to Nigeria.

Nnamani and others were re-arraigned before Justice Yinusa on 105 counts of money laundering and economic crimes involving about N4.5bn.

The accused were said to have committed the alleged offences between 1999 and 2007 while Nnamani was the governor of Enugu State.

Others standing trial along with him are his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms allegedly linked to them.

The firms are, Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate Nig Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

--------Channel News April 17, 2013

Lamido/Amaechi’s 2015 Presidential Campaign Posters Flood Kaduna

The campaign posters of Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi have flooded the streets of Kaduna ahead of 2015 Presidential elections

 

The posters bearing the two governors’ photographs, with Governor Lamido as president and Governor Amaechi as his running mate, were seen at the popular Stadium and Station Roundabout in Kaduna North and South Local Government Areas within the metropolis on Monday.

Although both governors at different occasions denied rumours of their perceived 2015 ambitions, the absence of Governor Lamido at last Saturday’s reconciliatory meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna, which had Vice President Namadi Sambo in attendance, has fueled the rumour.
However, when contacted, the press secretary to Governor Lamido, Mallam Umar Kyari said he was not in the best position to comment on the matter and referred our correspondent to the state PDP chairman.

This is coming barely two days after the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the PDP held its reconciliatory meeting in the North West zone. Besides Governor Lamido, Governors Magatakarda Wammakko of Sokoto and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano States were also absent from the meeting.

---------Channels Television, Monday, March 25, 2013.

Boko Haram: Danjuma Says North Is Facing A Civil War

A former Minister of Defence, General Theophilous Danjuma (retired), who was on Saturday conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science at a special convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has warned that the activities of the Boko Haram sect, kidnappings and other social vices in the northern part of Nigeria were drifting the region into a civil war and anarchy.

Speaking shortly after he was conferred with the doctorate degree, General Danjuma said the current security and developmental challenges facing the country and the north in particular have become worrisome that if not properly addressed on time could lead to anarchy and lawlessness.

The former minister advised leaders from the region to stop apportioning blame to each other but to instead come together and find solutions to some of these challenges.
He thanked the management of ABU for honouring him and commended them for sustaining the academic excellence which the institution was known for.

General Danjuma was the only awardee at the special convocation which coincided with the university’s N50 billion phase two development fund raising.

The special convocation ceremony was a follow up of the university’s 50th convocation held in November 2012 where the retired Army General was among those honoured. However, due to his absence at the occasion last year, Saturday’s event offered him the opportunity to receive the award.

On his part, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retired) who chaired the occasion said the country cannot overcome her security challenges unless the issue of education is properly addressed, adding that educational backwardness of the north has become very worrisome and as such, must be corrected if the region must come out of its present state.

General Babangida asked Nigerians to ensure that governments at all levels take the issue of education seriously, stating that no nation can make any meaningful progress when a large number of its citizens are not educated.

Also speaking at the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented at the occasion by Vice President Namadi Sambo, identified the problem of access to university education by the teeming youth in the country as one of the many challenges facing the education sector.

He disclosed that the present administration has commenced the process of breaching this gap by building more universities across the country.

-------Channels TV News, Saturday, March 2, 2013.

FG Replies MEND’s threat and Ezekwesili’s allegation

The federal government has dissociated itself from the conviction of Mr Henry Okah, the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) by a South African court following threats by the group to resume hostilities.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said this not the time for any group to threaten the peace and unity of the nation.

He appealed to Nigerians to team up with the federal government in sustaining the peace being enjoyed in most parts of the country.

MEND had on Saturday in a statement signed by  Comrade Azizi, threatened to unleash series of attack which would include nuclear attacks over the conviction of Henry Okah in South Africa.

The militant group stated that it will unleash a campaign of terror with plans to destabilize and break up Nigeria.

The group also declared the Minister of the Niger Delta Minister, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, persona non grata, advising him to stay away from the region.

South Africans resident in Nigeria were also asked to advise their home government to steer clear of Nigeria’s affairs.

Mr. Okah, was last week found guilty on 13 counts and faces a minimum sentence of life in prison in South Africa, where he was found guilty of masterminding two car bombs that killed at least 10 people in Abuja at the Independence Day ceremony in 2010.

Spurious allegations

On the statement credited to a former Vice President of the World Bank, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, that the Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan government had squandered the $67 billion (about N10.6trillion) in foreign reserves, saved by the Obasanjo administration, the Minister of information described the statements as spurious allegations and inaccurate.

Acknowledging that Nigeria still faces some challenges, most of which were built up over a long period, the Minister appealed to those who have been privileged to serve the nation to desist from making statements that are untrue.

The Information Minister who was flanked by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe; Economic Adviser, Prof. Nwanze Okedegbo and Special Adviser on Performance Monitoring, Prof. Sylvester Monye; said the allegations of Ezekwesili were curious in the light of the fact that she  has been part of governance in the past.

------Channel TV News

Senate Frowns at Ill Treatment of Nigerians Abroad

The Senate has asked the executive arm of government to press for redress and restitution for fourteen Nigerians deported from Spain.

