Dangote's Casual Staff dies mysteriously in Gboko

By Sunday Itodo 

Late Solomon

In what appeared to many as mysterious death, a casual labourer with Dangote Cement Company (formerly Benue Cement Company) Gboko, Mr. Solomon Aaga Ashir met his untimely death early hours of today (Wednessday) when he was hit by limestones at the company premises while carrying out his lawful duties.

2015 Has Finally Kicked Off, But I am Not Excited...

By George Onmonya Daniel

The ruling Party

With the registration of the All Progressive Congress today, the battle for 2015 has already kicked off. The People's Democratic Party has already congratulated the APC. Now it is going to be the PDP versus APC. However, I am not in anyway excited. Nigeria's election are not like what we watch on CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera about the United States and other countries. Elections in Nigeria are very primitive. Olusegun Obasanjo best described it as 'Do or Die Affair.'

The newly registered party

The 'Do or Die Affairs' phenomenon has already become an accepted norm. Politicians now will start buying arms and ammunition to battle each other. Everybody will start planning and scheming to rig the other out, money for money, thug for thug, and incitement of the public by using whatever means, be it tribalism, religion, regionalism and ethnicism. Nigeria has always been divided along religious line with Christians having made up their minds to vote for a Christian candidate and Muslims for a Muslim candidate. 

If the APC is wise it should present a credible Christian candidate to tackle Goodluck Jonathan who obviously is coming out to contest in 2015, but the APC wouldn't feature a Christian president. Even within the party that matters. In the end we will end up with useless incompetent men from both sides and we are left with no choice than to choose the best incompetent leader.

Worthy Congratulation!

PDP Fan Club Congratulates APC on its registration.

The leadership and entire members of PDP FAN CLUB WORLDWIDE heartily congratulate the leadership, interim national executive, members and supporters of All Progressive Congress (APC) for their final registration by INEC. We salute their steadfastness to defend their identity even in the face of torments.

With this new development, we urge them to focus more strength on building a strong and formidable opposition party rather than channel much of their effort on blaming the People's Democratic Party.

Moreover, as you began to learn on the robes of political engineering process in the country, we wish you a safe landing.

Once again, congratulation.

Ubong David
National Secretary,
PDP Fan Club Worldwide.

Press Statement: A new party is born! Congratulations Nigeria – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Nigerians on the emergence of the new party, saying with the birth of APC, Nigerians now have an alternative to a ruling party that has taken the people for a bad ride in the past 14 years.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

In a statement issued by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos on Wednesday, APC said its emergence is a victory for Nigeria and for democracy, and that it has now also propelled the country to the league of top democratic nations with two major political parties.

BREAKING NEWS: INEC registers APC

APC Logo

Copy of the Press Statement by INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the application by three political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – to merge into one, to be known as the All Progressives Congress.

The Secretary to the umpire Abdullahi A. Kaugama disclosed this few hours ago in Abuja while addressing news men on how the new party was registered.

"On considering the application, the Commission found that the applicant-parties have met all statutory requirements for the merger, and has accordingly granted their request", the Secretary said .

The press statement further shows that the Commission has approved the withdrawal of the individual certificates of the applicant-parties, and the issuance of a single certificate to the All Progressives Congress.

OPINION POLL : Development In Idomaland - An Illusion Or Reality

The Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa road

One of the Headlines in the debut edition of DAYBREAK Newspaper (in the pipeline) reads “Development In Idomaland: An Illusion Or Reality?”

Our Correspondents, Dan Atayi Edache, Sam Ogenyi and others have be sent to carry out a wholistic review of all sorts of developments vis-a-vis the spate of underdevelopment in Idomaland.

At the course of their research, divergent opinions were collated. Some say with developments like National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Joy FM, Otobi Dam, renovation of Otukpo-Adoka-Oweto road, (all in Otukpo) as well as the employment of Idoma youths into Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prisons Service, etc are determinants of the rate of development recorded in Idomaland in recent times . 

