Jonathan consoles with people of Kano over Galadiman's death

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday
commiserated with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji
Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the people of Kano
over the death of the Galadiman Kano, Alhaji
Tijani Hashim.
Hashim, who was one of the most powerful
members of the Kano emirate council, died in the
early hours of Monday in Abuja at the age of 79.
This is contained in a statement issued by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja.
It stated that Jonathan said the deceased served
his people admirably over many years as a
regional minister in the first republic and as
member of the emirate council.
"Jonathan believes the eminent Kano prince and
highly revered community leader will always be
remembered and honoured for his laudable
contributions to peace, stability and progress in
his community and country.
"The president prays that God Almighty will
receive the late Galadima’s soul and grant him
eternal rest.
"He also pray that the Almighty will bless the
good people of Kano with a worthy successor to
the late prince,’’ the statement stated.

You're Not Yourself When You're Hungry, and That's a Problem By David DiSalvo

We’ve all known people who should have to
wear
a flashing red DANGER! sign if they miss lunch.
We instinctively know to steer clear of someone
who's running on empty. A grumbling stomach
means a drop in blood sugar, and through
excruciating experience, most of us realize that
means trouble.
But could the blood sugar/anger connection lurk
behind more relationship conflicts than we
realize?
A new study probed that question with a
research
methodology as painfully funny as it was
effective. Researchers rounded up 107 married
couples for a 21-day couples’ boot-camp to
draw
a direct line between blood glucose (a.k.a.
circulating blood sugar) and aggression.
First they asked the couples to complete a
questionnaire that evaluated their level of
satisfaction with their marriages, which allowed
the research team to control for variables like
how
rocky a marriage was to begin with. They also
measured all of the participants’ blood glucose
levels to set a benchmark, and continued to
measure the levels throughout the 21-day
study.
The researchers predicted that drops in blood
sugar would consistently correlate with
heightened aggression between the spouses.
They defined aggression in two ways:
aggressive
impulse and aggressive behavior, a distinction
meant to identify aggression in thought versus
action. Aggression rarely happens in a vacuum
—
there’s usually a thought impulse that precedes
it, even if that impulse doesn’t occur
immediately
before the action but compounds over time.
To test aggressive impulse, the researchers
gave
participants a voodoo doll and 51 pins, with
instructions to place as many pins in the doll
every night as needed to show how angry they
were with their spouse. A light conflict day
might
earn just a couple pokes, while a “cover the
kids'
eyes and ears” day might warrant the full 51 to
the head.
To test aggressive behavior, the researchers
had
the spouses wear headphones while they
competed against each other in 25-part tasks.
After each task, the winner decided how loudly
and for how long to blast the loser with a noise
through the headphones.
At the end of the 21 days, with riddled voodoo
dolls and ringing ears aplenty, the researchers'
hypothesis was proven true: The lower the level
of
blood glucose, the more pins the spouses
poked,
and the higher the intensity (and longer the
duration) they blasted their partners through
their headphones.
The study provides a couple of worthwhile
takeaways:
First, quoting lead study author Brad Bushman,
an Ohio State University professor of psychology
and communication, “Before you have a difficult
conversation with your spouse, make sure
you're
not hungry."
Simple to say, harder to do.
Second, and the reason why that’s such good
advice: Our brains are energy hogs. "Even
though
the brain is only two percent of our body
weight,
it consumes about 20 percent of our calories. It
is
a very demanding organ when it comes to
energy," Bushman says.
When the brain is short on energy, it’s also
short
on self-control, opening the door for aggressive
impulses and behavior to take center stage.
And
if the study results are a true indication, we’re
red-lining our self-control more often than we
realize.
I’d love to see a follow-up study that attempts
to
track these results against the blood sugar
rollercoaster associated with fast food-laden
diets.
I have a suspicion that glucose-related
aggression
isn’t solely about how much or little food we
eat,
but also the sorts of food we eat. Just a hunch,
but it stands to reason that shoveling in foods
that cause our blood sugar levels to spike and
crash day after day may also trigger spousal
(and
other) explosions.
A little food for thought while you're sitting in
the
drive-through.
The study was published in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences.
You can find David DiSalvo on Twitter @
neuronarrative, at his website The Daily
Brain, and on YouTube at Your Brain
Channel. His latest book is Brain Changer:
How Harnessing Your Brain’s Power To
Adapt Can Change Your Life

The Red Devils recruited a number of marquee players in the summer, including Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, but the former defender believes another spending spree is needed....

Phil Neville believes Manchester United need to
spend another £100 million before they can be
considered genuine title challengers.
The club embarked on a large spending spree in
the summer, acquiring the likes of Radamel
Falcao, Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Luke
Shaw, but have secured just five points from thei
opening five games this season.
Many have criticised United’s failure to recruit a
world-class centre-back in the summer – though
the club did spend £16m on Marcos Rojo – and
Neville believes further additions are required.
“I know United have spent £150m,' he told BBC
Radio 5 Live .
“I think there's another two transfer windows of
similar amounts of money needed - maybe
£100m - before they can even think about
winning the title.
“There are still key positions in the team that
need filling. I think the centre-back position is
obviously the key area. Holding midfield or centre
midfield needs addressing too.
“There were no world-class centre backs out
there (this summer). I think that's why in the
next two transfer windows, United might still be
looking for that world-class defender.”
Despite his criticisms, Neville believes that both
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have bright future
at Old Trafford and insists that United must not
sell off their core group of English players.
“I am certain Chris Smalling will come good and
have full faith in Phil Jones as well,” he added.
“They've bought of a lot of foreign players, (but)
you don't get rid of your English spine.”
Neville left the club at the end of last season
along after the club finished seventh in the
Premier League.

Wenger warns Spurs to follow Arsenal formula

London - Arsene Wenger warmed up for
Saturday's explosive north London derby by
insisting Tottenham Hotspur will never become a
Premier League power unless they follow
Arsenal's blueprint for success.
After being unable to match their title rivals'
spending power for several years, Gunners boss
Wenger is finally reaping the rewards of Arsenal's
decision to leave their historic but antiquated
Highbury home and move into the 60 000-
capacity Emirates Stadium in 2006.
The £390 million cost of building their high-tech
new abode initially proved a problem for Wenger
as it diverted funds that would otherwise have
been used in the transfer market, but the
increased revenue from the Emirates is now
working in his favour.
Wenger last year signed Germany midfielder
Mesut Ozil for a club record £42 million and spent
another £30 million to land Chile winger Alexis
Sanchez before the start of the current campaign.
It is the kind of spending spree that can
transform a team from pretenders to serious
contenders, and Wenger says Tottenham -- who
haven't finished above Arsenal for 19 years --
must follow the same formula if they are to break
into the top four on a long-term basis.
Spurs are pushing ahead with proposals to
redevelop land around White Hart Lane to
accommodate a new 56 250-capacity venue, but
following legal challenges in the High Court could
be set for a season of ground-sharing rather than
being able to move for the 2017-18 campaign as
planned.
"You cannot be in a business where you turn
down 15 000 or 20 000 people every week. If your
competitors have more financial power than you,
at some stage you have to make a decision,"
Wenger said.
"It looks like everybody makes this decision now,
because when you look at Liverpool, Everton,
(they) want to increase their capacity. If you stay
in a smaller capacity, it is even more difficult."
Also on Saturday, Liverpool will look to get their
spluttering season back on track in the
Merseyside derby against Everton.
The Reds have lost three of their opening five
games and needed penalties to see off second-
tier Middlesbrough in the League Cup on Tuesday,
edging a remarkable shootout 14-13 after a 2-2
draw.
Given Liverpool's poor form, it is no surprise boss
Brendan Rodgers hopes the derby can provide the
same morale boost as last year's Anfield clash
with Everton.
The 4-0 victory over their neighbours in January
was the start of a run that brought Liverpool 37
points from a possible 39 and Rodgers said: "We
haven't made the best of starts this season but
in the like-for-like games last season, we're only
a point different.
"We go into this game with a great opportunity to
get a victory in a derby game, which we will hope
can provide a platform for us to go on
consistently, like it did last year."
Everton went down 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace
last weekend, but although they have not won at
Anfield for 15 years, manager Roberto Martinez
says they will approach the game with a positive
attitude.
"The defeat against Crystal Palace, there was
something spooky about it," he said, in reference
to the fact that Palace had also won 3-2 on their
previous visit to Goodison Park in April.
"The last time we beat Liverpool at Anfield was
September 27 (in 1999), so I hope the spookiness
carries on at the weekend."
Three points clear after a 1-1 draw at defending
champions Manchester City last weekend, leaders
Chelsea host third-place Aston Villa. Second-
place Southampton, level on points with Villa,
tackle Queens Park Rangers.
City, meanwhile, visit Hull City, having demolished
second-tier Sheffield Wednesday 7-0 in the
League Cup in mid-week.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal faces
an injury crisis in central defence ahead of his
side's home game with West Ham United.
The Dutchman will hope to see a vastly improved
defensive display after United lost 5-3 at Leicester
City last weekend.
But with Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris
Smalling injured, and Tyler Blackett suspended
following his dismissal at the King Power
Stadium, Marcos Rojo is United's only available
senior centre-back.
Fixtures
Saturday
Liverpool v Everton - 13:45
Chelsea v Aston Villa - 16:00
Crystal Palace v Leicester City - 16:00
Hull City v Manchester City - 16:00
Manchester United v West Ham United - 16:00
Southampton v Queens Park Rangers - 16:00
Sunderland v Swansea City - 16:00
Asenal v Tottenham Hotspur - 18:30
Sunday
West Bromwich Albion v Burnley - 17:00
Monday
Stoke City v Newcastle United - 21:00

WHO: 1000s of Ebola vaccine doses in coming months

Dakar - The World Health Organisation says
there should be thousands of doses of
experimental Ebola vaccines available in the
coming months and they could eventually be
given to health care workers and other people
who have had contact with the sick.
But Marie-Paule Kieny, assistant director-general
at WHO, cautioned reporters in Geneva on Friday
that no vaccine has yet been proven safe or
effective in humans. Testing has now begun to
make sure they are not harmful to people.
A vaccine may then be put to use in this
outbreak, but Kieny warned that until its
effectiveness is proven, anyone receiving it would
still have to operate as if they are not protected
against Ebola.
The Ebola outbreak sweeping West Africa is
believed to have killed more than 2 900 people.

