TODAY'S NEWS POSTED BY JUSTICE EMERE DENNIS

Jonathan’s adviser loses father to Boko Haram

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By DAVID MOLOMO, Yola on October 6, 2014 · COVER

The father of the former Special Ad­viser on Political Matters to Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak has lost his father to the insurgency in his hometown, Gulak, in the Northern Senatorial District of Adamawa State.
The decomposed body of late Alhaji Ali Gillari ,who was among those trapped in the community when the insurgents struck, was found after three days of his demise in his residence.
Announcing his death to newsmen, the state Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, in a press statement issued by his spokesman, Solomon Kumangar, said the man died in his residence in Gulak.
The governor lamented the death of Gillari and oth­ers who lost their lives in similar circumstances and commiserated with their families .
He particularly sym­pathised with Gulak on the  loss of a great father, whom he decribed as a man of in­tegrity and a devout Muslim.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the de­ceased, saying that he died at a time the society relied on his useful advice and wealth of experience.
Recall that for over four weeks, Boko Haram insur­gents overran Michika and Madagali local government areas of the state, during which many residents were killed while others escaped to Yola, the state capital.
Some residents of Gulak, who escaped from the town, told newsmen in Yola that many old people that needed medical attention were ei­ther held hostage or grue­somely murdered by the insurgents.
According to them, there were also some elderly people who made efforts to escape through the hills to neighbouring Cameroon but died on the way.
Checks by Daily Sun re­vealed that many houses, in­cluding the family house of former governor, Boni Ha­runa were razed by the sect.

Truck kills couple, four others in Ondo

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By GBOLAGUNTE, Akure on October 6, 2014 · COVER

Tragedy struck in Oka Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State at the week­end, as a newly wed couple and four other persons were killed by a truck.
The truck, it was gathered, rammed into the residence of the couple located close to Oka hill while they were asleep.
A resident of the area, who identified himself as Gidado, said the accident occurred in the early hours of the day when most of the residents of the area were still on their beds. It was gathered that the truck, which was heading to­wards Abuja, belonged to a famous manufacturing com­pany. Aside the couple that died in the accident, four other persons who were also hit by the truck were later confirmed dead.
According to Gidado, the four other persons were re­turning from a prayer session when they were hit.
It was gathered that ve­hicular accidents have been rampant on that road in recent times due to heavy presence of trucks on the road.
Most of the trucks that passed through the road were said to be those of manufactur­ing companies moving from Lagos to Abuja.
Checks also revealed that some of the vehicles were of­ten parked on the road, thereby hindering free flow of traffic.
Sources stated that the re­mains of the couple whose names could not be ascer­tained as at press time and oth­er victims have been depos­ited at a government hospital in the area.
However, efforts to speak with officials of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) on the accident failed.

2015: APC presidential aspirants to pay N27m

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By RAZAQ BAMIDELE on October 6, 2014 · COVER

■Party begins sales of forms today

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rolled out guidelines for next year’s elec­tion beginning with the sale of its expression of interest forms that commences to­day.
The party’s timetable, which was adopted at the last National Executive Commit­tee (NEC) meeting, stipulated that collection of the forms would close on October 19, while collection of nomination forms would commence the same day and end on Novem­ber 16.
Those aspiring for the presi­dential ticket of the party are expected to pay N27 million for both forms, while incum­bent governors aspiring for a second term will cough out N10.5 million and their coun­terparts aspiring for the tickets for the first time will pay N5.5 million.
In the same vein, the party’s NEC approved indirect prima­ries for the tickets of the party.
For the National Assem­bly, seating senators will pay N5.3 million, while the fresh aspirants will part with N3.3 million. Also, members of the House of Representatives, who intend to return, will pay N3.2 million, while fresh aspi­rants will pay N2.2 million.
For the expression and nomination forms of the party,
fresh aspirants for the state House of Assemblies, fresh aspirants will pay N550, 000, while seating lawmakers are expected to pay N800, 000.
“Members shall vote by se­cret ballot at a special national convention which shall be convened for that purpose, col­lation of results shall be made and the winner announced ac­cordingly,” the party stated.
Also for the governorship primaries, those to vote are all members of the ward ex­ecutive committee from the federal constituency/senato­rial zone, all members of the local government executive committee from the local gov­ernment areas in the state, all members of the state executive committee, and all members of the national executive com­mittee from the state.
The guidelines stated that screening of presidential aspi­rants would commence on No­vember 10 and be concluded on November 12.
Hearing of the appeals will hold on November 13 and 14. The national convention where the presidential candidate of the party will emerge has been scheduled for December 2.
The screening of governor­ship aspirants will commence on November 10 and end on November 12, while appeals will be attended to on Novem­ber 13 and14. The governor­ship primaries will hold on November 15, with consider­ation of the appeals slated for November 18 and 22.