Why I Broke Up With Iyanya- Yvonne Nelson

Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson in an interview finally opened up about her relationship with Iyanya and the cause of the breakup.

Excerpts:

On how long they dated and how their relationship was

We dated for 7 to 8 months. We had something and I thought it was special, like he was a wonderful guy but it was all lies. He had other girls and other things he was doing. Aside the actress that was in the picture, there were a lot more. That is how bad it is.

 

We were in a relationship and he lied throughout and he was able to do all those things because I wasn’t living in Nigeria. But aside from the distance, I feel if you’re a genuine person and you’re loyal, you would still not do that.

 

On Iyanya's alleged relationship with Tonto Dikeh
I feel it’s disrespectful to start mentioning other people’s names. I am talking about Iyanya because we had a thing, I don’t want to bring in a third person. There were a lot of names that people know. There was a girl from South Africa, I’m not going to mention names but she was part of Big Brother Africa last year.

On why their relationship was a secret until the break up
I don't like the idea of rubbing my relationships in people's face. We both had our careers and were trying to protect our fan base and that’s cool.
I was proud of my relationship and I even uploaded some photos of us on my instagram page. I wasn't shy but the same could not be said of him because he had different people he was seeing so it was very hard for him to bring it out.
On the experience learnt from the relationship
There are some things that you don’t get to learn in school; people can’t advice you, you won’t even listen. You just have to experience it to learn. I have no regrets that I went through it, it would have happened anyway. We are all human beings. We fall in love once in a while but if it doesn’t work out, that’s OK.

What have you been up to?
I’ve been working hard, been producing movies. I still listen to his music, I love his album. I love the Track 1 with MI and I love, ‘I Got It’. He is a very talented guy, I always have goose bumps on my body when he sings. It all happened last year but I’ve moved on.

What attracted you to him
I can't really point out one thing. That's what you call being in love. It was just something that I felt and I can’t explain. I really really loved him and he knows that.
On her feelings now and an advice to him
I haven't seen him in a while but he needs to be ore honest and keep to his words. He should not take keep taking advantage of women.
Aside that Iyanya is an amazing person, with an amazing career and I wish him luck.

Journalist Battered Over Hanging Train Photos Seeks N50 Million In Damages

A Lagos based photojournalist who was severely attacked for taking shots of passengers hanging from a moving train has slammed a N50 million suit against the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
Babatunde Ogundeji, a freelance journalist, is seeking N50 million as damages for the battery he received at the hands of “agents, servants and privies” of the NRC in August last year at the NRC’s Ikeja Terminus.
On August 13, 2012, Mr. Ogundeji, 50, was taken to the hospital with head injuries after he was attacked with bottles and planks for taking pictures of people travelling on the roof of railway coaches.
His camera was seized by the thugs, but later retrieved by the NRC management.
“They beat me. They hit me in the head until I ran to the police station at Ikeja Local Government,” Mr. Ogundeji had told Lagos based PM News after the incident.
“I had given my camera to someone else and since they did not see me with the camera, they started beating me.”
In his suit dated June 13, 2012, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, Mr. Ogundeji insisted that the thugs were “employees, agents, servants and privies of the respondent (NRC) and passengers conveyed by the respondent’s train seized the applicant’s camera from his colleague.”
“While being tormented, the applicant ran for his dear life to the nearest police station beside the Local Government Secretariat, only to be told that the station is a traffic division of the Police and that criminal complaints are not lodged or taken there; the applicant was advised to go to Area F Police Station, Ikeja Lagos State,” Mr. Ogundeji, a former photo editor with the Compass Newspaper stated.
The camera was later released by the Divisional Police Officer of the Railway Police Station, Agege, Lagos, and the Station Manager, “on the condition that the photographs would not be published”, Mr. Ogundeji said.
Mr. Ogundeji said that he went ahead to publish the pictures in exercise of his “journalistic rights to freedom of expression and the press and the right to receive and impart information.”
Few days after the incident, the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists embarked on a protest to denounce assault of its members in the state.
Mr. Ogundeji wants the court to declare that the action of the “agents, servants and privies” of the NRC was a violation of his right to life and right to dignity of human person.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Mr. Ogundeji also wants the court to declare that seizing his camera was a violation of his rights to freedom of expression and the press.
He said his rights violated by the agents of NRC were as contained in Sections 33(1), 34(1) and 39(1) of the Constitution and Articles 4, 5 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

Mother Who Dumped Baby In Bush Blames It On Joblessness

A baby girl was abandoned by her mother at a backyard  of an apartment in Kuje, Abuja and the mother of the child has blamed her action on joblessness as she had no money for the baby's upkeep.
Favour Abdulazeez, said she abandoned the child because she was "divorced and unemployed".
According to her after keeping the baby in a carton in the bush, she decided to stay back and hid to know who would pick the baby so she could keep an eye on her.
“All along, I was monitoring the baby’s situation, I know those who picked the baby and took her to the police,” Abdulazeez said.
“I was listening to their conversation from my hideout, I even followed them from a distance when they were taking my baby away,” she said.
She now begs for public assistance to take care of the baby.
Abdulazeez, who turned up at the police outpost in Gwagwalada on Friday to claim ownership of the baby, added: “I told the police that I would take care of my baby if only the government would assist me with a job or a trade no matter how small,’’ she said.
The Police Area Command in Gwagwalada, FCT, Yahaya Musa, had on Friday declined comments on the matter, saying that he was not authorized to speak to newsmen on the matter.
Hanatu Turu, Head of the Social Welfare Department of Gwagwalada Area Council, said that she was aware of the incident. She said police should be allowed to conclude their investigations.
Abdulazeez was said to have been delivered of the baby girl on June 13 and secretly put her in a carton and took her to a nearby bush behind her house at night, where she abandoned the baby.
A resident in the area and neighbour, who pleaded anonymity, adding that it was the cry of the baby that drew the attention of passers-by who later took the baby to the police outpost.

NGF Crisis: Jang Seeks Dismissal of Fashola’s Suit

Plateau State Governor and factional chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Jonah Jang has asked an Abuja High Court to dismiss a suit in which Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is seeking to restrain him (Jang) from parading himself as chairman of the Forum.

Fashola, one of the governors in the camp of the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the NGF, had, through his counsel, Prof. Yemi Osinbajio, SAN, and Femi Falana, SAN, asked the court to declare that Jang was not competent to be called the elected chairman of the NGF.
The Lagos State governor averred in the suit that Amaechi was duly returned as the chairman of the Forum in the elections held on Friday, May 24, 2013.
He, therefore, asked the court to stop Jang from parading himself “as the elected chairman of the NGF in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”
Jang; the Director-General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru; the Sole Administrator, Osaro Onaiwu; and the Registered Trustees of the NGF, were all joined as respondents in Fashola’s suit.
But Jang has responded to the writ of summons filed by the Lagos State governor.
The Plateau State governor, through his lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, who is also representing Onaiwu, filed a preliminary objection to Fashola’s suit on Friday, June 21, 2013.
In the preliminary objections to the suit with No CV/3389/13, brought pursuant to section 6 (6) (A) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and order 22, rules 2, 3 and 4 of the FCT High Court, Jang urged the court to strike out Fashola’s suit on the grounds that the Lagos State governor lacked the locus standi to institute the action.
He  said since Fashola did not claim to have contested the election for the NGF chairman, he lacked a legal right to institute or sustain the action.
Jang noted that Amaechi, who Fashola claimed won the disputed election, had neither complained to the court  nor named or joined as party to the suit.
Arguing that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter, Jang submitted that any dispute within NGF could not be taken to an Abuja High Court by virtue of Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, which prescribes that such disputes should be resolved at the Federal High Court.
He further argued that the suit suggested a dispute between the governor of Lagos State and the governor of Plateau State, and as such, no other court has the jurisdiction to entertain the matter apart from the Supreme Court, which is bequeathed with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine or resolve disputes between state governments, or state governments and the Federal Government.
Jang further asked the court to strike out the suit on the grounds that the Writ of Summons was not issued in accordance with procedural due process, adding that the Abuja High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain Fashola’s claims.
Also, he argued that “even if the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has jurisdiction to entertain the Plaintiff’s claims, the Plaintiff lacks locus standi to bring the suit.”
The NGF factional chairman stressed that, even if Fashola had the locus standi to institute the action, the subject matter of the suit was not justiceable “as they relate to a mere dispute as to political dignity.”

Northern CAN Disagrees With Jonathan, Says Boko Haram Has Killed More Christians Than Muslims

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northern States chapter has disagreed with President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement that the Boko Haram sect has killed more Muslims than Christians and that the menace is not a religious by nature.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Elder Sunday Oibe, the association expressed disbelief that Mr. Jonathan actually made that statement.
It said it he did, it was “misleading and unacceptable,” pointing out that that Christians and their churches and businesses have been the major targets of the Boko Haram terror group.
“We want to believe that the president was misquoted; we don’t want to believe that with the security apparatus and reports from security intelligence network at his disposal, he made this type of assertion,” CAN said.
 “If it is true that Mr. President actually made this assertion, then, we are highly disappointed and sad at this veiled attempt to distort the facts as it concerns the activities of the Boko Haram sect.”
The association stressed that it has no record where a mosque was originally planned to be attacked by the sect.  “We say this because there has never been any bomb that has been exploded in any mosque or targeted at any mosque in the entire activities of the Boko Haram sect in the north.
The Boko Haram members even said that when a Muslim is killed, it is by mistake.”

Odinkalu, 50 Others Escape Death As Power Cut Stops Arik Plane From Landing

What could have been another  major disaster for the country was narrowly averted in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, on Friday night, following a sudden interruption in electricity supply at Ibom airport when an Arik aircraft, with its landing gear fully engaged, was just about to touchdown.

Passengers on Flight W3 533 said there would have been a devastating air accident had the American pilot not been vigilant enough to hurriedly terminate his landing plan and re-engage the engine to quickly fly back to the sky.
The passengers were full of praises to God for saving their lives as their flight returned to the nation’s capital after authorities of the airport failed to provide an alternative source of power supply to enable the plane to land in the Akwa Ibom state capital.
On the flight were an estimated 50 passengers, including  the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, and some unnamed federal lawmakers, believed to be heading to Uyo for a retreat.
Mr. Odinkalu confirmed the incident. Contacted on the telephone early this morning, a relieved Mr. Odinkalu said, “Thank God we survived. If it had been a rainy night with thunderstorms, anything could have happened to us. Some people need to answer questions over that incident.”
The flight, originally scheduled for 6:25 p.m, left Abuja at about 7pm.  It returned to Abuja at 9:35pm. after hovering in the sky for over 30 minutes in expectation that authorities at the Uyo airport would be able to light the runway to enable it to land.
Some passengers on the flight told PREMIUM TIMES that the plane was only 500 metres from the tarmac in Uyo when the airport suddenly blacked out.
“As he re-engaged the engines to go up, the pilot informed us that the control tower had told him there was a power outage at the airport,” a passenger on the flight said. “So they needed a little time to switch to alternative source. So we were told.
“Meanwhile, the aircraft was in a holding pattern over Uyo. So we flew around and  waited. After about 15 minutes, the pilot explained that the man responsible for turning on the back up power unit was about 10-15 minutes from the airport and had been reached. So he was on his way back to switch it on. So we kept holding.”
It is not clear why the technician was not at his duty post at a time the airport was in operation and planes were still expected to land.
The passenger said after another 15 or so minutes, the American pilot announced that the control tower had informed him  that the man expected to switch on the generator had arrived and that power would be restored to the airport in 10 minutes. So the plane held on, hovering in the sky.
But fifteen   minutes later,  PREMIUM TIMES was told,  the pilot again informed passengers that even though the technician to switch on the generator had arrived, the airport authorities were unable to locate the keys to the source of the alternative power unit.
Officials didn’t say who took the keys away and at what point they realized the keys were missing.
They however advised the pilot to return to Abuja.
“Gratefully, the evening was devoid of Uyo’s potentially destructive thunder and rainstorm,” a passenger said. “The information we later got was that the airport’s alternative power source was not in working condition and that they actually lied to the pilot for all the time we hovered in the sky.”
But the ordeal of the passengers was far from ending. On arrival at the Abuja airport, the stranded passengers found, to their irritation, that the Arik Ground Manager had disappeared from his desk, and that there was no one to provide information or arrange transportation or lodging for them.
Some junior staff of the airline, who were approached, simply told the visibly angry passengers they had no idea what to do about the situation,  as they were not given any instruction by their superiors, a witness said.
“Thirty minutes later, very responsible looking men in their suits and expensive silk ties have been reduced on the tarmac to vigilantes using every available part of their anatomy to preclude the pilot from closing the doors and heading off on another trip,” one of our sources said, while still at the airport. “The Arik Manager remains disappeared and this place is going to degenerate.”
The General Manager, Public Affairs of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Akin Olukunle, as well as Arik Air spokesperson, Banji Ola, could not be reached for comments early this morning.
Nigeria’s Aviation Investigation Bureau (AIB) had in some of its reports blamed avoidable human errors and dereliction of duty by public officials working in the aviation sector as major reasons for the loss of hundreds of lives in air crashes in Nigeria.
The bureau, which is saddled with the responsibility of investigating air accidents in the country, stated these in its reports after the crashes involving two airlines, Sky Executive Aviation Services (SEAS)  and Sosoliso airline in 2002 and 2005 respectively.
Some of the human errors identified by the AIB as causes of plane crashes include non-lightening of runways and airfields (as it happened last night), poorly constructed drainage culverts, inaccurate information by the control tower, lack of proper certification of radio operators and poor supervision of aircraft imported into the country.

Five Parties Share APC Leadership Positions

Five parties involved in the merger of opposition parties have shared the leadership positions of the All Progressive Congress (APC), according to a document seen by Daily Trust at the weekend.

As earlier reported by Daily Trust, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) got the national chairman, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) was given the national secretary, while the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) got the national treasurer.

 

For their part, factions of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) who are in the merger got national organising secretary and national auditor positions respectively, Daily Trust learnt.

 

Other positions taken by the ACN are legal adviser, deputy national treasurer, national publicity secretary, deputy national youth leader, two national vice chairmen (south west and south south) and two ex-officio members.

 

The ANPP, apart from the national secretary, also got national financial secretary, deputy national organising secretary, deputy national publicity secretary, two national vice chairmen (north west and north east) and two ex-officio officers.

 

CPC, for its part, in addition got the posts of deputy national chairman north, deputy national secretary, deputy national legal adviser, deputy national auditor, national woman leader, national youth leader, one vice chairman (north central) and one ex-officio officer.

 

APGA was also given the posts of deputy national chairman south, deputy national financial secretary, deputy national women leader, one vice chairman and one ex-officio. DPP got deputy national secretary, in addition to national auditor.

 

The parties will fill in these slots in the interim, pending the registration of the APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which will be followed by ward and state congresses as well as national convention where substantive officers will be elected.

 

Meanwhile the ANPP at the weekend set up a new committee headed by the National Chairman Dr. Ogbonayya Onu to among others handle the sharing of positions allotted to the party in the APC merger arrangement.

