Lai Mohammed cracks guests’ ribs at wedding reception

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4EW8nZlQygq-0pMWo_fr18u86D5YrYHSi2g9LSPkR6XsOtNVDqSmeHxLoFHB3Z0uf3EfX4Ez4Oa1uKHXmZo8lxb6TbjyDDdl88qHTUKATFyPvwyymnZzIWkTT1k1UPSsS5ioR0w8iCkG/s640/Lai-Mohammed+laugh.png" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> <b>The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed got guests at a wedding reception, on Saturday in Ilorin roaring with laughter following his jocoserious remarks.</b><br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the minister was the Chairman at the reception of the wedding of Tolulope Ajibola and Kolapo Faleye, both petroleum engineers.<br /> <br /> Tolulope is the daughter Chief Simon Ajibola, a former Senator who represented Kwara South in the National Assembly while the groom’s father is Mr. Olufemi Faleye also from Kwara.<br /> <br /> Addressing the couple and guests, the minister said,: “I am so delighted to be invited to be the chairman of this wedding ceremony because wedding ceremony is a thing of joy.<br /> <br /> “I pray that happiness will not cease from our homes.<br /> <br /> Mohammed, though a staunch Muslim, quoted from the Holy Bible to the admiration of guests.<br /> <br /> Speaking extempore, he said: “I will start my address by referring us to the Book of Isaiah chapter 4, verse 1 which says:<br /> <br /> “The time shall come when seven women shall take hold of one man and say food, shelter we shall provide, please let us bear your name to save us this disgrace.<br /> <br /> “So, I rejoice with Pelumi that God has given you, your own husband. I pray your union shall be fruitful and enduring.<br /> <br /> “To the groom, I want to refer you to the Book of Deuteronomy 24:5 which says: When a man weds, he shall not be called upon to go to war or work. He shall stay in the house with the wife for one full year.<br /> <br /> “I am going to speak with Mr. Faleye to allow you to stay for one year so that you can do your duty.<br /> <br /> Not done with the amused guests, the minister dropped his last advice which threw the audience in the hall into uncontrollable laughter.<br /> <br /> “I am going to end my address by giving you a valuable advice. By the Grace of God, Pelumi will be fruitful and give birth to male and female children.<br /> <br /> “I am giving you this advice based on 38 years of experience in marriage with my wife, here, pointing to Alhaja Kudirat, sitting by his side.<br /> <br /> “Whenever, Pelumi takes in and you want to know whether the baby will be a boy or a girl, you need not go to any hospital or do any scanning.<br /> <br /> “Follow my example which had worked and never failed.<br /> <br /> “When the pregnancy is eight months old, take a brand new N1000 note, put it in the navel of Pelumi. If the baby moves, it is a girl. If it does not move, it is a boy. Don’t ask me why.”<br /> <br /> NAN reports that the minister earlier attended the marriage solemnisation at the Month Olives Anglican Church, Tanke, Ilorin.<br /> <br /> In a sermon, the Vicar, Rotimi Omotoye said marriage is honourable and enjoyable. He enjoined the couple to build their union with the fear of God, love, trust and endurance.<br /> <br /> Speaking to the congregation, comprising politicians, the clergy admonished those in authority to render selfless service to the people and shun unreasonable acquisition of wealth and material things.<br /> <br /> He also charged the government of the day to do more in improving security, peaceful co-existence as well as alleviating poverty and improving the living standard of the citizens.<br /> <br /> Reacting to the exhortation by the priest in an interview, the Information minister said President Muhammadu Buhari is on the right path.<br /> <br /> Mohammed said: “The pastor said that government should aim at alleviating poverty, improving the lives of the citizens. If these are the yardsticks for good governance, I think we have passed.<br /> <br /> “I can make bold to say that government that feeds 8,500,000 pupils everyday is a government that is benefitting the people.<br /> <br /> “A government that provides infrastructure such as rail, roads, bridges, power and water is a government that is reaching out to people and touching lives.<br /> <br /> “I came out of that service more convinced that this government is on the right path because all our programmes are meant not for a few individuals but for the public.<br /> <br /> The minister reiterated that the administration was on the right track and everything is being done for the benefit of Nigerians as a whole and not for few Nigerians

Latest-News Lai Mohammed cracks guests’ ribs at wedding reception

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed got guests at a wedding reception, on Saturday in Ilorin roaring with laught...

