Friday, 21 June 2013

Nostradamus Prophecies for 2013 and Beyond ! - A Reality (Fact) or A Fiction. SEND YOU COMMENTS

10 Nostradamus Prophecies for 2013 and Beyond !

Many Interpreters have translated nostradamus quatrains about the end of world. Though time Is not exactly mentioned yet some relate it to the mayan 2012 prophecy of end of world in 2012. Many experts also relate it to world war III that is believed to be predicted by nostradamus many many years ago. Here are some famous quatrains about end of world that when you look at present day happenings could be fulfilled any day now …

Nostradamus Prophecy 1
For forty years the rainbow will not appear; For forty years it will be seen every day: The arid earth will grow more dry, And great floods when it will be seen.
Century 1, Quatrain 17
This quatrain is interesting as it describe about continuous appearance and disappearance of Rainbow for 40 years. Many believe it may happen due to use of nuclear weapons which further suggest that this may happen In world war III or in case of an attack by Israel against Iran. The powerful nuclear weapon may adversely affect climate and earth atmosphere leading to this strange natural phenomenon. The quatrain also suggest about great floods, many scientists said that this may happen if earth shifts on its axis … and we all know the Edgar Cayce prophecy about the shifting of the poles that should of happened in 2001 or did it start than ? Yes it started in 2001, it started with the 9/11 attacks in 2001, this was a massive “shift” for humanity. 9/11 happened exactly 11 years ago. But also the climate is changing, the magnetic poles are shifting at this moment.
Nostradamus Prophecy 2
You will see, sooner and later, great changes made, Extreme horrors and vengeances: For as the moon is thus led by its angel, The heavens draw near to the reckoning.
Century 1, Quatrain 56
Great changes are being made ! We have the “Yes We Can” changes of Barack Obama but also the Arab Spring, the great changes in the Muslim world. Also at this time it is just a matter of months untill Iran will show us that they have a nuclear bomb. They already have a nuclear bomb as prophesied in 2009, only it’s not official yet. The heavens draw near to the reckoning, we are close to the end of times as we know it.

The “Arab spring” is an expression coined to describe the wave of uprisings that swept across the region after the successful toppling of Ben Ali in January 2011. The Tunisian example soon inspired other countries to take the streets, leading to the fall of the Mubarak regime, the ousting of Ali Abdullah Salah in Yemen, the foreign intervention-backed removal of Kaddafi while triggering sizeable protests in Bahrain and Syria and other countries in the Arab world.

These events stood in stark contrast with the general consensus in the field of Middle Eastern studies on the irrelevancy of looking into signs of democratization on the Arab world. Seeing that the region had missed the third wave of democratization, scholars had turned their attention to interpreting the durability of authoritarian regimes. Therefore, the “Arab spring” prompted many scholars to review their initial claims and paradigms, raising question about their legitimacy and usefulness. The question that then arises is the following: does it matter that Middle East Studies failed to predict the

UPRISINGS IN THE ARAB, DO YOU THINK ITS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. Send you Views

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Uprising In the World Today - An Astrologers View or a SIGN for the END TIME: Send your COMMENTS

Astrology Study Predicted Middle East Uprising

Written by: ANS Tags: Cosmos and Psyche, Egypt demonstrations, revolution, revolutionary uprisigs, Richard Tarnas, Uranus square Pluto

Feb. 1, 2011 — That the Arab streets might be turning into a battleground for social justice at about this time was anticipated in the 2006 award-winning book Cosmos and Psyche by controversial author, philosopher and social historian Richard Tarnas.
Tarnas is the founding director of the graduate program in Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. He studied intellectual and cultural history and depth psychology at Harvard, earned a PhD in psychology from the Saybrook Institute in San Francisco, and worked and lived for more than 10 years at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Calif., eventually serving as the institute’s director of programs and education.
His work is controversial because he’s one of the few educators in the country doing serious social research involving planetary cycles. At Esalen with psychologist Stanislav Grof and others he began the qualitative study that eventually examined thousands of individual astrological charts.
“It was astonishing how the planetary alignments consistently and precisely correlated with human experience. The archetypal principles associated with the planets and the correlations uncovered were undeniable and uncanny in their subtlety and specificity,” he said.
These patterns have permeated and shaped history over time, he suggests.
For example, at the time of its publication five years ago, Cosmos and Psyche offered a heads-up on an approaching alignment of the slow-moving planets Uranus and Pluto that has only now begun to form in the heavens. The planets will remain “in aspect” through the year 2020.
Tarnas said the years 2007 – 2020 would likely bring a new infusion of the cultural impulses and archetypal dynamics that emerged during the 1960s, which is the last time these planetary energies were in major alignment.
He points out that archetypal Uranus represents the principle of change, freedom, rebellion and revolution and is associated with unexpected phenomena of all kinds. Pluto, recently reduced by astronomers to dwarf planet status, is in fact a celestial heavyweight and the archetype for power itself.
“Pluto is the archetype of primordial energy and the universal life force that impels all evolution and transformation. It compels, empowers, overwhelms, transforms, destroys and resurrects. And, at its deepest level, it involves the mystery of death and rebirth,” he explained.
Tarnas points out that characteristic themes observed for this cycle in past centuries include heightened impulses for radical social change and cultural creativity, accelerated technological and scientific advancement, the empowerment of progressive and reformist political movements, intensified feminist, civil rights and countercultural activity, an increased drive for freedom and autonomy at both the individual and collective level, and pressure towards radicalization in many spheres of action and ideas.
Also identified with the cycle is intensified ecological activism, large demographic shifts and the activation of mass energies and mass movements of various kinds.
“Generally speaking, Uranus-Pluto eras have tended to bring forth the catalyzing of powerful forces in many forms, the awakening of a will to power than can be both creative and destructive, and a tangible intensification and acceleration of human experience,” he said.
In Cosmos and Psyche, Tarnas noted that while all of these specific themes have been strongly in evidence during past Uranus-Pluto alignments, precisely what will happen during the current 15-year cycle can’t be known in advance. But an intensified striving for equality and self-sovereignty could be on the immediate horizon, he predicted.

