Muslim Brotherhood clinches Egypt's Presidency

Mohamed Morsy,Egypt's President Elect

Islamist Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood was elected president of Egypt with 51.7 percent of last weekend’s run-off vote, defeating former general Ahmed Shafik, the State Election Committee says today while (Sunday) while announcing the result of the presidential poll.

He succeeds Hosni Mubarak, who was overthrown 16 months ago after a popular uprising. The military council which has ruled the biggest Arab nation since then has this month curbed the powers of the presidency, meaning the head of state will have to work closely with the army on a planned democratic constitution.

Thousands of Brotherhood supporters burst into cheers on Cairo’s Tahrir Square, waving national flags and chanting "Allahu Akbar!" or God is Great, greeting a dramatic victory.

Morsy, a 60-year-old, U.S.-educated engineer who spent time in jail under Mubarak, won the first round ballot in May with a little under a quarter of the vote. He has pledged to form an inclusive government to appeal to the many Egyptians, including a large Christian minority, who are anxious over religious rule.

The military council will retain control of the biggest army in the Middle East, whose closest ally is the United States. Morsy has said he will respect international treaties, notably that signed with Israel in 1979, on which much U.S. aid depends.

"President Morsy will struggle to control the levers of state," Elijah Zarwan, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in Cairo. "He will likely face foot-dragging and perhaps outright attempts to undermine his initiatives from key institutions. Faced with such resistance, frustration may tempt him fall into the trap of attempting to throw his new weight around," Zarwan told Reuters. "This would be a mistake."

"His challenge is to lead a bitterly divided, fearful, and angry population toward a peaceful democratic outcome, without becoming a reviled scapegoat for continued military rule."

State of Insecurity--President Sacks Security Adviser, Minister of Defence

By Lateef Lawal

The re-organisation of the nation’s security may have begun with the sack yesterday of the National Security Adviser to the President and the Minister of Defence.
The National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi has been immediately replaced by Sambo Dasuki , a retired colonel.
Colonel Dasuki had served as Aide de Camp (ADC) to former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
He is the son of deposed Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who was sent packing by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.
The news of their sack was contained in a terse statement released by the spokesman to the President, Mr Reuben Abati. No reason was given for their removal.
Before the latest development, there have been several calls for the removal of the National Security Adviser, General Azazi and the Minister of Defence, Haliru B. Mohammed over high level of insecurity in the country and especially the inability  to curb the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect with their constant serial bombings, bloodletting which has led to several hundreds of death and maiming of innocent civilians and in some instances soldiers and policemen.
However, recently at a public gathering in the South-South part of the country, Azazi attributed the rise in the activities of the Boko Haram sect to the heightened politicking of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) towards the 2015 Presidential race.
He was then randomly condemned by the top hierarchy of the PDP who did not mince word in calling for his removal as it was wrong of him to have accused the ruling party which produced the government under which he was employed as its National Security Adviser.
It will be recalled that the President himself in a rare outburst told Nigerians sometime ago that there were ‘’Boko Haram’’ sympathisers in his cabinet and other government operatives.

International Council of Tourism Partners announces Riviera Maya Destination Marketing as new member from Mexico

The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that Riviera Maya Destination Marketing in Mexico has joined the alliance as a destination member.
The Mayan civilization has been a thing of wonder for the whole world. All of its extraordinary accomplishments have been remarked upon by scholars and scientists in untold numbers; their perfect mathematical calculations, its numbers system, its way of predicting the cycles of the seasons and the proven ability of its members to navigate the seas. All true marvels, even today.
At tourist destination of Riviera Maya, also known as the Mayan Riviera, historic ruins of the Mayan culture meet modern conveniences of travel delights and holiday making. 
Riviera Maya Destination Marketing provides a bounty of tourism and travel information from this sacred land that has been venerated for generations. 
It is a universe filled with knowledge and wisdom that never fails to surprise you with impressive edifices, where there are totems that bear inscriptions still to be deciphered and, perhaps, forever undecipherable. 
There are thousands of canals in this universe, created by man to connect the communicating vessels along with observatories from which to study the rest of this vast universe.
Chairman of ICTP, Juergen T. Steinmetz, said: “Riviera Maya is truly a quality cultural destination offering a vast array of ecological activities for its guests. The region offers a magical combination of the historic and the modern, a truly remarkable vacation destination.”
General Director of Riviera Maya Destination Marketing, Mr. Dario Flota, waxed poetic of the many eco-friendly and cultural adventures awaiting at this destination: “Here, sinuous paths wind their way through the heart of the jungle, through the remaining vestiges, the temples and cities of an ancient, extraordinarily advanced civilization. Subterranean rivers flow through the Earth's entrails, and the sacred underground waters are surrounded by lush vegetation that will restore your desire to live life to its fullest.”
For more information about Riviera Maya Destination Marketing, visit: www.rivieramaya.com .


