ANPP condemns INEC over Yuguda, others’ defection to PDP

All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), on Monday, in Abuja expressed sadness with the roles played by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the defection of Bauchi State governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, and 17 lawmakers, describing the commission as an extension of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Honourable Emman Eneukwu, made the accusation in a telephone chat with the Nigerian Tribune, pointing out that the INEC was biased against the ANPP by ignoring request that the seats of the defected people, including that of the governor, be declared vacant.

According to the party’s spokesman, the refusal of INEC led by Professor Maurice Iwu to grant the request as allowed by the law setting it up led the ANPP to approach the court, asking it to declare Governor Yuguda and the 17 lawmakers’ seats vacant.

He noted with disappointment the attitude of INEC which it said was an extension of the PDP, pointing out that such on act of refusal by the commission portended great danger to the country’s democracy.

“We know why INEC is not cooperating, because it is an extension of PDP,” he said, even as he lamented that defection was capable of destroying the opposition and democracy in Nigeria.

Honourable Eneukwu, who regretted the weakening influence of the opposition in the country, attributed it to the alleged greedy, of the PDP, which he said had constituted itself into a cartel with only focus to empower those that were ready to hobnob with it with a view to defection later.

However, he disclosed that the ANPP was committed to the idea of forming a mega party and was already involved in dialogue with other parties and not individuals.

Alleged first aid rapist faces court

Claudio Osvaldo Martinez leaving Liverpool Court today after appearing on charges ofsexually assaulting a woman during a first aid course. Source: The Daily Telegraph

A St John's Ambulance Service superintendent who allegedly raped a young woman during a first aid class last month faced Liverpool Local Court today.

Claudio Osvaldo Martinez, 41, from Cecil Park did not speak during his brief appearance, with his solicitor Phil Wilkins saying “He will strenuously defend all allegations”.

Martinez was charged with aggravated sexual assault and three counts of aggravated indecent assault following the incident during an evening first aid class at Fairfield on June 20.

Police allege Martinez took the young woman, aged in her twenties, into a room away from the other students at about 9pm, using his authority as a St John’s Ambulance instructor.

Once inside he allegedly touched her vagina, placed her hand on his penis and then had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.

Political figures' played role in post-vote unrest

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Weeks after Iran's post-election unrest receded, the Intelligence Ministry talks of evidence implicating certain Iranian political figures in provoking the turmoil.

Many political figures and activists were arrested in Iran, during days of unrest that followed the June 12 presidential election.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry responded to calls from opposition figures -- defeated presidential candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi as well as former president Mohammad Khatami -- for the release of those arrested by saying that their cases were still under investigation.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Interior Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie said the investigations have provided evidence that certain political figures had played a role in orchestrating the unrest in the country.

"The role of some of these political figures [in the recent unrest] has been proven and their case is nearing completion," said the minister.

Iran turned into a scene of opposition rallies after the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with nearly two-thirds of the vote.

President Ahmadinejad's rivals -- Mehdi Karroubi and Mir-Hossein Mousavi -- reject the election result as fraudulent and refuse to acknowledge the Iranian president's re-election.

On June 20, the unrest over the result of the vote took a new turn when protesters, who demand a re-run of the 10th presidential election, gathered to hold a rally without an official permission from the country's Interior Ministry.

The day turned bloody -- increasing the post-vote deaths to 20 -- when a number of protesters were killed by forces who Iranian officials say were organized and controlled by foreign powers.

Iran has blamed Western states, Britain in particular, for playing a significant role in fueling the post-vote violence.

Mohseni-Ejeie said that the cases of those arrested in the unrest are still under investigation and "no exact time can be announced for their release."

He went on to add that the confessions obtained from those arrested could be made public, should the country's judiciary decides to air their remarks.

Former president Khatami had previously criticized the state television for broadcasting confessions by detained protestors during the unrest, saying "confessions under pressure are futile and outdated."

Former vice president Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, former deputy interior minister Mostafa Tajzadeh, former deputy speaker of the Parliament Behzad Nabavi, prominent Iranian journalist Saeed Hajjarian, former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh head of the Association of Iranian Journalists Ali Mazroui are among political figures arrested in Iran's post-vote unrest.

China's economic growth reaches 7.9%

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The renewed expansion of China's economy puts the world's third-largest economy back on track to reach its objective -- 8.0 % growth.

China's economy has grown 7.9 % in the three months ended June 30 compared to the year-ago period, Chinese government data shows.

The world's third-largest economy grew 7.1% in the second quarter of 2009 after growing just 6.1 % in the first quarter, the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics said.

The renewed expansion puts the country back on track to reach its objective of 8.0 % growth for 20009, though China's government warned many economic dangers still exist.

"There are many difficulties and challenges existing in the current national economic performance," bureau spokesman Li Xiaochao told reporters.

"The base for recovery is still infirm. The momentum for picking up is unstable. The recovery pattern is unbalanced and thus there are still uncertain volatile factors," he added.

China's growth increased to more than 10 percent from 2003 to 2007 but it slowed dramatically during the global financial downturn.

MVZ/JG

Ex-Liberian leader Taylor denies aiding RUF

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Former Liberian president Charles Taylor

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor has appeared before the international court at The Hague, dismissing the charges brought against him as "lies".

In his first testimony at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, Taylor denied 11 counts of war crimes including terrorism, murder, rape and torture.

"It is quite incredible that such descriptions of me would come about," he said in response to a question about charges of murder and rape.

"It is very, very, very unfortunate that the prosecution, because of disinformation, misinformation, lies, rumors, would associate me with such titles or descriptions," the BBC quoted him as saying.

Taylor -- the first African leader to stand trial at an international court -- is charged with arming and directing rebel groups from Liberia in return for Sierra Leone diamond, as well as recruiting child soldiers.