Predictions for Africa Tech Scene - What Happend. Did They All Come to pass? Send us Your Comments

Send us Your Comments

It has been a banner year for the Africa technology scene as the world begins to turn to the continent – the Economist Africa rising cover story article was for many, a big validation in the future opportunities as well as challenges for Africa. The best follow up post worth reading is by Professor Juma of the Harvard Kennedy School in the UK Guardian blog, both recognize the importance of the technology scene in supporting Africa’s prosperity.
In the spirit of the new year and holidays, I compiled 12 predictions for 2012 based on my experience and trends I am seeing as a Silicon Valley professional, observer and participant within the East African tech startup scene, many inspired from stories we covered here over 2011. Here’s to a great year in Africa Tech. I hope to continue covering this exciting area next year and beyond.

1) Feature phone to Smartphone + a touch of Tablet: Smartphone adoption will grow among Africa’s emerging middle class as entry prices for an unlocked phone continue to dip below $100. Nokia/Microsoft Symbian/Windows Phone and Google/Samsung Android will battle for smartphone dominance- Nokia’s strong brand and feature phone momentum will prove to be an advantage. But affordable Chinese smartphones led by Huawei’s Ideos will continue to tempt Africans to upgrade. Tablet usage will begin growing as prices drop below $200 starting within education sector. Check out the Nigerian tablet from Encipher based on Android, locally designed hardware customized to a big local market like Nigeria is a smart strategy if prices are kept in check. RIM’s Blackberry will continue to be adopted by the elite and corporate circles- one of the last bright spots for RIM’s declining dominance who initially popularized the smartphone category.

Syrian rebels 'receive' new types of weapons

The Free Syrian Army is defending Aleppo from a buildup of regime forces [Al Jazeera]

Syrian rebels say they have received a shipment of weapons from their allies, the latest since the US said it would give military support to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
Free Syrian Army spokesman Louay Muqdad claimed the weapons could "change the course of the battle" against the Syrian regime.
"We've received quantities of new types of weapons, including some that we asked for and that we believe will change the course of the battle on the ground," Muqdad told the AFP news agency.
"We have begun distributing them on the front lines, they will be in the hands of professional officers and FSA fighters," he said.
He did not specify what weapons had been received or when they had arrived, but added that another shipment was expected soon.
"The weapons will be used for one objective, which is to fight the regime of Bashar al-Assad," Muqdad insisted. "They will be collected after the fall of the regime, we have made this commitment to the friends and brotherly countries."

Actor Rodrigo Santoro signs a poster for the film "Heleno", in which he plays the mercurial striker. A destructive personality, together with illness and drug problems prevented Heleno from becoming one of Brazil's greatest ever players. But he helped pave the way for some of the world's greatest soccer icons...

(CNN) -- Women wanted him. Men wanted to be him.

Seven decades before Neymar, a world away from Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, a predecessor to Zico and Socrates and a formidable striker who could have rivaled Pele.

That man was Heleno de Freitas, a soccer superstar in the days before Brazil ruled the "beautiful game."

He was a larger than life playboy who abandoned a legal career to become his country's finest footballer. And before the Maracana -- Brazil's iconic stadium in Rio de Janeiro -- was built, Heleno was the city's star attraction with a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality which saw him flit from outrageous charmer to disruptive egoist.

Tahiti form a huddle before their showdown with World and European champions Spain. The minnows are ranked 137 places below their opponents and eventually lost their Confederations Cup match 10-0 in Brazil.

(CNN) -- If ever there was a David versus Goliath clash in international football this was it.

Spain, the reigning world and European champions taking on Tahiti, ranked 138th by the game's governing body FIFA, one place below Syria.

Almost all of Tahiti's squad are amateur players -- nine are unemployed -- and their coach Eddy Etaeta even admitted before the tournament began: "We are not here to win."

After a heavy defeat in their opening Confederations Cup game against Nigeria, Etaeta declared their dream had come true -- solely because they found the net in a 6-1 reverse.

Striker Abby Wambach has scored 160 goals in 207 appearances for the United States.

(CNN) -- When a 21-year-old Abby Wambach made her debut for the United States on September 9, 2001, Mia Hamm scored twice in a 4-1 win over Germany.

Twelve years later, aged 33, Wambach grabbed four first-half goals in a 5-0 win over South Korea to overtake Hamm as the leading scorer in women's international soccer history.

Wambach equaled Hamm's record of 158 with her second goal after just 19 minutes of Thursday's friendly game at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena before adding two more to stand alone in the record books with 160 international goals -- the most by any male or female player.

Watch a home float down a river

Are you there? Share your stories with CNN iReport.

(CNN) -- Rain-swollen rivers burst from their banks in southern Alberta, Canada, ripping out roads, cutting off communities and forcing about 75,000 people out of their homes in Calgary alone.

"In my lifetime, I have never seen flooding like this," Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi told CNN on Friday.

Authorities said they had completed a challenging overnight evacuation of 25 neighborhoods without any injuries or deaths.

But portions of the city of 1 million people -- famous for the annual Calgary Stampede rodeo -- were covered in deep water Friday, including parts of downtown. Nenshi asked people to stay away, in part to keep roads clear for emergency workers.

They also asked people to limit telephone use out of concern that unnecessary phone calls could overwhelm the system and diminish the ability of emergency responders to do their jobs.

Power was out in portions of the city, and some shelters were filled to capacity, Calgary officials said Friday. Schools were closed in the city.

China's central bank this week refused bank pleas for more liquidity, sending lending rates skyrocketing. HSBC's flash reading on factory output came in lower than expected, surprising China watchers. The Shanghai Composite is down 10% this month.

Hong Kong (CNN) -- China delivered a one-two punch of negative economic data this week, hitting first with an initial report on factory activity falling to a surprise nine-month low and then with interbank lending rates rocketing to a record high.

The gloomy numbers keep fears alive that the world's second-largest economic engine is not just slowing down -- but also seizing up.

China's main seven-day repurchase rate jumped to a record 12% this Thursday, according to CME Group. China's weighted average overnight repo rate hit 13.1% -- the highest in more than a decade.

The rate spikes are a reaction to Beijing's decision earlier this week to withhold new infusions of cash into the markets. One of the central bank's aims is to slow the growth of China's ballooning debt and stop easy access to credit.

In China, economics influences politics

China's GDP expected to grow

U.S.: China currency very 'undervalued'

The country's total debt is estimated to stand at more than 200% of GDP when debt from the central government, local governments, corporations and households are included, says Swiss bank UBS.