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Gunmen kill security guard, Plateau Assembly Speaker’s driver

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdwf-922SPGKlNISThlgmxSqP7zU3_dgcRtE0oL1Tgkd0IiyK03a7VHViGsDlzPc-fMbvjVNc9eAzeidOLPiS0PWjiprlD2VyvQ2PtaEUe20dwGPAgcTos4FL6sHLM2YK_2IirPUjZHxq/s1600/plateau-891x470.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="891" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdwf-922SPGKlNISThlgmxSqP7zU3_dgcRtE0oL1Tgkd0IiyK03a7VHViGsDlzPc-fMbvjVNc9eAzeidOLPiS0PWjiprlD2VyvQ2PtaEUe20dwGPAgcTos4FL6sHLM2YK_2IirPUjZHxq/s400/plateau-891x470.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers killed two men in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday, the police said.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> One of the victims was a security guard working with University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH), while the other was a driver to the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Joshua Madaki.<br /> <br /> Two others were reportedly injured in the incident.<br /> <br /> Tyopev Terna, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Sunday.<br /> <br /> According to him, the incident occurred on Saturday in front of the hospital at about 9:00 p.m.<br /> <br /> He gave the name of the deceased as Azi Magaji, the lawmaker’s driver, and Edward Ankpa, the security officer at JUTH.<br /> <br /> “Yesterday August 25, at about 9 p.m., distress call was received to the effect that there were sporadic gun shots at Zarazong area of Jos which houses Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Gate 4.<br /> <br /> “Immediately the information was received, the lolice mobilised to the area. On arrival Azi Magaji the driver to the Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly and Edward Ankpa Titus a security guard with JUTH were found motionless.<br /> <br /> “They were rushed to JUTH immediately but were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. While Kopdi Monday and Nenman Popdak who were on duty at JUTH Gate 4 were also found with gun shot injuries and were rushed to JUTH for treatment,” Mr Terna told newsmen.<br /> <br /> He said the injured victims are responding to treatment at JUTH and Investigation into the case is on to arrest the perpetrators.

Latest-News Gunmen kill security guard, Plateau Assembly Speaker’s driver

Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers killed two men in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday, the police said. One of the victims was a sec...

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Hajj pilgrims begin return journey on Monday

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="600" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Tm-faNui6drynuHB5JbvYusxqLmT4TgtoqhrL63N1K9-GQ9PX_WlCCrY0jsho9lSCZtayUH3iRiboOkXvnebr1V_cLraB8f7qrIfJZm_H4pLZytN6-xJqX-YZPYwMLiYl9_hQiqthV3c/s640/hajj+n.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> The return journey of Nigeria’s 55,000 pilgrims who performed this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia begins on Monday, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has said.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Its Director of Operations, Abdullahi Saleh, announced this on Sunday in Jeddah after a meeting with the airline operators.<br /> <br /> He said the operation would be concluded within the same period it took to transport pilgrims from Nigeria “except there is any circumstance that warrants extension like an emergency”.<br /> <br /> He said NAHCON and the air carriers would adhere to the initial sequence of pilgrims journey to the Holy land, to be fair in discharging the duty.<br /> <br /> “The tradition of first come, first return will be observed as a principle and in line with the Saudi guidelines for fairness and equity,” he said.<br /> <br /> He appealed to pilgrims and the operators to conduct the home-bound journeys orderly, adding that the handlers had indicated their readiness for the operation.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Max Air limited, one of the airlines, said it was ready to commence the return journey.<br /> <br /> Managing Director of the airline Shyam manwani, said the company had already transported the pilgrims’ holy water (Zamzam) to Nigeria during the first phase.<br /> <br /> It will be distributed to pilgrims on return to the airports in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inaugural flight from Nigeria began on July 21 with 446 Kogi pilgrims and the return flight is expected to take the same shape.<br /> <br /> Three carriers, MAX Air Limited, Flynass and Medview are involved in the exercise.<br /> <br /> (NAN)

Latest-News Hajj pilgrims begin return journey on Monday

The return journey of Nigeria’s 55,000 pilgrims who performed this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia begins on Monday, the National Hajj Commiss...

