BREAKING NEWS:FIRE DESTROYS MULTI-MILLION NAIRA FINOTEL HOTEL CLASSIC AWKA

An evening fire yesterday destroyed part  of Finotel Classic Hotel located near Nwa Uzu Junction, Agu Awka, Awkacapital territory, Anambra state
Ashiwaju.org visited the scene, we  observed that property worth several million of Naira perished in the inferno.
Witnesses said  the fire started at about 6:00 pm from the upper part of the Hotel Classic but were not able to ascertain the cause of the inferno.
A guest in the hotel who pleaded anonymity  explained that the fire caused panic inside the hotel as people ran for safety.
“I heard people shouting ‘fire! Fire’ at the lobby and I saw thick smoke  oozing out from a section of the building. Then, I knew there was problem.  I had to run for safety like others, he said.”
Ashiwaju.org also gathered that the  fire service came very late to the scene and it took the intervention of the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who directed the Government House Fire Fighting Trucks to reduce the level of wreckage that would have occured in the Hotel fire outbreak.
Efforts to speak with the hotel management was probed abortive at the time of filling this report, but Ashiwaju.org arguable heard from an expert that came to sympathize with the Hotel Management said the damage should run into Million of Naira .

Yorubas planning a Xenophobic attack against Ndigbo in Lagos

A coalition of Yoruba groups, pan-Yoruba National Alliance, has dismissed the notion that Lagos is a no-man’s land. The group, therefore, warned non-indigenes in the state to be sensitive to the culture and sensibilities of the Yoruba.
The group , which is a coalition of youths drawn from Oodua Nationalists Coalition, Oodua Liberation Movement and the Oodua Peoples Congress, among others, said this even as some Igbo groups in Lagos tabled a seven-point agenda before Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, demanding that he appoints some Igbo into his cabinet.
The PAYNA youths, who took to the streets to protest on Tuesday, warned that any attempt to marginalise the Yoruba in Lagos would be resisted.
A leader of the group, Mr. Araoye Akinwunmi, said, “This is a symbolic rally to warn against the assault on Yoruba heritage. We are sick of people who trample on our heritage even though they make their millions on our territory. The Yoruba will no longer accept the conscious attempt to turn us into slaves on our own land.”

Revolution Scenery Pave Way For DOGARA’S Emergence As Speaker Of 8th Jouse Of Reps------Ghali Na;abba

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’ Abba, on Wednesday, described the emergence of Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House as revolutionary.
Na’ Abba made this remark when he led former principal officers of the House to congratulate the new Speaker of the eighth House of Reps.
Na’ Abba said the revolution was executed by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The law makers are mature Nigerians and they know where they want to place the country in the comity of nations.
The former speaker posited that any party that wants to manipulate the autonomy of the legislature would be disappointed.
“In spite of the candidates preferred by the APC, the legislators chose who they wanted to lead them.
“The event that played out on Tuesday which led to Dogara’s emergence as Speaker, reminded me of the case of Aminu Tambuwal in 2011.

President Bhari Set To Play Host President of CHAD, CAMEROON, NIGER, BENIN On Renewed Talk To Eliminate Boko

As part of the strategy to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, President Muhammadu Buhari will today host a meeting of Heads of State and Presidents of the Lake Chad Basin Commission in Abuja.
In a bid to perfect Nigerian position for today’s meeting, President Buhari yesterday held a closed door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and the Chief of Naval Staff, Usman Jubrin, at Defence House.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr Ismali Aliyu, said they came to brief the president on preparations for a scheduled meeting of Heads of State and Presidents today in Abuja to discuss on the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
He said that defence chiefs and Ministers of Defence of the member countries of the commission had earlier met necessitating today’s meeting of presidents.
According to him, “the meeting held between the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Lake Chad Basin and Ministers of Defence culminated in the presidents’ meeting tomorrow (today).
What were discussed

Reuben Abati Returns To Class Room After 6-years of Political Engagement

Immediate past Senior Special Adviser on Media to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, has taken a lead to further his academic pursuit to enhance his political proficiency and a preparatory mechanism for his lecturing job.
DR. Reuben Abati, who was formerly the Managing Director of Guardian Newspaper and visiting lecturer to universities in Nigeria and abroad had on many  occasion said he would rather return to his pen profession or as a full time lecturer after serving as the SSA on Media to the ousted president.
He has now moved to Oxford, London, for further studies on Advanced Management and Leadership study which would sharpen his thought faculty to dealing with future task relating to management and leadership prowess.
Dr. Abati Assured “I get tons of positive messages with common questions like ‘Where are you? What are you doing Dr. Reuben Abati?’