Other school of thought holds that it is an illusion with negative developments - like the dilapidated infrastructures (roads, rice mill, burnt bricks, etc); lack of pipe borne water; skewed Federal presence; non availability of University or Federal Institutions of higher learning in the land; etc. 

Consequently, we seek your germane opinion on the development or underdevelopment of Idomaland. Good comments shall be published in the maiden edition of our paper.

Such comments shall only be entertained if they are constructively written and in not more than 150 words, with the full names and address of the commentators boldly written on top, as they would prefer it appear on the Newspaper.

Our readers/fans shall be contacted when the edition is published.

Thank you. 

OPINION: If I were President Jonathan - Part 1

By Abbati Bako

Leadership is all about delivering what the people want - pure and simple. It's the people that make the government and the work of a government is to impact positively in the lives of the people. A leader should (first) study exactly what afflicts the nation and then get the opinion of experts. The essence of research in Universities and (writing project, dissertation and thesis) in all institutions of higher learning is to get the result of opinion of knowledge and then place and put such opinion or research into practice. 

It's imperative for any good leader to always seek the advice of experts on his vision, focus and mission on anything that will impact and transform the lives of the led. The problem with our leaders in Africa is skipping the opinion and advice of intellectuals and practitioners (civil servants). And again, they don't plan, strategize and serialize what, how, and when the strategic plans are to be done and at what time (timing is very important in politics).

Also they don't follow the ideology and manifesto of their political parties. So, if I were President Jonathan I will tackle only five issues in Nigeria and I will not contest for the third term:

The Civilian JTF, The Islamic Militia And The Military JTF

Gripping a machete he claimed was stained with blood, a 24-year-old civilian manned a checkpoint in one of Nigeria's most dangerous cities, looking for members of a violent Islamist group.

Vigilante groups have emerged with the encouragement of the military in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, the original home base of Boko Haram Islamists, and their arrival has been both welcomed and fraught with potential trouble.

The city has been devastated by insurgent attacks and military raids that are estimated to have claimed hundreds of civilian lives.

RELIGION: Next Day, Next Levels

By Prophetess Jane Onyi

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:11-12)

This is the last day, you shall be seen on this present level, in the name of Jesus. As your days, so shall your strength be. Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and with man. So was Samuel, and so is you.

KANO EXPLOSIONS: Death toll now 12, says military source

Contrary to earlier reports on media that not less than 24 persons may have met their untimely death in the explosions that rocked Sabongari area of Kano on Monday night, official report has it that a total of 12 persons were confirmed dead.

The Military Spokesman, Cpt. Ikedichi Iweha made this statement on Tuesday in a press statement. According to Iweha, other victims who sustained injuries had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

In his words: "12 persons were confirmed to have died from both incidences, while a couple of others who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to hospital for medical attention".

Unknown gunmen kill five in Taraba

Five persons were killed yesterday in Tapga Village of Ibi Local
Government Area of Taraba state when armed militia group from the neighbouring Tarok Village of
Plateau state attacked the village.
Though the Chairman of Ibi Local Government Council, Comrade Ichakwu disclosed that only 3 persons were killed, but an eye witness confirmed that not less than 5 persons were killed while several others who sustained injuries were taken to clinics in Wukari for treatment.

Miss Idoma, Ehi Ejeh is a year older

Today is the birthday of current Miss Idoma, Ehi Ejeh.

Jane Odoh, President of Free Image Entertainment, the organizers of Miss Idoma Beauty Pageant in a goodwill message to the damsel disclosed that the Queen would celebrate her birthday with a courtesy visit to Orphanage Homes and inmates at the Prison yard this Sunday.

The statement reads in part, “The entire Idoma Nation wishes her Queen, Ehi Ejeh (Miss Idoma 2012) happy birthday as she adds another year today. We wish her happy celebration. Join her as she visits the orphanage homes and prisons this Sunday.”