TODAY IN HISTORY

• 2016 - Nigeria

A High Court ordered Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia to vacate office with immediate effect. Justice Okon Abang, in his ruling ordered the governor to hand over to Mr. Samson Ogah, who came second in the primary of the PDP.

• 2014 - Luxembourg

European Union leaders nominated ex- Luxembourg PM Jean- Claude Juncker to become the 28- nation bloc new chief executive. He was chosen by an indirect system known as Spitzenkandidaten ( lead candidate).

• 2007 - UK

Tony Blair resigned as British Prime Minister, a position he had held since 1997. Gordon Brown became Prime Minister.

• 1990 - Iran

Salman Rushdie, author of Satanic Verses, condemned to death by Iran, contributed $ 8600 to their earthquake victims.

• 1981 - Liberia

Member states of Organization of African Unity, meeting in Liberia adopted a Charter on Human and People’s Rights. Article 5 prohibited slavery.

• 1977 - Djibouti

The Republic of Djibouti gained independence from France with Hassan Gouled as first president.

• 1954 - Switzerland

FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match between Hungary and Brazil, highly anticipated to be exciting, turned violent, with three players ejected and fighting continuing after.

• 1914 - Nigeria

Margaret Ekpo, women's rights activist, social mobilizer and politician was born. She teamed up with Funmilayo Ransome- Kuti in the famous Aba riot to protest killings and fight cultural and racial imbalance. She was a pioneer female politician in the First Republic. After a military coup ended the First Republic, she withdrew from politics. In 2001, Calabar Airport was named after her. She died in 2006