Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza dies of 'cardiac arrest' at 55

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza, aged 55, has died after suffering a cardiac arrest, the government says.

He was admitted to hospital on Saturday after feeling unwell, his condition improved but on Monday he had a cardiac arrest and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, officials say.

After 15 years in power, Mr Nkurunziza was due to step down in August.

In 2015, the announcement that he would run for a third term plunged the country into chaos.

It sparked anger as some questioned the legality of a third-term bid.

There was a failed coup attempt, hundreds of people died in clashes and tens of thousands fled the country.

After a change in the constitution, he was able to run for a further term in last month's election but he decided to retire and was to be known as the "supreme guide to patriotism".

He was also due to receive a $540,000 (£440,000) retirement pay-out and a luxury villa.

Mr Nkurunziza came to power in 2005 after a civil war which left 300,000 people dead.

The former rebel leader took pride in the fact that his administration brought peace to Burundi.

But his government has been criticised for widespread human rights abuses.

These include "extrajudicial executions, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, extortion, beatings, and intimidation", according to Human Rights Watch.

Political opponents have been targeted and journalists have been imprisoned.

Mr Nkurunziza's wife was rumoured to have tested positive for coronavirus - a disease Mr Nkurunziza had appeared to downplay, holding an election in the midst of the outbreak, and even expelling World Health Organization representatives from the country.

The government has announced seven days of national mourning.

EKITI COVID-19 UPDATE

EKITI COVID-19 UPDATE: As at 7:00 am on June 9, there are nine (9) active cases of #COVID19 in Ekiti State. 

Discharged: 18

Active: 9

Deaths: 2

Click here for live updates: https://t.co/9ZLGkHMm39

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No NEC meeting before Edo primary, says APC

The possibility of an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Edo State governorship primary is remote, it was learnt on Monday.

The shadow poll is expected to hold on June 22, according to the guidelines by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) which has directed the chapter to brace up for a direct primary.

However, some party chieftains, including some governors rooting for Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term, are mounting pressure on the party leadership to consider an emergency NEC meeting to renew the guidelines on the direct primary.

Obaseki and his supporters, who are resisting the direct primary, are rooting for an indirect primary or delegate system.

But, APC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who spoke on preparations for the Edo election in Abuja, said there would be no need for any emergency NEC meeting before the poll.

He said: “Why should there be emergency meeting? What is the emergency? COVID-19? We, NWC, are involved in the day to day running of the party and this is part of the routine we carry out. This is not the first time and whoever said that also is expressing view, which is also allowed in democracy.”

Issa-Onilu, spoke shortly after the party displayed the aspirants’ credentials, was silent on wether the screening committee, which will be set up today, will disqualify any aspirant based on alleged forgery and perjury. (The Nation)

Gov. Sule sacks Secretary to State Government

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed-Tijani.

Ahmed-Tijjani was Commissioner for Education in the administration of Sen. Umaru Al-Makura, immediate past governor of the state.

The announcement is contained in a statement issued by Alhaji Hamza Gayam, the Permanent Secretary (PS), Government House Administration, on Monday in Lafia.

The statement said the governor had directed Ahmed-Tijani to immediately handover all government property in his possession to Mr Muazu Adamu-Gosho, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs in the  Office of the SSG.

It said that the governor thanked the former SSG for his services and support to the administration and wished him well in his future endeavour.

Recall that the state House of Assembly ad-hoc committee investigating the release of N1 billion for the renovation/fencing of public secondary schools in the state in 2018, had indicted the former SSG.

Following the indictment, the state legislators asked Ahmed-Tijani to refund over N248.5 million as unaccounted funds to the state government.

The house said the former commissioner displayed blatant inefficiency, incompetency and ineffectiveness in the performance of his official duties and urged the governor to relief him of his appointment.

NAN

Ekiti Assembly to Invite Fayose over Alleged Fraud

Ekiti State House of Assembly has said the House will invite former governor Ayodele Fayose at the appropriate time to make clarifications on some financial dealings he undertook during his reign.

The Assembly said a committee had been set up to discuss Fayose’s invitation with respect to the N10 bn supplementary budget passed 30 days to his exit from office on October 15, 2018 .

The Chairman , House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemisi Ayokunle, said this while speaking on the first year in office of the sixth Ekiti Assembly.

In response to a question whether Fayose had been invited , she said, “ We didn’t invite him, but we were about discussing his issue when he (Fayose) came in here as a meddlesome interloper.”

Recall Fayose last year stormed the Assembly complex in December 2019 , saying he was there to clarify issues after news spread that he was being invited . He was however resisted by the lawmakers.

As part of the activities marking its one year in office on June 6, the Assembly disclosed that a motion mandating the executive to rename Ekiti State Civic Centre, under construction, as John Kayode Fayemi Cultural Centre, was passed, to honour Governor Kayode Fayemi for his unwavering dedication to serve Ekiti people.

The motion was moved by the lawmaker representing Moba 1, Hon. Adeyemi Ajibade, and seconded by his colleague from Ikole II, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, and adopted by the whole Assembly.

Buhari nominates Monica Dongban-Mensem as court of appeal president to the senate

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the Acting President, Court of Appeal, to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive President Court of Appeal in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

This was disclosed by President Buhari in a tweet posted this afternoon through his official twitter handle.

The president in his statement said, ”I have sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban Mensen, Acting President Court of Appeal to the Senate for confirmation as President Court of Appeal in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council”.

Monica Dongban-Mensem who is the most senior Judge of the court of appeal was first appointed in an acting capacity in March 5, 2020, for an initial term of 3 months, following the retirement of the then President court of appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa and subsequent recommendation from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad.

Her tenure in acting capacity was further extended for another 3 months in May 29, 2020, following the expiration of the initial 3 months.

Although some of the critics expressed concerns at the delay in the confirmation of Dongban-Mensen ad the appeal court president, the presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, said that the president is not a rubber stamp and would rather wait for relevant security clearance before her confirmation.

Going further, Shehu said that this is not about ethnicity or religion but rather security and law enforcement agencies being allowed to complete their work and as such the president should not be stampeded in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities.