Michael Ojuroye Initiative (Ngo)

  By: Funmi Ojuroye  29th Sept, 2013 The eerie calm in  the security and sociopolitical space of Kaduna State, on Monday, burst into cataclysmic political excitement never seen since the death of its former governor,  Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, and the swearing-in of his deputy, Alh. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, last December, to succeed him. Three closely linked events took place. And they may well set the agenda that would profoundly determine the fortunes or otherwise of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state and that of the characters that ride on it. First, like bad dream turn real, Vice President Namadi Sambo, whose outings in the last three polls in the state showed that he could not win even his own street and ward, woke up to find that the  party had developed a very bitter faction that announced its loyalty  to the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led “New” PDP’. This would make his political relevance both in the state, the No...

By: Funmi Ojuroye  29th Sept, 2013 No fewer than 11 people were on Saturday killed in a renewed attack in Zangang village in Attakar Chiefdom, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The gunmen attacked the village early in the morning, leaving several houses completely burnt. A resident of the village, Isuwa Jiga, said more corpses were likely to be discovered as many residents were still missing. “We have not seen some of our family members yet,’’ Jiga said. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Aminu Lawal, confirmed the incident. Lawal said that a combined team of security operatives had been deployed to the area. Zangang village had witnessed three consecutive attacks since the beginning of this year, while several lives and property were lost in the attacks.

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE  28th Sept. 2013 UNITED NATIONS, – The UN Security Council unanimously passed a landmark resolution Friday ordering the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons and condemning a murderous poison gas attack in Damascus. The major powers overcame a prolonged deadlock to approve the first council resolution on the conflict, which is now 30 months old with more than 100,000 dead. UN leader Ban Ki-moon, who called the resolution “the first hopeful news on Syria in a long time,” said he hopes to convene a peace conference in mid-November. Resolution 2118, the result of bruising negotiations between the United States and Russia, gives international binding force to a plan drawn up by the two to eliminate President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical arms. The plan calls for Syria’s estimated 1,000 tonnes of chemical weapons to be put under international control by mid-2014. International experts are expected to start work in Syria to meet the tight deadline nex...

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE  28th Sept. 2013 President Goodluck Jonathan will tomorrow speak on current national issues during a Presidential Media Chat to be broadcast live at 7pm, local time. In a release by Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said, President Jonathan will in the course of the programme, answer questions from a panel of journalists on current national issues and events, as well as policies and actions of his administration. He further asked members  of the public who have  questions for President to respond to on the programme  to send via Twitter to @mediachatng1.  According to Abati, the  programme will be broadcast live on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON). What are your expectations on the President’s chat? What are your questions?  Do write your expectations and questions on ...

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE  28th Sept. 2013 Jonathan Nigerians who have questions they will like President Goodluck Jonathan to address during the presidential media chat billed for 7pm on Sunday can send such questions via Twitter to @mediachatng1. According to a statement on Saturday by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, the President would be ready to answer questions on current national issues and events, as well as policies and actions of his administration during the programme that would be broadcast live on national television and radio stations. The statement read, “President Goodluck Jonathan will host another edition of the Presidential Media Chat on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 7pm. “President Jonathan will in the course of the programme, answer questions from a panel of journalists on current national issues and events, as well as policies and actions of his administration. “Members of the public who have questions they will like the President to respond to on the...

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE  28th Sept. 2013 Sule Lamido of Jigawa on Saturday appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end the ongoing strike in the interest of the students. Lamido made the appeal when he received a delegation from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Dutse. He said it was unfortunate that the industrial action was still on almost three months since it began. The governor blamed the protracted strike on lack of trust between the Federal Government and ASUU. “It is really unfortunate that the strike has lasted up until this time. There is no trust between the two bodies and when there is no trust it will be difficult to have a common ground. “As a parent, I am so worried seeing our children that supposed to be in school at home. “I am appealing to ASUU to go back to the classroom while the negotiation with the government continues,” he said. Lamido, however, pleaded with the Federal Government to continue to dialogue with the...

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE  27th Sept. 2013 Prof Wole Soyinka Nobel laureate,  Prof Wole Soyinka  is expected to be the Special Guest of the Rivers State government at the formal international presentation of Port Harcourt The World Book Capital 2014 on Saturday, September 28 at Trenton, New Jersey, USA. Other speakers and special guest at the event include Prof Toyin Falola, Prof. Kalu Ogbaa, Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, and some other members of the Nigerian literary community in the US. The presentation designed as one of the series of events to usher in the 2014 deadline for the World Book Capital is expected to be done by the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who same day is also being conferred with the Quintessence Award for Leadership by the African Writers Foundation. Governor Amaechi will be supported by the President of the Port Harcourt Literary Society, Dr Chidi Amuta and Mrs Koko Kalango, President of the Rainbow Book C...