Ghanaian President, John Atta Mills died at 68

Ghana's president, John Evans Atta-Mills, has died suddenly, aged 68.

Mills, who was only months away from completing his first term in office, cancelled meetings and was taken to hospital at midday on Tuesday suffering from an unspecified illness.

A statement from the president's office, signed by the chief of staff, confirmed his death several hours later, after growing speculation and a near communications blackout in the capital city, Accra.

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely
According to media reports, Mr. Mills, 68, suffered from throat cancer and died in a hospital in Accra, Ghana’s capital.

He had ruled the West African country since 2009.

President Mills will be remembered for his statesmanship and years of dedicated service to his country.

MPs were summoned to Ghana's parliament house to swear in John Dramani Mahama, the former vice president, and given reassurances that the death of Mills would not spark a constitutional crisis. No president has ever died in office in the history of Ghana, which gained independence from Britain in 1957.

Mahama, who made an emotional speech describing Mills as a "father, friend, mentor and … senior comrade", said that the country was "deeply saddened and distraught" and declared one week of mourning in Ghana.

News of the president's death follows weeks of rumours about his health, prompted by a decline in public appearances and a medical trip to the US, which he insisted was for a routine check-up.

When Mills was elected in 2009, questions were raised about his fitness to lead the country. At least two false reports announcing his death have previously circulated in Ghana.

Mills was preparing to seek a second term in elections due in December.

Mills, a professor of tax law for 25 years, who studied at the University of London, was expected to lead a close contest for the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress.

The news has shocked other African countries, where there have been a number of deaths in office in recent years. Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan, who succeeded president Umaru Yar'Adua after he died in office in 2010, expressed his condolences.

A statement from the Nigerian presidency said: "On behalf of himself, the government and people of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to late President Mills' family as well as the government and people of Ghana.

"The president assures the people of Ghana of the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn late President Mills who did his best during his tenure to carry forward the process of democratic consolidation and socio-economic development in Ghana."

Ghanaian commentators praised the relative speed with which Mills' death was announced, two hours after doctors at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra failed to resuscitate him.

Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice,Alooma Mariam Mukhtar, was sworn in.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said that he is confident that the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alooma Mariam Mukhtar will reform and reposition the judiciary for the effective and efficient discharge of its constitutional mandate.

The president was speaking in the presidential villa after swearing in the CJN in the presidential villa.

He said that Justice Mukhtar is presiding over the judiciary at a time of profound changes that demand united response but that he is confident that the challenges can be confronted head on.

Mr Jonathan pointed at security challenges and the terrorism, and called on the three arms of government to work together to overcome the threats.

He asked the CJN to rise up and provide the necessary support to address corruption pointing out that the complain about lengthy trials especially in cases of corruption, terrorism and other matters of serious public concern should be considered to avoid the delay in justice for all.

Justice Dahiru Musdapher on Sunday bowed out as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) having attained the retirement age of 70 years.

Edo State election - Governor Adams Oshiomhole a true Comrade

Senate salutes Oshiomhole, says people’s will remains sacrosanct

SENATE spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has described the re-election of Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as the wish of the people, stating that the Nigerian upper chamber was happy that the election reaffirmed the people’s will.

In a statement, on Sunday, Senator Abaribe said that respect for the will of the people remained the recipe for a sound and enduring democracy in the country.

He further stated that the Senate believed that success of the July 14 poll was a signal of better things to come and evidence that the true tenets of democracy were fast taking roots in Nigeria.

Senator Abaribe stated that the Senate was thrilled by the outcome of the election and its manifest reflection of respect for the sanctity of people’s will and their appreciation of outstanding performance of the governor.

The senator said: “The Senate is particularly happy over the peaceful conduct, massive turnout of the Edo voters, respect for their preference and the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring fairness and transparency during the election.

“The Senate is happy that the victory of Governor Oshiomhole is a true testament that the electorate are ever alert and will ever recognise and reward good work.

“There is no doubt that respect for the will of the people, as exemplified in the Oshiomhole victory, remains the driving force of our country's democratic evolution.”

He, however, enjoined Governor Oshiomhole to be magnanimous in victory and to seek to unite all divergent interests in the state, while also doubling his effort at delivering democracy dividends to the people.





Oshiomhole’s re-election, triumph over evil forces - NLC

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the landslide victory recorded by the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, at the just concluded governorship election in Edo State was not only a triumph of light over evil forces but a victory foretold.