In April, Fitch had warned China of its high debt levels, downgrading the country's long-term currency rating. The ratings agency cited expansion of easy credit and structural weakness in China's economy.

However on Friday, repurchase rates fell on reports that China's central bank had supplied more than $8 billion in new liquidity to ease the current cash crunch.

On June 20, the same day that China's repurchase rates hit record highs, HSBC's June "flash" purchasing managers' index fell to a nine month low of 48.3. A PMI reading below 50 indicates contraction in the country's manufacturing sector as new export orders plunged from major trading partners like the United States and Europe.

Some China watchers fear the country will miss its self-imposed 2013 growth target of 7.5%.

Since June 1, China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index has fallen 10%.

Heart attack killed 'Sopranos' star James Gandolfini, source says

James Gandolfini, who gained fame playing a memorable mafia boss on HBO's "The Sopranos," died after suffering a possible heart attack in Italy on Wednesday, June 19. Pictured, Gandolfini at the premier of "Zero Dark Thirty" in 2012.

Rome (CNN) -- An autopsy has confirmed that actor James Gandolfini died of a heart attack, an Italian official familiar with the autopsy results told CNN on Friday.

Gandolfini, 51, died Wednesday while vacationing in Italy. Hotel staff reportedly had to break down the door to his bathroom to get to him after his son, Michael, alerted them.

Doctors had not noted any suspicious factors, such as alcohol, on his medical report, emergency room physician Claudio Modini said.

A van ferrying relatives of the deceased "Sopranos" star arrived Friday at the hospital morgue in Rome where his body lies. They were expected to speak to reporters about Gandolfini's death later.

A boy dives into the rising waters of the Yamuna River in New Delhi on Wednesday, June 19. Heavy rains have been lashing parts of north India, as the annual monsoon arrived nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, officials said.

Rishikesh, India (CNN) -- It was late at night when the priest raised the alarm.

Heavy rain was pelting down over Gobindghat, a small town in the foothills of the Himalayas where Sikh pilgrims stop on their way to a holy site farther into the mountains.

A monsoon deluge had swept in earlier and heavier than usual in this part of northern India, bringing a sudden risk of floods.

But before residents and pilgrims in the town could do much to heed the priest's warning, water had engulfed the town.

Randy Phillips: He's president of AEG Live, the concert promoter that contracted with Michael Jackson for his "This Is It" comeback shows set to start in London in July 2009. The Jackson lawsuit says Phillips supervised Dr. Conrad Murray's treatment of Jackson in the weeks before his death, making the company liable for damages. E-mails between Phillips and other executives showed they were worried about Jackson's missed rehearsals and sought Murray's help getting him ready.

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Michael Jackson died while preparing to set a world record for the most successful concert run ever, but he unknowingly set another record that led to his death.

Jackson may be the only human ever to go two months without REM -- Rapid Eye Movement -- sleep, which is vital to keep the brain and body alive. The 60 nights of propofol infusions Dr. Conrad Murray said he gave Jackson to treat his insomnia is something a sleep expert says no one had ever undergone.

Propofol disrupts the normal sleep cycle and offers no REM sleep, yet it leaves a patient feeling refreshed as if they had experienced genuine sleep, according to Dr. Charles Czeisler, a Harvard Medical School sleep expert testifying at the wrongful death trial of concert promoter AEG LIve.

If the singer had not died on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic, the lack of REM sleep may have soon taken his life anyway, according to an opinion by Czeisler.

Jewish man killed near Western Wall

June 21, 2013 -- Updated 0551 GMT (1351 HKT)

(CNN) -- A security guard shot and killed a Jewish man near Jerusalem's Western Wall, police said.

The man had his hands in his pocket and looked suspicious, Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman said. He also said The man also had been shouting "Allah Akbar," which means "God is great."

Police are investigating the incident.

Photos: Protests in Brazil

Police fire rubber bullets at a protester during clashes in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, June 20. Demonstrations in Brazil began in response to plans to increase fares for the public transportation system but have broadened into wider protests over economic and social issues. Since then, both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have agreed to roll back prices on bus and metro tickets.

Brazilian protests surge again after bus fare victory

Brazilians march despite fare reversal

Rio de Janeiro (CNN) -- A massive crowd of demonstrators swelled around an iconic church in the heart of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, shouting "down with corruption" and "I can live without the World Cup."

CNN affiliate Band News reported that police used tear gas in some areas of the city as clashes erupted.

Police initially reported tens of thousands of protesters in Rio de Janeiro but later said the crowds had grown to more than 300,000 people.

One death was reported in Sao Paulo state, where a young man was run over by an SUV at an intersection during a demonstration, state police said.

Outside the Candelaria Church, organizers called for protesters to march peacefully as they listed a wide variety of demands directed at the South American country's government.

In the nation's capital, a group of protesters on Thursday twice forced their way into the foreign ministry building. Police repelled both incursions, but not before protesters lit a fire inside the building, state media reported.

Photos: Protests in Brazil

A look back at what happened to woman found in tank

(CNN) -- A 21-year-old woman whose body was found in a water tank of a Los Angeles hotel in February was the victim of an accidental drowning, medical examiners reported Thursday.

The decomposing body of Elisa Lam floated inside a water tank on the roof of the Cecil Hotel while guests brushed their teeth, bathed and drank water from it for as long as 19 days. A maintenance worker, checking on complaints about the hotel's water, found the Canadian tourist inside one of four water cisterns.

Tests conducted by the city Health Department found no harmful bacteria in the tank or the pipes, which had to be drained, flushed and sanitized after the discovery.

Los Angeles robbery-homicide detectives had treated the case as a suspicious death, since falling into a covered water tank behind a locked door on top of a roof would be an unusual accident, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Rudy Lopez said in February.

Claude Le Roy © Action Images

Plenty sand don pour for de garri of de oga coachi for DR Congo, Claude Le Roy as him don kommot as de manija of DR Congo on Thursday nite.
Na de coachi himsef yarn amebo people dat him no dey work again for Congo.
“I don tell my playas dat I no dey work again afta de two years wey I take dey with dem.
“Me and de oga dem for de federation no dey gree and de beta thing for me na to carry my bag waka and I neva even know wia I dey go now,”. Naso de coachi tok.
Le Roy wey be 65 years old now became de oga coachi for DR Congo in September 2011 and de man try as him carry dem go de 2013 Nations cup for South Africa afta 3 times wey DR Congo don fail to qualify.
But DR Congo no fit waka pass de group stage of de 2013 Nations cup and walahi dem no gree lose any match at all for all dia group games.
Minwile, DR Congo don fire Le Roy assistant, Sebastian Migne as dem tell am say make him dey follow him oga dey go.