The Senate made this resolution after considering a motion on the incessant unfair treatment and harassment of Nigerians in foreign countries.

The chairman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, Matthew Nwagwu, who sponsored the motion, said the country’s nonchalant attitude towards the unfair treatment of Nigerians abroad makes the citizens vulnerable in foreign countries.

776 Nigerians are currently languishing in different prisons across the world.

According to the senate committee on foreign affairs, 395 Nigerians are in prisons in Spain; 126 in Gabon; 91 in Thailand; 62 in the United States of America; 30 in Niger; 43 in Malaysia; and 29 in Cameroon.

But are all these Nigerians guilty of the offences they were accused to have committed? The chairman of the senate committee on foreign affairs does not think so.

The federal lawmakers said Nigerians continually face unfair treatment and harassment in foreign countries.

Some Senators however advocated for a change of attitude by Nigerians going abroad.

For other lawmakers, there is an urgent need to properly fund Nigerian missions abroad.

The senate asked relevant Nigerian authorities to press for redress and restitution on behalf of the 14 Nigerians deported from Spain who were not found guilty of any offense.

The senate president, David Mark asked the committee on foreign affairs to invite the foreign affairs minister, Olugbenga Ashiru to brief it on the Spanish deportation saga and what the ministry is doing to come to the aid of the Nigerian student held in Ukraine.

-------CHANNELS TV

JTF Arrest High Profile Boko Haram Commander In Maiduguri

The Joint Task force (JTF) in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, has arrested a leader of the Boko Haram sect in the north-central Nigeria.

Mohammed Zangina popularly called Mallam Abdullahi or Alhaji Musa, was arrested on Sunday, in GRA Maiduguri around 12:30 midday following a special operation conducted by the task force in the city.

A statement issued by the JTF spokesman of Borno command, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa said Mohammed Zangina was among those on the wanted lists and a bounty of N25million was placed on him by the JTF in November last year.

The statement said the insurgent was in Maiduguri to strategize several deathly attacks for Sunday, being planned on innocent civilians and security personnel.

The statement also revealed that Mohammed Zangina has coordinated most of the suicide attacks and bombings in Abuja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano and Potiskum in Yobe state.

The statement concludes that the terrorist is currently undergoing interrogation.

------CHANNELS TV

France bombs Mali rebels as more troops arrive in Bamako

French fighter jets bombed Islamist rebels in Mali for a third day on Sunday as Paris poured more troops into the capital Bamako, awaiting the arrival of a West African force to dislodge al Qaeda-linked insurgents from the country’s north.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France’s dramatic intervention on Friday to bomb a convoy of heavily armed Islamist fighters sweeping southwards had stopped them from seizing Mali’s capital Bamako within days.

Western countries fear Islamists could use Mali as a base for attacks on the West, forming a link with al Qaeda militants in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa.

Le Drian said former colonial power France was carrying out continuous bombing raids against the alliance of rebel groups, which seized the country’s vast desert north in April.

“There are raids going on now: there were some last night, and there will be more tomorrow,” Le Drian told French television. “The president is totally determined that we must eradicate these terrorists who threaten the security of Mali, our own country and Europe.”

Residents said French aircraft bombed the northern town of Gao, and a Malian rebel spokesman said they bombed targets in the towns of Lere and Douentza.

Le Drian said France was deploying a further contingent of 80 soldiers to Mali on Sunday, bring the total to 550 soldiers , split between Bamako and the town of Mopti, some 500 km (300 miles) north. State-of-the-art Rafale fighter jets would be dispatched to reinforce the operation on Sunday, he said.

A Reuters cameraman reported seeing on Sunday more than 100 French troops disembarking from a military cargo plane at Bamako airport, just on the outskirts of the capital.

Bamako itself was calm on Sunday, with the sun streaking through the dust enveloping the city as the seasonal Harmattan wind blew from the Sahara. Some cars drove around with French flags draped from the windows to celebrate Paris’s intervention.

Hours after opening one front against al Qaeda-linked Islamists, France mounted a commando raid to free a French hostage in Somalia held by al Shabaab militants allied to al Qaeda, but failed to stop him being killed along with a French commando.

A French pilot was killed on Friday when rebels in Mali shot down his helicopter.

President Francois Hollande has made it clear that France’s aim in Mali is to support the deployment of a West African mission to retake the north, endorsed by the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.

The 15-nation West African bloc ECOWAS convened a summit for Saturday in Ivory Coast to discuss the military campaign.

With Paris pressing West African nations to deploy troops quickly, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, who holds the rotating ECOWAS chairmanship, has kick-started the operation to deploy some 3,300 African soldiers.

Ouattara was himself installed in power with French military backing in 2011 after a brief civil war triggered by former president Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to step aside after losing a late 2010 election.

“The troops will start arriving in Bamako today and tomorrow,” Ali Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s African Integration Minister, said. “They will be convoyed to the front at Sevare.”

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SEARCHES

Under cover from French fighter planes and attack helicopters on Friday, Malian troops drove the Islamists out of the strategic central town of Konna, which they had seized a day earlier. A senior Malian army official said more than 100 rebel fighters had been killed.