ABOUT ICTP


The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a new grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. The ICTP logo represents the strength in collaboration (the block) of many small communities (the lines) committed to sustainable oceans (blue) and land (green).


ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, and fair coherent taxation.


ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. The ICTP alliance is represented in Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA; Brussels, Belgium; Bali, Indonesia; and Victoria, Seychelles. ICTP membership is available to qualified destinations free of charge. Academy membership features a prestigious and selected group of destinations.


ICTP has members in Anguilla; Aruba; Bangladesh; Belgium, Canada; China; Croatia; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; The Gambia, India; Indonesia; Iran; La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malaysia; Malawi; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Northern Mariana Islands, US Pacific Island Territory; Pakistan; Palestine; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sultanate of Oman; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Yemen; Zimbabwe; and from the US: Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Missouri, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.


Partner associations include: African Bureau of Conventions; African Chamber of Commerce Dallas/Fort Worth; Africa Travel Association; Alliance for training and research in the field of social and solidarity tourism (ISTO/OITS); Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association; Cultural and Environment Conservation Society; DC-Cam (Cambodia); Hawaii Tourism Association; Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management; International Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre(IHTRC); International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT); International Organization of Electronic Tourism Industry (IOETI); Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence, Zambia; Positive Impact Events, Manchester, UK; RETOSA : Angola- Botswana - DR Congo - Lesotho - Madagascar - Malawi - Mauritius - Mozambique - Namibia - South Africa - Swaziland - Tanzania - Zambia- Zimbabwe; Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, China; SKAL International; Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH); Sustainable Travel International (STI); The Region Initiative, Pakistan; University of Florida: Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute; University of Hawaii; University of Technology Mauritius; and vzw Reis-en Opleidingscentrum, Gent, Belgium; and University of Technology Mauritius.

Al-Qaeda offers camels for Obama's head

A Somali Islamist militant group is offering rewards of chickens and camels for information on the whereabouts of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, mocking the millions of dollars the United States has offered for leaders of the al-Qaeda affiliate.
Fuad Muhammad Khalaf of the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement in Somalia made the offer after Friday prayers, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant organizations.
"Whoever reveals the hideout of the idiot Obama will be rewarded with 10 camels, and whoever reveals the hideout of the old woman Hillary Clinton will be rewarded 10 chickens and 10  roosters," he said, according to SITE.
On Thursday, the US State Department offered a reward of $5 million each for the whereabouts of Khalaf and three associates, as well as $7 million for information about al Shabaab founder and commander Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed. A bounty of $3 million was offered for the location of two other officials of the organization.
Al-Qaeda said in February the al Shabaab group, which was branded a terrorist organization by the US government in 2008, had joined its ranks.
Al Shabaab, which has controlled large parts of Somalia, faces pressure from Kenyan troops in the south, Ethiopian troops in central Somalia and African Union forces near the capital, Mogadishu.

source:ChinadailyEurope

SUICIDE BOMBER KILL 12 IN BAUCHI

A lone suicide bomber early today detonated a car-bomb killing at least 12 people  at a church in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
The bomber drove an explosives-laden car into the Living Faith Church, in Yelwa, on the outskirts of the state, targeting Sunday-morning worshippers.
Security men at a road nearby road block disclosed that the bomber forced his car through the checkpoint and drove into the church.
Although an eyewitness at the scene confirmed to have seen 12 bodies removed from the building, the death toll is expected to rise in the coming hours, as typical of such attacks.
The Bauchi State commissioner of Police has already confirmed the blast, describing it as a suicide effort.
Responsibility for the attack has not been immediately claimed by any group, but natural suspicion at once falls on Boko Haram, the predominantly northern Islamist sect that has, for the past two years, been battling the Federal Government in its bid to enthrone Islamic Sharia Law, exterminate all forms of Western education, and secure the release of its members across Nigerian prisons.
Boko Haram’s last Sunday morning attack on Christians was an April 29 bombing and shooting of Christian worshippers at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), killing at least 15 people and wounding scores more.