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Two policemen crushed to death by drunk driver in Ibadan

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="789" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVwpQj_2AZJY4Sw5pp67SwpEJdy-4lqeqto_6iigpV5Q57fnAckRIAmCG4-Rw5QVvM9I0eUlAI3dyoyYjDzuKuGY0gZbfGf1H5_A_yFSCmt10OaBUF46nf4-eDkjGVlyfykbPXYvijc_l/s400/police-logo1.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> An unnamed drunk driver has crushed two policemen, attached to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), of the Oyo State Police Command in Ibadan, to death.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The incident, according to sources, was said to have occurred at Orita Challenge area of Ibadan, on Friday. The victims reportedly lost their lives immediately.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the drunk driver crushed the policemen when they were about to board the vehicle they brought to a car wash in the area. The driver was said to have probably lost control of the vehicle before ramming into the policemen.<br /> <br /> An eyewitness told journalists in Ibadan that the accident occurred when he was at Orita Challenge, waiting for a friend of his, who had promised to pick him up there, saying “suddenly, a driver seemed to lost the control of his car and hit the two late policemen as they were about to enter their vehicle.<br /> <br /> “There was commotion at first but people tried to offer help to the two victims but they died before they could be taken away from the scene to a nearby hospital. Someone later said that the driver, who was arrested at the scene, was found to be drunk.”<br /> <br /> The Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, when contacted confirmed the incident, saying the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude, “has ordered a thorough investigation into the accident. The errant driver is in our custody. He will be charged to court after completion of investigation.”

Latest-News Two policemen crushed to death by drunk driver in Ibadan

An unnamed drunk driver has crushed two policemen, attached to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), of the Oyo State Police Command in I...

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'PDP needs strong candidate to defeat Buhari'

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8czurGIzKqCKnWbjY88ZSyUjcF7dy3EMJj5rHjmwuKL4XysGjHhQ7JtKEokTEsVherciZlcztPuyuFc_z9RpwGN0vrVrI4dOza60mB65yCZNBKn-s9yPuS2DO59H1nJDpQ3YUK46Yxmf/s320/PDP.jpg" width="317" /></div> <br /> The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must field a string candidate to stand any chance of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, one of its presidential aspirants Senator Ahmed Makafi has stated.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Makarfi said Buhari, who is expected to be the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, still commands a strong followership in the North, which has the highest number of voters.<br /> <br /> The presidential hopeful declared the PDP must work on the psychology of voters in the northern part of the country many of whom he said “still retain blind followership for Buhari.”<br /> <br /> Makarfi spoke at the weekend when he visited Ekiti PDP delegates led by Deputy Governor Prof Kolapo Olusola at Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado-Ekiti in continuation of consultations on his presidential ambition ahead of the party’s national convention.<br /> <br /> He argued he is eminently qualified for the presidency having served as Kaduna governor for eight years and being in the senate for two terms during which he chaired the Committee on Finance and became PDP National Caretaker Chairman.<br /> <br /> The former Kaduna governor promised to tackle insurgency, herdsmen killings, insecurity, unemployment, epileptic power supply, infrastructural challenges and other problems confronting the nation.<br /> <br /> Makarfi said the sectarian problems and security challenges facing the country confronted Kaduna State during his tenure but he was able to overcome them with tact, consensus building and deployment of resources.<br /> <br /> He said the PDP must win very well in the North to make any headway in the presidential election, adding the party must present the candidate the people of the region repose trust in.<br /> <br /> Makarfi said: “If we want to the election, we must not lose the North and we should give them the candidate they trust in the North.<br /> <br /> “The problem for us winning is the North; the current President comes from there and there is blind followership there. If we want to win, we should field a strong candidate from there.<br /> <br /> “We must work on the psychology of the Buhari’s sentimental followers in the North and change their mind towards us.” On his manifesto, Markafi said: “First of all is the restructure of the country to make it good for everybody, restructuring of the security and creation of jobs and infrastructure development in all respects and promoting the private sector so that it can become effective employer of labour.<br /> <br /> “I am straight forward person and do not say one thing in the morning and turn it another thing in the evening.<br /> <br /> “We brought back PDP and made it now a threat to APC. I restructured Kaduna and Nigeria needs restructuring. I am not talking politics.<br /> <br /> “I was the architect of the first political sovereign conference in the country as head of the committee under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.<br /> <br /> “Institutional restructuring that would include the police, INEC and other security apparatus to ensure they do not serve the dictates of the paymasters will be done by me.”<br /> <br /> He added: “We must make our institutions to be accountable. We will ensure comprehensive restructuring of this country. I chose to travel by road for all my campaigns traveling by road is taking eighty percent of my tour.<br /> <br /> “This is to enable me see the deficiencies of our infrastructure, such as roads, condition of our people and our environment among others.<br /> <br /> “We will also restructure power generation, what is on ground now is unitary. We must liberalize it. Each state will be allowed to generate its own electricity.”

Latest-News 'PDP needs strong candidate to defeat Buhari'

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must field a string candidate to stand any chance of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, one...

