Jonathan should resign - CNPP

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The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has called for President Goodluck Jonathan to resign.

Daily Post reports that the call for his resignation followed a letter sent to Jonathan by Chief Olusefun Obasanjo which advised him to leave his post.

According to the report, the Benue state chairman of the CNPP, Mr Baba Agan, said he agrees with Obasanjo.

"Obasanjo is absolutely correct about all the issues he raised and I urge the president to save his face and step aside because we have never had it this bad as a nation."

Agan, however, added that Obasanjo was not as innocent as the former president seems to think.

"Even though we appreciate Obasanjo for his bravery, we cannot also fail to point out that he is part of what this country is currently passing through.

"It was Obasanjo who pronounced President Jonathan as his son and thereafter imposed and fostered him on Nigerians, and what do we have today? This is certainly not what we hoped for," Daily Post reports.

Obasanjo Should Tread With Caution, Tukur Warns

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

The embattled national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Bamanga Tukur, has called on the former chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Olusegun Obasanjo, to tread with caution. Mr. Tukur’s censure was issued in a statement issued by his spokesman in reaction to a fiery public letter by Mr. Obasanjo in which President Goodluck Jonathan was accused of acting against the interests of the PDP as well as engaging in other undemocratic acts.
Mr. Obasanjo, who was Nigeria’s president from 1999 to 2007, was instrumental in installing Mr. Jonathan in office.
Reacting to Mr. Obasanjo’s controversial letter, Mr. Tukur said it was wrong for the former president to insinuate in his letter that Mr. Jonathan was using Mr. Tukur to cause confusion in the increasingly fractious ruling party.
“For such a statement against the person of the national chairman of the PDP to come from Chief Obasanjo, a former head of state and president, is most unfortunate,” Mr. Tukur stated. He added: “Chief Obasanjo in his position as former president under the PDP platform should have known very well the constitution of the party, the party manifesto as it relates to the independence of the PDP National Working Committee.”
The PDP national chairman continued: “For [Mr. Obasanjo] to insinuate that the President is using the national chairman to cause multiple problems for the party doesn't in any way portray him as a true democrat.
“Chief Obasanjo is very much aware of the fact that Dr. Bamanga Tukur is a man of honor and proven integrity who shouldn't be portrayed as a stooge to anybody. It is well known to Chief Obasanjo that Dr. Bamanga Tukur is a man who acts according to the dictates of his conscience and conviction and in line with the party constitution and manifesto. Dr. Tukur as the national chairman and one of the founding fathers of the party can never allow his opinion or decisions to be teleguided by any external force as a principled administrator and seasoned politician.
“Chief Obasanjo's statement is certainly an attack on the personal integrity and credibility of Dr. Tukur as an outstanding statesman of international repute.”
Mr. Tukur’s statement concluded: “Chief Obasanjo is however advised to tread with caution over his personal attacks or vituperations against his fellow elder statesmen or those in exalted political positions in the country.”

Boss of faulty breast implant company gets four years

A TYCOON who made millions selling leaky breast implants filled with

Jean-Claude Mas was sentenced to fours years in prison and fined £62,000 [GETTY]

But Jean-Claude Mas walked free after lodging an appeal, meaning thousands of affected women now have to wait to discover if they will receive damages.

The 74-year-old meat and cognac salesman was convicted of fraud by a court in Marseille, France.

He was also fined £62,000. His company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) was shut down and its products banned in 2010.

A German testing firm previously held liable to pay out was yesterday told it is also a victim of PIP.

Around 400,000 women worldwide received the rupture-prone implants, 47,000 of them in Britain.

Damages could run to millions. But it could be years before it is paid and there is no guarantee it will ever be. Many women need faulty implants removing.

Disappointed British victim Jan Spivey said after the hearing: “I thought he would be taken away.”

DAVID CAMEROON DEFENDS SELF

David Cameron defends selfie with Barack Obama and Danish PM at Nelson Mandela memorial

DAVID Cameron has today laughed off the controversial selfie taken at Nelson

David Cameron has defended himself over a selfie taken at the Mandela memorial with Barack Obama [MAIN - PA & TOP LEFT - EPA & BOTTOM RIGHT - AP]

An image of the Prime Minister, Barack Obama and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt – who is married to former Labour leader Neil Kinnock’s son Stephen - went viral on the social networking site yesterday.

