News and Gist Blog in Nigeria,
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President Goodluck Jonathan Saturday at the Vatican conferred with Pope Francis on the promotion of inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria and other parts of the world to foster greater global peace and security.
Speaking to journalists after his private meeting with Pope Francis, President Jonathan noted that the promotion of inter-faith dialogue was a cause to which the Pontiff was very committed.
The President who said that his administration was already working in close collaboration with Cardinal John Onaiyekan who was "the team leader" for the effort to strengthen inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria, assured the Pope of his administration's continued commitment to the promotion of religious harmony and the peaceful co-existence of people of all faiths.
He also assured the Pope that his administration will continue to work diligently to alleviate poverty in Nigeria through more inclusive economic growth and development.
President Jonathan who noted that Pope Francis has always taken a keen interest in Nigeria, said that the Pope promised to visit the country.
The Pope, President Jonathan said, also assured him that he would continue to pray for God Almighty to bless the country and its people.
"My coming to see the Pope was to discuss issues, especially that of inter-faith dialogue which the Vatican has been promoting.
"Also the Pope has been advocating that the world should do more to eradicate poverty and make sure that the ordinary people of this world are in a position to live more decent lives. The Pope is very dedicated to poverty alleviation and I also interfaced with him on how we can collaborate more with the Vatican on what we are already doing in this regard back home," the President said.
After his private meeting with President Jonathan, Pope Francis received the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Governor Godswill Akpabio and his spouse, Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Governor Peter Obi and his spouse, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark and other members of the President's entourage.
Others present at the enlarged audience with the Pope included Nigeria's Ambassador to the Vatican, Dr. Francis C. Okeke, the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.
Before leaving the Vatican, President Jonathan also conferred with the Secretary of State, Monsignor Pietro Parolin.
He had received Nigeria's Vatican-based Cardinal Francis Arinze earlier in the day at the St. Regis Hotel in Rome.
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Labels: AJON UGBOHO, APC, Comrade Abba Moro, PDP
The Nigerian Senate President David Mark on Friday escaped an attack by gunmen in Orlu area of Imo State.Reports say the gunmen specifically targeted the vehicle which the Senate President was expected to enter.The Senate President was on his way to the burial ceremony of late business mogul, Sir John Richard Anyaehie in Nkwerre Community in Imo State.No life was lost in the attack.More updates to this story will come later.
Labels: kanye west, kim kardashian, north west, vogue
Several media sources have recently alleged that the Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim, is having problems with her long-time marriage to Mr. Kwadwo Safo Junior, son of Ghanaian inventor and leader of Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo.
Juliet missed her husband’s birthday which was celebrated in February in Ghana, while Kwadwo didn’t attend his wife’s birthday held in March in Nigeria.The mother of one was spotted spending more time in Nigeria than in her home country in the family circle.However, Safo debunked the quickly spreading rumours saying that their marriage was still intact.According to him, Juliet is currently busy acting, and he was shocked to hear such an interpretation, specifically because he never discusses his private life in the public.
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The Federal Government has challenged the jurisdiction of a Federal High Court in Abuja to entertain the suit filed by the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over his suspension from the apex bank.
At the hearing of the suit in Abuja, counsel to the federal government, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told the court that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain a labour dispute between an employee and his employer as the National Industrial Court is the proper place for such a suit.
Lawyer to the suspended governor, Kola Awodein (SAN), however argued that the suit was properly filed before the court and prayed the court to determine the suit expeditiously.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole after listening to all the parties for and against the hearing of the suit adjourned it to the April 8 to hear the originating summons filed by Mr Sanusi along with the preliminary objection filed by the federal government.
“The drafters of the law did not state categorically which case can be determined by taking both the preliminary objection and originating summons together.
“In the instant case, where time is of essence, so that the plaintiff’s tenure does not expire before the case is determined, the court rules necessitate we hear both applications together.
“By Order 1 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court, it is judicially expedient that the hearing of the originating summons be heard with the preliminary objection,’’ Kolawole said.
South African President Jacob Zuma has benefited “unduly“ from a state-funded upgrade to his private home. A corruption lawyer has called on Zuma to pay back part of the money he used to fund the renovations.
In a 444-page report of her two-year probe, Madonsela accused Zuma of conduct "inconsistent with his office," adding that the country's president had inappropriately benefited from state coffers."
"Some of these measures can be legitimately classified as unlawful and the acts involved constitute improper conduct and maladministration," Madonsela said.
The report, titled "Secure in Comfort" – which also implicated several other government ministers – stated Zuma violated the executive ethics code by neglecting to protect state money.
Madonsela said Zuma needed to pay for some of the unnecessary renovations which are said to include a chicken run and a swimming pool which the president justified as much needed fire-fighting equipment.
The lawyer called on Zuma to pay "a reasonable percentage" of the cost for renovations not related to security at his home. The exact figure, however, was not disclosed and Mandonsela said it would be up to the country's Treasury to determine a final sum.
Madonsela was critical of the government, saying it had taken Zuma nine months to respond to her inquiries for the report.
"There is nothing political about the report, all I have done as the ombudsman is to discharge my responsibility. And I have done that."
In light of what the opposition call "damning findings," the Democratic Alliance said it would urgently initiate impeachment proceedings against the president, a move likely to be blocked by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Presidential officials said in a statement that Zuma had been "consistently concerned about the allegations of impropriety" that have surfaced since the renovations. He would study the report, his office said, and give his response "in due course."
Critics of the government have said the exorbitant spending is an example of alleged government corruption, which will likely be a campaign issue in the lead up to national elections on May 7.
jlw/hc (AP, Reuters, AFP)
Am a journalist,I love creating news,am also a Human Rights worker,very passionate about people who suffer injustice in the society.
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