Why Do You Want To Arrest T.B Joshua?

So many people are shouting, “arrest T. B.
Joshua!” “Lock him up now!” “Throw away the
key.”
Why? Why do you want to arrest TB Joshua? I
read this group of writers from the USA. Over
five of them came together to pen and sign this
long letter demanding for TB Joshua’s arrest.
Summary of it was that he violated building
law. This is all that TB Joshua did. What about
the Town Planning Authority? Where were they?
What were they looking at that they did not
demolish the building? You want to arrest TB
Joshua, but you do not know they should be
arrested first?
Also read: Controversy shrouds TB
Joshua building collapse
TB Joshua only killed 100 plus people who
volunteered of their own volition and not under
compulsion to visit him for miracles. They got
miracles. We cannot say they were forced. Have
you arrested Diezani Alison-Madueke? Where
are those five spirited writers to demand the
arrest of Diezani who has continued to steal $4
million every single day from the poorest
kitchens in Nigeria through her illegal kerosene
“subsidy” scam? Do we know how many her
robbery kills everyday in hardship? Hundreds
every day, and we want to arrest TB Joshua?
Have you arrested Farouk Lawani? Have you
arrested General Ihejrika, the man who
embezzled billions of dollars for our nation’s
security and directly and indirectly facilitated/
sponsored Boko Haram’s success? Have you
clamored for his arrest for the transfer all those
APC’s we are just recovering from Boko Haram
after he was exposed, that were used to kill
Nigerians in the thousands over the past 5
years? Where are your letters calling for his
arrest? No, it is poor, hard-working TB Joshua
you see because he is not the respected Cabal.
Have you arrested Ali Modu Sheriff? Have you
arrested Fayose? Have you arrested Patience
Jonathan known as “the greediest person in
Bayelsa” who was caught smuggling $13.6
million; money for the poor and poisoned people
of Bayelsa, out of Nigeria? Talking about
smuggling, have you arrested Ayo Oritsejafor
and President Jonathan, the gangsta cash and
guns smugglers? Have you arrested Abba Moro,
the self confessed possessed-by-the-devil
Minister who humiliated all our youth, killed
many and again was just exposed in another
major scam, robbing Nigerians of billions? No,
you have not arrested or insisted on the arrest
of all these, but you want to arrest TB Joshua?
Have you arrested the Military officers who
burned down BRT buses? Have you arrested the
soldiers who killed Sheikh Zakzaky’s three sons
and 33 other innocent peaceful protesters in
Kaduna the other day? Have you arrested Stella
Oduah and the manager of Coscharis motors, or
you claim not to know that corruption directly
leads to the death of millions from poor or
unavailable infrastructure, security and all other
responsibilities of the government with public
funds?
Nigeria is a free for all now. Please and please,
do not pounce on petty thieves and petty
killers. You see poor TB Joshua and you all
gather to throw tire and petrol on him and mob
beat him because there is something about him
you never liked… you were always jealous of
him and looked at him as “other.” But you have
left the government of Jonathan to continue to
lead this nation in reckless abandon; to
promote corruption, looting and killing in all
facets of the nation. To destroy every single
facet of society. You have watched Jonathan
promote and encourage stealing as never
known before; you have watched him free killers
and thieves.
Nigeria is a free for all. You have not clamored
for the arrest of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the
king crook in power, guilty of unlimited crimes
against humanity and responsible for the
veering of Nigeria- all systems- off the cliff
finally, but you want to arrest TB Joshua. No
petty criminal should ever be punished
again. Open all the jails and set them free. If
and until we all rise together and chase out the
entire master killers and thieves in the Senate
and Presidency, please and please, touch not
the “anointed.” Only 100 he killed, Diezani killed
another 1000 today by stealing money for the
construction of their community health centers,
and she is there putting make-up on in peace
and you are shouting about TB Joshua.

UN Confronts Deadly Ebola Epidermic

United Nations - World leaders gathered at the
United Nations heard dire warnings anda
desperate pleas for assistance Thursday as the
deadly Ebola virus forced Sierra Leone to
quarantine a million people.
US President Barack Obama led calls for a
ramped up response to the growing West African
outbreak, urging governments, businesses and
international organizations to join the fight.
The United Nations did win fresh pledges of
support, and the Group of Seven nations
announced it would keep open vital air and sea
links with Ebola-hit countries in West Africa.
Also Read: Obama urges world to do more to
tackle Ebola
But Obama warned: "We are not doing enough" -
and UN officials said a 20-fold surge in
assistance is needed to come to grips with an
outbreak that has killed close to 3 000 people
"Right now, everybody has the best of intentions,
but people are not putting the kinds of resources
necessary to put a stop to this epidemic," he
said, on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly.
'Ebola is winning'
Health experts agreed. "Today, Ebola is winning,"
said Joanne Liu, president of the aid group
Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
"The reality on the ground today is this: the
promised surge has not yet delivered," she
warned.
Health systems in the worst-hit countries of
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have been
overwhelmed by the epidemic and are in dire
need of doctors, nurses, medical equipment and
supplies.
Canada announced a contribution of $27 million
dollars to the effort and France said it has set
aside 70 million euros in a battle that the United
Nations estimates will require close to one billion
dollars.
The European Union said it would add 30 million
euros to the current 150 million euros it has
provided to fight Ebola.
UN officials could not provide an immediate tally
of the total pledges made at the UN meeting but
the UN's coordinator for Ebola, David Nabarro,
said countries had "responded with generosity."
'Disease of the world '
Sierra Leone on Thursday took the drastic step
of putting more than one million people in five
districts under quarantine-- the largest open-
ended lockdown in the Ebola outbreak.
"My country is at the battlefront of one of the
biggest life and death challenges facing the
global human community," Sierra Leone's
President Ernest Bai Koroma warned by video
link from Freetown.
"Ebola is not only a disease of Sierra Leone and
its neighbors, it is a disease of the world."
The northern districts of Port Loko and Bombali
have been closed off indefinitely along with the
southern district of Moyamba -- effectively
sealing in around 1.2 million people.
With the eastern districts of Kenema and
Kailahun already under quarantine, more than a
third of the population of six million -- in five of
the nation's 14 districts -- now finds itself
unable to move freely.
In New York, the G7 foreign ministers pledged to
work to maintain transport links with the Ebola-
hit countries to allow much-needed help to
reach those in need.
"We warn that although the spread of Ebola
must be contained, affected countries must not
be isolated," said the G7 -- Britain, Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United
States.
Several airlines moved in late August to suspend
flights to the three affected countries, although
some have since resumed.
A UN mission on Ebola set up last week is due
to deploy in West Africa on Sunday, bringing
supplies and equipment including protective
suits, trucks, helicopters and other aircraft.
The United States is sending 3,000 troops to
Liberia to help battle the contagion and has
mobilized its experts from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to help beat
back the virus.
The CDC estimates that cases in Liberia and
Sierra Leone could rocket to 1.4 million by
January -- in a worst-case scenario based on
data obtained before the world ramped up its
response.
World Bank president Jim Kim said the "spread,
the magnitude and the complexity of the Ebola
crisis is like nothing we have ever seen" and
warned it could lead to the "potential meltdown
of the continent."

Govt to sustain preventative measures against Ebola

Lagos - Medical experts on Tuesday advised
Nigerians and government at all levels to sustain
the preventive measures put in place to combat
the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
They gave the advice in an interview with the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos against
the background of the World Health Organisation
(WHO) declaration that Nigeria had to some
extend contained the virus.
WHO says: "The outbreaks in Senegal and Nigeria
are pretty much contained."
NAN also reports that the Federal Ministry of
Health reported that there has not been any new
case of EVD in the last 15 days.
"Since the outbreak of the disease, Nigeria
recorded 19 confirmed cases (15 in Lagos and 4
in Port Harcourt) and seven deaths," it said.
In his comment, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, a
virologist with WHO, advised Nigerians to sustain
the hand cleaning routine as Nigeria was not yet
totally free of EVD.
"I really commend the Federal and State
Governments for their efforts in curbing Ebola
virus in the country, but we have to sustain those
efforts.
"So long there are still cases of Ebola virus in our
neighbouring countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and
Liberia - we are not out of the woods yet because
another Patrick Sawyer can still come into the
country.
"Nigerians should not also relax. We have to
continue to practice proper hygiene, especially
hand cleaning in everything we do,’" he advised.
Also, Dr Dan Onwujekwe, a public health expert
with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research
(NIMR), Yaba, urged Nigerians to see regular
hand cleaning routine as a way of life.
Onwujekwe said that hand cleaning routine was
not for the prevention of EVD, but for the
prevention of other infectious diseases.
"We lay emphasis on hand washing hygiene
because the hand is the most active part of
human body. It goes round and can carry viral
organisms around and into the body.
"Government at all levels should also intensify
awareness and promotion of regular hand
washing as the number one strategy.
"Proper hand washing is very important in that it
is able to inactivate viral organisms,’’ he said.
In his remark, Dr Bamidele Oke, another virologist,
who works with NIMR, said that there was still
risk of cross-border transmission from the high
risk countries.
"While some people are still on surveillance in
Port-Harcourt, and we have not had new cases in
recent days, we should not relent in monitoring
and surveillance of the disease.
"Moreover, Ebola virus was imported to Nigeria
and it is not endemic.
"We still need to maintain strict surveillance at
our borders because there are still cases of Ebola
virus in other neighbouring countries," he said.
Another expert, Dr Philip Oshun, Head, Ebola
Response Team, Lagos University Teaching
Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, urged Nigerians to
continue to maintain strict hygiene practices to
fight against any infectious disease.
"Although, there are no new known cases of Ebola
virus, there are, however, contacts in Port
Harcourt still under surveillance.
"Nigerians should continue to take precaution and
not be pre-emptive in thinking that the threat has
been eliminated," he said.
NAN reports that the Lagos State Government
had on Friday said the last suspected case of the
EVD in the state had been cleared having tested
negative after surveillance.