 

This was among the resolutions reached at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Saturday. The committee includes former and serving governors of the party and their mandate is to continue to act on behalf of the party in the merger negotiations until APC is registered.

 

Speaking during the opening of the meeting, Onu said the merger with other opposition political parties would enable the party control more states in 2015.

 

“This merger has strengthened the hands of our governors, success in future elections can now be better guaranteed. The merger is equally important that in the states where we have reasonable presence, but in the past could not win elections,” he said.

 

He added, “At the stage where the merger process has reached, at the moment, I am happy to inform you that we have met all the conditions for the three major opposition political parties, ACN, ANPP and CPC, to merge as prescribed by law and contained in the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).  What is now left is for us to fulfil the conditions for the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party.”

Special Forces Intensify Land, Air Patrols In Borno

The Defence Headquarters has said its Special Forces are focusing on the new terrorist threats in Borno State through ongoing land and air patrols in Bama and Gwoza.

The army said available information and intelligence were being used to trail terrorists that were regrouping to destabilise the areas, adding that some of them had been apprehended.
Boko Haram insurgents, who were dislodged from their Sambisa Game Reserve  by security forces, had reportedly dispatched threat letters to residents of  Bama and Gwoza a week earlier,  warning of bloodbath in seven days and forcing  them to flee their homes.
The sect had  in the letters said to be written in Kanuri and Hausa languages, warned residents of the towns, who are mainly civil servants, to resign their jobs and burn their employment documents or risk being consumed by the impending war.
Some of the Boko Haram insurgents, who were dislodged from their enclaves in northern and central Borno, were believed to have regrouped on Gwoza hills and in Mandara mountains in southern Borno.
But the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, told our correspondent on Sunday that the special forces would deal with the insurgents, whom he described as miscreants.
According to him, the troops on the ground are doing all that is necessary to contain the new threats and ensure that lives and property are protected.
Asked if there would be fresh deployment of troops in the troubled areas, Olukolade demurred but noted that deployment was a continuous exercise that would be done when the need arose.
He said, “Threats by the group are being duly addressed by ongoing patrols of the special forces on land and air. That area is now under a special focus and every available information is being used to trail any terrorist attempting to team up for any kind of operation or threat against citizens.”
Meanwhile, men of the Special Task Force on Friday battled with insurgents, who were planning to attack some minority villages of Yamini, Karkashi, Shikal and Lokan, on the fringes of southern Plateau State.
The villagers had sent a distress call to the task force, complaining that some insurgents, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, were camping behind Mango plantation in Wase town and Sakin Kudu in Taraba State with the intention of attacking them.
They had also fled their communities for fear of being attacked by these insurgents, who were also said to have mixed up with some terrorist elements suspected to have camped in Ibbi on the fringes of Taraba State.
However, following the call, some operatives were said to have been deployed on Friday to dislodge them from the villages.
Executive Director, Stefanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, who raised the alarm, said the insurgents retreated on sighting the men of the task force.
Lipdo, in a text message to our correspondent  on Sunday, said, “Indiginous minorities around Karkashi/Yamini of Southern Plateau are full of praises for Special Task Force as they watch their adversaries fleeing yesterday (Friday June 21, 2013) on military arrival. Sources said people slept well as only a few fulani now remaining around Shikal and that many are returning to their homes. Thanks to STF.”
STF Spokesman, Capt. Mustapha confirmed the development. He however said that nobody was killed, adding that there were also no arrests.
He said, “Our men were sent to dislodge them and we are also deploying strategies to ensure that elements of terrorists do not infiltrate Plateau through that flank”

"He Is At Peace With Himself" - Nelson Mandela's Daughter

We present you an exclusive interview with Nelson Mandela's daughter Makaziwe, who was born in 1953 to Mandela's first wife, Evelyn. It's the first time a family member has given an interview since the former president was admitted to hospital.

The world’s attention is focused upon the ailing former South African president and vanguard of human rights, Nelson Mandela. It would be recalled that the leader of African nations was reported to be in critical condition Sunday evening. To his daughter, however, this is not an event of a global scale – but a very personal matter and an invaluable opportunity to spend the time with her dear father.
"All we do every day is take one day at a time and pray to the good Lord," Makaziwe Mandela says. "All I pray for as a daughter is that the transition is smooth. ... He is at peace with himself. He has given so much to the world. I believe he is at peace."
She thinks her father is at peace with himself, and the family hopes for a tranquil crossing into the spiritual realm. Unfortunately, with all the media attention is disturbing the members of the family, as they have to deal with constantly being in the spotlight.
"With all of this media frenzy, the camping in the hospital, you know people talking about things they don't know or understand basically. Other people want to lecture us on how we should behave, what we should do.

"Really? It's our dad. It's the children's grandfather. We've never had him in our life for better part of our years. This is in a sense quality and sacred time for us, and I would expect the world to really back off and leave us alone
"Nelson Mandela's blood runs through these veins. Our veins. Give us the space to be with our father. Whether these are the last moments with us to be with our dad or there is still a longer. But they must back off."
Before it was announced that her father was in critical condition, Makaziwe spoke to his medical condition and state of mind.
"They haven't stopped treating him with all the best medicine in the world. He still opens his eyes ... the touch is there."
She also addressed how much medical treatment her father should receive.
"In our culture, the Tembu culture, ... you never release the person unless the person has told you: 'Please my children, my family, release me.' My dad hasn't said that to us.
"So these people who want to talk about, you know, release him, he hasn't said we should release him and we haven't come to the end yet. It is only God who knows the end."

FG Is Committed To National Endowment For Arts

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke has promised that the much awaited establishment of the National Endowment Fund for Art in Nigeria will soon see the light of the day.
The Minister made the remarks when he paid a visit to the private gallery of art owned by Solomon Ogbonna Nwainyinya at Ojamakinwa Street, Ajah, Lagos. Duke who was accompanied by the Director General of National Gallery of Art (NGA), Mr. Abdulahi Muku, said the visit was to see for himself the rich array of works in the collection of Chief Nwainyinya, having been intimated about the fact that there are works of such magnitude in the hands of a private collector.
After embarking on a tour of the gallery, an obviously impressed Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, while addressing the journalists commended Nwainyinya for being able to maintain such enormous works and in such great numbers, adding that the works are treasures and cannot be hidden from global view.
"The world must see these collections. I want to commend you; there are not too many Nigerians like you, who would not only cherish but also keep custody of these treasures, because these are treasures that tell the history of hundred years plus. I want to say that Nigeria owes you a huge amount of debt because what you have here challenges even what are held in National Museum of Nigeria,"

OPINION: First Lady -- On An Illegal Podium?

Patience Jonathan, the First Lady and Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service, a position to which she was promoted last year to national outrage, is in the news again for the wrong reasons.
Having decided to now conduct her public outings with an official podium of 'First Lady' complete with the country's coat of arms and national colours, it seems there is no limit to the odium Nigeria would endure in her hands. For the wife of the President, occupying a ceremonial office that is unknown to Nigeria's constitution and laws, to use the coat of arms in the manner she does amounts to a desecration of national symbols and disrespect to all Nigerians.
This odious practice should be stopped immediately and President Goodluck Jonathan should lead the way as the man who has sworn to abide by the constitution and uphold its tenets. It is bad enough that the First Lady's deviation from the norm is manifesting in the President's household, it is doubly sad that he has seen nothing wrong with it. No doubt, Madam Jonathan deserves praise for her tireless efforts at improving the lots of Nigerian women. Her campaigns on the political scene did more a lot to impact on her husband's political fortunes. She is indeed a force for good. But introducing a seal of her own is a little over border.
It all seemed a joke when, in February, Patience Jonathan, surrounded by her friends and family members, first made her address on a customized podium adorned with the country's official seal.