Uruguay manage wire Naija

Forlan © Gallo Images

The Supa Eagus of Naija don chop dia fess bulala for de 2013 fifa confederations cup wey dey carry on for Brazil as Uruguay flog dem 2-1 for dia second game on Thursday for Arena Fonte Nova Stadium.
Walahi na from de fess minute na hin Uruguay start to de nack Naija plenty attack as dem been wan score dem early early for de match, but na lie as all de shot wey Uruguay dey play no gree enta Naija net.
Ahmed Musa be de guyman wey kon waya de fess attack for Naija in de 7th minute and naso one Uruguay defenda go nack am for ground bifor Mikel Obi kon troway de freekick wey de refiree carry givr de Supa Eagus.
Naso de match dey hot dey go bifor Uruguay kon score dia fess gol in de 19th minute wen sabi strika, Diego Forlan play beta corner and naso Naija defendas juss dey look like agbero as dem allow Diego Lugano to nack Enyeama de gol.
Chelsea midfida, John Obi Mikel kon make Naija people and dia fans happy for de 37th minute as him ekwalise for de Eagus and na like dat de fess haf take finish.
The Naija Supa Eagus tap beta ball wen de second haf start, but gol no gree come for dem and naso Uruguay winga, Diego Forlan kumma carry counter attack go score dia second gol in de 51st minute.
Supa Eagus try afta Uruguay nack dem de second gol as dem no wan lose de game, but all de gragra wey dem do no gree bring gol and naso de game take finish.
The koko now be say de Naija Supa Eagus fit still kwalify for de semifinal of de confederations cup if dem bulala Spain for dia lass group game on Sunday.
But dat one go hard dem small as Spain no gree pity Tahiti at all for dia second game as dem skatta dem 10-0 to collect de fess semifinal ticket for group B.
The thing don sure now dat Uruguay go skatta Tahiti for dia lass group game as na promo dem be, abeg Naija go fit beat Spain?

Denisov quits Zenit, Arshavin may retur

Igor Denisov © Action Images

Zenit St Petersburg's Russian international midfielder Igor Denisov has agreed terms to leave the club for Dagestani big spenders Anzhi, while Andrei Arshavin is in talks to return to his native club from Arsenal, reports said Friday.
The Sport Express and Sovietsky Sport newspapers said both teams had agreed on Denisov's move to Makhachkala-based Anzhi and the final contract would be signed in the next days.
The move of Denisov, 29, to the ambitious outfit from the northern Caucasus ends a glittering career with Zenit that he began as a teenager in 2001 and saw him win the Uefa Cup in 2008 as well as three Russian titles.
Denisov has 37 international caps and has been the captain of the national side under Fabio Capello since 2012.
However Denisov's love affair with Zenit went sour after the arrival of Brazilian star Hulk as he led an open rebellion about the foreign player's huge wage packet and was dogged by controversy over training ground bust-ups.
Arshavin was one of the stars of Zenit's 2008 Uefa Cup-winning side and Russia's Euro 2008 campaign. He then moved to Arsenal but his career failed to flourish despite a promising start and he spent most of the time on the bench.
Out of contract with Arsenal this summer, Arshavin, 32, is currently in Saint Petersburg to discuss a possible return to the club where he began his career, Russian reports said.
Sovietsky Sport said that Zenit's owners Gazprom were prepared to welcome Arshavin back and the player was set Friday to meet Italian manager Luciano Spalletti who would have the last word.

Keshi not looking past Uruguay

Keshi © Gallo Images

Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi have stated clearly that he is not thinking of the all important last Confederations Cup Group Game against Spain. He noted that as far as he is concerned the game against Uruguay today dominates all his thoughts for now. Coach Keshi disclosed that he is not aware of Ogenyi Onazi making it for the Confederations Cup. His Words: “ Not sure if he is coming. Not too much in a haste for his come back. We still got some crucial games coming up. This is a learning curve for us. We don't want to push him too hard."
On Uruguay, Keshi stated: “Well, in 2010 World Cup Uruguay was more a deadly team. Even now but oppositions are different. Most of their players are still there. and I really respect them. Whatever plans Uruguay have, that is Uruguay. We'll have ours too. "
Stephen Keshi however revealed that Uruguay having Suarez and Cavani in their attack does not scare him or his players; " Cavani and Suarez is not an issue for me or my boys. Its Uruguay as a team we'll be playing against and not Suarez or Cavani. What I am most concerned about is my team concentration and focus. "
CAN NIGERIA WIN IT?
" Why not? Every coach dreams is to win any tournament they go for. Nigeria is one of the teams here for the tournament. But I want to be in the final. One day, an African Country will win the World Cup and its very close now. "

Le Roy leaves DR Congo post

Claude Le Roy © Backpagepix

21 June 2013, 01:54

Claude Le Roy has stepped down from his role as the manager of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Frenchman told AFP on Thursday.
"I told my players that I would stop after two years," said Le Roy, whose contract with the African country was set to expire shortly.
"With the team and the federation we've had some terrific moments. I haven't made a decision regarding the next continent I'll work in," he added.
Le Roy, 65, took over the reins in September 2011, leading the country to the 2013 African Cup of Nations after three previous failed attempts to qualify.
However, in what was Le Roy's seventh appearance at the CAN after also taking Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana to the tournament, DR Congo failed to advance from the first round despite finishing the group stage undefeated.
The contract of his assistant Sebastian Migne was also terminated.

Holman leaves Villa for Dubai

Brett Holman © Action Images

Forward Brett Holman is set to leave Aston Villa with United Arab Emirates club Al Nasr agreeing a deal for the Australian international.
The English Premier League side said on their website on Friday that Holman, 29, will depart for Dubai just 12 months after joining from Holland's AZ Alkmaar.
Holman, who was in the starting 11 for Australia when they qualified for the World Cup finals by beating Iraq on Tuesday, was signed by Alex McLeish at Aston Villa just before Paul Lambert took charge.
Despite Lambert not signing him, he started 16 games last season before losing his place.