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Pressure mounts on Buhari to fire NSA Monguno, Magu

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcz5g3ZY_it7kSKPejmmCvoQSaCSUu7DVdJT95NdUmLeDtvN69Xxw-yFsXFI8BM6Le0LiQ0hEBDBF8MCZmxY59R-HHGTm9GvLVFHSyHrJiGQGsIDhuVF078RH9vc7waatzKOJsZQ6QLU4/s400/Buhari+write+office.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> Loyalists of the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura have launched a move to make the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu pay for his sack.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The loyalists, including some members of the President’s kitchen cabinet and kinsmen, are understood to be putting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to fire Monguno and Magu.<br /> <br /> They have already made a representation to the President on why the duo must go.<br /> <br /> On the side of the Daura loyalists is a South West governor.<br /> <br /> In their view, the sacked DSS boss was a “victim of a palace coup” who was sacrificed for the survival of the NSA, Magu, and a few other security chiefs.<br /> <br /> They said the president must now proceed to overhaul the nation’s security architecture, sparing neither Monguno nor Magu.<br /> <br /> But some other members of the cabinet are said to be kicking against any fresh plot to tie the fate of the NSA and EFCC chair to Daura’s travails.<br /> <br /> They claim that the duo had no hand whatsoever in the sack of Daura.<br /> <br /> A source said that the EFCC steered clear of the de-briefing and interrogation of Daura by other security agencies to avoid being accused of bias or retaliation.<br /> <br /> Two letters to the Senate from the DSS under Daura were largely responsible for the decision of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly to deny Magu confirmation as substantive chairman of the EFCC.<br /> <br /> It was also gathered that the Presidency has however called for “performance brief on the NSA and Magu.”<br /> <br /> A well- placed source familiar with the development said the ripples over Daura’s removal have not abated.<br /> <br /> “Those loyal and sympathetic to the ex-DG of DSS are up in arms by mounting pressure on the President to overhaul the nation’s security and anti-corruption architecture,” the source said.<br /> <br /> “They specifically demanded the sack of the NSA and Magu too.<br /> <br /> “They alleged that the ex-DSS DG was sacrificed in the absence of the President to ease him out of the equation in the presidency.<br /> <br /> “They also alleged that the removal of Daura was timed to achieve a purpose for the NSA and the EFCC boss.<br /> <br /> “Some of these forces even added spiritual connotations to the sack of Daura. They said some marabouts did the job on behalf of some key figures around the President.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “It is unfortunate that a governor from the South-West, who has links with a few corrupt ones, has been vehement in the sack of Magu.”<br /> <br /> Continuing, the source said: “those backing Daura’s sack prevailed on the President not to bow to pressure to remove the NSA and Magu who has done so much to put the anti-corruption fight on proper footing.<br /> <br /> “Some of the lobbyists and influential people from the Northwest are alleged to be getting tired of the Northeast elements around President Buhari. They are asking him to remove a few of these Northeast hands including the NSA and Magu.”<br /> <br /> Another top source added: “Some of us are worried at the latest twist to the sack of the former DG of DSS. Some loyalists and a few influential kitchen cabinet members are trying to personalize the sack by fingering the NSA and Magu.<br /> <br /> “The NSA and Magu had nothing to do with the fate of Daura. It was not a case of investigation for corruption or any financial crimes; it had to do with wrongful deployment of forces on a critical arm of government, which is the Legislature (the National Assembly).<br /> <br /> “The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the Acting President, had told the nation that the disciplinary measure was necessary to end impunity in the country. He described the DSS operatives’ invasion of the National Assembly as ‘a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and accepted notions of law and order.’<br /> <br /> “Attributing such removal to the NSA and Magu will be unfair. It is even sad that a Southwest governor is among those driving this latest initiative to achieve selfish ends.<br /> <br /> “The vice president also stayed away from elements of bias by disallowing the NSA and the EFCC from being part of the detention and debriefing of Daura in a safe house in Abuja. The Nigeria Police and other security agencies were directed to handle Daura’s matter.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “It will be disastrous for Buhari to start his anti-corruption war afresh because the ultimate target is to make the war a failure. Some of us have been warning against these Fifth columnists who are out to bring this administration down.”<br /> <br /> A government source said: “There is a whole lot of confusion because some forces are desperate to create a wedge between the President and Osinbajo.<br /> <br /> “At a time the nation is getting international recognition for its anti-graft war and arresting the killings and insecurity in many parts of the country, some forces have launched attacks on the NSA and Magu.<br /> <br /> “It is on record that the ex-DG of DSS never took directives from the NSA who took it with equanimity. At a point, a former DG of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke brokered peace between Monguno and Daura to work as one.<br /> <br /> “Oke maintained the equilibrium among security chiefs; he also united all of them. He later introduced an interaction between the Intelligence community and the media which the NSA and Daura benefitted tremendously from.”<br /> <br /> The source traced the cold war between the NSA and Daura to the constitution of the Special Investigative Panel on Arms Procurement on the $2.1billion arms deal in the Armed Forces, which was headed by AVM Jon Ode.<br /> <br /> The ex-DG of DSS was said to be unhappy that no representative of his agency was part of the probe.<br /> <br /> “Since then, a battle line was drawn by the two security chiefs,” the source said, adding: “Daura also felt that the eventual recommendation of Magu for EFCC’s job (after excellent outing as a member of the investigative panel) was meant to achieve a purpose. Unknown to him, the NSA only acted on merit, he did not know Magu.<br /> <br /> “Despite curious letters to the Senate on why Magu should not be confirmed as the EFCC chairman, he never treated Daura with disdain. We do not know why these forces want to cause crisis in the presidency by pressurizing the President to sack those giving him results.”<br /> <br /> The performance brief on the NSA and Magu<br /> <br /> “The performance brief of the NSA and Nagu which the presidency is said to have requested is expected to guide President on his next line of action.<br /> <br /> A source said: “the brief might determine the fate of the NSA, Magu and probably other security chiefs,” It was unclear as at press time whether or not Daura has been released from a “safe house” in Abuja.

