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Presenters Lagos Freeze
Presenters Lagos Freeze
| Acting President Inaugurates Advisory Council |
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Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan has asked presidential advisory council to come up with practical options that will enable his government improve the quality of life of Nigerians. Speaking today while inaugurating the council, Dr Jonathan said their function is beyond politics, as Nigerians are expectant of what will become of the present government. In his acceptance speech, chairman of the council, Rt LT General Theopilus Danjuma told the acting president to act now or posterity will hold him responsible. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Reactions have started trailing the call by Northern members of the House of Representatives, on Information Minister, Dora Akunyili to resign. A cross-section of Lagosians who spoke to correspondent Arinola Isioye, said the move will prevent transparency in Government. They said Professor Akunyili should be left to determine when to resign. However, Nigerian Labour Party has also criticized the call by the Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives for the resignation of Information Minister, Dora Akunyuli. Speaking with correspondent Ogechi Iwu, NLP Chairman Dan Nwanyanwu said Professor Akunyili’s utterances on President Yar’Adua’s health and fitness for office, were a step in the right direction. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Action Congress has called on the Federal Executive Council to invoke Section 144 of the Constitution, to finally resolve the leadership crisis and save President Umaru Yar’Adua from any humiliation. AC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said if today, the Acting President is unable to perform the functions of his office, the nation will be thrown into another round of constitutional crisis, with terrible consequences. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Meanwhile, Senate has denied that it is shying away from discussing the controversies surrounding president Umaru Yar`Adua `s health. It rather stressed that it took the right step in making Dr Goodluck Jonathan the Acting President. Senate Spokesman, Ayogu Eze said the Upper Chamber does not believe in wasting time discussing issues that will not help the situation at hand. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: House of Representatives has urged the Edo state government to reverse the suspension and removal of elected chairmen of the Oredo, Orhiowonwan and Akoko-Edo Local Government Councils. It also directed the Inspector General of Police and the Director of State Security Service to investigate the alleged forgery of signature of some members of the state House of Assembly, to forcefully remove the Speaker Zakawanu Garuba. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Meanwhile, House of Representatives today ruled to condemn the recent crisis in Edo State, which led to the removal of Speaker, Hon. Garuba. Moving a Motion on the floor of the House, a member of PDP in Edo State, Friday Itulah warned that if the unjust removal of the speaker is not checked, it could be replicated in other states. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Also speaking on the motion, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa said the state is guided by laws made by the House of Assembly and Governor Adams Oshiomole is acting according to those laws. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has said sanctions against Zimbabwe should not be lifted until concerns about human rights violations and media restrictions are addressed. After talks with South African President Jacob Zuma, Mr. Brown said Zimbabwe must show progress in key areas including democratic reforms. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Four Islamists have been convicted by a court in Germany of plotting to attack US facilities in the country. The men, two of whom were German-born converts to Islam, were given prison sentences of between five and 12 years. The judge said they had dreamed of "mounting a second September 11 2001" by killing US civilians and soldiers by bombing targets like Ramstein Air Base. : : : BUSINESS : : : Panasonic Nigeria today launched a state-of-the-art sales and service centre on Muri-Okunola Street, Victoria Island, as it introduces the world largest 103 inches Plasma TV to its customers. Speaking at the launch, Panasonic Promoter, Suraj Rupani said the centre was part of an ongoing drive to sustain its leadership in the Nigerian Home Electronic Market. He noted that customers can now rely on the expertise of engineers trained by Panasonic, because the centre is fully equipped with diagnostic capacity. On his part, Senior Representative, Panasonic Corporation, Kota Mochizuki who noted that the aim was to bring Panasonic product closer to their customers, promised that more centres would be opened in other parts of Nigeria. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: On the floor of the Nigerian stock market today, investors bought a total of 364.3 million shares, valued at 3.113 billion Naira, in 7,541 deals. Market capitalization rose to N5.540 trillion, with all share index of 23, 003.57 points. Cadbury led the gainers with 75k, to close at N16.00. PZ and NASCON followed, picking up 70k and 27k in that order. On the other hand, AP led the losers, shedding N1.55k, UAC-PROP followed with 50k while BBC lost 48k. : : : EXCHANGE RATE : : : 1 US Dollar = 153 Naira 1 British Pound = 230 Naira 1 Euro = 208 Naira : : : ENTERTAINMENT : : : Communicating for Change has introduced three short films series to broadcast stations, to enlighten Nigerians on safe Motherhood. CFC also hopes the films, “Too Young, Too Late and Too Far”, will provoke, hit-hard and challenge existing cultural and traditional practices and change attitude and behavior of Nigerians, especially guidance of pregnant mothers. : : : SPORTS : : : Former Flying Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has debunked report that his utterances after the FIFA U–20 World Cup, is responsible for his rejection as one of Lars Lagerback’s assistants. Siasia denied the allegation that he said he would never again work with Nigeria Football Federation. Making his position known, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games silver winning coach denied the statement and challenged the NFF to buttress their claim with facts. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: John Terry felt he got a good reception from England's fans during yesterday's 3-1 win against Egypt at Wembley. Terry was playing for England for the first time since losing the captaincy after his alleged affair with the ex-girlfriend of Wayne Bridge. The 290-year-old Chelsea captain said he really appreciated the way the fans supported and got behind him. |