Lawyers ask court to stop president

Pressure mounts on president to choose new
running mate.

The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has
been asked to restrain the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) from fielding President Goodluck
Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the
February 14, 2015 election. The plaintiffs, Mase
Daphine Acho, Saeeq Umar Sarki, both lawyers,
and Murtala Abubakar, also asked the court to
stop Vice-President Namadi Sambo from running
along with Jonathan because the duo is ineligible
for reelection. Besides the PDP, Jonathan and
Sambo, another defendant in the suit, filed on
Friday, is the Independent National Electoral
Commissioner (INEC).
The moves to stop the president came barely a
day after his adoption by the PDP as its sole
presidential candidate for the 2015 election.
Although the party’s National Executive
Committee, which adopted Jonathan at a
meeting in Abuja last Thursday was silent on
whether or not he would run again with Sambo,
the party clarified yesterday that since both have
harmonious working relationship, the president
would run with his deputy in 2015.
Irrespective of the assurances, New Telegraph
learnt at the weekend that the president has
come under intense pressure to drop Sambo.
According to the court process in the suit seek-
ing to stop the president from running obtained
at the weekend, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Mustapha
Ibrahim, Mr. Abdul Mohammed and Aliyu Lemu,
argued that by virtue of the Supreme Court’s
decision in Marwa V Nyako (2012) 6 NWLR (Part
1296) at 199, both Jonathan and Sambo were
not qualified to be elected as president and vice-
president respectively. The plaintiffs said
Jonathan and Sambo were caught by the
provisions of the constitution which state that no
person can stay in office of the president and
vice president for a period beyond eight years.
They submitted that Jonathan and Sambo, at the
expiration of their current tenure, would have
held office for five years. The plaintiffs also
stated that Jonathan and Sambo had held office
for two terms recognised by the 1999
Constitution to wit: (i) the first term was held to
conclude the unexpired term of the late President
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua between May 6, 2010 to
May 29, 2011and the second term is still being
served from May 29, 2011 to May 29, 2015.
The plaintiffs, however, asked the court to
declare that Jonathan and Sambo do not have
the capacity to serve as president and vice-
president respectively for another term of four
years after the completion of their tenure in office
in view of the combined effect of the provisions
of sections 135(2) (a) and 137(b) of the 1999
Constitution.
They further asked the court to declare that
Jonathan and Sambo, having spent five years in
office as president and vicepresident respectively,
are not eligible to contest for the office of
president and vice-president for another term of
four years thereby amounting to a contravention
of the combined provisions of sections 135(2)
(a) and 137(b) of the constitution.
Other reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are: A
declaration that the first oath of office subscribed
to by Jonathan on May 6, 2010, being the oath
of office administered on him to occupy the office
of president for the purpose of completion of the
unexpired term of office of the late Yar’Adua
must be taken into cognizance in computing the
number of years that he has served and can
serve as president, in determining the effect of
the combined provisions of sections 135(2) (a)
and 137(1) (b) of the constitution.
An order of the court restraining INEC from
recognising Jonathan and Sambo as presidential
candidate and running mate picked by the PDP
or any other political party for the 2015
presidential election. The plaintiffs said allowing
Jonathan and Sambo to contest in the 2015
elections would amount to a breach of the 1999
Constitution, which the duo had sworn to
uphold.
They said the intervention of the court was
required for the interpretation of the provisions of
the 1999 Constitution. According to them, it will
be colossal waste of resources to allow
Jonathan and Sambo to run even when they
were ineligible to contest.
The defendants are yet to file their defence to
the suit. However, New Telegraph learnt
yesterday that the president has come under
more pressure to drop Sambo as his running
mate in the 2015 election. The pressure, it was
learnt, is coming from some powerful elements in
the party who had hitherto opposed Jonathan’s
emergence but lately decided to support him on
certain conditions. One of the conditions given
was that Jonathan would drop Sambo and
replace him with one of the serving governors
from the North-West geopolitical zone.
Those pushing this position have tipped Governor
Sule Lamido ( Jigawa State) and Governor
Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina State) as a
possible replacement for Sambo. Also, Governor
Babangida Mu’azu Aliyu of Niger State may also
be considered for the position.
Although Aliyu is from the North-Central and not
North-West where Sambo hails from, the role the
governor has played in recent years as Chairman
of the Northern Governors’ Forum has made him
a prominent figure in the region. Presidency
sources told New Telegraph that although
Sambo had a cordial working relationship with
his boss, the vice-president was said to have
lacked the much needed political clout and
electoral value that could make a Jonathan/
Sambo ticket attractive to the electorate in the
North.
“A lot of politicians in the North do not reckon
with Sambo because he does not really belong to
the ‘core group’ of northern leaders. Even though
he was the governor of Kaduna State, the old
political capital of the North, Sambo is perceived
as too lukewarm and not vibrant enough to
protect the interest of the North. In fact, some
politicians in Kaduna have asked Jonathan to
drop him (Sambo) or else they will move their
support to the All Progressives Congress ( APC)
in 2015.
“The feeling among Northern politicians is that
Sambo is unpopular and if Jonathan wants to
win the votes of the North, he must run with a
Northern figure who is charismatic and
commands respect among the Northern elite,”
the source said. The vice-president may,
however, survived the plot as the PDP yesterday
expressed the hope that Jonathan will run in
2015 with him .
According to the party, the duo has been working
harmoniously and there will be no reason to
change a “winning team.” It also said the
automatic ticket granted the president last
Thursday might not extend to governors and
lawmakers seeking re-election.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa
Metuh, who described Sambo as “the second
most loyal vice-president in the country” said at
a press briefing in Abuja that many people were
trying to speculate on whether Jonathan and
Sambo would run a joint ticket in 2015. “Why
don’t we wait until the president declares?
The PDP has mentioned that it is a winning
team. The president has done very well. I believe
there is no need to maginfy or attempt to import
any difference between the president and the
vice-president. The president and the
vicepresident have worked so well.
“The vice-president has been the second most
loyal vice-president in the history of this country
besides the president when he was the vice-
president. I believe he enjoys the confidence of
the president. And by 2015 elections, if the
president accepts to run, then we will be able
take it to the next level,” he stated. On whether
governors and lawmakers seeking re-election too
will benefit from the automatic ticket given to
Jonathan, Metuh said their cases were not
similar.
“The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the
PDP, besides the national convention, is the
highest decision making organ of the party. And
it is therefore only the national caucus and
executive that can handle such decisions. Some
decisions do not go down the line to states and
local governments and so on.
There is only one NEC of the party but we have
36 states and 774 local government executives.
So the decision of the NEC can only be reversed
by the national convention,” he said.

LVG On Crushing Manchester Defeat: How Is It Possible

The Red Devils twice led by two goals against
Leicester City but conceded four times in the
second-half as Nigel Pearson's men roared back
to claim a famous win
Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United’s
inability to keep possession was their “main
mistake” in Sunday’s 5-3 defeat to Leicester City
United twice led by two at the King Power
Stadium but four second-half strikes from Nigel
Pearson's side saw them roar back to claim a
famous win after an eight-goal thriller.
The result leaves the Red Devils languishing in
13th in the Premier League having taken just five
points from their first five matches and after the
match Van Gaal admitted his team's collapse
was unacceptable.
"We had complete control,” the Dutchman told
reporters.
“How is it possible that you give this game away
Leicester has proved already in former games tha
they have strong character. But when it's 1-3 an
you can play the game with more possession unt
the 90 minutes, then you cannot do these kind of
things.
“It's always possible in football. I have [had] a
long career so I have [had] this experience in
Barcelona once already. You cannot imagine [it],
but it happens.
"I don't want to criticise personal errors because
that happens in a game. We didn't keep the ball
in possession, that was our main mistake I
believe. We created a lot of chances.
“We make fantastic goals. That's a plus, but we
lost the game, that's the most important thing s
you cannot be happy because of the first part."

4 killed in Boko Haram attack in Cameroon

Yaounde - Four civilians were killed in the remote
north of Cameroon in a cross-border attack by
Boko Haram militants, according to state radio.
Boko Haram has made several incursions into the
hilly jungle region of neighbouring Cameroon in
recent months. Cameroon has deployed troops to
the border in an attempt to repel them.
The militants launched their first assault in the
early evening on Thursday in the village of
Assighassia near the city of Mokolo.
Cameroon's army responded, and two of the
militants were killed and a Cameroonian soldier
injured, state-run Cameroon Radio Television
reported late on Friday.
"Two hours later, the terrorist group again
attacked the village of Ganse, also close to
Mokolo, and killed four civilians."
Officials in the defence ministry said on Saturday
they had been informed of the clashes and were
seeking to confirm the details.
More than 40 000 people have fled to Cameroon
to escape Boko Haram attacks in northern
Nigeria, according to the UN refugee agency
UNHCR, leaving behind few but the elderly and
the disabled in their villages across the border.
But once over the border they are still not safe
and UNHCR is seeking to transfer many of them
to a refugee camp further from the frontier at
Minawao.
Foncha Ngeh, a businessman based in
Cameroon's northern hub of Maroua, said that
hundreds of people were fleeing from isolated
border villages in Cameroon to bigger towns and
cities in search of safety.
Boko Haram have killed hundreds of people this
year, mostly in northeastern Nigeria, although
they have launched attacks across the country.

“Costa doesn’t want trouble, he is looking for goals” – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has leapt to the Diego Costa’s
defence, insisting that the striker is looking for
goals, not trouble.
Costa has settled in quickly in England, scoring
seven times in his first four Premier League
matches. But the £32million summer signing from
Atletico Madrid, has also earned a reputation for
being feisty and combative.
“This is a completely fake point,” Mourinho
insisted.