Fantastic Forlan roasts Eagles

Forlan © Action Images

Forlan picked a fantastic day for a fantastic goal. One the very night he became Uruguay’s most capped player with 100 hundred games ; his goal also elevated him to become their leading goal scorer edging past Suarez with whom he had been tied with at 33 apiece. It was a magnificent goal with eyes never leaving the ball which was struck while still in motion and with such velocity that maybe it was a good thing for Enyeama that his fingers did not come in contact with it. Gloves or no gloves it may have caused serious injury.
As we know the goal also secured the badly needed 2-1 victory and maximum points for the Uruguayans who just need to coast against the groups pummeling bag Tahiti to enter the next round.
Meanwhile Nigeria must have a monster game against Spain and have themselves thoroughly to blame for failing to convert their plethora of chances, despite thoroughly out playing the South Americans. As brilliant as Mikel’s goal was, they still get a failing grade up front. Never were Emenike and Moses more missed. Musa was the top squanderer and the sooner he learns to be more precise, his goal scoring will equal his amazing pace.
Right now though it’s plain annoying if you like goals in football, and downright vexing if you are an Eagles fan.
As Spain looms, Keshi will now have the unenviable task of not just trying to coax some iota of accuracy from his depleted front line which after last night will now be also missing Oduomadi; but also selling the fact to his team that the run is not yet over.
Regardless, as annoyed as Nigeria should be she need not hold her head as the fans from Salvador last night will testify to. It was a good game that had you on the edge of your seat inconsequential whom you rooted for.
Add to the fray that the ‘stimmung’ in the Stadium was absolutely fantastic belying the anger still simmering on the streets of Brazil with civil disobedience. The African champion is on her way to again become a force to be reckoned with and as Oliseh put it from the commentator’s booth, “it’s not over yet and Spain should be wary”.
I agree especially since he knows a thing or two about slaying Spain.

Eagles' Confed Cup race intact - Oliseh

Former Nigerian midfielder, Sunday Oliseh has said Super Eagles are very much in the semifinals qualification race at the ongoing 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Eagles fell to the Uruguayan foes, La Celeste 1-2 in the group’s second game in the early hours of Friday at the Arena Fonte Nova in the city of Salvador to still hang precariously on the second spot with the last decisive group game against leaders, Spain coming up on Sunday in Fortaleza.
Oliseh said nothing is certain in football until the encounter in question is decided in direct reference to the herculean game against the European and World champions, Spain.
“All is not lost for the Super Eagles against the Spaniards. In football nothing is conclusively lost until the game is played. Eagles can still pull a surprise against Spain, so it’s not over for them,” said the former Nigerian captain to supersport.com.
Oliseh accused Eagles of being clay-footed in the 1-2 loss to the South American champions, Uruguay in the second group game.
“Eagles showed no pace in their passes, the opponents, Uruguay had it all and we’re not shooting to compound the problems of the night.
“Nothing to blame Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama for Diego Forlan thundering goal for his side, the passes enroute to the goal were quick and the finishing precise and excellent,” he said.
Diego Lugano and Diego Forlan scored for the South American champions while central midfielder, John Obi Mikel pulled one back for the reigning African champions.
Eagles hope of qualification to the semifinals of the global football fiesta will be decided by their performance against Spain’s Furia Roja (Red Fury) at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza as well as the outcome in the tie involving the Oceania champions, Tahiti and Uruguay on Sunday.

Protests could halt Confed Cup

Confed Cup Gallery

21 June 2013, 12:29

The Fifa Confederations Cup could be abandoned because of the protests which have swept Brazil, local media said on Friday.
CBN radio and the website of the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper, both respected, mainstream media, carried reports speculating that the eight-team tournament, considered a dry run for next year's World Cup, was in danger.
"Fifa will claim compensation from Brazil if the Confederations Cup has to be suspended," said a headline on CBN's website.
An estimated one million people took to the streets in cities across Brazil on Thursday as the country's biggest protests in two decades intensified despite government concessions meant to quell them.
The protests, now in their second week, have been about high taxes, inflation, corruption and poor public services and have also targeted the $26 billion of public money being spent on the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
A CBN report said one of the eight teams were pressuring their leaders to leave the Confederations Cup because they were worried about relatives who were in Brazil to watch the matches.
"On the legal side, there's a certain degree of confidence on Fifa's part that if the tournament is cancelled, it can launch a claim from the Brazilian government, if there are no safety guarantees for the competition or the World Cup," said the report by Juck Kfouri, a veteran Brazilian sports journalist.
"There is strong speculation, which won't go away," he added, referring to rumours that the competition was in danger.
The Estado said that Fifa was negotiating with the teams to try to persuade them to stay.
"The protests in the streets of Brazilian cities have forced Fifa to negotiate with the teams to keep them in the Confederations Cup," it said.
"By law, if there is no guarantee of safety, it could force the tournament to be cancelled."
The Estado said that two Fifa vehicles were attacked in Salvador, where Uruguay played Nigeria on Wednesday, and its employees had been instructed not to wear uniforms outside their hotel.
The Folha de Sao Paulo said that Fifa and the participating teams were "terrified" by the situation.
"The competition has become a nightmare for the organisation," it said. "Fifa didn't imagine that the event would be perfect but the size of the problems is worse than the worst-case scenario."
No matches for scheduled for Friday. Play is due to resume on Saturday with Italy facing Brazil in Salvador and Japan playing Mexico in Belo Horizonte.

N130Million Scandal: Lagos ex-Deputy Gov, Ojikutu, Responds Through Lawyers

Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, together with her son Samson Adebisi, have denied allegations of obtaining a sum of N130 million by fraud.
It would be recalled that the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police has recently declared Ojikutu and her son wanted for allegedly defaulting in repayment of N130 million she reportedly collected in the sale of a land that was said not to belong to her. The SFU alleged in a statement on Wednesday that the suspect and her son, Samson, obtained money from the victim by false representation.
The Commissioner of Police for the command, Tunde Ogunsakin, said, "The victim alleged that in September 2011, the suspects conspired and sold a parcel of land at Plot 24 Block 4 situated at Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos for N130m which he paid into the first suspect’s account with the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc."
Following the reports, her lawyer has responded with facts to debunk the allegations.
In a letter to the police issued through their counsel, Adenrele Adegborioye, Ojikutu said the issue for which the police declared her wanted was a civil matter. She also stated that she had always made herself available to the SFU anytime her attention was required on the matter, and expressed surprise that the police planned to make a publication declaring her wanted.
She also said she had explained what transpired between her and the man, Cajetan Okekearu, who wrote a petition against her to the police.
Part of the letter to the police reads: "Our clients' brief is that, further to a contract of sale executed between them and one Mr. Cajetan Okekearu ('the complainant') in respect of Plot 24 Block 4, Lekki

Unilag To Use 200 As Cut Off Mark Instead Of 180 - VC

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos Professor Rahamon Adisa Bello has just announced that the school will make changes to their JAMB Score

Admist the Official Cut Off Mark Reduction released by JAMB, The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos Professor Rahamon Adisa Bello has stated that for the conductance of its forthcoming POST UTME Exams, it will only accept a JAMB score of 200 and above
The vice chancellor also noted that JAMB had given the various univesities the power to set a higher cut off mark above 180 but not below it.

