Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013 — 15
Leadership Newspapers Awards in Abuja
Sam Nda-Isaiah, Leadership Newspapers Publisher (right) and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, during 2013 Leadership Newspapers Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony entitled, 'Rebuilding Nigeria,' in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan
Alhaji Abubakar Al-Amin El-Kanemi, Shehu of Borno (right) after presenting Leadership Politician of the Year to Alhaji Lai Raufu Mohammed
From Left: Chairman of the occasion, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Awardees, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Sultan Muhammad Abubakar III, receiving The Leadership Awards For Peace from Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark. Photo: NAN.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Lagos State governor and Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, chatting with Mallam El-Rufai (left), former FCT Minister, and Hon. Ayo Omidiran (middle)
Alhaji Muhammad Bashir, Emir of Gwandu, presenting Leadership CEO of the Year to Mrs. Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director /CEO of Bank of Industry
How I escaped assassination attempt —Melaye '...attempt on my life has strengthened me' BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU
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BUJA — THE EXECUTIVE Secretary, Anti-corruption Network and
Jonathan’s aide, Ben Obi, loses wife
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PECIAL ADVISER to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, has lost his wife, Deaconess Colette Ojirhomu Ben Obi. Mrs Obi died before midnight on Sunday at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness. According to a statement by Special Adviser to the Senator, Mr. Onyema Nrabalu, funeral arrangements would be announced by the family soon.
former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye, Monday night, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, said he escaped assassination attempt as unidentified men in a black Golf car shot at his car. Melaye, it was gathered, was coming from the National Hospital, Central Area, Abuja about 9:30 p.m. when suddenly the Golf car which had overtaken him, parked ahead of him and started shooting sporadically. The sound of the sporadic gun shots, it was gathered, made him to increase the
speed of his car as he immediately drove to the nearby Police check point for safety and also to report the incident with the windscreen of his Bentley car badly shattered. In an interview over the alleged attempt on his life, Melaye who expressed indignation over the alleged cold response by the Police at the check point towards his complaint to them, said it was the FCT Director of the Department of state security and an Assistant Commissioner of Police that came to his rescue.
He said that there were threats to his life before the incident and that he had reported the threat to the Inspector General of Police and had sought for police protection; though his letter was acknowledged, nothing had been done. Giving account of what happened the Monday night, he sai: “Basically, I was coming from the National Hospital and I noticed shortly after the bridge before the ICPC, a certain black Golf car which got close and overtook me in a very dangerous manner.
Security tops agenda as Jonathan, Zuma hold closed door meeting
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BY BEN AGANDE
BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, yesterday, held a closed door meeting where they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries as well as the security situation on the African continent.
President Zuma, who addressed State House correspondents after the one and a half hours meeting, said: “Some of the issues raised were issues of security of the continent. As you know there have been some difficulties in a number of countries. We touched upon those issues and will certainly
take the issues further when we meet in South Africa. “We are here to consult on matters related to the two countries and the African continent. As you know, very soon His Excellency, the President will be in South Africa on a state visit and, therefore, a lot of other issues will necessarily be dealt with.
“I had to stop for the car to drive far ahead before I continued. Shortly after ChurchGate Building I noticed the same car from afar parked by the end of the road with all the four doors opened and there was light inside but no one was inside. “I was approaching a bend that will take you to the twin towers of the NNPC. At that point I just heard sporadic shooting, maybe to the air or whatever. I accelerated my drive. As I was approaching the last bend I just heard gun shot at my car. “At that point, I ran to the next police checkpoint. I told them to make a radio call that I had just escaped an assassination attempt and that the assailants were in a Golf car and that they should block all routes. “Unfortunately, the police said where the incident happened was not their beat. I said you are a federal police, okay, make a radio call that this is the complaint so that the police around there can cordon that area off, but they did not."