Boko Haram 'kill several' as they loot market

Kano - Boko Haram gunmen stormed a crowded
market in Borno State, killing several people and
carting away food, witnesses said on Saturday.
Dressed in military and police uniforms, dozens of
insurgents attacked the town of Mainok, 56
kilometres outside Maiduguri, the state capital
late Thursday, firing a rocket-propelled grenade
and spraying the market with bullets.
The attackers also looted food which they loaded
onto trucks abandoned by fleeing traders,
witnesses said.
"They struck around 13:30 during peak hours by
first firing a rocket-propelled grenade at the
market before opening fire on traders", Salman
Lawan, a trader who witnessed the carnage told
AFP.
"They killed several people in the attack but it is
difficult to give a precise figure," said Lawan who
fled to Maiduguri following the attack.
Another trader Modu Kachalla, who gave a similar
account, said the insurgents were looking for
cash and food.
"They robbed traders of cash and loaded food
into trucks they seized at the market before
fleeing into the bush," he said.
"The market was full... when the Boko Haram
gunmen attacked which explained the high
casualties," he said.
"The attackers killed many people at the market
but it is difficult to give a toll because everybody
fled to save their lives," said Ibrahim Kolo,
another witness.
Boko Haram, which has seized swathes of
territory in Borno and in neighbouring Yobe and
Adamawa states, has been running short of food
in the areas they have taken, according to
residents.
On Wednesday the insurgents ambushed a truck
carrying grain to Maiduguri outside the nearby
village of Ngamdu and looted it before setting it
on fire, they said.
The news of the attack on the market was slow
to emerge due to disruption in phone services in
the region on Friday. Telecoms services were only
restored on Saturday.
Mainok has suffered repeated attacks by Boko
Haram, which wants to impose a hardline Islamic
state in the mainly Muslim north.
In February scores were killed there and many
homes destroyed by the extremists.
Their insurgency has claimed more than 10 000
lives since 2009 and left more than 700 000
homeless.
The military has come under increasing pressure
as the Islamists have captured more territory in
the volatile northeast in recent weeks.

Inside The Mind Of An ISIS Fighter

To the outside world, they're a force of
ruthless yet mysterious insurgents bent on
terrorizing civilians and expanding Islamist rule.
But as one former ISIS fighter tells CNN, the
mentality goes much deeper.
"The main and principal goal of the Islamic State
that they tell their new members is to establish
an Islamic state that will encompass the Arab
world," the man said in Turkey. "And after that,
we go to other countries."
Just two weeks ago, the man was in Raqqa, the
ISIS stronghold in northern Syria. Like many cities
across Syria and Iraq, Raqqa has been overrun by
ISIS militants who show no mercy for those who
don't follow their hard line.
Crucifixions and public executions take
place virtually every day. Women not
fully covered in niqabs are lashed with
alarming frequency.
Even store owners who leave their
shops open during times of prayer can
get beaten or sent to prison.
The former insurgent, in his 20s, left
ISIS two weeks ago because he said
the group is "spreading injustice in the
name of justice."
But he still agrees with the ideology of
the group that is forcing its beliefs on
everyday life, including in education.
"Philosophy is prohibited; they
canceled it as a kind of blasphemy,"
he said. "Many subjects have been
canceled, like music and even
sometimes sports. All of them have
been canceled from the school
curriculum."
Perhaps the only thing as disturbing as ISIS'
terror rampage is the growing number of
foreigners joining its ranks.
Thousands of foreign fighters are estimated to
have joined ISIS. And the ex-ISIS militant said
these foreigners could carry out attacks when
they go home, but security measures in those
countries could make it difficult -- at least for
now.
"Since Western fighters joined ISIS, they consider
their home country as infidels," he said. "If they
have a chance, they will carry out attacks."
The United Kingdom is already on high alert,
raising its terror threat level from "substantial" to
"severe" on Friday. Prime Minister David Cameron
has proposed a radical new measure to ban
Britons from coming home once they join jihadi
ranks abroad.
And the United States got a harsh reminder of
ISIS' reach when Douglas McAuthur McCain, a
33-year-old from the Midwest, became the first
known American to be killed while fighting for
ISIS.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has called
ISIS "beyond just a terrorist group."
"They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic
and tactical military prowess," he said last week.
"This is beyond anything we have seen, and we
must prepare for everything."
ISIS may have wanted to show off its global
reach by having a militant with a British accent
front the videos of the beheadings of American
journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.
And that kind of tactic could also inspire more
foreigners, the former ISIS fighter told CNN.
"It is possible that the goal was to project the
image that a European, or a Western person,
executed an American so that they can showcase
their Western members and appeal to others
outside Syria and make them feel that they
belong to the same cause."

Gospel Singer Performs In Church half naked

A photo of a half-naked gospel singer circulated various social media sites recently. According to a Malawian news site, the photo of the singer identified as ‘Only 1 Harmony’ (her stage name) was posted on Facebook by an outraged member of the church. The singer was said to be performing at the Riverside Church, New York, wearing a mesh pantyhose and sequin top. “It is shameful & very appalling that the Pastor of Riverside Church in New York, allowed singer ‘Only1Harmony’, to sing in their church half-naked,” said the angry church member. The church member continued: “As a matter of fact, I don’t call this praise & worship; rather I’ll call it perverted praise & whore-ship. They are just rubbishing the Christendom…if the senior pastor did not see anything wrong in this, what about the associate?” What do you think?

Boko Haram Commander Captured

Konduga: Army Captures High RankingBoko Haram Commander

The Nigerian Army has reported that after
engaging in a fierce battle with Insurgent
group Boko Haram, they have captured a top
Commander in the sect.

Military fights Boko Haram terrorists who now
changed thier tactics.
The army also said that they sect lost
hundreds of their men in the fight.
They revealed this information to ThisDay after
an inquiry over the ongoing counter-terrorism
and counter-insurgency operations in the North
East.
READ ALSO: Troops Kill Between 200 And 400
Boko Haram Terrorists
Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-
Gen. Chris Olukolade revealed the capture of
the terror chief.
READ ALSO: Catholic Church: 25 Towns Under
Boko Haram Insurgents
He said: the “seriously wounded high ranking
terrorists leader is being treated in a military
medical facility after he was captured in the
operations at Konduga”.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Ambush 850 Soldiers
In Kogi
Despite losing multiple of its insurgents, the
terrorists also lost equipments including 24
riffles, five rockets propelled grenade tubes,
two machine guns as well as a Ford Ranger
vehicle. Another Ford ranger vehicle was also
destroyed.
The first day of the battle had lasted for over
12 hours and lots of insurgents lost their lives.
One source told Sahara reporters: “ Right now,
our troops are combing the vicinity of the
battle scene in a cordon and search operation
to determine the exact casualty figures
suffered by the terrorists in the encounter”.
Also the Troops captured three Hilux vehicles,
one armoured personnel carrier and a cache of
arms and ammunition.
In another battle, at Benishek yesterday,
insurgents ambushed troops but the troops
turned it around and despite losing one soldier
in the batle, captured four motorcycles from
fleeing terrorists.
This week’s victory came after several weeks
in which Boko Haram fighters dominated
Nigerian soldiers in battle and took several
major towns in Borno and Adamawa States.
Even as Nigerian military is recording victory,
the sect is still attacking other towns in the
North Eastern region of Nigeria and they have
overtaken some.

Minister wants security tightened at schools to thwart terror

Abuja - The Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim
Shekarau, has directed heads of various institutions
across the country to ensure maximum security in
schools to check possible attacks by hoodlums.
Speaking in Kano during a sympathy visit to the
Federal College of Education (FCE), which
insurgents attacked on Wednesday and killed at
least 15 people and wounded several others, the
minister expressed hope that security agencies in
the state and other parts of the country would
continue to give useful advice to schools to ensure
maximum security in the institutions.
He said the issue of security was not the affair of
only Federal, State or local governments or
communities but the responsibility of everybody.
Also Read: States prepare schools to check ebola
virus ahead of resumption
"We hope heads of various schools across the
country will come up with some stringent measures
for maximum security in their respective schools
and it is unfortunate that the trend we are
witnessing is that institutions of learning are being
targeted," he said.
He stressed the need for the college to take
stringent measures towards enhancing security in
the school.
"I believe this incident will not deter our people from
pursuing their studies because we see it as a
challenge to whoever is concern to provide
maximum security to our schools," Shekarau added.
He also condoled with the staff, students and
management of the college over the attack, prayed
God to give the families the fortitude to bear the
irreparable loss. He wished the injured speedy
recovery and commended the Federal Government
for sending the delegation to college.
Schools have over the years been a target for the
Boko Haram insurgency. Hundreds of learners have
been killed while recently, more than 200
schoolgirls were abducted in Borno State.

Scotland Rejects Independence In Referendum

(CNN) -- Scotland will remain part of the United
Kingdom -- along with England, Wales and
Northern Ireland -- following a historic
referendum vote.
A majority of voters rejected the possibility of
Scotland breaking away and becoming an
independent nation.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond admitted
defeat in a televised statement early Friday -- and
urged the rest of Scotland to do the same.
He thanked Scotland "for 1.6 million votes for
Scottish independence."
A turnout of 86% is one of the highest in the
(CNN) -- Scotland will remain part of the United
Kingdom -- along with England, Wales and
Northern Ireland -- following a historic
referendum vote.
A majority of voters rejected the possibility of
Scotland breaking away and becoming an
independent nation.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond admitted
defeat in a televised statement early Friday -- and
urged the rest of Scotland to do the same.
He thanked Scotland "for 1.6 million votes for
Scottish independence."
A turnout of 86% is one of the highest in the
democratic world for any such vote, he said world for any such vote, he said.