Eagles Suffering From Inexperience – Chukwu

Former Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu has submitted that the Super Eagles were unable to progress at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil due to inexperience of some of the players.

The team crashed out of the eight-team tournament on Sunday after just winning one match from three. Their opening group game against Tahiti ended 6-1 in their favour, but lost to Uruguay (2-1) and Spain (3-0) to exit from the tournament.
Chukwu, who led the national team to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980, said the strikers missed many scoring chances in the three games due to their inexperience, but praised coach Stephen Keshi for giving the players the opportunity to play at the big stage.
He said, “People keep saying we missed strikers like Obafemi Martins and Osaze Odemwingie, but that is not the issue. When these players were there and did not play to our satisfaction, we clamoured for other players to be included. What is missing in this team is experience. We should not forget that key players like Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike were not available for this tournament.
“If this crop of players continues to play at the big stage just as they did at the Confederations Cup, they’ll gradually acquire what is needed to win games at the top level.”
He added, “The results (in Brazil) are not encouraging but Keshi deserves credit for giving the players the chance to play at the top level.
“One of the lessons learnt from the Confederations Cup will be on how to fortify the team ahead of their last World Cup qualifier against Malawi and the subsequent preparation of the team for the World Cup.
“It is better we fail and learn at this level than to disgrace ourselves at the World Cup next year. The purpose of this competition is to assess the team’s strength, and we have seen our weaknesses.”

Submerged In Water Two Buildings Collapse In A’Ibom

Two houses on Oron Road, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, collapsed following a downpour on Sunday.
It was learnt that while one of the houses was completely submerged in the water before it collapsed, only part of the second building was affected.
A youth leader in the area, Mr. Etifit Nkereuwem, told our correspondent that none of the occupants was injured as some of them had travelled to their villages while others went to church.
He said, “Two houses collapsed. But the one at number 178b Oron Road, was completely submerged in water. Only a part of the other building collapsed for now.
“From what we have gathered so far, nobody was around at the time of the incident.
“Some of the occupants went to villages while others went to churches. They only returned to see the collapsed buildings.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Etim Dickson, said the police were making enquiry about the collapsed buildings.
“The Divisional Police Officer in the area is already on the situation. As soon as they get the report, I will get back to you,” he said.

Stunning Images of the Supermoon Around the Globe

A supermoon is the coincidence of a full moon or a new moon with the closest approach the Moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit, resulting in the largest apparent size of the lunar disk as seen from Earth. The technical name is the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system.
The most recent occurrence was on June 23, 2013, as the closest and largest full moon of the year and the Moon’s closest encounter with Earth for all of 2013. It will not be so close again until August 10, 2014.
Supermoons occur about once every 14 full moons in a full moon cycle.
Below are the stunning images of the "supermoon" as it rises all around the world.

Camels wonder under the biggest and brightest full moon of the year as it rises over the Judean Desert in the West Bank on Sunday, June 23. The moon reached ts biggest and brightest appearance of the year on Sunday morning, when it was at the closest point to Earth in its orbit.

Onlookers view the full moon over the city of Rome on June 23.

The full moon rises over Lisbon, Portugal, on June 23.

Super moon is seen behind the Marina district towers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on June 23.

The Supermoon is seen over the Statue of Liberty on June 23 in New York.

This view is behind a building of the Forbidden City in Beijing on June 23.

The moon lights the sky over San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, on June 23.

A cotton candy vendor weaves through the crowd during the Los Angeles Angels' baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, June 22.

A full moon rises behind the Jefferson Memorial in Washington on June 22.

The Supermoon rises over the temple of Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the seas, as the sun sets on Cape Sounion outside Athens, Greece, on June 22.

The moon rises behind the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 22.

The moon hangs in the sky over Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on June 22

ABU Queries Prof Kolo Over Sexual Harassment

The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has queried Professor David Kolo of the university’s faculty of education for sexually harassing one of his female students, a development that led to his sentence to two months imprisonment by a court in Jigawa.

 

Daily Trust learnt that the university management had since issued a query to the professor, demanding explanation on why he indulged in the act of sexual harassment.

 

ABU’s statute provides stiff disciplinary action on established cases of sexual harassment, and this may include dismissal.

 

Our correspondent gathered that Professor Kolo refused to answer the query, an act that our source described as a “gross misconduct.”

 

“The university has laid down rules and regulations guiding the conduct of any staff. If a query is issued to any staff of the university, it means the university wants a convincing explanation over a certain issue. If such staff decides not to answer, there is the next step. This can be suspension. After investigation, like in this case, it can result to outright dismissal,” the source said.

 

However, in an interview with journalists, ABU’s head of public affairs department, Dr. Isma’il Shehu, advised students and parents to be utilizing the various channels of laying complaints that are available in the university.

 

“The management of the university, particularly the Vice Chancellor Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, was extremely sad because both the student in question and her husband, who happens to be an academic staff of a polytechnic, failed to inform the management of the university over the Prof’s advances.

 

The university could have handled that issue without fear or favour. You can’t expect a responsible management like ours to allow such types of indiscipline to go down the drain,” Dr. Shehu said.

Nigeria's Electric Power Situation Worsens Again -TCN

Public power supply in Africa's most populous nation, has worsened in recent days due to the loss of 1,598 megawatts that resulted in massive load-shedding, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

TCN's spokesman Dave Ifabiyi said the drop in power generation was caused by the destruction of two major gas pipelines supplying gas to eight power generating stations.

“With the disruption of gas supply through the lines, the Nigerian Gas Company is unable to move gas to Afam IV and Afam VI as well as the Independent Power Plant in Rivers State, resulting in generation loss of 593MW.

“Also, the second vandalised gas pipeline from Escravos to Warri caused a cutback of 1,005MW  in power generation from Egbin/AES power generating station, Olorunsogo, Omotosho and Geregu NIPP power generating plants,” he  said in a statement.

The statement put total power generation as of 2 p.m. (local time) on Sunday at 2,290MW, which is hugely inadequate to power a country of 160 million people.

Apart from gas supply shortage, the worsening power supply situation in the country had in recent times been blamed on frequent collapse of the generation and transmission systems.

Earlier this month, Minister of Power Chinedu Nebo set up a panel to investigate the incessant power system collapse experienced in the country in the past five months.

Tagged the ''Technical Investigative Panel on System Collapse,'' the 13-member committee was given two weeks to, among others, determine the immediate and remote causes of system collapses and review all the collapses that had occurred from January to date.

PANA reports that even in the best of times, most Nigerians depend on electricity generators for power supply to their homes and businesses, as the country's power monopoly has failed woefully to meet public demand.

Nigeria generates just about 4,000 mega watts of electricity, which is considered highly inadequate to meet the demands of its population.

How Female Lautech Student, Seun Adaramoye Was Murdered

The death of Oluwaseun Adaramoye, an undergraduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lautech whose body was found behind a popular guest house in Ogbomosho has become a topic of interest on the lips of many, particularly students of Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology, LAUTECH.

Ngozi her friend and hostel mate gave a proper account of how it all happened.
Read her statement below

“Seun Adaramoye was an 100 level accounting student, she stayed in Stadium area around Lawyer Ahmed Junction, she’s a hostel mate and also my friend.
On Sunday evening (16th of June), we were all gisting outside the hostel as we normally do and around 5pm, Seun just said she’s coming and left. She was on casual outfits like all of us, so we thought she had gone to the junction to buy stuffs but she went to her best friend’s place not far from the hostel.
  
“When Seun was leaving her best friend’s apartment, she told her that she wants to quickly get to her boyfriend’s place in Oke-Anu around 7pm on that same Sunday evening and that was the last time we both saw Seun.