Users of Twitter blasted the trio for the picture, with some calling it "moronic" and lacking "class".

Today, the Conservative leader defended himself, saying: “Perhaps in my defence, you should always remember that the television cameras are always on.

"But in my defence I would say that Nelson Mandela played an extraordinary role in his life and in his death in bringing people together.

"So of course when a member of the Kinnock family asked me for a photograph, I thought it was only polite to say yes."

Perhaps in my defence, you should always remember that the television cameras are always on

Prime Minister David Cameron

The picture was taken as more than 90 world leaders joined more than 100,000 South Africans to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Mr Mandela at the FNB Stadium in Soweto.

The photographer who took the picture said the trio were "simply acting like human beings".

Roberto Schmidt, who works for news agency AFP, said: "I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have.

"At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you. I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony-faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium.

"For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural."

Barack Obama with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt at the Mandela memorial [REUTERS]

A Number 10 Downing Street spokesman was asked about whether Mr Cameron's actions were appropriate at a Westminster media briefing today.

The spokesman said: "I think what the PM would say about yesterday is it was very much a celebration of Nelson Mandela and his life and his achievements.

"I am sure many of us were watching the pictures from it and I think it did come across, and rightly so, as a marking and a celebration of Mr Mandela's life. You had plenty of words from the Prime Minister and leaders from around the world that attest to that."

Many took offence at the selfie with Twitter user James Armitage saying: "What selfish morons take a 'selfie' at a memorial service? Oh yeah that's right, Barack Obama and David Cameron."

Sarah McDermott sent a direct tweet to Mr Cameron which said: "You have precisely zero class or decorum."

However, a number of Twitter users defended the memorial service selife including Moya Arewa from Canada.

The user tweeted: "I don't think the Danish PM's selfie with Obama and Cameron is as disrespectful as everyone is making it seem."

LAGOS SHUTS DOWN CHURCHES OVER NOISE POLLUTION

Lagos State Government Shuts Down Seven Churches Over Noise Pollution

The Lagos State Government has shut down the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Ministry and six other churches in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria over noise pollution.

Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA stormed a branch of the Lord’s Chosen Church at 25 Omobola Street, Lawanson, Surulere area at the weekend and shut it down.

Other affected churches are Bible Church, FESTAC; The Chapter of Christ Church, Oregun, Ikeja; Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja; The Golden Gate Church, Ifako-Ijaiye and Seek and Save Ministry, Abule Egba.

The closure of the churches is coming after pre-sanction notices were given to the churches to abate the noise pollution emanating from their worship centres.

General Manager, LASEPA, Engr. Rasheed Shabi said the closure of the churches became imperative after several abatement notices issued to them were disregarded.

According to him, some of the churches even rebuffed meetings called by the agency on how to resolve the issue.

“The agency’s stance is clear on issue of noise pollution level permitted. This has been communicated to all worship centres in the state.

“The level of noise pollution allowed in the state is between 55 decibel during the day and 42 to 45 decibel at night,” he said.

Shabi said the state government was determined to reduce noise pollution in the state because of the anomalies and diseases related to it.

He enjoined worship centres in the state to comply with the state’s standard on noise, while suggesting the use of sound proof equipment by churches to reduce noise during their worship services.

Meanwhile, the large expanse of land in Ayobo where the temporary headquarters of Deeper Life Bible Church is situated may soon become a subject of litigation, as the Olalere Family has asked the church to vacate the land.

The over 150 acres of land covering Amule, Ayobo and Onikanga communities, currently accommodates the Deeper Life Bible Church main auditorium, the International Bible Training College and the proposed Anchor University owned by founder of the church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi.

Although Deeper Life Bible Church has been in possession of the land for over 30 years, the Olalere Family who now claim ownership of the land has declared the church as an illegal occupant and warned that the family may resort to court action to evict the church if it does not legalise its tenancy of the land.