Boko Haram In-Charge Of 25 Towns

Lagos - Boko Haram militants are in charge of at
least 25 towns and villages in the northeast, the
region's Roman Catholic bishop has claimed,
warning of a deteriorating security situation.
Bishop Oliver Dashe said 10 towns in Yobe state,
the same number in Borno and five in Adawama
had fallen to the rebels over the last month, as
they seek to carve out a hardline Islamic state.
International assistance was now required to
tackle the problem, he told the Nigerian Catholic
Bishops' Conference in the southern city of Warri,
Delta state, on Wednesday.
"As a nation we are almost losing this battle
because it is spinning out of control," he added.
"The earlier we come together as Nigerians,
forgetting our religious, ethnic, regional, cultural
and ideological differences to face this menace
the better for us."
The government has denied losing territory to
Boko Haram and the military has dismissed as
"empty" the militants' claim last month that one
captured town was part of an Islamic caliphate.
Independent verification that militants have
overrun towns and villages is hard to come by
because communications have been destroyed.
Most reports have come from the thousands of
residents who have fled their homes to go to
other towns and cities in the northeast and wider
region.
Military top brass this month admitted that the
militants' territorial ambitions were a threat to
Nigeria's sovereignty.
A series of counter-attacks have been launched in
recent days, which they claim have successfully
recaptured towns.
Dashe said Boko Haram-related violence had
devastated the Diocese of Maiduguri, which he
represents and covers all three northeast states.
The heavily armed militants were getting the
better of the military, while the region was facing
a humanitarian crisis because of the thousands
displaced, he added.
He criticised the government for "almost inaction"
and its "lukewarm attitude" in tackling insecurity,
which had seen young men forcibly conscripted
into the militants' ranks and women forced to
marry Islamist fighters.
"We used to think that salt is the cheapest
commodity in the market, well, life is cheaper
now, especially in the northeastern part of
Nigeria," he told delegates.
"The bottom line is that the government and our
political leaders have failed us and we have lost
total trust and confidence in our government and
our leaders."

Troops Kill "Several" Insurgents Army

Abuja - Several Boko Haram insurgents have
been killed in a fierce battle with troops in a
northeastern town near Maiduguri, an army
statement said Wednesday.
Pick-up vehicles with mounted machine- and
anti-aircraft guns, an armoured
personnel carrier and assorted arms and ammunition were
recovered after the battle late Tuesday, an army
spokesman was quoted as saying.
"During the fight, several terrorists were killed and
those fleeing Konduga with gunshot wounds are
being pursued," said Brigadier General Olajide
Olaleye.
Konduga is about 35 kilometres (22 miles) from
Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state and former
headquarters of the Islamist sect Boko Haram.
A military source who requested anonymity said
"scores" had been killed, claiming "the terrorists
suffered heavy casualties for the second time in a
few days."
"Our troops killed scores of Boko Haram
insurgents and destroyed many of their vehicles
including the armoured carrier they came with,"
said the source.
A resident of Kawuri village near Konduga,
Nguddo Burye, confirmed the high casualty
number.
"The battle scene was littered with bodies of Boko
Haram insurgents and many burnt vehicles
including an armoured carrier," he said.
Olaleye also denied reports that a military convoy
was ambushed on Sunday by Boko Haram
militants in central Kogi state.
He said armed robbers attacked an artillery
regiment travelling in seven buses, after mistaking
them for civilians, adding that three soldiers were
injured.

You Will Not Believe How Much Christiano Ronaldo Wants To Join Manchester United

Cape Town - Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Old

Trafford next season but the deal may be
scuppered due to his incredible wage demands.
According to Bild , Cristiano Ronaldo wants
Manchester United to make him the richest player
in the game if they want to bring him back to Old
Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo is demanding £501 000.00-per-week to become the next "Gaalactico" at
Manchester United, according to the German
newspaper. That is a whopping €630 000.00 .

Reports in Spain have suggested that Ronaldo

wants to return to England and rejoin Manchester

United with Sky Sports expert Guillem Balague

confirming the speculation but time will tell

whether Manchester United have the resources to

meet CR7's demands.

“He has this idea, I think, that at Real Madrid he

is doing a job and he is working, but he enjoyed

himself almost like a kid at Manchester United."

“He dreams of going back to Manchester United

and Manchester United have got all the finances

in place to get him." said Balague.

Mob violence kills four in Nigerian village

Abuja - Four people were killed Wednesday in a
Kebbi state village as a mob went on the
rampage after being stopped from lynching a man
suspected over a ritual murder.
Villagers in Kamba, in Kebbi state, were about to
execute a man from neighbouring Niger who they
accused of involvement in the murder of a young
girl, police said in a statement.
Police rescued the man, named as Adamu Gaya,
and took him into protective custody.
Angry villagers responded by attacking the police
station, destroying its communication base,
burning two police vehicles and nine motorcycles
as well as the official residence of the district
police boss.
"In the attack, four persons lost their lives.
Eighty-nine persons have been arrested for the
violence," said the statement, which did not say
how the four died.
The lynching of suspected criminals, especially
thieves, suspected witches and kidnappers is
common in Nigeria, where public trust in the
police and judiciary is low.

Four Soldiers Hurt In Central Ambush: Military

Kano - Suspected Boko Haram gunmen opened
fire on a military convoy at the weekend in central
Kogi state, injuring four soldiers, a senior military
source said Tuesday.
The convoy of 850 soldiers came under fire late
Sunday near the town of Okene as they drove
towards the Kogi state

Oil Subsidy Trial Resumed Today

Lagos - The trial of the alleged oil subsidy fraud
suspects resumed today at the Lagos High Court
after months of suspension following the annual
vacation holiday by the Lagos Judiciary.
Ope Yemi Ajuyah and her company, Majope
Investment Ltd, are on trial for defrauding the
Federal Government of about N1.1 billion through
scheme.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) is seeking the prosecution of co-suspects,
including oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao and
Olanrewaju Olalusi, a staff of Sterling Bank Plc.
At the resumption of proceedings of the trial before
Justice Lateefat Okunnu, counsel to Ajuyah,
Olarenwaju Ajanaku rejected the claim by the EFCC
that his client conspired with others to divert over
10 000 metric tonnes of premium motor spirits.
An EFCC investigator, Effa Okim, had in May
testified that the defendants had claimed that they
imported 15 000 metric tonnes of PMS and
thereafter collected subsidy payment.
Okim said investigations by the EFCC showed that
the vessel, MT Brave, only discharged 4 264 metric
tonnes at the Lister Jetty in Apapa, while the
remaining product was diverted to an unknown
destination.
He said Majope Investment Ltd. later obtained a
subsidy payment for 15 000 metric tonnes from the
Petroleum Support Fund for the said transaction.
However, under-cross examination by Ajanaku,
Okim admitted that an independent auditor, Ezekiel
Ejidele, who supervised the transaction, admitted
that 15,000 metric tonnes were discharged.
Addressing the witness, he argued that the EFCC
failed to do a thorough investigation of the
transaction and tendered Ejidele's statement to the
commission which was admitted as exhibit by the
court.
He said in the statement, Ejidele, a staff of Akintola
Williams Delloite Auditing Firm, confirmed that 15
000 metric tonnes was discharged at the jetty.
Ajanaku further argued that the discharge
certificates signed by the other surveyors, Q and Q
Survey Ltd. and Petroma Logistics Ltd. also
revealed a discharge of 15 000 metric tonnes.
The matter was adjourned to Friday for continuation
of trial.

BREAKING: 67 South Africans killed at Synagogue building collapse

Johannesburg -South African President Jacob Zuma
announced Tuesday that 67 South Africans died in a
building collapse in Nigeria's financial capital Lagos.
"I am greatly saddened to announce that 67 South
Africans died and scores of others sustained
injuries, after a building at the

Jonathan urged to declare 'total war' on BokoHaram

Abuja - Senators said Tuesday 16 September they
will meet with President Goodluck Jonathan to
press him to declare "total war" on Boko Haram,
in a sign of frustration and concern over
worsening security.
The upper house lawmakers will urge

Ronaldo Return To Old Trafford More Possible

The former Red Devils defender believes the work
his club have done in the market this summer
could help attract the Real Madrid superstar bac
to Old Trafford
Gary Neville believes Manchester United 's summ
transfer splurge means the prospect of Cristiano
Ronaldo making a return to

S’Africa seizes $9.3m cash from twoNigerians, Israeli

The South African police are investigating two
Nigerians and an Israeli citizen who tried to
bring $9.3m (about 150bn, in cash into the
country illegally, a spokesman said on Monday,
in what might have been part of an arms deal.
Reuters reported that the South African Revenue
Service seized the funds

Ronaldo Made Me Loose The Champion's League "Mourinho"

Chelsea manager Jose
Mourinho has revealed
that Real Madrid player
Cristiano Ronaldo cost
him an opportunity to
win the UEFA Champions
league during his reign
as Madrid boss.
The 52 year old started
coaching at the Santiago
Bernabeu in 2010,
having