“We didn’t even notice on time that she hasn’t returned cos she’s a female and no one can monitor a grown lady, so we assume that she should be with her boyfriend Lanre(REAL NAME) not until wednesday morning when Seun refused to show up for her last paper. Her friend came to check on her in the hostel and it was then that she informed us that Seun is no where to be found, we searched and searched for Seun but all to no avail.

On Thursday morning, we decided to report her dissappearance to the school authorities, that was when we heard the news of a dead body which was discovered at the back of Jastok Guest House.
On getting there, we couldn’t identify the body because several parts of her body had been cut off, her breast, one hand, half her head was gone.
We were eventually able to recognise Seun by her hairdo and mark on her leg, her birth mark and the remains of her cloth on the body.

So the police and the SUG were invited and they went after the boyfriend who had obviously absconded, so he has not been arrested as been speculated but his best friend was arrested. People thought he was arrested because of the search and the arrest of his best friend but he hasn’t been found till now, he’s gone into exile.
On Searching Lanre’s house, the police found mysterious things like Calabash, Ladies Bra, Panties, Nails and several underwears.
Our friend Seun was never a runs girl, she was a very gentle and loving soul, she was just unlucky to have fallen a victim of some desperate souls. She has since been buried by her brother here in Ogbomosho because the body was already decaying with worms all over and moreover it’s an uncompleted body and they won’t bury her like that in her hometown.

Ado Bayero: Half a Century In the Vanguard

Since 1963, when he ascended the throne of his ancestors as the Emir of Kano, the debonair former Nigerian ambassador to Senegal, Alhaji Dr Ado Abdullahi Bayero, has remained a reference point on how traditional institutions could promote good governance and people-oriented policies under a modern, democratic system. His model royalty also highlights the roles and responsibilities of the monarchy and how the formalities of the office can complement rather than abnegate the tenets of democracy. It is little wonder, therefore, that the ceremonies marking his 50 years on the throne, penultimate week, attracted not only the high and the mighty but the masses who thronged his palace to felicitate with him.

Oyo State To Pay N1.2bn Compensation On Roads

The Oyo State Government is to begin the payment of compensation to those affected by the ongoing road dualisation in Ibadan, the state capital and other major towns in the state.

The state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, said this in a statement made available to reporters on Sunday.
The statement said N1, 214,737,340.46 would be paid to 1,304 people whose properties were affected by the dualisation of six major roads in the state.
The roads, according to the commissioner,  are the Efunsetan-Toll Gate Phase I; Efunsetan-Podo Roundabout-Toll Gate Phase II in Ibadan; Dugbe-Magazine-Eleiyele with spur to Aleshinloye-Onireke-Agbarigo Road in Ibadan;  and Ibadan-Oyo-Iseyin junction-Iseyin-Okeho junction, Iseyin.
Others are the Ilorin Expressway-Ikoyi junction-Takie-Palace-Ogbomoso Grammar School; and Ibadan-Oyo Expressway-Iseyin-Oyo junction Owode-Akesan-Palace Road.
He said, “Twenty-six people would receive sum of N41,520,165 at Efunsetan-Toll Gate Phase I and 108 people at Efunsetan-Podo Roundabout-Toll Gate Phase II will collect N133,232,522.”

Andre Villas-Boas Remains Committed To Tottenham Despite PSG Link

Andre Villas-Boas has pledged his future to Tottenham after dismissing talk linking him with Paris Saint-Germain.

Big-spending PSG were thought to have made Villas-Boas one of their top targets to replace Real Madrid-bound Carlo Ancelotti at the Parc des Princes.
Villas-Boas, who took charge at White Hart Lane last summer, admits he is a close friend of PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi, but he insists he remains committed to Tottenham
"I have had a friendship for some time with the president of PSG," Villas-Boas told A Bola. "He is a friend and we speak regularly, but my commitment is with Tottenham.
"It was the club that allowed me to return to the Premier League and I feel good there."
Former France coach Laurent Blanc is the overwhelming favourite to replace Ancelotti at PSG with the ex-Manchester United defender set for talks this week with the capital club.

Standard Chartered Launches Digital Banking Application

Standard Chartered Nigeria Limited at the weekend introduced the ‘breeze’ digital banking application aimed at enhancing its customers’ banking experience in Nigeria.

It described ‘breeze’ as a mobile banking application designed to provide customers with a superior, convenient and personalised banking experience.

According to the financial institution, the application would eventually be developed into a “virtual branch”, where customers can place requests as well as apply for products and services. Its introduction into Nigeria followed successful launches by Standard Chartered in India, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Dubai and Pakistan.

This bank explained that the product was part of its global focus on digitalising and socialising personal banking as well as to extend customers’ digital lifestyle into banking. 

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Lagos, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola, also said the bank would be introducing a series of digital services and solutions to the Nigerian market. This, according to her, would enable its clients and customers save substantial and valuable time in banking.

Adesola added: “Today’s consumers are tech-savvy and mobile. They want banking that not only meets their financial needs but also anticipates them.  We believe that technology has to be useful, intuitive and most importantly seamless.

“We believe that digitalisation goes beyond online and mobile banking services; we continue to transform our business and invest for long-term growth, with a focus on digital technologies that we believe will shape the future of banking.”

On her part, the bank’s Regional Head of Consumer Banking, West Africa, Carol Oyedeji, said the launch of the product showed that the digital era was in full swing.

“Today we are more connected, more mobile and more social than we ever were.  The launch of ‘breeze’ follows extensive research into the banking behavior of individuals and aims to provide customers with an easy, secure, and user-friendly banking channel,” she added

Obasanjo Dumps Politics For Evangelism, Organizes Nationwide Crusades

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo may dump politics for evangelism soon.

We gathered that the ex-president has joined other clerics in organising nationwide crusades.
The reason, was learnt may be connected to the fact that President Jonathan could not allow him dictate how he wanted Nigeria to be governed.
In protest, Obasanjo was said to have dumped politics for evangelism, having been trained at the National Open University.
He was said to have joined forces with a royal father from his home town, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Karounwi III, and the world-renowned evangelist, Kayode Williams whose ministry is Bishop Kayode Williams World Outreach, to hold crusades nationwide.
Sources disclosed that Obasanjo, Oba Tejuoso and Kayode Williams, an ex armed robber who repented while in the Sokoto prison, have begun a five-day crusade in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, yesterday.

Confirming the Obasanjo's new status, a cleric who is also an indigene of Ogbomoso, Pastor Kayode Alabi, said, “Yes, it is true that former President, Obasanjo, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso and Bishop Kayode Williams are coming on a visit to Ogbomoso for a five-day crusade beginning from today (yesterday).

The whole city is excited and very interested about the programme tagged ‘‘Healing Ogbomoso Land Gospel Crusade’’ holding at the Beulah Baptist Convention Ground, Ogbomoso. The programme is being hosted by Ogbomoso Christian Ministers’ Fellowship.”
According to him, Obasanjo may have resolved to spend the remaining years of his life serving God who brought him out of prison and made him president for eight years. He said: “Baba Obasanjo has many reasons for returning to God to serve him. You would recall how Gen. Abacha arrested him with others, sentenced him to death for alleged involvement in a phantom coup; he was set free after spending three years, three months and three days in prison. He was elected president and served for eight years and today he has many reasons to serve the same God. Don’t forget that he graduated as an evangelist from the National Open University. God could use anyone who is ready and willing to serve him.”

PDP Can’t Win 23 States In 2015 – Aregbesola

24 June, 2013
Politics

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Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said President Goodluck Jonathan was merely “bragging” by saying that the Peoples Democratic Party must win at least 23 states in 2015 general elections.