NUFBTE WARNS FG ON DANGERS OF FOOD IMPORTATION.

By Lateef Lawal

The Federal Government has been told to stop further importation of food items into the country in order to encourage local industries.
The National President and Secretary of the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Comrades Lateef Oyelekan and Lamidi Danjuma in an interview with reporters at the MMA2 on one year of President Goodluck Jonathan administration, said the government has failed in infrastructural development.
The duo declared that the government was under test run with the cost of manufacturing on the high side and called for the subsidizing of food items by government to enable Nigerians have access to good food.
The union explained that it was the duty of government to provide clothing, shelter and food for its citizens adding, that government has no business importing perishable items into the country.
“We don’t need any importation of perishable items; government must encourage and support the manufacturing companies”
They condemned any attempt by the government to increase electricity tariff and warned government to stop further importation of generating sets and improve on the power situation in the country to boost the survival of local industries.
The union leaders accused the government of President Jonathan for being insensitive to the plights of Nigerians adding, that there has been total collapse of infrastructure in the country under the present leadership.
According to them, lack of good road and rail network has negatively affected the business in the country with multi-national companies relocating to other neighbouring countries for a better environment.
They condemned the granting of licenses by the Ministry of Labour to individuals for the recruitment of contract staff in some companies adding, that the battle line has been drawn as the union will deal decisively with companies involved in it at the appropriate time.
According to the duo, with the engagement of contract staff, permanent staff were being phased out from the system adding that if posed danger in the sector, and called on the Ministry of Labour to halt such action in the interest of safety, industrial harmony and peace.
On the sack of over 250 workers by the Dangote Company in Ikorodu last year, the union warned that they would soon act as the management has failed to honour all the calls for meeting to resolve the situation.
Comrade Oyelekan noted that the workers were sacked because they opted to join workers union to protect their welfare and management ill-treatment.
Describing the action of the company as illegal and infringement on the fundamental human right of the affected staff, he called on the Group Chairman of Dangote, Alhaji Aliyu Dangote  and the Minister of Labour to step in with the aim of resolving the impasse by recalling the sacked workers.

‘Creamy’ Cocaine weighing 9.5kg seized at MMIA, Lagos

The suspect

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded the first seizure of ‘creamy’ cocaine in the country.

The 9.500kg cocaine which looks like ice cream was being smuggled into the country in four big coolers by an unrepentant suspected drug trafficker who is currently facing trial over unlawful importation of a kilogramme of cocaine from Brazil in 2010.

The re-arrest of the 50 year old at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos has generated mixed reactions on the adequacy of the legal framework and justice dispensation in drug control.

The suspect, Martin Ikechukwu was caught with 9.500kg of creamy substance that tested positive for cocaine on his way from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Operatives of the NDLEA detected the drug following suspicion on the four giant size water coolers.

Further examination revealed the parcels of drugs after it was cut open. Four (4) parcels each of creamy cocaine were found to have been industrially strapped round the body of the four coolers.

In all a total of 16 parcels weighing 9.500kg with an estimated street value of over 90 million naira were recovered during search at the arrival hall of the airport.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar who confirmed the arrest explained that the command has been grappling with the problem of re-arrest of suspected drug traffickers who are released on bail.

“The re-arrest of persons undergoing trial for drug related charges is one of our numerous challenges. This suspect was first arrested on 23^rd of February 2010 for ingesting one kilogramme of cocaine and there are several cases like this” Hamza noted.

Commenting on the arrest and drug seizure, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the arrest shows the extent to which drug barons can go in attempt to prevent drugs from being detected.

According to the NDLEA boss, “while this arrest reflects the level of desperation by drug barons, it has also raised questions on the issue of bail for drug traffickers. Certainly, the accused is unrepentant and has shown no remorse because he was first caught with 1kg and went back to smuggle 9.500kg of cocaine even when the first case is ongoing. We shall pursue this case to a logical conclusion and use it as deterrent to others”.

The Agency is also investigating the circumstances under which the suspect acquired new travel documents as well as his accomplices. Fresh facts have been uncovered by the investigating team.

Martin Ikechukwu hails from Enugu State. He attended Army Children Primary School, Ibadan, Oyo State and Government Technical College Awka where he graduated in 1980. He said that he wanted to raise some money to enable him settle down with his family.