Gov Akpabio Lambasts Governors For Challenging Jonathan

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has lambasted his governor colleagues for being disloyal to President Goodluck Jonathan, even as he assured the president that the PDP Governors Forum, which he chairs, remain completely loyal to the president.

Mr. Akpabio, who made the statement on Thursday while delivering his goodwill message at the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the ruling PDP at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, accused some of the governors of disrespecting the president.
“We are ready to stand solidly behind the leader of the PDP in the nation,” he said, adding that “Mr. President we have never failed in supporting any president in power. We always respect and support any president in power.”
Apparently taking a swipe at his colleagues who have challenged Mr. Jonathan’s alleged plans to run for a second term in office, Mr. Akpabio stated further that “When our late President Yar’Adua was in power, there was no single PDP governor that challenged him, either on the pages of newspaper or at any meeting. We even went to the extent of organizing prayer for him and we supported all his policies, yours cannot be different.”
Leadership comes from God
The Akwa Ibom governor also reminded his colleagues that “Leadership comes from God and he gives it to whom he pleases. My assurance to you is that the 23 PDP governors are solidly behind you”.
The Governor also congratulated the President on the mid-term report he presented recently.
“We thank you for your mid-term report. We have keyed into your transformation agenda and we are saying no shaking,” he said.
Mr. Akpabio also told the gathering that the party is fast losing its numerical advantage in the scheme of things, hence the need to form the party’s governor’s forum.
.”It is interesting to note that when we started in 1999, there was no need for the PDP governors forum, because as at time the PDP governors were over 33 and controlled the then Nigeria governors forum, but over time because of various disagreement, intrigues and scheming which are part and parcel of politics, the rank and file of PDP governors kept depleting,” he said.
The governor’s claim is, however, incorrect as the PDP had a lot less than 30 governors in 1999 with the then Alliance for Democracy, AD, controlling the six southwestern states and the then All Peoples Party also leading many states.
“When I became a governor in 2007, we were about 29 in number and through various court decisions; all of a sudden we were reduced to a level where we are now, only 23,” Mr. Akpabio said.
He also said the “PDP governors’ forum is therefore is a new baby, a new organ and we are now reporting ourselves to NEC that we are now born and we are ready to serve.
“We have been serving, on behalf of my colleagues I want to say we have come to NEC not just as governors individually but we are now coming under the PDP governors’ forum”.

Confederations Cup - Torres Hits Four as Spain Maul Plucky Tahiti

Spain hit double figures in their Confederations Cup Group B clash against minnows Tahiti in a 10-0 win at the Maracana.

The world and European champions produced a professional performance against the Oceania minnows to set a new record winning scoreline for this competition.

It also equalled Tahiti's heaviest-ever defeat after they lost to New Zealand in 2004.

Torres (5,33, 57, 78), Villa (39,49, 64), David Silva (31, 89) and Juan Mata (66) were the other Spain scorer's as they continued their march towards the last four after a 2-1 win over Uruguay in their opening game.

Spain only pick up one goal in the opening 33 minutes, but the floodgates began to open when Tahiti began to tire in the final hour.

Confed Cup: Nigeria Loses 2-1 To Uruguay

Mikel Obi rarely scores but on a night that he won his 50th cap for Nigeria he scored the goal that had given the Super Eagles hope in the game against Uruguay in the FIFA Confederations Cup holding in Brazil.
The goal from the Chelsea star in the 37th minute of the Group B game was a response to the opener by Diego Lugano who hit the first goal of the game with a tap-in for the South Americans in the 19th minute.

Mikel whose last goal for Chelsea was in January 2007 off a cup game, was the heart of the team in a match he scored the fourth for his country. Before the quality goal in Salvador, the midfielder last scored for the country in Calabar in October 2012. But if Mikel’s goal was superb, Diego Forlan’s hit was priceless as the Uruguayan put his country ahead in the 51st minute on the night he won his 100th cap.
That goal became the difference between both countries with the South Americans gaining the better chance of reaching the semi-finals. They will play against the competition underdogs Tahiti on Sunday while the Eagles have the uphill task of beating world champions Spain to have any possible chance to qualify. All the Uruguayans need is to beat Tahiti more than the 6-1 handed them by Nigeria.
Before the loss in Salvador, the Eagles had gone unbeaten in 18 games. The Uruguay are now unbeaten in 12 competitive matches against African countries with eight wins and four draws. Uruguay and Nigeria met for the first time in a competitive match with the Confederations Cup game.
In the first match of the night, Spain won by a landslide as expected but tiny Tahiti emerged with their reputation enhanced and their dignity intact despite their 10-0 loss to the world and European champions.
Fernando Torres scored four times, and missed a penalty, David Villa hit three, David Silva two and Juan Mata one as Spain scored double figures for the third time in their history. The outcome of one of the most unlikely matches ever to take place in a senior FIFA competition was never in doubt and even Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta said before the game his side’s chances of winning were “quite impossible”.
Tahiti’s first-ever meeting with European opposition was more of an occasion and even though the Pacific Islanders lost they will always remember the day they played the world champions at the revered Maracana Stadium.