Speaking at a quarterly interactive programme with journalists, Ogbeni Till Daybreak, on Friday, Aregbesola said the president and PDP were free to brag.
He said, “They are free to brag; this is the season of political bragging. Politicians brag when election is near.”
Jonathan spoke at the Wadata Plaza national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja last Thursday during the party’s 61st National Executive Committee meeting.
Debunking the rumour by the PDP that he slapped his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, Aregbesola, who said he had never fought in his life, added that he had never beaten any of his children.
He said, “A man who beats a woman is sick. More so, my deputy is older than me. Can an Omoluabi (virtuous person) beat an elderly person?
“It is what they (PDP) can do. They thought we are like them; no, we are not comparable. Killing and maiming were the orders of the day when they ruled Osun State.”
Aregbesola, who said the Action Congress of Nigeria will defeat any candidate presented by the PDP, stressed that the people of Osun could see the remarkable difference between the ACN and the PDP.
“The PDP represents no threat at all. We will defeat anybody they put forward as candidate. Government exists to relieve the people of their burder but the PDP exacerbates the problems of the people,” he boasted.
Explaining that occupying the post of governor is not easy, Aregbesola said, “The State Security Service officials follow me everywhere; they follow me to my bedroom, they check the toilet before I use it. If I want to go and visit my mother, they will go and check it before my visit.”

PDP Can’t Win 23 States In 2015 – Aregbesola

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said President Goodluck Jonathan was merely “bragging” by saying that the Peoples Democratic Party must win at least 23 states in 2015 general elections.

Speaking at a quarterly interactive programme with journalists, Ogbeni Till Daybreak, on Friday, Aregbesola said the president and PDP were free to brag.
He said, “They are free to brag; this is the season of political bragging. Politicians brag when election is near.”
Jonathan spoke at the Wadata Plaza national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja last Thursday during the party’s 61st National Executive Committee meeting.
Debunking the rumour by the PDP that he slapped his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, Aregbesola, who said he had never fought in his life, added that he had never beaten any of his children.
He said, “A man who beats a woman is sick. More so, my deputy is older than me. Can an Omoluabi (virtuous person) beat an elderly person?
“It is what they (PDP) can do. They thought we are like them; no, we are not comparable. Killing and maiming were the orders of the day when they ruled Osun State.”
Aregbesola, who said the Action Congress of Nigeria will defeat any candidate presented by the PDP, stressed that the people of Osun could see the remarkable difference between the ACN and the PDP.
“The PDP represents no threat at all. We will defeat anybody they put forward as candidate. Government exists to relieve the people of their burder but the PDP exacerbates the problems of the people,” he boasted.
Explaining that occupying the post of governor is not easy, Aregbesola said, “The State Security Service officials follow me everywhere; they follow me to my bedroom, they check the toilet before I use it. If I want to go and visit my mother, they will go and check it before my visit.”

NAC Says Nigeria Spends N600bn On Vehicles Importation Annually

The Director-General, National Automotive Council (NAC), Mr Aminu Jalal, has disclosed that Nigerians spend about N600 billion annually on import of vehicles. Jalal told newsmen in Abuja that about 50,000 new and 150,000 used vehicles were imported into the country yearly.

“Nigerians spend an average of N400 billion on importing passenger cars and by the time you add trucks and other vehicles, the amount Nigerians spend on imported vehicles will be running to N600 billion annually. The market is there. With this market, automotive companies will be willing to invest in the country, but the constraint is the inauspicious import duty which made the vehicles to be cheap.
“Our current policy structure encourages importation and discourages production. That is why we are trying to reverse it to something that is obtainable in India and others where it is easier to set up manufacturing plant than importing vehicles.”

Are Kim & Kanye Getting Married Or Not?

Despite persistent rumors that Kanye West proposed to his girlfriend and the mother of his child Kim Kardashian, the two are probably not engaged.
Kimye welcomed their first child, a baby girl by the name of North, just last Saturday. Yesterday, British tabloid The Sun reported that Yeezy proposed to his reality star girlfriend just days after North was born, because now that they have a child together it makes sense to get married.
The Sun goes so far as to say West gave his Kardashian a $770,000 "rare black and tiger-stripe diamond ring" and that "the pair are planning a wedding in Paris this September."
Though it sounds plausible - Kanye spent a lot of time in Paris these last few months and he does like to spoil his better half with fancy jewels - People magazine debunks the rumor completely. Says the magazine's source, Kanye has yet to pop the question but marriage is definitely "in their future."
Either way, Kanye is reportedly very serious about his lady love, and has previously stated he wants to have six kids with her. On her end, Kim told Cosmopolitan magazine's April issue that "[marriage] is something I know that we both want in our future, but I don't have this sense of urgency about it. I have this best friend who understands me and helps me through all my tough experiences, and vice versa ... It just feels like this is it for me."

Andrey Arshavin Set To Return To Zenit Saint Petersburg

Former Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin is reportedly set to return to his former club Zenit Saint Petersburg.

The 32-year-old Russia international was released by the Gunners and now Zenit's owners, the gas giant Gazprom, have approved his acquisition.
Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller told Sport Express Daily: "We have to remember that Arshavin is a product of Zenit and I think it right that a product of Zenit finishes his career at his native club.
"Arshavin is a great Russian footballer and a great Petersburg sportsman."
Arshavin played a starring role in Zenit's 2008 UEFA Cup success and then performed superbly for Russia in the 2008 European Championships.
However, he failed to build on a promising start to his career with Arsenal and spent time on loan with Zenit during the 2011/12 season.
Sport Express reports the main conditions of his new Zenit contract have been agreed, following a meeting with Miller and Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti.
Zenit are looking to strengthen their side following the departure of Russian star Igor Denisov, who is to join big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala.

Tony Adams Does Not Think Arsenal Should Sign Wayne Rooney

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has warned his old side against signing Wayne Rooney as he feels he could struggle to cope with life in London.

Rooney's future at Old Trafford is uncertain after he handed in a transfer request at the end of last season - his second formal request to leave within three years.
Arsenal, Chelsea and big-spending PSG have all been linked with a move for the 27-year-old in recent weeks.
Adams is full of praise for Rooney's abilities on the pitch but has doubts about his mentality off it.
The former England captain, who won four league titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and a Cup Winners' Cup during his time with the Gunners, thinks the temptations of the capital would be too much for Rooney to resist.
"I'm not sure Wayne Rooney could handle London, to be completely honest. That would be a massive risk," said the 46-year-old.
"I don't think it's a question of finances. I think it's his temperament and mentality. London is a different animal and it takes a different type of player.
"Wayne is unquestionably a super player and I'd love to see him at the Arsenal. Technically he's fantastic but I'm not sure about him mentally, off the pitch, and his professionalism.
"I know Sir Alex Ferguson has dealt with Wayne brilliantly over the last few years and I'm sure Arsene Wenger could handle him, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't like to spend my money on Wayne."