The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels committed grave atrocities during Sierra Leone's civil war, which ended in 2002, and were infamous for severing the limbs of civilians.

The 61-year-old Taylor denied the "false" and "malicious" charges, saying he had a "love for humanity" and that he fought all his life "in the interests of justice and fair play."

Taylor started a civil war in Liberia 1989 before he was elected president in 1997. He was extradited from Liberia in 2006 after a period of exile in Nigeria.

In May, judges rejected a request by Taylor's defense team to drop the brought charges against the former leader due to the lack of evidence.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone is being held at the International Criminal Court (ICC) building at The Hague, after the trial was relocated from the capital of Freetown for fears of creating instability in Sierra Leone and neighboring Liberia.

MRS/HGH

What do women want (1)

I have just returned from a meeting. A gathering of male Homo Sapiens – of Nigerian origin. It kicked off on a contentious note; failed attempts to name the ‘organisation’. Not for lack of suggestions though, the creative juices flowed like..

Obama Joins Your Struggle !! Fight-on Nigerians !!

Obama Joins Your Struggle !! Fight-on Nigerians !! *Reclaim Nigeria that is rightly yours. Send Out The Text Messages !! Victory Yours Soon !!
OBAMA ON YOUR SIDE: The president of the United States, Barack Obama is watching, worried, speaking and fighting for you. He is of African heritage and feels your pain as a relative would if the family is torn apart into laughing stock of others. There is nothing that is happening in Africa that Obama does not know. He knows that thieves steal the people's mandate in most of Africa. He sees Ghana as a true emerging democracy and economic power in Africa. True and not fake democracy brings about political and economic prosperity. Why did Obama snub Nigeria and Kenya on his planned first official visit to Africa? Here is what Obama told reporters on his planned African visit: "Part of the reason is because Ghana has now undergone a couple of successful elections in which power was transferred peacefully. Countries that are governed well, that are stable, where leadership recognizes that they are accountable to the people and that institutions are stronger than any one person, have a track record of producing results for the people. And we want to highlight that." You can read this statement by Oboma at - http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5623A220090703 You see that even the president of the United States is fighting for you, the people. Why fold your arms doing nothing? Pick up your handset and blast( send ) our text message below ( refer to "ACTION #1 TO TAKE NOW" below ) to at least 100 people today. Do this right away. Power to the people !!
TARGET GOAL: We want every Nigerian to be told of the "Electoral Revolution" soon to sweep across Nigeria. Take action immediately you log-off the computer. We are receiving phone calls and emails from Nigerians both at home and abroad informing us of their compliance with our call for action. Help in rallying Nigerians and the rest will be good news for Nigerians starting 2011. We will be contacting all People's Mandate Volunteers ( PMVs ) soon. So far so good. Power to the people !!
ACTION #1 TO TAKE NOW : Use your handset( cell phone ) to text the following message below to friends, associates and relatives. Here is the message:- "Electoral Revolution Soon in Nigeria. Go Masterweb www.nigeriamasterweb.com Forward to Others." Send out this text message once or twice a week until further notice. Spread the news. We will continue mobilizing Nigerians here at Masterweb in reclaiming the country through the ballot box. We will put out detailed instructions on how to do this by the end of the year. Both Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora ( abroad ) will participate in the election of our leaders. Rigging will be made almost impossible. We will show you how to tell Nigeria and the world how you voted if the election is rigged. We promise you this !! Power to the people !!
ACTION #2 TO TAKE ANY TIME : Register as "People's Mandate Volunteer ( PMV )" by sending an email to info@nigeriamasterweb.com PMV's will assit in the implementation of programs towards the actualization of the people's electoral mandate that will usher in leaders elected by the people.
FACT #1: Anybody that takes what does not belong to him or her is a thief and this includes stealing of the people's electoral mandate. Election riggers are thieves and should be treated as such. We will show you how to rig them down to ridicule and shame. Power To The People !!
FACT #2: A thief steals anything of value that crosses his or her path both at home and outside. Election riggers being thieves will steal anywhere they find themselves, either on federal, state or local level. They will steal from their own tribe, state or region. They may cry marginalization of their people by the center to con their people they would deliver as they rig and steal their electoral mandate. They soon after their theft become 'armed' robbers of the treasury. They are armed with stolen mandates and sometimes with IMMUNITY provided by a flawed constitution. Who on earth will give immunity to rats in the pantry to eat-up all food only to pursue the rats as they are leaving the pantry. If you do not get them while in office, you will hardly get them after they leave office. They may flee the country to enjoy their loot abroad. They will use their loot to play cat and mouse game with EFCC. They will use their loot to stall or fight prosecution.
FACT #3: Nobody nor party can afford to pay all Nigerian eligible voters enough money for their votes. Nigeria herself can not even afford to do that because the nation's income per capita is approximately $400.00. What happens is that a few people( including some political leaders & traditional rulers ) are bribed in cash and/or kind and figures are assigned to declare surrogates election winners. Elections can genuinely be won by people being reached with the necessary information on the best people's candidate, and getting the people vote for such candidate.
Masterweb has what it takes to reach Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora. There are three sites constituting Masterweb namely - www.nigeriamasterweb.com, www.nigeriamasterweb.net and www.africamasterweb.com, generating tremendous traffic monthly. Masterweb generates a combined total of over 18 million hits a month. Click on the link below for Nigeria Masterweb traffic statistics:-
http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/BraveStatsFrmes.html
Nigeria Masterweb ranks first on Google "Nigerian Newspapers" search. Click the link below for proof of this:-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&q=nigerian+newspapers&btnG=Search
Nigerians are getting ready to vote for a change. The forthcoming electoral revolution will involve both Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora. Be ready to answer when we call you. ......End of Alert.