NGF Crisis: Kwakwanso Is Deceitful, Says Jang

Plateau State Governor, Mr. Jonah Jang, has said his Kano State counterpart, Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso, is bearing a moral burden in his explanation of what transpired at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election.
Jang, who scored 16 votes, lost to River State Governor Romiti Amaechi who secured 19 votes in the election.
Jang, in a statement on Thursday by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, said by Kwakwanso’s admission, his nomination as chairman of the NGF by the northern governors was a political game, which showed the level of “descent to which some politicians had sunk in terms of lost moral ethos.”
Kwakwanso was quoted as saying though, the northern governors nominated Jang, it was only meant as a political game, and so he did not win the election.
The statement read in part, “Governor Kwakwanso’s account of events during the Northern Governors’ Forum, which led to the adoption of Governor Jonah Jang as the candidate of the region for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has thrown a moral glitz on Nigeria’s political turf.
“His admission that he personally nominated Governor Jonah Jang and asked Governor Suswam of Benue to support his move only because ‘it was a game…’ clearly showed a mind luxuriating in unethical lyrics.
“That the Kano State Governor could walk cool out of the room wherein ‘they’ had decided to set up Benue and Plateau for a national ‘fall’ tells us a bit about why we may not capture back soon Nigeria’s political morality. That he could nominate Jang as consensus candidate and still not ‘vote’ for him showed an incredible double-speak!
Questioning Kwakwanso’s morality, the statement asked, “Where was the porch of integrity Kwakwanso had constructed as Nigeria’s Defence Minister?
“Is this ‘game’ part of the crafted Kwankwasiyya curriculum that must be passed by those under the governor’s tutelage? Is crass deception now being introduced as part of a leader’s necessary attitudinal regalia in Nigeria’s politics? Will this form part of our national values as we trudge toward 2015, and the years beyond?”
Meanwhile, a chief of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Henry Omorodion, on Thursday, warned that the crisis in the NGF portended danger to the 2015 general elections, saying only spiritual intervention could avert the danger ahead.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Omorodion, who is the Odunanoba of Benin Kingdom, and Chairman of Hensmor Group of Companies, said spiritual solution was needed to achieve a stable polity.

NGF Crisis: Kwakwanso Is Deceitful, Says Jang

Our Student Did Not Flush Baby In Toilet – Obafemi Awolowo University

Authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, say a 400-level engineering student, Miss Oyinlola Rotimi, did not attempt to flush her newborn baby boy down the toilet at Moremi Hall on Wednesday.

Rotimi had caused commotion when she was seen in the toilet with the baby.
But a statement by the Head, Public Relations Unit, OAU, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, on Thursday, said Rotimi did not attempt to kill her baby, whom he said was rescued from the water closet of the toilet.
Olanrewaju said the father of the baby is a “400 level Student of Mechanical Engineering, OAU, Ile-Ife.”
He said an investigation into the incident showed that Rotimi had no intention to kill her baby, adding that she was inexperienced about labour.
The statement read, “The truth of the matter is that, there was a delivery of a baby boy by an inexperienced mother who, in her naivety, thought she was pressed by call of nature while she was actually in labour pains.
“Prior to the appearance of the baby, the young, inexperienced mother had discovered that she was bleeding and went to the toilet only to observe that something expelled into the water closet.
“It was at that juncture that she screamed and shouted for help when her friend, Miss Satope Oladayo, heard her voice and traced her to the toilet from their room. It was when Satope entered the toilet and found the baby that she (Satope) called an elderly cleaner for assistance because the two of them were novices in childbearing.
“As of now, Rotimi’s mother is with her and she has started breastfeeding her baby.
“Upon interaction, in the presence of the Matron, Mrs. M.G. Oyedele, Oyin stated that prior to the delivery, she was passing stool and had visited toilet several times but the last time she went around 7am, she could not describe how she was feeling.”

Rivers CP To Amaechi: You're A Dictator

The feud between the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, took a different dimension on Thursday when Mbu described the governor as a tyrant and a dictator.
Mbu, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt, also dared anyone to embark on a protest in the state without seeking police permission.
He maintained that the state governor was unhappy with him because he (Mbu) refused to be subservient to him.
The police commissioner, who was reacting to the alarm raised by the state governor on the rising crime wave in Rivers State, explained that though he had always respected Amaechi, it was necessary for the governor to reciprocate his (Mbu) gesture.
Amaechi had on Tuesday lamented the increasing rate of kidnapping and armed robbery and expressed reservation over Mbu’s commitment to tackle the situation.
But the commissioner of police disagreed with the governor, insisting that contrary to Amaechi’s view, security situation in the state had improved.
He said, “The office of the governor is a respected office.
“Sometimes, silence is golden but sometimes it is misconstrued. I have respect for Governor Amaechi but his attacks on me are going beyond bounds.
“Our governor is very tyrannical, he is a dictator. He wants everybody to say ‘yes sir’ to him and I said I will not say so. I am a professional.
“The governor should please stop playing politics with my name. I will tell the whole world why the governor is against me in the next interview. I will also tell you the crime rate before I came to Rivers and what the situation is now.”
On the claim by Amaechi that he (Mbu) was always reporting the deliberations of the State Security Council meeting to Abuja, Mbu explained that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had insisted that minutes of such meeting be sent to him.
Mbu said the state had never held any formal security meeting, adding that letters were supposed to be sent to the Nigerian Navy and other security outfits through the Special Adviser on Security.
He said, “There has never been any formal letter written to convene security meeting since I came.”

Egba High Chief, Two Others Die In Multiple Auto Crash

An Egba High Chief and Senior Lecturer at Ogun State-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Dr. Gbenga Dally and two other persons lost their lives in a multiple road crash, Wednesday evening, along the Abeokuta/Sagamu road.
Six passengers were also said to have been rushed to the state hospital following the various degrees of injury they sustained in the accident.

