The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has released a video purportedly showing the killing of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, a monitoring service has said. 

The video, released online by the armed group on Saturday, shows the journalist who was abducted while reporting on Syria's civil war last year being beheaded with a knife by a black-clad masked fighter.

Japan on Sunday said it was "highly probable" the video is authentic.

When asked if the man in the video was 47-year-old Goto, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga replied: "We think so."

Addressing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the ISIL member in the video said: "Because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage wherever your people are found. So let the nightmare for Japan begin."

Abe addressed the nation shortly after the release of the footage and appeared visibly shaken as he condemned the "horrendeous" and "despicable" killing.

"Japan will not be defeated by terrorism," he said, adding that the government had tried its best to save the hostage.

US President Barack Obama also condemned "the heinous murder" of Goto and praised Japan.

"We applaud Japan's steadfast commitment to advancing peace and prosperity in the Middle East and globally, including its generous assistance for innocent people affected by the conflicts in the region," Obama said in a statement on Saturday.

ISIL continue to hold another hostage, Jordanian pilot First Leutenant Moaz al-Kasasbeh.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Kasasbeh's mother urged ISIL to release her son.

"I call upon the Islamic State group, I appeal to our brothers among them, from one Muslim addressing another, from a distressed mother's heart who is in sorrow for missing her beloved son," said Om Jawad al-Kasasbeh

"I appeal to you tell us about Moaz's wellbeing and I ask you to be kind in how you treat him and to release him. I beg you, I ask you to show him mercy."  

Japanese hostage

Goto was a freelance journalist who had reported from war zones for more than 20 years, in Africa, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

He travelled to Syria, at least in part, to attempt a rescue of his friend Haruna Yukawa, who was captured by ISIL in August.

Haruna was a self-styled military consultant who went to Syria to set up a security company, despite little experience.

In October, Goto was captured by ISIL and was held captive alongside his friend. ISIL demanded a $200m ransom for the two men.

Last week, the armed group released a video with an image of Goto, chained by the wrist and with a photograph of Yukawa in his hand, with audio of Yukawa being killed.

The video said Goto had "only 24 hours left to live" and Kasasbeh "even less".

The footage later gave a deadline of sunset on Thursday, for Goto to be freed in return for Jordan releasing the Iraqi woman Sajida al-Rishawi.

ISIL has beheaded and shot dead hundreds of captives - mainly Syrian and Iraqi soldiers - during its sweep across the two countries, and has celebrated its mass killings in extremely graphic videos.

The group also beheaded US hostages James Foley and Peter Kassig, Israeli-American Steven Sotloff and British captives David Haines and Alan Henning. 

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Nigeria- The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the appointment of Mr Thomas A. Etuh and Alhaji Aminu Babangida, son of former military head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Unity Bank Plc.

According to THE NATION, the approval letter was dated dated January 23, 2015 and signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs Tokunbo Martins.

It noted that “their appointments followed the resignation of the former Chairman, Alhaji Lamis Shehu Dikko from the Board in December 2014 to pursue his political aspirations.”

Mr Etuh, who was appointed pioneer Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, on April 22, 2014 has reportedly made two decades of contribution to the public and private sectors of the economy, especially the agric sector of the economy.

The new Vice Chairman Alhaji Aminu Babangida, is the son of former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, an Entrepreneur and a co-founder/CEO of Phoenix Energy, Abuja. He was appointed to the Board of Unity Bank Plc in 2011

NIGERIANBULLETIN

The Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, has condemned the use of its insignia to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, adding that it is not a party to the endorsement.

In a statement in Lagos Wednesday, the group said that the use of ‘Afenifere’ to promote Mr. Jonathan is fraudulent and an attempt to deceive the Yoruba people.

“It has come to our notice that some broadcast stations are using ARG’s name and logo to promote the said endorsement,” said Kunle Famoriyo, ARG’s Publicity Secretary.

“This is fraudulent and we wish to advice media houses to be wary of such fraudulent promoters especially now that public interest must be defended by the media.”

Another group, Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political group, had on Tuesday in Akure endorsed Mr. Jonathan for a second term in office.

According to the group, the endorsement was necessary to enable the President complete his “transformation agenda.”

“Afenifere is a socio-political association. We have always spoken out our minds on any matter that affects our country,” Seinde Arogbola, the group’s National Secretary, had said.

“We therefore want to say it loud and clear that after considering so many things, the Nigerian Constitution inclusive, we see you for now as the best option to continue as the president of our dear country.”

But Mr. Famoriyo distanced ARG from the endorsement, adding that the group does not think that Mr. Jonathan’s performance as president since May 2010 was worth the endorsement of any patriotic citizen.