The Olalere family in a letter to the church dated 7 February 2012 noted that by virtue of a 2010 court ruling by Justice Oyekan Abdullahi, the entire Ayobo community land belongs to them, and any occupant currently on the land must renegotiate their tenancy with the family.

When our reporter contacted the church over the development, secretary to the church, Pastor Jerry Asemota, said he was personally unaware of any letter to the church by the Olalere family.

He, however, said that only the legal department of the church could confirm receipt of such letters.

When asked about the Olalere family’s claim of ownership to the church land, he said: “I can assure you that we are not illegal occupants. We have been in possession of this land for 30 years and if the initial owners have problem among themselves, they should settle it amicably.”

man raped to death by his six wives

Uroko Onoja, Benue State Man Raped 

His fame and financial breakthrough pushed him into having up to six wives. His love for sex equally contributed to his patronage of the most beautiful girls in Ugbugbu Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local government area of Benue State where a man who was identified as Uroko Onoja was allegedly raped to death by his 6 jealous wives in the early hour of Tuesday.
Trouble started on tuesday morning, precisely 3 am when Uroko returned from Ochanja, a popular joint in the small community of Ugbugbu and headed to the room of his youngest wife. The other wives who according to the youngest wife, Odachi had a meeting before Uroko returned home invaded her room with knives and sticks, demanding that their husband have sex with all of them at once. Uroko who resisted their attack was overpowered by the women who ordered that the sex march begin with the youngest wife and to continue in that order to the top.
Our correspondent reported that Uroko stopped breathing when the fifth woman was making her way to the bed. “Suddenly, my husband stopped breathing, and they all ran out, still laughing, but when they saw that I could not resuscitate him, they all ran into the forest.
As at the time this report was filed, 2 of the wives have been arrested.

truck kills lastma official

Truck crushes LAWMA official to death

Truck crushes LAWMA official to death

An official of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, identified only as Idowu, was crushed to death by a waste disposal truck on Tuesday.
It was learnt that the deceased and three others were in the truck, otherwise known as PSP, when it skidded off the Egbeda-Idimu Road and fell on its side.
It was learnt that three of the officials escaped unhurt but Idowu was not as lucky as the vehicle fell on him cutting him into two halves.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident was caused by commercial bus drivers who were driving recklessly around Car Wash Bus Stop.
An eyewitness, who identified himself only as Emmanuel, said, “The accident was caused by commercial bus drivers who stopped to pick passengers along the road at illegal bus stops around 7am. The real bus stop is the BRT one, but many commercial drivers usually ignore it.
“The PSP truck overturned as its driver tried to avoid ramming into two commercial buses filled with passengers. The commercial bus drivers were struggling to overtake each other at the bus stop to pick passengers.
“The deceased was caught under, with part of his body, from his chest, cut into half and buried under the truck.”
It was learnt that the buses that allegedly caused the accident, drove off immediately.
The accident, coupled with the early morning rush, caused a gridlock which stretched from the road to the Iyana Ipaja end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Many bystanders as well as colleagues of the victim were seen crying at the scene.
Around 11am, however, two cranes were brought to move the truck off the deceased’s body.
A LAWMA official, Mrs. Aminu-Odukoya, who is also a field supervisor said Idowu was one of the officials that collected refuse from residents whenever the PSP truck stopped at refuse points.
She said the truck had stopped briefly to pick bags of refuse shortly before the accident occurred.
Mr. Olakunle Agenjo, a LAWMA provost official, said Car Wash was an illegal bus stop.
He said, “This Car Wash is not a bus stop. This accident happened around 7am. The PSP truck stopped to pick refuse and was about to drive away. A commercial bus parked in its front, picking passengers, another one parked at the back of the truck, also picking passengers.
“Suddenly, as the truck was about to continue on its way, the commercial bus at the back, drove fast and attempted to overtake the one at the front. But the one at the front would not allow the driver. In the confusion, the truck would have run into them, but it would have led to the death of so many people, which was why the driver attempted to steer the truck over the culvert, but the truck overturned and our man turned with it and he was killed.”