Military analysts expressed doubt, however, that this was the start of a swift operation to retake the whole of northern Mali – a harsh, sparsely populated terrain the size of France – as neither equipment nor ground troops were ready.

In Nigeria, which will lead the ECOWAS force, a military official who asked not to be identified said it would take time to train and equip the troops.

In Konna, calm returned after three nights of combat.

“Soldiers are patrolling the streets and have encircled the town,” one resident, Madame Coulibaly, told Reuters by phone. “They are searching houses for arms or hidden Islamists.”

Another inhabitant said the army set up roadblocks along the route north from Sevare to Konna and was checking for rebels. President Diouncounda Traore declared a state of emergency on Friday giving the military sweeping powers to carry out searches and shut down parts of the country.

“The army is in Konna … securing the town and to make sure it is safe,” army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Diarran Kone said.

A resident in the northern city of Gao, one of the Islamists’ strongholds, had reported scores of rebel fighters were retreating northward in pickup trucks on Saturday. In Bamako, some civilians tried to contribute to the war effort.

“We are very proud and relieved that the army was able to drive the jihadists out of Konna. We hope it will not end there that is why I’m helping in my own way,” said civil servant Ibrahima Kalossi, 32, one of over 40 people who queued to donate blood for wounded soldiers.

Concerned about reprisals on French soil, Hollande instructed Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to tighten security in France at public buildings and on public transport.

France advised its 6,000 citizens in Mali to leave. Thousands more French live across West Africa, particularly in Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Hollande’s intervention in Mali could endanger eight French nationals being held by Islamists in the Sahara. A spokesman for one of Mali’s rebel groups, Ansar Dine, said on Saturday there would be repercussions.

“There are consequences, not only for French hostages, but also for all French citizens, wherever they find themselves in the Muslim world,” Sanda Ould Boumama told Reuters. “The hostages are facing death.”

-----CHANNELS TV/NIGERIA

NIGERIA: Fire Razes Alaafin’s Palace

An inferno sparked by electric surge is reported to have razed the palace of Oyo monarch; the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi in Oyo town, South West Nigeria.

Although no lives were lost in the incident, it was gathered that the blaze burnt 21 rooms in the palace including one in which some artefacts were kept.

Among the razed rooms include Ile Ori, Ile Ifa where some artefacts were kept.

Rooms of the Kings wives were also touched.

Speaking on the damage done by the inferno, the media assistant to the monarch; Mr Azeez Fehintola, revealed that the palace was badly damaged, adding that the fire which started around 6a.m. could not be contained until after about three hours.

The Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi has led members of the state executive council on a condolence visit to the Alaafin of Oyo on the fire disaster.

......CHANNELS TV

NIGERIA: Buhari Says Jonathan Cannot Win In Free And Fair Election

A former Head of State and the national leader of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has dismissed the call by South South leaders that it is Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 or no one else.

“I don’t take the decision of South-south leaders seriously. The South-South people said it is Jonathan or nothing; I know they are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, let them vote for him,” Buhari said.

He added that “In a free and fair election, let us see if they can give him the ticket against other geo-political zones. Let them give him the primary ticket first. Let them vote for him when 2015 comes and let us see if he would win.”

Buhari said this in Kaduna when the party’s governorship candidate for the October 20 election in Ondo State, Soji Ehinlanwo received him.

While lamenting the delay in prosecution of those indicted in the pension probe, subsidy and other scams, Buhari maintained that “this can only happen in Nigeria”

He said “Why are those officials not prosecuted to retrieve the stolen money? It is only in Nigeria that fraud of this magnitude takes place and this incompetent government is doing nothing about it.”

..........CHANNELS TV

NIGERIA: Saturday Papers July 21, 2012, Early Edition

SATURDAY TRIBUNE NIGERIA: I’m Against Nigeria Breaking Up, But... —Fani-Kayode

SATURDAY TRIBUNE NIGERIA: Edo Poll: Nigeria Can Truly Get It Right - Babangida

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Senator killed in fresh Plateau attack

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Senator Gyand Dalyyop Datong (Plateau North, PDP) has been shot dead by gunmen while attending a mass burial ceremony for victims of an attack by Fulani herdsmen in Riyom and Barikin Ladi local government areas of Plateau state, North Central Nigeria.

A statement from the Plateau state commissioner of Information, Abraham Yiljap confirmed the shooting.

Senator Datong won his first election into the Senate in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011. He was previously a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency.

Also shot dead is Hon. Gyang James Fulani, the Chief Whip of the Plateau state House of Assembly. Hon. Fulani was representing Barkin Ladi constituency. Barkin Ladi is about 25 kilometres from the state’s capital, Jos.

Another lawmaker representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Simon Mwatdkon is currently hospitalised after recovering from coma.

Over 37 people were killed in Barkin Ladi at the weekend in a new cycle of violence between Fulani herdsmen and Berom tribesmen who live in the two local government areas.

Over 9 villages were attacked by people believed to be Fulani in the raids on Saturday.

The attack reportedly took place at the venue of the burial of some of the victims of Saturday’s attacks.