Latest-News Pressure mounts on Buhari to fire NSA Monguno, Magu

Loyalists of the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura have launched a move ...

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Senator John McCain is dead

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKD2X5Ni0e-DLfyp4KI6HrUQ0OxspJhzocSDQg1yUv9NCuvHu8hdL-Zq4UtuDvAzgbYL4uchHtgjOUI7LWdJiUmapruY0avdyTTBNRWAyyBwB4s95c3tQNIskeDKTvQWmTrNn2A29eiu9/s400/john-mccain.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> Republican U.S. Senator, John Sidney McCain III, has died on Saturday at the age of 81, after battling brain cancer.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years,” the family said in a statement.<br /> <br /> McCain represented Arizona since 1982, first at the House of Representatives for two terms and then at the Senate for more than three decades – since 1986, during which he twice sought the presidency.<br /> <br /> McCain ran for president in 2000, losing the Republican nomination to the eventual 43rd president, George W. Bush, and in 2008, he ran again, this time winning his party’s nomination. However, he lost the general election to former President Barack Obama.<br /> <br /> McCain was widely celebrated as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down over Hanoi in 1967, and a few months earlier, he, then a Navy pilot, had survived a deadly fire on the USS Forrestal, an aircraft carrier.<br /> <br /> The son and grandson of Navy admirals, McCain was held for more than five years in a Hanoi prison, where he was tortured and often deprived of sleep and food, and when he was offered early release by his captors, he refused to go home before the other Prisoners of war.<br /> <br /> In the upper chamber of Congress, McCain established himself as a leading voice on national security and foreign policy, particularly from his chairmanship of the powerful Armed Services Committee.<br /> <br /> He also cultivated a reputation as an independent willing to work with Democrats on immigration and campaign finance, and was a fierce critic of Russia and a strong proponent of an aggressive U.S. role against the Islamic State extremist group.<br /> <br /> In July 2017, McCain was diagnosed with a tumour called a glioblastoma, which is an aggressive type of brain cancer but returned to the Senate after his diagnosis and cast a pivotal vote against a Republican bill to undo the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare.<br /> <br /> Since December, he never returned to the Senate as he underwent treatment in Arizona, where he kept a low profile, issuing written statements on major news developments but offering the public few glimpses of his condition.<br /> <br /> McCain collaborated with a long-time adviser, Mark Salter, on a memoir, “The Restless Wave,” that was released in May.<br /> <br /> The senator is survived by his mother, Roberta; his wife, Cindy; two sons and a daughter from a first marriage, Douglas, Andrew and Sidney; four children from his second marriage, Meghan McCain, Jimmy McCain, Jack McCain and Bridget McCain; a brother, Joseph McCain; a sister, Jean McCain Morgan; and five grandchildren.<br /> <br /> McCain’s death opens up a Senate seat that party leaders expect to remain in Republican hands for two more years because under state law, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey would appoint a successor who must be from the same party as the person vacating the seat.<br /> <br /> McCain died after the deadline to file for this year’s election, and as a result, the successor-senator would not have to face re-election until the 2020 election. (NAN)

Latest-News Senator John McCain is dead

Republican U.S. Senator, John Sidney McCain III, has died on Saturday at the age of 81, after battling brain cancer. “Senator John Sidn...

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