The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Tuesday restated that she was not involved in the selection of candidates vying for elective positions on the platform of the PDP.

Maritme industry stakeholders have commended the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, in its effort to up the ante currently being experienced in the industry.

BENIN CITY— OUTgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, yesterday, formally handed over the baton of leadership to the new Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Faraday Orhunmwense.

Akure—THE Ondo state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, denied that its state executive members have all resigned in the heat of the furore generated by governor Olusegun Mimiko’s defection to the party.

IBADAN—Eminent personalities including the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.and the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, President, Mr. Austin Alege, SAN, yesterday, condemned the spate of impeachment of speakers in Nigeria by minority legislators, saying it was a bad omen for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

Brent crude oil steadied below $73 a barrel yesterday, although Russian and Nigerian currencies remained under pressure on persistent doubts over their central banks’ ability to provide support. With Brent crude trading at about $72, breaking a five-day losing streak, the rouble staged a brief rally but headed lower again, losing 1.4 percent against the dollar.

Some capital market operators have called on the Federal Government to intensify effort towards amending the existing privatization laws that would transform the Nigerian economy.

LAGOS—A Federal High Court in Lagos, has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, from according any recognition or accepting as valid any primaries for next year’s election except those conducted with the ad hoc ward delegates list.

AS the national U- 23 men’s football team the, Dream Team VI technical crew continues to juggle with players in camp, Head Coach Samson Siasia has expressed satisfaction with the quality displayed by some of the players in camp for the screening exercise.

In recent times, the two unions in the Petroleum sector; Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, besides the protracted Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that have remained unattended to by the National Assembly, have been battling government and private sector employers in the industry over victimization of union leaders, amongst others.