APC

The All Progressives
Congress (APC) has
insisted that the rallies
being held across the
country by the so-called
Transformation
Ambassadors of Nigeria
(TAN) represent an
assault on the
intelligence and
sensibilities of Nigerians,
at a time of
unprecedented security
and health challenges in
the country.
Responding to the tepid
defence of the
sycophantic rallies that
are being deceptively
powered by the proceeds
of massive corruption
under the clueless and
incompetent Jonathan
Administration, the party
said, in a statement
issued by its National
Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in
Lagos on Sunday, that no
amount of inversion of
reasoning by the TAN
foot soldiers can wash
the rallies clean of shame
and disgust.
It said only those
described as 'morons
and sycophants' by Prof.
Wole Soyinka can be
engaging in celebratory
rallies when soldiers are
dying on the Boko
Haram battle front, when
citizens are daily being
dispatched to their
graves by insurgents and
when the country is still
reeling from the
challenge of Ebola that
has claimed many
innocent lives.
APC wondered how the
inauguration of its
regional executives in
Sokoto could be equated
with the rallies being
held across the country
by TAN, which is another
name for the PDP, which
is another name for
shame, incompetence,
cluelessness, cruelty,
insincerity and
insensitivity.
The party said if
President Goodluck
Jonathan had not been
running a government
hallmarked by impunity,
there is no way any
political party would
have brazenly kick-
started electioneering
campaign under the
guise of an ''NGO'' that is
coordinated by the
Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation, Ministers,
State Governors and
other public officials, at
a time like this.
''The PDP-led Federal
Government and its
'NGO' called TAN are
bare-faced liars and
cheats. They have seized
an undue advantage over
every other party by
defying the nation's laws
to start an early
electioneering campaign,
and no one, not even
INEC, dares call them to
order! Little wonder,
their podiums are
collapsing under the
weight of their lies,'' it
said.
APC slammed TAN's self-
serving Director of
Communications Udenta
Udenta for attempting to
pull the wool over the
eyes of Nigerians by
shamelessly justifying the
insane rallies.
''We have the following
posers for the deceptive
and pigs-at-the trough
TAN organizers: If Mr
Udenta and his co-
travelers were parents,
relations or friends of
any of the over 200
missing Chibok
schoolgirls, wouldn't
such TAN rallies offend
their sensibilities? If Mr
Udenta or any of his co-
travelers in TAN had lost
a relation or dear one to
Ebola in Port Harcourt,
won't such a rally in the
same city about the same
time offend their
sensibilities? Can Mr.
Udenta tell Nigerians the
source of funding of
TAN? Can Mr. Udenta tell
Nigerians how much TAN
has spent so far in
canvassing for
Jonathan's re-election or
for that matter how
much it spends daily on
radio jingles, television
and newspapers advert,
billboards etc? Can Mr.
Udenta tender to the
public TAN's audited
account?
''We know Mr. Udenta
has no answers to these
posers, but we have no
iota of doubt that
Nigerians know that TAN
is funded and powered
by the massive
corruption of this
government, including
but not limited to the
missing $20 billion, the
over one trillion fuel
subsidy scam, the
kerosene subsidy scam,
the hundreds of
thousands of barrels of
our crude oil being
stolen daily, the Pension
scam, the Malibu Oil
scandal etc. We also
know through which top
functionaries of
government funds are
funneled to TAN,'' the
party said.
APC said it would not
stop calling for an end to
the TAN rallies until
common sense prevails
and the President, who
waited for an
international
condemnation of his
BringBackJonathan hash
tag before taking action,
is again forced to call his
selfish sycophants to
order.
''Our soldiers are
combating Boko Haram
literally with their bare
hands and under the
most intolerable
conditions and our
government is partying
around town. As we
write, a Nigerian war
plane has been declared
missing in the battle
zone and our
government is
celebrating. Clearly, if a
fraction of the funds TAN
had been expending in
its multi-billion naira
adverts on radio,
television, newspapers,
billboard, online and on
London buses, not to talk
of the mobilization for
rallies, can be made
available to our soldiers,
Boko Haram would have
long been forgotten.
''Again, these times call
for deep reflection and
not for deep throats.
These times call for cool-
headed and decent men
and women to realize
that a nation at war
cannot be celebrating,
because it sends the very
wrong message to the
men and women
deployed to the battle
zone to protect our
nation. This is not about
politics, this is about
common sense,
sensibilitity.

APC Denies Buhari, Others Automatic Ticket

The leadership of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) at the weekend revealed that
it would not grant any of its leading
presidential aspirants automatic ticket.

ThisDay reports that the disclosure was made
on phone by the party’s National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who
explained that the decision was in reaction to
the mounting pressure from certain group
within the party.
READ ALSO: PDP Threatens To Reveal APC
Members Sponsoring BH
Muhammed was said to have further revealed
that some elements within the party were
agitating for concessions that would favour
former military Head of State, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as the party’s flag
bearer for the 2015 presidential election.
The national publicity secretary, went ahead to
categorically state that granting an automatic
ticket would never be possible in APC, assuring
that there is nothing like automatic ticket for
anyone, and insisted that party will do no such
thing.
“Most of these people who habour such
thoughts do not have access to the party
leaders, including Tinubu and Buhari. We
intend to showcase our internal democracy. As
a matter of fact, we intend to showcase a
model of internal democracy for other parties
to emulate, “he said.
Muhammed hinted that APC National Working
Committee (NWC) meeting is slated for
Wednesday, where the leadership is expected
to work out the modalities for the party’s
primaries ahead the presidential elections.
It was further gathered that although the party
has rejected the idea of automatic ticket for
any of its candidate, there were speculations
that some interest groups in the opposition
party are taking advantage of the occurrence
to cause controversy since the party is yet to
completely overcome the plot to settle for a
Muslim-Muslim ticket as its presidential
candidate and running mate.
It was also gathered the decision against the
idea of automatic ticket did not go down well
with the supporters of leading presidential
contenders like former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar, Kano State Governor Ibrahim
Kwankwaso, and Senator Bukola Saraki.
However, a group of loyalists to the former
military head of state have reportedly
continued mounting pressure on the party
leaders to consider granting Buhari
concessions and urge others contenders to
back down and support him.
Meanwhile, a party chieftain who spoke on
condition of anonymity disclosed that the
solicitation for automatic for Buhari was in line
with the merger agreement allegedly reached
between Bola Tinubu’s Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN) and Buhari’s Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC).
The source said the agreement was to anoint
the party’s standard-bearer without going
through an election, which is obviously not
going well with Kwankwaso, Saraki and Atiku
supporters.
READ ALSO: TAN Rally Goes Bloody In Niger
It would be recalled that the All Progressive
Congress (APC) was formed in February 2013,
through the merger of four Nigeria’s biggest
opposition parties comprising the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP), and the All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA) with the aiming of
outing the ruling People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) out of power.
The party which is already having internal
issues in Lagos, on September 3, 2014
experienced the pulling out of the All
Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as
announced by Prince Adesina Olayokun, the
state’s APGA chairman.
However, the party had earlier announced that
it would start its primary elections in October
2014, to enable them nominate a presidential
candidate for the 2015 general election.

US To Assign 3000 From US Military To Fight Ebola

Washington — The Obama administration is
ramping up its response to West Africa's Ebola
crisis, preparing to assign 3 000 U.S. military
personnel to the afflicted region to supply medical
and logistical support to overwhelmed local
health care systems and to boost the number of
beds needed to isolate and treat victims of the
epidemic.
President Barack Obama planned to announce the
stepped up effort Tuesday during a visit to the
federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
in Atlanta amid alarm that the outbreak could
spread and that the deadly virus could mutate
into a more easily transmitted disease.
The new U.S. muscle comes after appeals from
the region and from aid organizations for a
heightened U.S. role in combatting the outbreak
blamed for more than 2 200 deaths.
Also Read: World lost 'precious time' in Ebola
fight: EU
Administration officials said Monday that the new
initiatives aim to:
— Train as many as 500 health care workers a
week.
— Erect 17 heath care facilities in the region of
100 beds each.
— Set up a joint command headquartered in
Monrovia, Liberia, to coordinate between U.S. and
international relief efforts.
— Provide home health care kits to hundreds of
thousands of households, including 50,000 that
the U.S. Agency for International Development will
deliver to Liberia this week.
— Carry out a home- and community-based
campaign to train local populations on how to
handle exposed patients.
The officials, speaking on the condition of
anonymity to discuss the plans ahead of Obama's
announcement, said the cost of the effort would
come from $500 million in overseas contingency
operations, such as the war in Afghanistan, that
the Pentagon already has asked Congress to
redirect to carry out humanitarian efforts in Iraq
and in West Africa.
The officials said it would take about two weeks
to get U.S. forces on the ground.
Sen. Chris Coons, the chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations African affairs subcommittee,
applauded the new U.S. commitment. Coons
earlier had called for the Obama administration to
step up its role in West Africa.
"This humanitarian intervention should serve as a
firewall against a global security crisis that has
the potential to reach American soil," Coons said.
Hardest hit by the outbreak are Liberia, Sierra
Leone and Guinea. The virus also has reached
Nigeria and Senegal. Ebola is spread through
direct contact with the bodily fluids of sick
patients, making doctors and nurses especially
vulnerable to contracting the virus that has no
vaccine or approved treatment.
The U.S. effort will include medics and corpsmen
for treatment and training, engineers to help erect
the treatment facilities and specialists in logistics
to assist in patient transportation.
Also Read: Malaysia to send 20 mln medical
gloves to fight Ebola
Obama's trip to the CDC comes a day after the
United States also demanded a stepped-up
international response to the outbreak. The U.S.
ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha
Power, on Monday called for an emergency
meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday,
warning that the potential risk of the virus could
"set the countries of West Africa back a
generation."
Power said the meeting Thursday would mark a
rare occasion when the Security Council, which is
responsible for threats to international peace and
security, addresses a public health crisis.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was
expected to brief the council along with World
Health Organization chief Dr. Margaret Chan and
Dr. David Nabarro, the recently named U.N.
coordinator to tackle the disease, as well as
representatives from the affected countries.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest,
responding to criticism that the U.S. needed a
more forceful response to the outbreak, said
Monday that Obama has identified the outbreak
"as a top national security priority," worried that
it could contribute to political instability in the
region and that left unchecked the virus could
transform and become more contagious.
Also Read: Obama to ask for $88 mn to boost
anti-Ebola effort
He said the administration responded "pretty
aggressively" when the outbreak was first
reported in March.
"Since that time our assistance has steadily been
ramping up," he said.
The Senate was also weighing in Tuesday with a
hearing to examine the U.S. response. An
American missionary doctor who survived the
disease was among those scheduled to testify.
Four Americans have been or are being treated for
Ebola in the U.S. after evacuation from Africa.
The U.S. has spent more than $100 million
responding to the outbreak and has offered to
operate treatment centers for patients.
While at the CDC, Obama also will be briefed
about cases of respiratory illness being reported in
the Midwest, the White House said. Public health
officials are monitoring a high number of reported
illnesses associated with human enterovirus 68 in
Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and elsewhere.
After leaving Atlanta, Obama planned to travel to
Florida to visit the headquarters of U.S. Central
Command in Tampa, where he'll meet with
military officials about the U.S. counterterrorism
campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq
and Syria. Central Command overseas U.S.
military efforts in the Middle East.

12 Troops Sentenced To Death For Mutiny

Abuja - A court martial has sentenced 12 Nigerian
soldiers fighting Islamic extremists to death by
firing squad for mutiny and attempted murder of
their commanding officer.
In a decision announced early on Tuesday, a
military tribunal found 12 soldiers guilty and five
others innocent. All the accused denied the
charges.
Also Read: Air and ground attacks to reclaim
town from Boko Haram: witnesses
The soldiers accused their commanders of
conspiring to kill fellow troopers after a convoy
was ambushed on 13 May on a road frequently
attacked by the Islamic extremist group Boko
Haram.
They were driving from Chibok, the north-eastern
town from which more than 270 schoolgirls were
kidnapped a month earlier.
When the soldiers' bodies were brought to north-
eastern Maiduguri city, the surviving soldiers
revolted, throwing stones at their commanding
officer and then shooting at him. The officer took
refuge in an armoured vehicle and was unharmed.

Falcao relishes Man United debut

LONDON - Radamel Falcao thanked Manchester
United's fans after making his debut at the
"extraordinary" Old Trafford.
Falcao came off the bench in the 67th minute of
United's 4-0 win at home to QPR in the Premier
League on Sunday but was unable to find the
back of the net in a match where the goals were
shared between Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera,
Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata.
Now the Colombian striker, who made a transfer
deadline day loan move from Monaco for a
reported 10 million euros ($13.1 million), will look
to score his first goal for United against Leicester
this coming weekend.
"It felt good to make my debut at Old Trafford,"
he said.
Also read : Man United move 'a dream', says
Falcao
"It is an extraordinary stadium, a legendary
stadium and I am happy to get the win. I will
enjoy this moment."
Falcao almost got on the scoresheet when, 15
minutes after he had come on and with United
4-0 up, he saw QPR keeper Robert Green spill
Daley Blind's shot.
However, Green recovered to block Falcao's
follow-up.
"I want to say thank you to the fans. I enjoyed
the welcome a lot. It was fantastic," Falcao said.
"I almost scored. The goalkeeper was good. I
hope to score the next game."
"I hope everything continues for us like it did on
Sunday."

Emergency UN Security Council meeting on Ebola

New York - The United States called an
emergency meeting of the UN Security Council
Thursday on the Ebola crisis in West Africa,
saying the situation on the ground is "dire" and
getting worse every day.
US UN Ambassador Samantha Power said the
United States has asked the 193 UN member
states to come to the meeting with "concrete
commitments" to tackle the outbreak, especially
in hardest-hit Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
"The trendlines in this crisis are grave, and
without immediate international action we are
facing the potential for a public health crisis that
could claim lives on a scale far greater than
current estimates, and set the countries of West
Africa back a generation," Power told reporters on
Monday.
Also Read: World lost 'precious time' in Ebola
fight: EU
"This is a perilous crisis but one we can contain if
the international community comes together to
meet it head on."
The worst Ebola outbreak in history has hit
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea hardest and also
reached Nigeria and Senegal. It has been blamed
for more than 2 200 deaths. Ebola is spread
through direct contact with the bodily fluids of
sick patients, making doctors and nurses
especially vulnerable to contracting the virus that
has no vaccine or approved treatment.
"We can contain this," Power said. "We know how
to do it and we must avoid panic and fear, but
our collective response to date has not been
sufficient. We must move forward aggressively in
a coordinated fashion."
Power said the meeting on Thursday afternoon
would mark a rare occasion when the Security
Council, which is responsible for threats to
international peace and security, addresses a
public health crisis.
Also Read: Malaysia to send 20 mln medical
gloves to fight Ebola
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to
brief the council along with World Health
Organisation chief Dr Margaret Chan and Dr David
Nabarro, the recently named UN coordinator to
tackle the disease, as well as representatives
from the affected countries.
A diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity
because the official announcement has not yet
been made, said it would be only the second time
the council takes on a public health issue.
The late former US ambassador to the United
Nations, Richard Holbrooke, organised a council
meeting in January 2000 on the Aids pandemic,
which was addressed by then vice president Al
Gore.

Joshua suggests sabotage over deadly building collapse

Lagos - Preacher and televangelist TB Joshua on
Sunday linked a deadly building collapse at his
Lagos megachurch to a suspicious aircraft but
rescue workers ruled out the theory of foul play.
Joshua, dubbed "The Prophet" by fanatical
followers because of his purported predictions and
healing powers, showed footage of the moments
leading up to the collapse on his emmanuel.tv
network.
The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) said 42 people were killed in Friday's
incident, while 130 escaped or were pulled out
alive from the rubble.
In the security camera footage, apparently from
opposite the vast church compound, what is
described as an aircraft is seen over the building
four times at 11:30 am (1030 GMT), 11:43 am,
11:45 and 11:54 am.
The uncompleted building, five floors of which are
visible above a high wall, is then seen to collapse
at 12:44 pm, throwing up huge clouds of dust
into the air.
"After the incident, the strange aircraft does not
return," a commentary accompanying the images
adds.
There was no independent verification of the
authenticity of the footage but Joshua has said
he would make it available to Nigeria's security
agencies.
His Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is
located in Ikotun, near Lagos international airport.
Rescue work delayed
Joshua's theory about the low-flying plane
featured in a number of newspapers on Sunday.
But NEMA's southwest coordinator Ibrahim
Farinloye rejected claims of sabotage and said
extra floors were being added to the building
without changing the foundations.
"If it were an act of terrorism or sabotage, it
would have gone into rubble," he told AFP at the
scene.
Building collapses are common because of the
use of sub-standard material and flouting of
construction regulations.
NEMA rescue workers were only able to access
the site properly at 9:00 am on Sunday and the
emergency services and media had previously
complained of being attacked by church security.
The Lagos state building control agency also
complained that its officials were obstructed and
Farinloye indicated more lives could have been
saved had rescuers been able to get to the
building sooner.
Rescuers wearing protective facemasks and boots
used excavators to remove slabs of flattened
concrete and were hunting for anyone still trapped
under the wreckage of twisted metal and
masonry.
The building was believed to be a guesthouse for
foreign members of SCOAN and green mattresses
were clearly visible among the debris.
It was not known how many people were inside
the building when it collapsed.
But Joshua preaches to massive crowds at the
megachurch every week and, according to his
website, SCOAN "hosts thousands of national and
international visitors" each year.
"People travel from around the world to witness
and receive from the mighty work that God is
doing in the life of Prophet TB Joshua," it states.
Joshua said on his Facebook page TB Joshua
Ministries that reports that the church auditorium
had collapsed and that there had been heavy
casualties were not correct.
"The few people that were there are being
rescued," he said on Friday.

The British connection to ISIS beheadings

He has beheaded again. The tall,
masked British man with the London accent,
working with ISIS.
His first two victims were American journalists.
His third was a fellow citizen, British aid worker
David Haines.
British Prime Minister David Cameron hastily
assembled a meeting of his top national security
advisers in the early hours of Sunday morning to
discuss what can be done.
According to British officials, Cameron knows the
identity of the British executioner.
ISIS executes David Haines, Cameron vows
justice
He also knows that the executioner
has already killed two citizens of his
country's closest ally and he knows
that the executioner holds at least two
other American citizens.
Cameron knows that the executioner
holds other hostages from additional
Western countries and that he is part
of a larger group of British hostage-
takers working for ISIS, nicknamed
"the Beatles" by their captives. And he
knows that the lives of the remaining
hostages are in grave danger.
It is a real crisis for Cameron, and it
underlines a sobering fact: British
citizens have volunteered to go to
Syria to fight at 25 times the rate that Americans
have done so, when adjusted for population size.
Some 500 British citizens have traveled to Syria
to fight, as have 100 Americans. The population
of the United Kingdom is about a fifth of that of
the States.
A British government assessment by the Office of
Security and Counter-Terrorism provided to CNN
shows that the British have already arrested 69
people this year for "Syria related terrorist
offences" that include terrorist financing,
preparing an act of terrorism, and attending a
terrorist training camp.
In 2013, 25 people were arrested in
the UK on similar charges, bringing the
total number of arrests to 94,
according to the British government
assessment. By contrast, only eight
have been arrested for similar Syria-
related terrorist crimes in the States.
ISIS execution videos strikingly similar
The war in Syria is attracting British
fighters from all kinds of ethnic
backgrounds, not just those of Syrian
descent. A British official told CNN
that the vast majority of British
fighters going to Syria do not have
any real links to the country other
than a desire to fight in a holy war
against the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Alarmed by the threat posed by its
citizens fighting in Syria, the British
government has already refused to
issue or has cancelled 23 passports
and has also revoked the citizenship of eight
British citizens, according to the Office of Security
and Counter-Terrorism.
The British agency also underlines the threat
posed by other European citizens who have
traveled to Syria, who can freely travel around the
European Union, including the UK, and who can
also travel to the States without visas as they are
from so-called "visa waiver" countries.
Statement from the family of David Haines
According to the British government, 700 fighters
have traveled to Syria from France; 400 from
Germany; between 300 and 500 from Belgium;
130 from the Netherlands; over 100 from
Denmark; 100 from Austria; 80 from Sweden; and
between 50 and 100 from Spain.
The British government also estimates that 100
Canadians have left Canada to "support or train
with terrorist movements abroad. The majority of
these are likely to be in Syria." And it estimates
that there are 60 Australians fighting in Syria and
Iraq and about 100 Australian "facilitators"
helping to make this possible in Australia.
This brings the total number of Westerners who
have fought in Syria to between 2,620 and 2,870,
according to the British Office of Security and
Counter-Terrorism assessment obtained by CNN,
which is likely the most authoritative estimate
yet.
Despite the fact that the British government has
identified the executioner of the two American
journalists and of David Haines, it is not making
his name public "for operational reasons."
That's because the only likely hope for the
remaining hostages is some kind of rescue
operation similar to the one that the U.S. Joint
Special Operations Command mounted on July 4,
which didn't achieve its purpose because the
prisoners had been recently moved from the
location where they were being held in Syria.
A rescue operation is a long shot, but at this
point it may be the only real chance of saving the
lives of the remaining hostages. David Cameron
knows this -- and so does President Barack
Obama.