Authorities of Aso Rock Turn Down Posting Of 253 DSS officials To Villa

Apparently still not sure of the shape security around President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will take in the coming days, authorities of the Presidential Villa, Abuja have rejected about 253 officials of the Department of State Services recently transferred to the Presidential Villa.

Investigations by one of our correspondents on Wednesday revealed that the affected security operatives were deployed from different state commands of the DSS across the country.

According to their redeployment signals that emanated from the service’s National Headquarters, the officers were directed to report at the Presidential Villa last week Monday.

The PUNCH further learnt that the officials, armed with signals showing specifically where they would man in the Presidential Villa, were however turned back on arrival.

They were said to have been directed to ensure that they return to their respective former duty posts across the country the following day (last week Tuesday).

Fire Destroy Properties Worth Over 50 Million Naira In Awka Timber Market

At least about 50 shops, a  building  and goods worth over 50 million naira were burnt  in  Awka Timber/Building and Allied Market fire incident in Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.
The Properties were ranging from  equipment, tools and finished products and valuable worth millions of Naira, destroyed in the fire incident that occurred at the at the early hour of yesterday.
Ashiwaju.org gathered that the fire, which started about  6.30pm,Wednesday, June 9th,  at the popular
Timber/Building and Allied  market, lasted for over four hours before residents and fire service crew came to put out the fire.
Shop owners reportedly scampered for safety of their wares as the fire wreaked havoc in the market, leaving over 34 shops burnt.
According to the traders of the market, electric spake, coal pot stove and fuel containers might have caused the inferno, whereby, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

PHOTOS: SARAKI UNFOLDS AGENDA FOR NIGERIA AS HE TAKES OVER NASS

Despite the controversy surrounding his emergences as the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki has brushed aside his rejection by the leadership of his party, the APC and unfolded his agenda for Nigerians.
Saraki promised that that the new Senate and National Assembly would make laws that will enable the country to renew its infrastructure, reform the oil and security systems as well as boost agriculture.
Similarly, Saraki assured that the new NASS would make laws that would lead to the creation of jobs and make doing business in Nigeria much more competitive.
“In the coming days we shall be converging to hammer out an aggregate agenda that will help us focus and deliver on these minimum expectations,” the Senate President said.
In a statement made available to Vanguard by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, Saraki described his emergence as the 8th Senate President was a demonstration that Nigerians were united by a common desire to entrench democracy and allow its core principles to guide the conduct of the nation’s political affairs.
“We have demonstrated that even though we may belong to different persuasions and parties, we are ultimately united by our common desire to entrench democracy and allow its core principles guide the conduct of our political affairs, “Saraki said.

NASS: "YOUR THREATS ARE EMPTY" - PDP TELLS APCNASS: "YOUR THREATS ARE EMPTY" - PDP TELLS APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed threats by the All Progressives Congress to the new leaders of the National Assembly as empty aimed at covering its naivety, inexperience and unpreparedness for governance. 
The PDP also admonished the APC to shed its arrogance, eat the humble pie and get more organized for governance adding that it lacks the capacity, capability and means to sanction duly elected leaders of the National Assembly.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Wednesday said the crass inexperience so far displayed by the APC is a pointer that it is not adequately equipped to handle the affairs of government at the center, noting that events would continue to prove the PDP right in this regard.

“Nothing can be more astonishing than the whining by the APC that the PDP at the last minute expressed its preference for Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively after it had earlier stated that it was not interested the positions. This calls to question the capacity, experience and skills of APC leaders on political matters and we have no apology whatsoever for their naivety.

Ify Obinabo Marks 46th Birthday In Grand Style

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

It was an atmosphere of ecstasy, glitz and glamour on Friday, 5 June, 2015 as a renowned Newscaster and Presenter with Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Lady Ify Obinabo (Ada di ora nma), celebrate her 46th birthday in grand style.

The sumptuous event which took place at the popular Bellwood hotel, Asaba Delta State, started at exactly 8pm local time attracted people from all walks of life notable among whom were Sir Nnamdi Okeke who chaired the event; Mr. Noah Adesonya Assistant commissioner of police Delta State; Prince Emeka Okafor former commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abia State; Prince Emeka Kalu Anambra State RATTAWU  Chairman; Lady Ify Obi Station manager Unizik FM, Awka; Veteran journalist, Mr. Emmanuel Obe accompanied by his beautiful wife, Sylvia.

Also in attendance were Okwuluoha Charles Ede of Minaj Broadcasting Int'l (MBI); Lady Joy Mbachi; Mr. Peter Okolie and Patrick Anaso of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Mr. Uche Ndeke (DJ Snazzy); Lady Oby Charity Arinze and Nkiru Onwuzulike of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); Lady Blessing Austine Nweke of Cemadon TV, Asaba Delta State; Blogger Philip Chigozie Umeh of National Link Newspapers, Nnewi among others.