Nigeria Coach Keshi Blames Poor Finishing For Cup Exit

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi says profligacy in front of goal was a big factor in his side's exit from the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

The African champions finished next to bottom in their group after a 3-0 loss to Spain in their last game on Sunday.
Prior to the defeat, Nigeria beat Tahiti 6-1 and lost 2-1 to Uruguay.
"There's so much anxiety in front of the goal-line when we get there. The good thing is we create chances, but we're not finishing them," said Keshi.
"That's something we need to work on. Hopefully it's going to come quickly."
Nigeria needed to win Sunday's game to stand any chance of squeezing into the semi-finals, but Spain took the honours through a pair of goals from left-back Jordi Alba and a Fernando Torres header.
Nigeria had opportunities to get back into the match but Brown Ideye and substitute Muhammad Gambo both spurned good chances in the second half.
Keshi also felt his players had become "unprofessional" after Torres doubled Spain's lead shortly after coming on as a 60th-minute substitute, but he added that his side were hampered by injuries.
Nigeria lost Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Ogenyi Onazi prior to the tournament, while Nnamdi Oduamadi was injured against Uruguay and centre-back Kenneth Omeruo had to go off with an injury against Spain.
"You look at the other teams in the tournament, and they have a complete XI of first-team players here," he said.
"I lost four, five key players in the team at the last minute. And today I lost one of my key players at centre-half, which is damaging. But it's football. You have to live with it."
Despite their Confederations Cup disappointment, Nigeria remain on course to return to Brazil for next year's World Cup.
The Super Eagles will move into the final round of African qualifying if they avoid defeat at home to Malawi in their next competitive fixture on 6 September.

Facebook Targets Flipboard with News Reader Development

Quietly worked on for more than a year and codenamed Reader, the unannounced product is being developed for smartphone and tablet use, and will display news feeds as an attractive magazine or interactive newspaper similar to Flipboard, the news aggregator with 50 million users worldwide.

Reported by the Wall Street Journal, the news comes just days before Google is set to close down its hugely popular Reader, a browser-based RSS reader, on 1 July; the move has already sparked development from Digg, AOL, Feedly and others to create a worthy replacement and scoop up users unable to use the Google service.

Citing "people with knowledge of the project," the WSJ reports that Facebook's Reader product will look more like Flipboard and its magazine-style, image-heavy layout than Google's own Reader, which is a simple feed of headlines and text.

Although not yet the go-to place for online news, Facebook is no stranger to the industry, having gifted huge success to newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent, whose Facebook applications have helped to boost visitor numbers, especially among the younger demographic who would previously have visited traditional news websites less often.

Fear Of Demolition Grips Surulere Community In Lagos

The Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, who visited a colony of illegal squatters in Babs Animashaun occupants, Surulere, Lagos Mainland had given the residents in this community 30 days to quit as they “constituted a nuisance”.
Months after receiving this notice, the residents of Adelabu community are still uncertain of their fate.
Illegal ‘colonies’ seem to exist almost everywhere in Lagos making its government to step up its urban renewal and channelization programme to rejuvenate it. The Otumara village in Constain and Ijora Badia has also been asked to leave to make way for the ongoing rebranding, renewal and channelization programmes to complement the beautification of the Constain and Iganmu areas.
Mr Bello said the Otto creek shanties and its dwellers would be expelled to make room for the ongoing construction connecting the drain between Ilu –Eri and the Brewery. He said the channels would have to be cleared to bring relief to residents of Tejuosho, Apapa, Iponri and Olaleye areas.
At Adelabu area in Surulere, behind an elitist school, Fountain Heights Secondary School, the Commissioner scolded the community of over 2,000 inhabitants including women and children, on why they warded off and fought the government officials sent to give them eviction notice to allow for the construction of channels and drainage to check flooding in Surulere, which has been a yearly occurrence due to the activities of these people.

Aberdeen Signs Winger Gregg Wylde On Two-Year Contract

Aberdeen have signed free agent Gregg Wylde.

The winger, who was released by Bolton at the end of last season, moves to Pittodrie on a two-year deal.
And former Rangers man Wylde will be joined at his new club by teenage striker Lawrence Shankland, who has signed from Queens Park.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes said: "Gregg is a player will give us real pace and good balance, which is something I felt the team needed.
"He is a young player who has had a couple of frustrating years with injuries and not playing first team football but he is a player with great ability and is someone who I am sure will be hugely beneficial to the team."
Of Shankland, who scored 11 league goals for Queens Park last term, he said: "I'm delighted to have secured Lawrence. We feel he is an excellent acquisition.
"He will now gain the benefit of training full time and will play regularly at U20 level with a view to forcing his way in to the first team."

PHOTO: Heartless! Mother Drowns Newly Born Baby In Well

Yesterday in Isashi Lagos a baby born in the night was drowned by his mother just hours after birth in a gruesome matter 
Sources state they saw the little unlucky child later and when they came for his rescue he was already swollen and floating lifelessly on the surface of the the dim water. Some women don't deserve to be called mother's.
Tears poured from neighbours and especially a young woman who have been trying to give birth for four years to no avail as the police came to fetch out the baby from the well.
After a quick search by the police the mother's blood and placenta was seen on the ground a couple of meter's away from the scene of the crime.
The main suspect is already on her heels as she was warned that the police have been called by her close friends.
The picture above was given to us by citizen journalist's.

My Mother, Her Life, Her Legacy, By Bola Ahmed Tinubu

My mother, (Maa’mi) Hajia Abibatu Mogaji, has passed. But it is so obvious from the outpouring of emotions across Nigeria and beyond that Mama lives. God blessed her with 96 plus years on earth. But she was not great because of her longevity. For, it is not how long one lives but how well.
But Mama used every minute of her sojourn on earth wisely and well. My mother lived a long, fruitful life that benefited all who were fortunate enough to come into contact with her. Everywhere she went and everything she touched, she left better than she found them. She added and never subtracted. She made and never destroyed.
Her light consistently shone and the darkness could never comprehend nor extinguish it. God gave women a tremendous creative force and that force lived in my mother until her last day. But she is not only my mother. She is my Hero. To Africa, she is Mama Africa. Nigeria shared her with the world. I recall in 1988 when we had a delegation for the “Free Mandela” campaign in South Africa.
She was there front and centre with Sam Nujoma, the first President of Namibia. Most of you know her as the Iyaloja of Lagos or the President General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men. She is more. She was Iya-Gbo-Gbo (Mother of All), Iya Oba of Lagos, Iya Oba of Ikirun and Iya Oba of many other towns too numerous to list.
he received numerous citations, awards and recognition from mosques and churches across the land. As a validation of her depth of knowledge and stewardship, the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria awarded her Honorary Doctorate Degree, (Honoris Causa). She was a powerful, progressive public figure in her own right. When it was fashionable and accepted to ridicule and look down on market women and men, she was their staunch and proud advocate for they were and are an important part of our society, culture and economy.
She stood by them as they stood by her. She was instrumental in shaping policies and practices to assure more Nigerians benefited from commerce and trade which in the former days were dominated by foreign hands. She helped mould and organized the people of the markets into a potent force for justice and social progress, not just for their own interests but for the good of the weak, poor and downcast.
She did not matriculate in the halls of some renowned university. She never had to. A student of the wisdom of our great traditional culture, she inherently knew things the universities taught. She also knew many important things such institutions can never teach. She was a philosopher, pragmatist and a captain who knew how to navigate our complex system but she did so not for selfish reasons or private gain. She did so for a higher purpose: To lead her constituency to a better place.
My mother’s life demonstrated that character, integrity, loyalty, commitment and fidelity to lofty principles are the loftiest values in life. You always knew at every point in time what Mama stood for. Some may say she was popular and respected because she was President General of Market Women’s Association. I say she was President General because she was popular, honest and respected.
She never demanded or craved respect and honour. She earned it. From the depth of my heart, I thank the teeming market men and women who closed the markets as an act intended to honour my mother on her passing. I am the only son who can apologize to the committed market men and women and those members of the public inconvenienced by the market closings.
Their act of love and solidarity during this time of remembrance for my mother will not go unrewarded. That is the tradition for them to honour their hero. For all the good she did as a public figure, what you witnessed was but a fraction of this remarkable woman. You see, I had the unique privilege and honour to be her son. As a mother is where she truly shined. She did not just provide food, she nourished us. She did not just manage the house and help give us a roof over our heads, she gave us a loving home.
She did not just instruct us on what to do, she took the time to teach and sculpt us and to let us drink from her deep reservoir of wisdom and experience. She set me on my path. Whenever times got tough, she held up a lantern that I may see my way forward and she encouraged me as only a loving mother can do for a son. Without her guidance and tutelage, I could not have done what I have been able to accomplish.
Yes, my mother is gone for her soul has been taken to a better place. However, the spirit by which she lived and instructed others continues to live in the hearts of the people she touched. In her honour, I ask that we redouble our efforts to continue to improve Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo and Nigeria so that they become what she dreamed they would be. I shall miss you, Mother. I may not have always been the best and perfect son but you were always the best and perfect mother.
God could certainly not have given me a better gift than such a wonderful soul as my mother. I only wish other people could know the special joy I felt in having a mother as special as you. In this tough world, the word “love” is not used enough. I am proud and honoured to say that you raised me with love and that I love you, Maa’mi. You are the best. Bola Tinubu is a former Governor of Lagos. He wrote this tribute in honour of his mother, who died on June 15 at 96.

