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Iran elections have history of dark horses Election season is under way in Iran and the rumour mill is in overdrive as the public tries to divine the backroom machinations that have thrown up major surprises in the past. “I looked back at the cables our embassy was sending out just a few weeks before the last election,” said a Western diplomat in Tehran. “None of them were predicting (Hassan) Rouhani would win,” she laughed, referring to the current president. Rouhani, a moderate cleric with a long history in Iran’s security apparatus, won the 2013 after the only other pro-reform candidate dropped out to boost his chances. Having overseen a slight easing in social restrictions and rebuilt relations with the West through the 2015 nuclear deal, Rouhani seemed like a shoo-in to win a second term at next month’s election. But he faces a tougher-than-expected fight as the conservative opposition rallies around two hardliners — cleric and judge Ebrahim Raisi and Tehran mayor Mohamm...

Man arrested for beheading mother in Abia       By Ugochukwu Alaribe ABA—A middle-aged man, identified as Christopher Nwajei, who beheaded his mother in Umuchagu Osokwa, Osisisoma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State, has been arrested by the residents of the community. Nwajei, who is an apprentice welder, had on March 29, beheaded his mother, Cecilia, while she was preparing dinner at about 7.30p.m., on returning from the farm. The assailant reportedly collected some of her mother’s blood and fled the community. A resident of the community, who did not want her name in print, told Vanguard that the suspect was arrested in a bush on the outskirts of the community by a search party before he was handed over to police. Nwajei, who blamed the devil for the action, confessed to have beheaded his mother because she told him that he is not a native of the Umuchagu Osokwa village. He denied collecting her blood for rituals. The state’s Police Public Relations Of...

APC responsible for Nigerians’ suffering—PDP       By By Abdallah     el-Kurebe Sokoto—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Sokoto State has said the “poor performance” of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at all levels of government is responsible for Nigerians’ suffering, and that the party is an opposition to itself. Speaking through the party’s state Secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, yesterday, PDP described the current fracas between the Presidency and the Senate as an act of immaturity perpetrated by a bunch of people who had no positive feelings for the people they govern. According to PDP, “should the Senate and the Presidency be insensitive to the plight of the people and continue with the selfish fight among themselves? This is an act of immaturity. They do not have the people at heart.                                           APC “...

FG’ll deliver on electoral promises – Lawmaker       By Demola Akinyemi ILORIN—Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, has assured Nigerians that despite the current economic hardship, the All Progressives Congress, APC, government will deliver on its electoral promises to the masses before the end of the four-year tenure. Senator Ibrahim called on Christians to use the Easter period to pray for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, for divine intervention to actualise his plan for the nation. President Buhari with R-L: Vice Chairman of AACB and Governor Central Bank of Nigeria Mr Godwin Emefiele, Chairman, Association of African Central Banks (AACB) Mr Lucas Abaga Nchama, Chairman, Senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Kebbi State Governor H.E. Atiku Bagudu and other participants Sen...

EFCC’s recent discoveries laughable — Baptist Convention By Caleb Ayansina ABUJA —The Nigerian Baptist Convention, yesterday, described as laughable the recent money claimed to be discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through the whistle-blowing policy in its ongoing war against corruption in the country. Recently, the commission claimed to have intercepted an undeclared sum of N49 million at the Kaduna International Airport, as well as over N13 billion cash in local and foreign currencies in a four-bedroom apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, without ascertaining the ownership. The President, FCT Baptist Conference of the  Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, stated this at a press conference on the 104th  Annual Session of the Nigerian Baptist Convention with the theme; Moving Forward; Overcoming the Challenges of Life through Jesus Christ, to be held at the National Stadium in Abuja. Akanji admonished the anti-graft agency to display ...