The NLC made the submission in a press statement issued and signed by its president, Abdulwaheed Omar, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, adding that Oshiomhole, despite all odds, defeated his closest rival by clinching 75 per cent of the valid votes cast with 477,478.

The release, which noted that his closest rival, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only garnered 144,235 votes, said it was a signal to the money bags and their godfathers and all those who believed in buying their ways into office to loot the public treasury and consign the working people and Nigeria’s poor to eternal poverty and deprivation that the day of reckoning had come.

It added that it was a victory well deserved for the people of the state and a triumph of democracy.



Oshiomhole campaign organisation lauds Edo electorate

THE Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, on Monday, lauded Edo people over re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, saying they had demonstrated very peculiar courage and determination that election was not about money contrary to claim that “money plays significant role in election in this part of the world.”

The campaign organisation also said the voters had shown that integrity and honesty of purpose were essential attributes that money could not buy, even as it declared that the re-election of Oshiomhole had put paid to ethnic and divisive politics in the state and “stamped the moral authority of the people as the authentic deciders of political power.”

The organisation said this in a statement signed by its director of media and publicity, Prince Kassim Afegbua and made available to the Nigerian Tribune.

The campaign organisation, while expressing its appreciation to Edo electorate in general and other stakeholders, particularly the traditional institution led by Omo N’oba Ereduawa, said it was sacrifice made in the face of outright threat and intimidation to ensure that the will of the people was freely expressed at the polls.

According to the body, the poll that witnessed the victory of Oshiomhole “has been such a soul refreshing exercise and the outcome has once again reaffirmed Edo State as the real heartbeat of the nation.

“It has opened new vista in electioneering campaigns and outcome. It has doggedly registered the mantra of one man, one vote as the key symbol of representative democracy.”

Finally, the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation paid tribute to candidates of other parties, including General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their acceptance of the outcome of the election as a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people.



Gov Orji congratulates Oshiomhole •Mukhtar, M. D. Abubarkar, too

ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has congratulated comrade Adams Oshiomhole

of Edo State on his re-election.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, Chief Orji said Oshiomhole’s re-election was a manifestation of the confidence his people reposed in him. He urged him not to disappoint them.

The governor also congratulated the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloma Mukhtar, on her appointment.

Chief Orji said that she deserved it, having proved her worth in the judiciary over the years.

According to Chief Orji being the first female Chief Justice Nigeria of the country, he had no doubt she would do the nation proud.

He urged her to go the extra mile in taking the judiciary to higher heights.

Governor Orji also applauded the confirmation of M. D. Abubarkar as the Inspector General of Police.

He urged the police boss, whom he described as a hard working officer, to continue his fight against insecurity with greater zeal as all Nigerians are praying for him.



Oshiomhole’s victory proves Nigerians can redirect their destiny - Group

A pan-youth organisation in Nigeria, The Youth Arise for Nigeria (YAN), on Monday, stated that the landslide re-election victory of the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for another four years was an evidence that Nigerians could still redirect their destiny in the 2015 polls.

YAN, while commending the people of Edo State for their resolve at the poll last Saturday to usher in another four years of human and infrastructural development and prosperity in the state, hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, the Nigeria police and the army for ensuring that the election was peaceful.

YAN’s national coordinator, Oluwarotimi Macnobleson, in a statement by the group’s national publicity secretary, Liborous Oshoma, said the results of the Edo State governorship poll showed that the sovereignty was still with the people and that Nigerians couldn still change their own destiny come 2015 by kicking out the corrupt ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Comrade Macnobleson said the Edo State election was a lesson to all public office holders that only the people have the power to reward good service and hard work and also confirm that the people were watching and ready to kick out all corrupt politicians in 2015.

While commiserating with the people of the state over those who lost their lives in Ologbo boat mishap, during the early hours of the election on Saturday, YAN called on Governor Oshiomhole not to see his second chance as a time of mere consolidation of projects.

GMD, Access Bank Plc- Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede appointed as Chairman of the special committee on Fuel Subsidy Probe..

After pocketing a princely N345.3 million and failing to supply petroleum products, Aig-Imoukhede is rewarded with appointments to probe himself and his accomplices.

by President Goodluck Jonathan to verify and reconcile the records of payments on fuel subsidy, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, owns a company that received millions of Naira in subsidy payments for products it allegedly failed to deliver.

Detailed company searches by an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Youth Alliance Against Fuel Subsidy Removal, revealed that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, who is the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, also owns Ice Energy Petroleum Trading Limited, which allegedly received $2,131,166.32 in hard currency (about N345.3 million) in 2011.

It is not clear whether the company delivered the product for which it was paid but the House of Reps Subsidy probe committee said it did not.

The defunct Farouk Lawan-led House of Representative Committee had, in its report, queried the company for receiving payment when no petroleum products were imported and supplied.

Ice Energy was one of the 45 companies invited to appear before the probe committee, but which failed to either honour the invitation or submit documents concerning their involvement in the monumental fraud that attended the subsidy scheme.

Findings by Youth Alliance at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and made available to PREMIUM TIMES, show that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede heads the three-man board of Ice Energy, which has Iroche Chuks, as managing director, and Aikhionbare Sam, as member.

Asking Aig-Imoukhuede to probe self and accomplices
Following the shocking revelation in the report of the House of Representatives Committee that fuel subsidy payment, for which about N245billion was appropriated in the 2011 budget, had suddenly spiraled to over N2.6 trillion (over 2,200 per cent) as at December last year, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, constituted a Technical Committee on review of Fuel Subsidy Payments, and appointed Mr. Aig-Imuokhuede as its head.

What are you really arguing about?

What are you really arguing about? Get talking Talking and listening are probably the most important skills in a relationship. There will always be tensions and disagreements, but if you can communicate well, you can overcome almost any problem. If you and your partner seem to spend most of your time arguing, perhaps you should take a closer look at the cause of conflict. Common conflicts The most common things couples argue about are money, sex, work, children and housework - roughly in that order. Most rows start because of differences of opinion, but with patience and basic communication skills you should be able to negotiate a compromise. If there's violence Violence or threats of violence are never acceptable in a relationship. If arguments are always aggressive, or you avoid conflict because you're scared things may get out of control, you need support. If you find the same old issues come up over and over again, or as soon as one issue's resolved another crops up, then there's more going on than meets the eye. Below are some common reasons. Unresolved issues Sometimes people find they're fighting battles that have far more to do with the past than the present. Feelings of rejection or betrayal in childhood can create hot buttons that partners press without realising. For example, a partner who's parent left suddenly in childhood may find themselves overreacting to a hastily arranged business trip. Or a partner who was always forced to do gardening as a punishment when a child may become irrationally angry when asked to mow the lawn. Sensitive subjects If there are taboo subjects in your relationship that always cause a storm, you need to mention them more often. If you don't, they can become time bombs. Taboo subjects can include things such as a forgotten birthday or a time when you felt your partner wasn't there for you. Often it's something that represents a serious breach of trust such as an affair or a breaking of confidence. Burying old relationship problems is OK, but you have to make sure they're dead first. Fighting for your deeper needs Couples often use topics such as money, sex or housework to fight for their deeper needs within a relationship. For example, an argument over who should pay for what may really be about where the responsibility lies and who's got the power in this situation. Rows about housework are often about unfilled needs for respect and worth. And arguing about how often to have sex is nearly always about feeling loved and cared for and deeper needs for connection and affection. Hidden pay-offs For some couples arguing actually plays a beneficial role, as it may be the only time they get to share their feelings. It can also add excitement to a relationship or be a way of getting attention. Arguing can be worth the pain because of the joy of making up. And when you make up you get to reaffirm your love for each other. Just remember: beneath the surface of an argument often lurks a much deeper issue, desperate to be let out and looked at - and you'll keep on arguing until you do. Further help

If you have concerns about your relationship, try talking it through with your partner or a trusted friend,

Niger Republic to supply gas to Nigeria

THE Minister of Energy and Oil for Niger Republic, Foumakoye Gado, has said that his country is making efforts to tap gas from its crude reserve based in Zinder province in order to satisfy its energy requirement as well as to supply part of it to Nigeria which he described as a “strategic neighbour”. The minister, who said this when he received Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso in Niamey, added that the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, recently secured an oil bloc in his country. “Only last week, a former Nigerian minister, Adamu Aliero, was allotted an oil block in Niger Republic, so the oil sector is a good area for Nigerian investors to come in,” he said.He said Niger would build a coal power plant as part of measures to reduce its power dependence on Nigeria, which he said currently, supplies 60-70 per cent of its energy needs. He added that the country’s only refinery produces 16,000 barrels of crude oil per day, while its daily needs is approximately 6,000- 8,000 barrels. Gado further stated that his country intends to sell its excess crude to Nigeria and Burkina Faso and use the proceeds to improve its social services sector. Responding, Governor Kwankwaso expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment with which Niger Republic is overhauling its energy sector. He noted that businessmen from Nigeria, especially Kano State could invest in the Nigerien energy sector for mutual benefits. The governor added that part of measures taken by his government to improve livestock development included the establishment of a livestock institute and five other agriculture based institutes.

EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

Who asked for the deployment of soldiers in Edo State? Is the BH excuse for the pre-election militarization of some states existing in Edo? Is INEC finally confirmed as a finger of the leprous hand of GEJ?.....read this piece from Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed - EDO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS: BALLOTS AND BULLETS and make up your mind..... EDO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS: BALLOTS AND BULLETS

“Democracy is too good to share with just anybody.” H. L. Mencken If you are voter in Edo State who believes that your vote should and must count, you must be wondering whether it is safe to exercise your right to decide who becomes Governor of the State this coming Saturday. Certainly, it will take the bravest of citizens to venture out either on campaign trails or to vote, given the intimidating mobilization of security personnel, particularly soldiers, reportedly in their thousands for the Saturday elections. It will be safe to say that the bullet will be as important as the ballot in determining who is announced as winner in the elections. All the indices that the elections of a Governor on the 14th of July in Edo State will be a bitterly-fought affair have been evident for quite some time. Edo State has historically been a major battleground. If forms the core of the Midwest region, carved out with muscle and clout of the northern influence in the first republic. Subsequently, it remained the barometer for judging the balance of power between the West, and political parties with a heavy dose of northern and minority influences such as the NPN and PDP. The loss to either has been seen as a major setback, and the stakes have never been higher than they are. The Action Congress of Nigeria of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the People’s Democratic Party which straddles the nation’s political horizon like a colossus are locked in a bitter battle to show who is the dominant influence in a key state and region. A win by Oshiomhole will weaken the PDP’s stranglehold on the south-south, and may very well signal the political end of some of the most powerful fixers of the PDP. A loss by the ACN will represent a major setback for a party which wants to claim that quality governance can take it beyond narrow ethnic boundaries in Nigeria. The most visible and obvious indicator that the voting is unlikely to reflect the popular will is the massive deployment of thousands of soldiers and other security personnel days before the elections. In the absence of clear signs that voters and election officials are likely to face serious threats which a deployment on this scale alone can mitigate, the question has to be asked what all this militarization of the voting process seeks to achieve. On the basis of experience, Nigerians know that the visible presence of heavily-armed soldiers scares voters from venturing out to vote. Low turn-outs create opportunities to manipulate ballots and result sheets. Soldiers intimidate voters and observers who want to exercise their rights to keep the entire process in sight. The militarization of the voting process tends to generate its own image. Interests that cannot mobilize the military in their favour resort to their own use of violence as a political tool. Long before elections, campaigns become violent and dangerous affairs; communities are torn by rival armed gangs; simple folk are warned in advance of the consequences of voting one way or the other; and the whole community arms itself to the teeth using money from politicians. Arms used to intimidate the public will be retained after the elections. They will be turned against the same politicians who bought them, or against the community later. The electoral process will be severely compromised in this type of atmosphere. Allegations of intimidation, ballot stuffing, results without voting or use of violence at polling stations will be made. Agents will allegedly be chased away, and whole communities or voters will complain that they were prevented from going to polling units or collation centers. These may very well be the reasons why this type of mobilization of armed security personnel is being made. Whoever is declared winner after the Saturday elections, there will be another loser: the citizens of Edo State who will never be sure that the results genuinely reflect their will, or the will of a few fixers and professional election riggers. For the rest of Nigeria, the elections in Edo State this weekend are also very important. What happens in this particular election will indicate whether the government and INEC have learnt any lessons from previous elections. It may give a hint on whether President Jonathan and his party, the PDP are willing to test their popularity in open, free and fair elections; or they will continue with the tradition of muscling results out of the system. Even at this stage, Nigerians should demand that the Edo gubernatorial elections coming up on Saturday must be demilitarized. If there is evidence that some people intend to use violence or some other illegal means to influence the outcome of the elections, the police and other security agents should deal with this threat, not thousands of soldiers. INEC should demand a freer and less intimidating environment, openly and specifically, because it cannot claim to conduct a free and fair election in an environment where voters are having to choose between ballots and bullets.

Naija till i DIE