NIGERIA'S AIRFORCE DECLARES ITS ONLY FIGHTER JET PARTICIPATING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS MISSING

The Defence authorities have declared missing
an
aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force in Adamawa.
The
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris
Olukolade, said in an electronic mail in the early
hours of Sunday that the aircraft, an Alpha jet,
has been missing since Friday, September 12,
2014.
Olukolade said that the aircraft left Yola by
10.45
am on an operational mission and was expected
back to base by 12PM same day but has not
been
found. He said that the aircraft had two pilots on
board. The Defence spokesman said that the
military had started search and rescue efforts
meant to establish contact with the crew.
"An Alpha Jet (NAF 466) belonging to the
Nigerian Air Force is missing around Adamawa
State. The aircraft, with two pilots on board, left
Yola at about 10:45am on 12 September, 2014
on a routine operational mission and was
expected back by 12:00 noon. Since then all
efforts to establish contact with the aircraft have
not yielded any positive result. Meanwhile,
search
and rescue effort is ongoing to establish contact
with the crew," he said.

Britain vows to 'confront' the ISIS 'menace' after killing of David Haines

The killing of British aid worker David
Haines "will not lead Britain to shirk our
responsibility" to work with allies to take on ISIS,
British Prime Minister David Cameron said
Sunday.
Instead, he said, "it must strengthen our resolve."
Speaking a day after the Islamic terror group
posted a video showing Haines' beheading -- the
latest in a string of such videos -- Cameron
vowed to work with the United States to support
its "direct military action." He also emphasized
that "this is not about British troops on the
ground."
"We have to confront this menace," Cameron
said. "Step by step we must drive back,
dismantle, and ultimately destroy ISIL and what it
stands for." Together with allies, he said, "we will
do so in a calm, deliberate way but with an iron
determination."
The group, which calls itself the Islamic State, is
also known as ISIS and ISIL.
"This organization poses a massive threat to the
entire Middle East," Cameron said, making a
public statement before an emergency meeting of
security and intelligence officials.
The European Union joined Cameron in
condemning Haines' "atrocious
murder" and said it was committed to
fighting terror.
"Together with international and
regional partners, the EU will spare no
effort to ensure that an end is put to
this atrocious terrorist campaign and
all perpetrators are held accountable,"
the EU statement said.
Cameron listed five points in the
British strategy: to work with the Iraqi
government and Kurdish regional
governments and help them protect
minorities being slaughtered by ISIS;
to work at the United Nations "to
mobilize the broadest possible
support" against ISIS; to contribute to
U.S.-led military action; to assist in
humanitarian efforts; and to "reinforce
our formidable counterterrorist effort
here at home."
Some British Muslims have joined ISIS, and the
militant who killed Haines and two Americans --
James Foley and Steven Sotloff -- may be British.
'Not Muslim, but monsters'
The video of Haines' killing looks very similar to
those that showed the beheadings of Foley and
Sotloff , and the masked militant sounds like the
same man.
"It falls to the government and to each and every
one of us to drain this poison from our society
and to take on this warped ideology that is
radicalizing some of our young people," Cameron
said.
"Islam is a religion of peace," Cameron insisted,
saying of the ISIS militants, "They are not
Muslim, they are monsters."
Britons "need to know that this is a fanatical
organization" that plans attacks across Europe
and in the UK, Cameron said.
"It was an ISIL fanatic who gunned down four
people in a museum in Brussels," he said referring
to Mehdi Nemmouche, a Frenchman from Roubaix
in northern France, accused of killing four people
at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in May.
Nemmouche recently spent a year in Syria and is
a radicalized Islamist, the chief prosecutor of
Paris said in June. French journalist Nicolas
Henin said last month that Nemmouche tortured
prisoners he guarded while fighting for ISIS in
Syria.
"He did beat me a number of times. I don't know
of any bad treatment to any other foreign
hostages coming from him specifically but I
witnessed him torturing local prisoners."
'Your evil alliance with America'
The video of Haines' death shows a masked ISIS
militant placing his hand on another captive,
whom he identified as Alan Henning, a British
citizen.
On Sunday, Henning's family distributed an image
of him holding a child at a refugee camp on the
Syria-Turkey border. The family asked media to
use this image rather than the one of Henning in
an orange jumpsuit kneeling beside his captor.
ISIS which controls large areas of northern Syria
and Iraq, previously publicized grisly videos of the
beheadings of American journalists Foley and
Sotloff. It has also brutally slaughtered large
numbers of Syrians and Iraqis in the territory it's
seized.
In the two previous videos, the killer directed his
comments at the United States, which had begun
airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq. But the latest one
singles out Britain.
"Your evil alliance with America, which continues
to strike the Muslims of Iraq and most recently
bombed the Haditha Dam, will only accelerate
your destruction and claim the role of the
obedient lap dog," says the militant.
The United States launched airstrikes on ISIS
positions near Haditha Dam in western Iraq a
week ago and is working to build a coalition of
countries to support its efforts to combat the
terrorist group.
"Cameron will only drag you and your people into
another bloody and unwinnable war," says the
killer, dressed all in black with only his eyes and
hands showing. He calls the beheading "a
message to the allies of America."
Like them, Haines appears kneeling
beside the executioner in a barren
desert landscape, dressed in a bright
orange jumpsuit. He had been shown
briefly in the earlier video of Sotloff's
killing.
'Just another bloke'
Haines, 44, went to Syria to help
organize the delivery of humanitarian
aid to a refugee camp in Atmeh, close
to the Turkish border. He was
abducted near the camp in March
2013.
"David was most alive and
enthusiastic in his humanitarian roles,"
his brother, Mike, said in a statement .
"His joy and anticipation for the work
he went to do in Syria is for myself
and family the most important
element of this whole sad affair."
Before becoming an aid worker, Haines worked for
the Royal Mail. He was an aircraft engineer with
the Royal Air Force before he went to work with
ScotRail, a Scottish train company, his brother
said. A stint with the U.N. in the Balkans would
change Haines' life path.
"There are many accolades from people in that
region that David helped. He helped whoever
needed help, regardless of race, creed or religion,"
his brother wrote. "During this time David began
to decide that humanitarian work was the field he
wanted to work in."
His brother also described Haines as an ordinary
man -- "just another bloke" -- who grew up with
strong family values that he carried into
adulthood.
"David was a good brother, there when I needed
him and absent when I didn't. I hope that he felt
the same way about me. He was, in the right
mood, the life and soul of the party and on other
times the most stubborn irritating pain in the ass.
He would probably say the same about me," Mike
Haines wrote.
David Haines had more than a decade of
experience doing aid work, helping victims of
conflict in the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East.
He was in Syria as a logistics and security
manager for ACTED, a French aid group that was
helping to provide food, tents and water for tens
of thousands of people who had fled to the Atmeh
camp amid the vicious civil war.
When he wasn't working in troubled areas, Haines
lived in Croatia with his wife, Dragana, and their
4-year-old daughter, Athea.
He grew up in Scotland, and his first marriage
was to his childhood sweetheart Louise,
according to his brother.
His teenage daughter from that marriage,
Bethany, talked about how much she misses her
father in comments on a social network, Ask.fm,
late last year.
Asked what she wanted at that time, Bethany
replied simply, "For my daddy to come home."
'Warped ideology'
The British government said earlier this month
that it had attempted to rescue one of its citizens
held by ISIS "some time ago" but had failed. It
didn't provide any further details.
U.S. President Barack Obama, who announced
last week that U.S. airstrikes would go after ISIS
in Syria, condemned "the barbaric murder" of
Haines.
"The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder
tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and
resolve," he said in a statement late Saturday.
The murderous, meteoric rise of ISIS has caused
alarm across the Middle East and beyond.
The Muslim Council of Great Britain issued a
statement Sunday condemning Haines' killing
"unreservedly."
"David Haines went out to the region to help the
people of the region," said Shuja Shafi, the
council's secretary general. "That extremists
chose to murder him only shows once again the
depravity of their warped ideology."
ISIS members "claim to be acting in the name of
Islam," Shafi said. "But there is nothing in our
faith that condones such behavior."
U.S. building anti-ISIS coalition
In his statement, Obama reiterated his intention
"to degrade and destroy this threat to the people
of our countries, the region and the world."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has spent
recent days in the Middle East trying to build
support for the U.S. strategy to combat ISIS.
Those efforts are expected to continue Monday in
Paris, where France is hosting an international
conference on the crisis in Iraq.
Countries in the Mideast and outside the region
"are prepared to engage in military assistance, in
actual strikes if that is what it requires" to fight
ISIS, Kerry told CBS' "Face the Nation" on
Sunday.
Some nations "are clearly prepared to take action
in the air alongside the United States and to do
airstrikes if that's what they're called on to do,"
he said. Some nations have offered to put troops
on the ground, "but we're not looking for that at
this moment anyway," Kerry added.
Pressed for more specifics, Kerry said, "It's not
appropriate to start announcing, 'Well, this
country will do this, this country will do that.'"
Australia is preparing to deploy as many as 10
planes, most of them combat aircraft, to the
United Arab Emirates in response to a U.S.
request to contribute to the coalition, Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Sunday.
It will also put together a team of special
operations personnel who could act as military
advisers to Iraqi forces and others fighting ISIS,
Abbott said in a statement .
"We are not deploying combat troops but
contributing to international efforts to prevent the
humanitarian crisis from deepening," he said.
In a Sunday interview, White House chief of staff
Denis McDonough declined to say if any members
of the emerging coalition would put troops on the
ground, but he said that there will be a focus on
training Syrian rebels and Iraqi and Kurdish
fighters to take on ISIS with coalition backing.
That backing will come in the form of airpower,
intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and
training, he told CNN's "State of the Union," and
it will be especially important to draw Sunni
fighters into the battle.
Asked if American involvement could make things
worse, given the nature of ISIS threats against
the West, McDonough said that with Haines'
execution came a reminder that ISIS is inhumane,
barbaric and depraved.
"The thought we could make them more so is
faulty," he said.