The incident occurred about 30 kilometres to Abeokuta, near Onipepeye village at about 6.25p.m and involved three vehicles— a Toyota Camry car with number plate LAGOS AAA 181 AA in which the late Akinfimogboye of Egbaland, drove.
It was further gathered that one of the vehicles involved in the accident skidded off the road after the driver lost control on his way to Lagos and crossed the culvert, facing another oncoming vehicle.
Further findings showed that the Egba chief, who was returning from the university, on getting to the scene attempted to avoid a head-on collision but an articulated truck crushed his car from behind.
The development was said to have led to the instant death of Dally and two others whose cars had part of their roofs smashed.
Confirming the accident, Head of Operations, Ogun Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Cecilia Alao, said yesterday, that the accident involved three vehicles and eight persons.
She said a Toyota Camry car with number plate LAGOS AAA 181 AA, Mitsubishi Space wagon OGUN LAR 55 XA and Honda car with number plate LAGOS KSF 224 AT, collided due to over speeding.
Alao added that the remains of the victims had been deposited at Ijaye General Hospital, Abeokuta, adding that six persons who sustained various degrees of injury were also receiving treatment at the hospital.
She appealed to motorists to exercise patience and apply what she described as “common sense speed limit” while on the highway.
Among the first prominent callers at the scene included the state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi; the state Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Bimbo Ashiru and Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr. Adesanya .
At the school owned by the late don, along the Abeokuta/Sagamu road, staff and students wept uncontrollably as the news of his death was broken, yesterday

FG To Sanitise Police Pay System

The Federal Government has begun moves to sanitise the Nigeria Police salary system by including it in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
photo The Federal Government has begun moves to sanitise the Nigeria Police salary system by including it in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

photo The Federal Government has begun moves to sanitise the Nigeria Police salary system by including it in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

Delivering a lecture at a training workshop for Police officers in charge, of mechanised salary sections and pay officers in Abuja on Thursday, a representative of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs.Fatima Mede, stated that the IPPIS would eradicate all forms of corruption associated with police salaries.
Mede, who noted that 300,000 police officers were currently on government payroll, explained that the IPPIS would also rid the Force of ghost workers and other persons, who are not entitled to police salary.
According to her, government officials had engaged in age and document falsification and have continued to receive salaries even when they should have been retired from government service.
She said many such cases were being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
“The IPPIS will put an end to corruption and fraud in the police pay system and also rid the force of the incidences of ghost workers,” Mede said.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, urged participants to imbibe the mechanism of the new salary system, pointing out that intentional mistakes, which could lead to corruption, would not be tolerated by the police management.
Meanwhile, the IG has lamented that the advent of the Internet had drastically reduced the reading culture among Nigerians, leading to stifling of knowledge in the society.
Abubakar stated this during the the multiple inauguration of ‘Read Africa Project’ and also an ultra-modern office complex of the new Directorate of Police Education.
The police boss regretted that rather than reading books, Nigerians, especially students, preferred to play games, toying with their BlackBerry phones, and other Internet devices.

FG To Sanitise Police Pay System

Oshiomhole Criticized Labour's Silence On NGF Crisis

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Thursday frowned on the silence of the Organised Labour on the controversy surrounding the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election.
photo Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Thursday frowned on the silence of the Organised Labour on the controversy surrounding the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election.

photo Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Thursday frowned on the silence of the Organised Labour on the controversy surrounding the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election.

He particularly criticised the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for not summoning the courage to tell Nigerians the truth about the NGF impasse.
The NGF has been in crisis following the leadership tussle between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang.
Oshiomhole spoke at a conference organised by the TUC in Abuja on Thursday.
In the conference entitled ‘The Labour Movement in Nigeria: a centenary of unity, diversity and nation building’, the outgoing TUC President-General, Mr. Peter Esele, also called on the NGF leadership to put its house in order.
Oshiomhole said, “When the facts are so clear, comrade presidents of TUC and NLC, you cannot be quiet. You must take a position if you believe from all that you have heard and seen that Jang won, say so. And if you know that he did not win, tell him to stop janging.”
Oshiomhole, who urged the leadership of the union to always speak the truth, said there was condemnation for dishonesty.
He added, “These are the values of the truth that I learnt from the late labour leader, Comrade Hassan Summonu, who told me when I was growing up that whether you tell the truth, on the day you shall die, you cannot postpone it. If also you choose to live the life of a liar, you cannot live one minute longer than you have been destined to live. But the difference is that for those who speak the truth, there is a space in heaven and those, who live the life of a rogue, their place in hell is defined.”
Dramatising the NGF election, the governor said, “Thirty five people went into a poll and at the end, the votes were counted and Jang got 16 votes and Amaechi marshalled 19 votes. The winner emerged and the same people started saying ‘no, we are going to walk out’. I said how could you walk out. Even in madness, there are levels of madness.”
Esele said despite the anomalies in the conduct of the NGF election, the crisis surrounding it was needless and unnecessary.

PDP Must Win At Least 23 States – Jonathan

The political drama in the Peoples Democratic Party ended on Thursday in Abuja with President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, proving that they were, indeed in control of power.
photo The political drama in the Peoples Democratic Party ended on Thursday in Abuja with President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, proving that they were, indeed in control of power.

photo The political drama in the Peoples Democratic Party ended on Thursday in Abuja with President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, proving that they were, indeed in control of power.

Jonathan and Tukur, deploying the awesome influence of their offices, silenced some governors of the party, who had vowed to ensure that the National chairman was booted out of office during the 61st National National Executive Committee meeting.
While Jonathan boasted that the PDP must win at least 23 states during the 2o15 general elections, a more confident Tukur had a message for all the PDP members, especially governors: You must respect the President.
Prior to the NEC meeting at the Wadata Plaza national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja, some governors in the Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the Nigeria Governors’Forum had vowed that Tukur must not retain his job as national chairman.
They had accused him of being responsible for the crises rocking the party. The crises which made Jonathan to set up a presidential committee formed the major plank of Thursday’s NEC meeting.
• Jonathan on 2015
During the meeting, the President recalled that there was a time the PDP was in control of more than 23 states, but regretted that the party had lost some of them.
Challenging members to ensure that the number of states in control of the party did not go below the present 23 ,   he said he was happy about the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
He said the forum was put in place to put a stop to the decline in the party’s fortune and   to galvanise the interests of the party before its members went for any meeting, like that of the NGF.
“One thing I have to appreciate the party and especially the PDP governors is the formation of the PDPGF. It has really helped to stabilise the polity,” Jonathan noted.
He added, “Governor Godswill Akpabio, (who) spoke   first said it all; that at the beginning, there was no need for PDPGF but now that we have reduced in number to 23, definitely, this should be the least.
“We cannot shrink below this level. We must build up. So, looking at the number of PDP governors, it becomes very clear that they need to have their own thing because we have realised that governors of other political parties used to meet before coming for NGF meetings.
“But PDP being the elephant among them did not really bother much. But over the period, we have realised that there is the need for them to also meet because politics is politics. Politics is a game of interest.”
The President also advised against defying the   Independent National Electoral Commission’s ban on any form of politicking for now

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