“I travelled to Brazil in 2009 and was managing a restaurant to earn a living. Unfortunately, I was arrested when I came home in 2010. When I was granted bail, there was nobody to help me. I had no option than to smuggle drugs again because they promised to pay me the sum of 3 million naira. My intention was to settle down with my family because I am not getting younger” Martin stated. The suspect will soon be charged to court.

A YORUBA(MUSLIM) MAN IS THE ALLEGED COMMANDER OF BOKO HARAM IN KANO STATE,says JMT

A Muslim Yoruba man, Suleiman Mohammed, who hails from Ogbomosho, Oyo State, according to the Joint Military Task Force is the operational Commander of the Boko Haram in Kano.

He was detained on Friday alongside his wife and five children after a raid at his residence located at Farawa Babbanlayi where the military found sophisticated weaponry.  

 It was gathered that he has since been flown to Abuja.

Kano State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, who confirmed the arrest of the sect leader attributed his capture to good intelligence work following a tip off.

Idris said no shot was fired during the raid, adding that 1000 rounds of ammunitions, 10 crates of IEDs, a riffle and 3 pistols were seized from him.

“The arrest came after a tip off from the public; and security agencies successfully arrested the top sect leader, whom we believe to be the operational commander of the sect in the state," he said.

Idris further stated that Suleiman is likely to be the person behind the series of organised deadly attacks in the state, particularly, the attack on Christian worshippers inside the BUK campus and the targeted killings of innocent persons in the state.

“After the bomb attack of BUK April 29th, the command's Bomb Disposal Unit recovered IEDs, and 14 canned IEDs at the University compound.

"Likewise, another bomb was evacuated from the Faculty of Sociology on May 1st, while three other bombs were recovered at various locations in the University May 8th and were successfully detonated."

NJC Pardons Isa Ayo Salami

The National Judicial Council has unanimously agreed to pardon the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

Thee Council is expected to send a letter to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to reinstate him as the President of the Court, a highly place judicial source unveiled today( Thursday).

The decision to pardon Salami was taken during a two-day meeting of the council, however, NJC is yet to issue a formal statement concerning Salami’s reinstatement.

Justice Salami’s pardon is coming several months after he was disgraced out of office following his ignoble conduct and role in the judiciary. 

He was indicted by a panel set up by the NJC and was recommended for suspension and immediate retirement after he refused to apologise to the council and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu for telling lies against him.

Salami was accused of rigging the court process to award victories to two Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Governorship candidates. 

Call logs presented by the ousted PDP governors showed that Salami had maintained an alarming contact with ACN party chieftains, just before the court delivered its verdict in favour of the ACN. 

Curiously, the party has been leading the campaign for his reinstatement.

Following his suspension, President Jonathan, who said he did not want a vacuum at the court, replaced Salami with Justice Dalhatu Adamu.

sourrce:THEWILL

NEW SECTOR COMMANDER FOR RIVERS STATE FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps has appointed Dr Kayode Olagunju, a Corps Commander as the Sector Commander for Rivers State Command of the Corps.
He replaces Commander Mary Wakawa who has been redeployed to Ondo State as Sector Commander.
Kayode Olagunju, until his redeployment to Rivers State was the Corps Transport Standardization Officer at the National Headquarters and also a member of the FRSC Management.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree ( PhD) in Transportation Geography from the University of Lagos, Master of Science degree in Transport Studies from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife.
He also attended several other professional courses and conferences both within and outside Nigeria.
Olagunju, a pioneer staff of the organization had previously served as Sector Commander in Oyo State between 1992 and 1996 . He was also a two time Lagos Sector Commander (1999-2003 and 2008-2009), Sector Commander Adamawa State (2005-2007) and Kogi State (2008-2009).
Kayode Olagunju had also served as Deputy Director, Manpower Development, Head, Media and Publishing Section and Corps Public Education Officer, all at the Road Safety Headquarters, among other past appointments.
The new Sector Commander also served as a member of the Federal Government Task Force on Trade Facilitation and United States Agency International Development USAID/Markets, Trade and Transportation on LAKAJI Corridor.
Also, a member of the Nigeria National Road Transport and Transit Committee of the Economic Commission on West African States (ECOWAS) and the Federal Government Enlarged National Focal Point on Trade Matters and was a Nigerian delegate to the World Trade Organization Trade Policy Review on Nigeria in Geneva, in June 2011.
Dr Olagunju is a well decorated officer with several awards and commendations. He won the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Award for Outstanding Performance and Dedication to Service in 1993 and 1999 . He hopes to work with all stakeholders to evolve better road culture in the State.

