Nigeria: Political Dynasties Still Standing Today By Paul Chiama

In Nigeria's political history, there are names that cannot be erased so soon after making impact in the country's politics. PAUL CHIAMA looks at Nigeria's political dynasties still surviving till date.

Saraki Dynasty
In Kwara State, being part of the political dynasty established by the late 'strong man of Kwara politics' (as he was famously known), Alhaji Abubakar Olusola Saraki, is the beginning of political sagacity, at least, for young politicians in the state who want to remain relevant.
Saraki was a Second Republic Senate leader. His son, who was governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, is also a senator today and has become the leading icon of the dynasty. Going by possible political permutations, Bukola Saraki is also a potential Senate president. The elder Saraki was also elected to Senate again in 1983 on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Libya conflict displaces half a million people

A migrant disembarks from the Italian Coast Guard ship Gregretti which is believed to be carrying 27 survivors of the migrant shipwreck in the mediterranean, at Catania port on April 20, 2015 in Catania, Italy. 
Image by: Getty Images

"The escalation of armed violence in Libya has driven more than half a million people from their homes" from May 14, 2014 until the beginning of April, a report said.
The largest number of them, more than 126,000, have fled to the capital, with second city Benghazi taking another 110,000.

South African shops in Malawi shut amid anti-xenophobia protests

Foreign men from Malawi queue to board buses from a camp for those affected by anti-immigrant violence in Chatsworth north of Durban, April 18, 2015.
Image by: REUTERS

This is according to Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) boss, John Kapito who said "it will help show South Africans that people depend on one another across the global and the continent."
He said the shop owners of Pep, Game and Shoprite have been tipped to close the shops on Friday.
“We have ordered them to remain closed for the day because we are avoiding scenes which you and I don’t want to happen. The demos will be characterised by protests against the attacks on foreigners out there.”

Borno, Kano to educate 100 Boko Haram orphaned children

The governments of Borno and Kano states have agreed to sponsor about 100 children orphaned by Boko Haram insurgents through school.

Under the scheme, the students will be  sponsored in various primary schools in Kano State.

The sponsorship arrangement was made known on Monday by the Borno State Head of Service, Mr. Yakubu Bukar, who represented Governor Kashim Shettima at a send off ceremony for the children.

Bukar, at the ceremony which preceded the departure of the children to Kano, congratulated them on being selected by the government for sponsorship through primary school up to the tertiary education level.

South Africa Soccer legend John Shoes Moshoeu Dies

Former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs star John Shoes Moshoeu has sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer.

South African football agent, Glyn BinkinHe tweeted: "May be gone but will never be forgotten and his family have requested their privacy and that they may be allowed to mourn in peace."
This was followed by a tweet from Sports presenter Robert Marawa who mentioned that the player was 'in the presence of some members of the Class of '96'' when he drew his last breath at 15:00 on Tuesday.

Photos: Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegen Obasanjo's meeting in Abuja

Nigeria's President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met in Abuja yesterday Monday, April 20, 2015. More pics after cut....

President Jonathan Sacks Police IG Suleiman Abba

Press release on the IG"s Sack after cut....

South Africa deploys army to end Xenophopic Attacks

Foreign nationals queue for food at a temporary refugee camp, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, April 20, 2015. 

 The South African army has been deployed to areas in that remain volatile after a spate of attacks targeting immigrants, the defense minister announced on Tuesday.

Soldiers have already been sent to support police in troubled areas, Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said in a live broadcast.
The minister made the announcement in Alexandra, a Johannesburg township where a Zimbabwean couple survived a shooting overnight. The man was shot in the neck and his partner was shot in her leg, the minister said. Both Zimbabweans were treated and discharged from hospital.

Guinea’s president bears the weight of what Ebola has done to his country

Guinea President Alpha Condé, center, mingles with Rev. Jesse Jackson, second from left, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Ron Dellums, right, a former mayor of Oakland and former congressman. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post)

Alpha Condé, the reserved and slender president of Guinea, retired to his sprawling suite Wednesday evening at the Four Seasons in Georgetown, having just wrapped up a long day of meetings on the Hill.
The 77-year-old leader had bags under his eyes, and his handlers were concerned he wouldn’t appear vibrant in photographs. But there was more politicking to be done, so the president of the Ebola-ravaged nation changed from his sharp navy suit into a loose burnt-orange top and dark slacks and kept working late into the night.

Egypt court jails ousted president Morsi for 20 years

Mohamed Morsi.

But the court acquitted Morsi -- Egypt's first freely elected president -- of murder charges that could have seen him sentenced to death over the killings of a journalist and two protesters during clashes outside a presidential palace in 2012.

Morsi, a leader of the now blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood movement, and the other defendants were charged with "using violence and arresting and torturing protesters" during the December 5, 2012 clashes.

The gospel according to Wi-Fi By PENWELL DLAMINI

CONNECTED: Bishop Eric Mkhize, senior pastor at the Faith Centre Malvern Assembly in eastern Johannesburg, delivers a sermon from his iPad.
Image by: MOELETSI MABE

Printed Bibles and hymn books are no longer part of many church services as priests and congregants embrace everything from iPads to electronic banking and social media forums including Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp.

The benefits are convenience, saving on printing and improved communication.

Zulu king Zwelithini blames media‚ calls for calm

"I haven't called this imbizo to say we are responsible‚ but because of your numbers you can stop this carnage. We believe that there's a third force to all of this‚” he said.

"You have all heard misleading reports and rumours saying the Zulus are mobilising and getting into trains to Johannesburg to fight. Those are people who want to pit us against each other."

He called for peace.

Tweet Of The Day: NTA News on War Against Boko Haram.

Buruji Kashamu "Olusegun Obasanjo Plotting To Extradite Me To The US"

In a letter titled "Prince Buruji Kashamu: Abduction Plans By United States of America Agents in Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.”  sent to the National Human Rights Commission NHRC signed by his lawyer, Mr Ajibola Oluyede dated April 15th, Prince Kashamu 

said the former President's plans to extradite him to the US is a form of revenge against him for the comprehensive political defeat he (Obasanjo) suffered because of Kashamu in the PDP.

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan Denies $10B Election Bribes

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has denied spending two trillion Nigerian naira, or over $10 billion, to win votes for his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the recent general elections after a Nigerian newspaper accused the outgoing president of doling out the cash to PDP officials and close aides in an attempt to win polling booths and local governments. Some officials allegedly used the cash to purchase expensive cars and other luxury items rather than distribute the funds to voters and groups.