....A blog that informs....
Over a thousand fans and some twenty international teammates were present at Abidjan airport on Thursday to pay their respects as the body of football star Cheick Tiote, who died in China earlier this month aged 30, was brought home.
Family members and fans could not contain their grief as Tiote’s coffin was carried through the airport.
The Federal Ministry of Health has launched the Tobacco free Nigeria Communication campaign in Abuja. Minister for Health Isaac Adewole says the campaign is to raise awareness on the dangers of tobacco smoking in the country.
The Tobacco free Communication campaign aims at protecting Nigerian's health, life, physical integrity and safety by raising awareness on the dangers and burdens of tobacco usage.
This campaign is also meant to enlighten second-hand smokers on the ban of smoking in public places so as to protect themselves.
The Queen and Prince William visited a relief centre for Grenfell Tower fire victims, while the missing could number as many as 76, the BBC understands. Their visit to the Westway Sports Centre comes after police say some of those killed may never be identified.
Police have confirmed that at least 30 people have died as a result of the blaze at the west London flats. Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said that of those who were killed, one died in hospital. He also said there was nothing to suggest that the fire was started deliberately, and that everyone in hospital has now been identified.
The fire broke out shortly before 01:00 BST on Wednesday.
Independent National Electoral Commission, on Friday threatened to deregister erring political parties. Its Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, who spoke while presenting certificates to the recently registered five political parties, said that the commission would not hesitate to sanction any of the political party that violates the laws. The new five political parties, who got their registration certificates are Action Democratic Party, All Democratic People’s Movement, Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance, New Generation Party of Nigeria and the Young Progressive Party.
With this, the number of political parties in Nigeria now stands at 45. Mahmood told the leadership of the new political parties that the commission shall vigorously apply the law guiding the parties where necessary. He said, “Commission will continue to strictly monitor the activities of all political parties and will not hesitate to apply sanctions against any violation of the law governing the terms and conditions of your registration.
“I wish to remind all political parties that the law also provides for de-registration of parties. We shall vigorously apply this aspect of the law as the need arises.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Friday in Ado Ekiti, said he would become the next President of Nigeria. The governor, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, boasted that he had the attributes to wrestle power from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress in 2019. He also boasted that former governors Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi would fail if they contest the 2018 governorship election in the state. According to him, neither of the two performed to an admirable level that Ekiti people would give them a second chance like he was given.
The governor spoke at a meeting with political office holders at the Government’s House, Ado Ekiti, where he also inspected Osoko Political Institute Centre. He said, “Just because Ayo Fayose has won a second term to become governor of Ekiti, some people also think they can come back now, but I want to tell them that it is not possible. I am the man wholeheartedly loved by Ekiti people because of the many developmental projects that have brought great infrastructural and developmental advancement to Ekiti. “If you go around Ekiti, you will see my handiwork dotting every nook and cranny of the state. This is why I am the man who every Ekiti people will follow in 2018.”
Fayose said he had the penchant for taking powers from people having defeated two former governors (Niyi Adebayo and Fayemi) in governorship elections.
Following the visit of notable Priests from the Ahiara Catholic Diocese Mbaise, to Governor Rochas Okorocha concerning the lingering crisis in the Diocese over the Choice of Bishop, the governor has chosen to mediate in the whole saga to get whatever is the bone of contention resolved, in the overall interest of the Diocese, Mbaise people, the Catholic Church and Imo State in general.
The Priests had come on the visit few days after they were reported to have met with the Pope in Rome over the Crisis.
The delegation, made up of some of the old priests in the Diocese including Rev. Monsignor Edward Amakiri had met with the governor behind closed doors and they had discussed on how best the crux of the Crisis at the Ahiara Catholic Diocese can be resolved without further delay.
The governor said that the lingering crisis in the Diocese has never been a good public relation stuff for the State or for the Catholic Church or Mbaise people in particular, and must not be allowed to continue.
The governor explained that he had delayed his intervention in the matter to see whether the concerned parties could resolve the issue in contention without government’s intervention, and noted that the situation now has called for his intervention.
The visiting priests had come up with the claim that they must have been misrepresented before the Pope following the decision of the Pope on the issue in question.
The governor described the Ahiara Diocese of Mbaise as one of the most vibrant Catholic Dioceses in the State and regretted that the crisis has not augured well for the Diocese, and that disputes concerning the Church and things of God should not be allowed to drag on for a long time.
Sam Onwuemeodo
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