Local content drive: Samsung(SHI) begins overseas training programme for Nigerian youths

In its supportive efforts at ensuring that the local content input drive in the oil and gas sector is realised to meet Federal Government's transformation agenda, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), has sent the first group of  20 young Nigerian trainees, to Samsung’s shipyard in Geoje, South Korea on an extensive training programme.
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), is a foremost world class shipbuilding and offshore fabrication company.
The company’s  commitment to training Nigerians was first announced on February 6, with the ground breaking of its new world class training facility in LADOL Free Zone, called (“Samsung Nigeria Technology Academy”).
The training facility will cost about USD 10 million and will benefit from having Samsung’s world class training programs and equipment.
Samsung has however, gone a step further by launching Samsung’s Intensive Technical Training Programme, providing full scholarships for young Nigerians to also be trained at itsworld class facility in Korea.
The scholarship programme run by Samsung exclusively for young Nigerians, would cost the South Korea based company a sum of $300,000 to train each group of twenty trainees.
Speaking at the pre-departure ceremonies for the youths at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos last week, the General Manager SAMSUNG Heavy Industries in Nigeria, Mr. Frank Ejuzi told journalists that the company decided to key in to the training of Nigerian youths to meet the local content initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan by sending the youths for training in South Korea to acquire technology which they are expected acquire and transfer  to the oil and gas sector of the economy.
“ In order to recover the Nigerian local content initiative of Mr President, we felt it is important to support that initiative and my company is sending the first batch of youths in the oil and gas sector for training in Korea in other for them to transfer the technology to our other youths back home,” said Ejuzi
Samsung’s commitment to training Nigerians ahead of any contract award demonstrates the Company’s true intention to share technology with and promote local content in Nigeria. Samsung believes in promoting mutual prosperity with Nigeria by enabling Nigerians to fully participate in and contribute to the world class offshore fabrication projects.
For Samsung this is the start of a long-term relationship with Nigeria and they have already shown themselves to be unique amongst their peers, being the first and only international contractor to proactively begin training Nigerians, before winning any contracts in Nigeria.
Samsung believes Nigeria will be the hub for oil and gas in West Africa and their long-history of success in this industry has taught them that the key to harnessing success and achieving local content is investment in people. By making huge investments in Nigeria’s human capital Samsung is helping to finally unleash Nigeria’s potential.
Samsung has been working with the first group of trainees, (17 men and three women) for over a month already, preparing them for the program, including one week of social training. So the group was very well prepared when they left on Saturday.
In South Korea, the group will be trained for a full month at Samsung’s state-of-art Shipbuilding and Fabrication Yard in Geoje.
The group will be trained by teachers that are world -skills- champions, in range of fabrication related subjects. At the end of the month the group will be eligible to acquire up to four internationally accredited certificates.
Also speaking at the  pre-departure ceremony, two of the beneficiaries agreed that the overseas intensive training would give them the appropriate knowledge needed in the oil and gas field.
According to Mr  Henry Ototo an environmental Engineer,  the successful completion of the programme certify him internationally in welding and fabrication in oil and gas industry.
“I just want to thank Samsung heavy industry for keying –in into President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda because, youths of today, they said, are the leaders of tomorrow and we are going for an intensive  training at Koje and we want to let Samsung management know that we will not let them down and even our country Nigeria .We will come back and harness what would have been impacted into us from Koje into our own society”
Also Miss Duze Cornelius Anthony another beneficiary of the training programme and who is an engineering graduate from the Niger Delta  said, ‘the programme is going to better my life because before I had no job as an engineer but I was teaching. Instead of practicing my profession as an engineer, I was teaching , but today I am happy that Samsung is giving me the opportunity to showcase my professional ability as an engineer and that is going to better my lots and those around me.
She continues, “we are talking about oil and gas, we are talking about welding and fabrication and I think that I would be privileged to work in the oil and gas industry and they are saying that when we come back we will have the privilege of training others, it is also going to better my community as those who have not been to Korea would benefit from the experience I would be acquiring from there.”