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· Eminent Elders Group storms the Senate over the political situation in the country; · Lagos Bar Beach experiences high sea tides, as a fallout of the earthquake in Haiti; · Fears heightened in the Democratic Republic of Congo over an impending explosion of carbonic gas; · UK Prime Minster, Gordon Brown presages 2011 for a turnaround in Afghanistan; · France ex-Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin has been cleared of plotting to smear President, Nicolas Sarkozy; Prominent Nigerians, under the aegis of ``Eminent Elders Group’’, has expressed concern over the political situation in the country. The group, led by former President, Shehu Shagari, made their view known today, during a courtesy visit, to Senate President, David Mark. Alhaji shagari told the Senate President that Nigerians were looking up to them to salvage the situation. Meanwhile, a Lagos Lawyer, Laborious Oshoma has said the Federal Executive Council does not have powers to give President, Umaru Yar’Adua a clean bill of health. Barr Oshoma said what FEC members should have done was to seek the President’s personal doctor’s report on the state of his health. He however, condemned the Senate for seeking a formal letter from President Yar’Adua at the ninth hour.
That was Barr Oshoma speaking to correspondent, Ijeoma Okoye. In another reaction, the South East Governors Forum says President, Umaru Yar’Adua has not breached the Constitution by not handing over to Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan before travelling for medical treatment.
The Forum after a meeting in Enugu, said there is no constitutional provision that says when the president is sick, he must hand over. It however, urged those overheating the polity to always consider the corporate existence of the country. Reactions have begun to trail the Senate’s resolution, asking President, Umaru Yar’Adua to formally inform the National Assembly of his medical vacation, in order to transfer power to his Vice. Speaking with correspondent, Ebere Akubuike, Nigerians are of the view that in democracy, rule of law must be enacted to avoid any form of anarchy. Lagos State Government has assured Lagosians that the issue of flooding is adequately been addressed, ahead of the raining season. Governor, Babatunde Fashola spoke at an interactive session with State House Correspondents, at his house in Marina.
He said the Lagos Bar Beach experienced high sea tides, as a fallout of the earthquake in Haiti, and stressed the need to protect the environment from natural disasters caused by climate change. Correspondent Esther Oyegue reports that some of the drainages in the state are receiving attention. Meanwhile, Lagosians have applauded the court’s decision, ordering Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade, to pay Uzoma Okere a compensation of 100 million naira for assaulting her. A cross section of Lagosians, who spoke with correspondent, Ijeoma Okoye, said the judgment would serve a deterrent to other law enforcement agents, who take law into their hands. The All Progressives Grand Alliance has described as playful an allegation that it is printing membership cards of other parties, to enable Anambra residents, pose as defectors to APGA. Campaign group of the African Democratic Congress candidate for the Feb. 6 governorship election, Okey Nwosu, made the allegation. The group said Governor, Peter Obi was sponsoring the printing of membership cards, branded T-shirts and Fez caps of other parties. In another development, three gubernatorial candidates in the Anambra Feb. 6 election have expressed displeasure over their exclusion from the debate organized for seven of the governorship candidates. In the exclusion were the National Movement of Progressive Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the National Democratic Party. The candidates said that their exclusion was sad and in bad faith. The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Garbai, has called on state governments, to allow local governments have financial autonomy. Alhaji Garbai said councils, as the closest tier of government at the grassroots, should be allowed to have financial autonomy. He said their services should include healthcare, education and poverty eradication at the grassroots level. An impending explosion of carbonic gas from Lake Kivu is threatening population in provinces of North and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese National Assembly had received a report made by experts of the Goma Volcanic Centre in North Kivu. The report said the imminent natural catastrophe, could seriously affect a good part of neighboring populations. British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has said mid-2011 should be the deadline for "turning the tide" in the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan. Speaking at a 70-nation summit on the future of Afghanistan, in London, he said nations faced "a decisive time". Earlier, President, Hamid Karzai had said Afghanistan could need foreign support for its security forces for up to 15 years. Former French PM, Dominique de Villepin has been cleared of plotting to discredit the then interior minister and now President, Nicolas Sarkozy. The judge in the case said there was no proof Mr. de Villepin had acted in bad faith. He was accused of failing to stop corruption inquiry into Mr. Sarkozy, despite knowing claims against his rival were false. BUSINESS: International Monetary Fund says emerging economies will recover faster from global financial crisis;
ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Hope for Haiti’ album tops of Billboard chart;
SPORTS: South African referee, Daniel Bennett says he would avoid controversy, as Nigeria takes on Ghana today;
BUSINESS The International Monetary Fund says developing and emerging economies will recover faster from global financial crisis than advanced economies. IMF World Economic outlook said the recovery so far had been policy-driven and multi-speed. The organization had earlier said the global crunch would heal faster in advanced economies.
Toyota Motor Corp is extending to Europe the recall of millions of its most popular cars, owing to dangerous accelerator pedals. Toyota said it was yet determined how many vehicles in Europe would be recalled, but reports said 2 million cars may be affected on top of some 6 million already recalled in North America.
On the floor of the Nigerian Stock Market today, WAPCO led gainers with one naira, 55 kobo, followed by GLAXOSMITH with one naira, 21 kobo and ASHAKACEM with 67 kobo. NB, on the other hand, topped losers with one naira, 49 kobo, followed by ALUMACO with one naira, 12 kobo and FLOURMILL with 29 kobo. Market capitalization dropped to 5.397 trillion naira, with all shares index of 22,411.02 points.
EXCHANGE RATE 1 US Dollar = 152 Naira 1 British Pound = 246 Naira 1 Euro = 214 Naira
ENTERTAINMENT A charity album featuring performances from the Hope For Haiti now telethon has gone straight to number one in the US album chart. The compilation album is the first digital-only release to top the Billboard 200 chart. Music sales tracker, Nielsen Sound-scan said the album sold 171,000 copies, and had raised over $66million already.
SPORTS South African referee, Daniel Bennett will be in the spotlight this evening, as Nigeria takes on Ghana in less than hour in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Luanda, Angola. Bennett had said he was ready to fly the South African flag, bearing in mind his compatriot, Jerome Damon's controversial moment in the quarterfinals. Damon was forced into the spotlight, when he allowed Egypt's third goal against Cameroon to stand. · Eminent Elders Group have stormed the Senate over the political situation in the country; · Fears have heightened in the Democratic Republic of Congo over an impending explosion of carbonic gas; · UK Prime Minster, Gordon Brown has presaged 2011 for a turnaround in Afghanistan; · France ex-Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin has been cleared of plotting to smear President, Nicolas Sarkozy;
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