“We believe there is a difference between ‘transformation,’ which President Jonathan promised Nigerians in 2011 and mere ‘reform’ of the same governance culture that Nigerians have rejected,” said Mr. Famoriyo.

“The ARG does not dictate to the generality of the Yoruba people, rather it gives voice to their feelings and aspirations. The extensive consultations we have made showed that Yoruba people have come to a firm conclusion that they have been at the shorter end of the stick under the Jonathan-led Government, under whose administration, nepotism and ethnocentrism have taken over as the emblem of our presidential politics.

“ARG therefore stands with the aspirations of Yoruba people for change. As echoed in Abeokuta recently at the public lecture organised by the Ogun State chapter of ARG, the change that we demand include a public pledge to restructure the country in such a way that power will devolve to the most efficient federating unit.”

nigerianwatch

PAN-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Afenifere has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the next month’s presidential election after a meeting with him in the Ondo State capital Akure.

In what the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) will surely claim as a major coup, Afenifere leader Chief Rueben Fasoranti, said that President Jonathan is the right choice to rule the country. He added that the need for continuity with the lofty transformation programmes was the main reason behind the endorsement.

Prominent Yoruba leaders at the meeting included Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and former Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel. At the meeting which took place at Chief Fasoranti’s residence, the Afenifere leader said all Nigerians who appreciate good work must support President Jonathan.

Earlier, Afenifere had called on the people of the Yoruba nation not to vote for any presidential candidate that does not believe in the implementation of the 2014 national conference report. It added that the implementation of the conference report remained the only option upon which proper restructuring of the country could be achieved.

According to Afenifere, the implementation of the report would put an end to most of the challenges being experienced by the country. It urged the Yoruba nation not to be deceived by those who were against the conveyance of the conference and were describing the national conference as a diversionary tactics.

Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, said: "As far as Afenifere is concerned, the presidential election is to decide between two options, freedom or slavery. We have elected to choose freedom, freedom from bondage, internal enslavement and internal colonialism that hold most Nigerians down under the bastion of domination and we are convinced that the 2014 national conference report has laid the basis for the proper restructuring of the country.”

He added that the desired change being clamoured for by Nigerians is not just an ordinary change but restructural change. According to Mr Odumakin, change that ignores the restructuring of Nigeria is not a change as most of the issues that are confronting the country like insecurity, corruption have their link with the faulty constitution.

“Afenifere believes that elections are a democratic contest about party programme and not about using terror to frighten them into submission. The use of terror to demand for the mandate of the people must be discouraged not to reward anybody that tries to terrorise them to access power," Mr Odumakin added.

Afenifere also doubted the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) for the election, saying the commission has failed to put all necessary arrangements in place. It added that Inec is yet to distribute 30m permanent voter's cards and the timetable is tight to meet this schedule.

Nigerianwatch

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, on Wednesday confirmed the outbreak of bird flu in 11 states of the federation.

Adesina announced that the Federal Government had approved N145 million to compensate farmers affected by the outbreak of the disease.

He made the disclosure at an emergency meeting on Avian Influenza with state commissioners for agriculture in Abuja.

The minister directed that the compensation should be paid to the farmers within 72 hours.

Adesina named the states affected by the outbreak of the disease as Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Imo, Oyo and Jigawa states.

He explained that the compensation was for 39 farms across nine states where depopulation was carried out as a measure to control the outbreak.

The minister said that the affected farmers would get N1.4 million each.

``We want all those who are exposed to report. The Federal Government just like we dealt with Ebola are on top of the situation.

``We are not in a state of an epidemic and will collaborate with states and our development partners to ensure that there is no room for panic,’’ Adesina said.

According to him, as at Jan. 21, a total of 139, 505 birds had been exposed with 22, 173 mortality recorded and as at Jan. 27, 232,385 were exposed and 51, 444 mortality recorded.

He said the ministry was working closely with State Governments, the Poultry Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association and the Animal Science Association of Nigeria to contain the spread of the flu.

The minister said he had directed a nationwide comprehensive surveillance, quarantine, de-population and decontamination of affected poultry farms.

He said that poultry product if cooked well was safe for consumption, adding that the main channel of infection was direct contact with infected surfaces or objects contaminated with faeces of infected birds.

Adesina urged the citizenry to imbibe high level of hygiene, calling on stakeholders to cooperate with government to quickly control the outbreak.

He urged the private sector to cash in on the opportunity to establish veterinary laboratories across the country for easy and faster diagnosis of animal diseases.

credit:  Nigerianbulletin

The wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, on Wednesday presented empowerment items to 3, 000 women in Kano under her pet project, I care Women and Youth Initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items include rice, sewing, grinding and knitting machines, as well as fertilizer, water pumps, soap and cooking oil.

Amina said the gesture was aimed at empowering the women to establish small scale businesses and improve their socio-economic status in life.

The wife of the Vice President urged all eligible women voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards which would enable them vote leaders of their choice.

She also called on them to come out en masse during the February elections to vote for PDP candidates.

Amina advised mothers to ensure proper upbringing of their children to enable them become useful members of the society.

She urged all Nigerians to pray for peaceful general election in the country.

In her remark, the PDP Women Leader in Tarauni Local Government, Hajiya Sa’adiyya Abdullahi expressed appreciation for the gesture, and promised to ensure justice and fairness in the distribution of the items.

Credit:  Nigerianbulletin

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday accused the Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. John Obafunwa, of not possessing a PhD and holding two jobs.

Dr Adesola Nasir, ASUU’s Zonal Coordinator, Lagos Zone, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that apart from being LASU’s VC, Obafunwa was also the Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State.

He said it was an aberration to the laws setting up a university for it to be headed by a personality without a PhD certificate.

``The vice-chancellor could not run LASU as he ought to, because he lacks the capability to do so," the ASUU official said.

In his reaction, Prof. Obafunwa described the allegation of his non-possession of a PhD as ``ignorance at its height’’.

Obafunwa said if anyone was questioning his education as to the PhD/Fellowship issue, that person should contact the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The LASU vice-chancellor said the claim of the union was another demonstration of ignorance that requires no comments, stressing:"I need not enter into political discourse," he said.

Obafunwa listed some Nigerian universities with vice-chancellors in the Medical field as the University of Ibadan, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; the Federal University, Lokoja; Osun State University and LASU.
 

credit: Nigerianbulletin

‘PDP Plans To Use Court To Stop Elections’ – Lai Mohammed

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to meet its new King Salman after the death of his predecessor Abdullah on Friday, testimony to Riyadh’s important role in energy markets and the fight against Islamist militancy.

Russia’s Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande and Japan’s Crown Prince, Naruhito, will visit on Saturday and Sunday to offer condolences.

Obama will cut short a visit to India to pay his respects instead of Vice President Joe Biden, who had been scheduled to fly in from Washington, the White House said on Saturday.

Muslim leaders paid their respects on Friday at Abdullah’s funeral in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, some international human rights groups, have called on Western leaders to condemn Saudi Arabia’s record of crushing dissent and depriving women and foreign workers of rights instead of praising its late king.

Salman takes charge in Saudi Arabia at a time of deep uncertainty in the kingdom, surrounded by a region in tumult and nervous about both Iranian influence and the spread of Islamist militants.

The kingdom’s role in orchestrating Arab support for joint action with Western countries against the Islamic State group has won praise in Washington, while its role as biggest oil exporter is particularly important at this time of market instability.

Saudi jets have bombed IS targets in Syria, its top clerics have issued repeated denunciations of the militant group despite similarities between its ideology and Wahhabism, and the police have detained thousands of militant suspects in the past decade.

Salman pledged on Friday to maintain the kingdom’s policies and kept most of Abdullah’s cabinet, including the oil, finance and foreign affairs ministers, in place.

Western countries also value the kingdom as an important market for their defense industries and Salman quickly moved to appoint his son Prince Mohammed, 35, as his own successor as Defence Minister, responsible for big arms contracts.

Saudi Arabia observes no official period of mourning, in keeping with the ascetic traditions of its official Wahhabi school of Sunni Islam, but the royal court has announced that it will receive condolences and pledges of allegiance until Sunday.

Late on Friday, state television showed princes, Wahhabi clerics, tribal chiefs, military leaders, major businessmen and other dignitaries crowding the royal palace to kiss King Salman’s shoulder or hand.

The king’s rapid appointments of half-brother Muqrin, 69, as Crown Prince and nephew Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as Deputy Crown Prince, appeared to resolve for many years to come speculation that succession disputes might destabilise the ruling family.

credit:  channels Television

Google Nigeria has just unveiled a new online portal via which voters and observers can catch up on the latest news relating to the 2015 General Elections.

The portal, which is accessible via web or mobile, will serve as a one-stop resource for all news, party and candidate profiles, INEC activity, videos and digital media relating to the elections, in the run up to the polls in February.

Eligible voters are also encouraged to pledge their votes ahead of election day, using a social sharing feature on the portal to publicize their intent, and also encourage two other people to do same.

It’s not just for eligible voters. Candidates vying for posts can also better articulate their manifestos and agenda to the voting public using interactive features on the portal.

The concept for an election hub is not the first by Google in Africa. First conceived in 2007, it has undergone over 40 iterations in other African countries.

Credit: ynaija.com