How My Mom Ruined My Wedding Day

The author of this essay wishes to remain anonymous. All names have been changed.
The title is harsh. My hurt is indescribable. It was all out of a soap opera only very much true. The woman who gave birth to me, raised me, saw me off to college and got the initial call that I was first dating Alex came very close to ruining what is supposed to be the most special day in a girl's life.
It's a story that extends well beyond eight hours of wedding day prep time. So in the interest of brevity, here it is:
"You're turning my daughter into a Jew!? She's your problem now!!!" This was merely ONE of the rapid-fire quotes to come out of my mother's mouth, aimed at my husband-to-be's family, minutes before I walked down the aisle. A little background...
We got married on a tropical island. The venue was elegant, glamorous and incredibly costly. My parents bent over backwards to book it because well, I wouldn't have had it any other way. An outdoor space, lined with lush tropical landscaping, surrounding the courtyard's centerpiece, a gorgeous, pristine pool.
Minutes before the explosion, my entire family and Alex's were stationed inside the hotel spa's waiting area overlooking the pool/reception space, excitedly watching our guests begin to seat themselves along the very aisle down which we would be walking in mere minutes. There was one more point of business to take care of before we did so.
Alex is Jewish. I am not. We agreed (three years prior) that we would have a Jewish ceremony. This meant that we were to sign a Ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) in front of immediate family before the "actual" wedding in front of everyone else. Being that my mother actually converted to my father's religion for their wedding, we didn't see this as being much of a problem. I wasn't even going as far as converting to Judaism. We were just having a Jewish ceremony. Furthermore, Alex pulled my father aside in December, almost five months before were to get married and explained our decision to have a Jewish ceremony to him. He articulated that he knew that it probably wasn't the way my father would have drawn it out, but that he was willing to talk about it if he'd like. My father mostly listened, put up no objections and the conversation ended with him letting Alex know, "look, it's up to you two."
The rabbi explained to all in attendance, the significance of the Ketubah signing, its thousands-of-years-old tradition, and he recited a blessing. Then he declared, that under Jewish law, we were now married. Butterflies ensued. Hugs and kisses exchanged. Ten seconds later, my mom said something to Alex's Mom, which still keeps me awake at night three weeks later:
"Susan, don't give me that look. I will pull you by the f--cking hair and throw you in the pool!"
I couldn't begin to imagine what she meant. But only in retrospect can I assume that she felt like our whole engagement was some sort of conspiracy by Alex's mom to turn me into a Jewish person. But again, nothing has been confirmed. And I didn't have the guts (or the strength) to ask in that moment.
After the "pool" comment, there was silence. It could have been one second. It may have been a full minute. I honestly don't know. But then she came back with...

Mario Balotelli To Miss Spain Clash

Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Italy's Confederations Cup semi-final against Spain, with medical staff confirming he is unlikely to recover from a thigh injury in time.

Balotelli, 22, picked up a knock in Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Brazil and the Italian Football Federation announced on Sunday that he is unlikely to be risked for the match.
Cesare Prandelli will monitor Balotelli's fitness and could have the AC Milan striker at his disposal for either the final or the third-place playoff on June 30.
The news adds to Italy's woes after Ignazio Abate and Riccardo Montolivo were added to a growing injury list following the defeat to the Selecao.

Efforts by Telcos To address Issue Of Poor Quality Of Service Hampered

Efforts by telecommunications operators in Nigeria to address the issue of poor quality of service seem hampered sequel to state governments' failure to approve over 1,200 applications for Base Transceiver Station (BTS) site construction since two years.
A BTS is a critical network component needed for improving phone service quality. Lately, service by operators has being characterised by incessant drop calls and incoherent transmission.
Telecoms operators have expressed discontent, warning that the continued delay in site build approvals and the inconsistency of approach and fees levied by different state governments, are currently delaying the deployment of requisite infrastructure needed to address the prevalence of poor service.
“A lot of telecoms operators cannot build new sites today because of delays by government and their agencies, particularly at the state level, to approve proposals for site build”, Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) told BusinessDay.
“There are even cases where operators begin deployment of a base station and are stopped because of non-payment of spurious levies from state governments”, he said. This, he added, has adverse impact on telcos’ ability to provide quality services. One of such cases is the request for N250 million ecology tax from telcos to deploy BTS. BusinessDay further gathered that last year, telecoms operators had to wait six months to get the needed approval to deploy 300 BTS.
This worrying trend has already drawn the indignation of many industry stakeholders.
“Governments at all levels need to understand that telecoms can do more to their economy than just being a source of internally generated revenue.
“They need to look at the impact of having telecoms services into their respective economies. For instance, the deployment of telecoms masts will create lots of employment for people in the community. Think of the number of businesses that would spring up as a result of improved telecoms services”, Aremu Olajide, senior executive at Globacom, said. The cost of building a base transceiver station, from the point of securing the land for installation of the BTS and the time it goes lives is about $250, 000 (N39 million).
Adebayo agrees with Olajide, adding that state governments and their agencies need to begin to see telecoms as a veritable tool for socio-economic development, rather than a cash cow.
“I must applaud the minister because she is doing a great job in the area of engaging the state governments on the need to support telecoms operators. She has obtained commitment from state governments through the National Economic Council to collaborate on multiple taxes and regulation”, he added.
According to Osondu Nwokoro, director, regulatory affairs, Airtel Nigeria, “It takes over one year to get approval from state ministries of environment to build telecoms site. In other jurisdictions, environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval does not take more than 90 days. I can remember vividly that we applied in October 2011 and received provisional approval in May 2012. Also, operators have to get planning approval from state governments to deploy base stations. It costs about N500,000 per telecoms mast, and it takes a very long time to get the approvals”.
Delays in site approval contribute to protracted site deployment timelines. This, according to industry watchers, is particularly worrying in view of the speedy rise in mobile subscriptions. According to the telecoms regulator, there are about 114 million active mobile subscriptions.
“Delays in site approval due to multiple regulation and unstandardised application and approval processes are slowing down growth in the number of base station deployment”, Omobola Johnson, minister of communications technology, said at a stakeholders’ roundtable held in Lagos, weekend.
With little over 26, 500 BTS sites currently serving a population of over 167 million people in the country, according to analysts, Nigeria is yet to build the critical mass of phone towers sufficient to meet Nigeria’s communications needs. The minister however said that for the persistent drop in telecoms service to abate, the country must have 60,000 BTS sites by 2018.
Telcos are expected to increase their BTS sites to 27, 000 by the end of 2013. With operators in Nigeria’s market expected to spend an estimated $6.2 billion (N979 billion) on network expansion initiatives this year, the industry seems determined to meet the quality of service (QoS) mandates of the NCC.
Industry analysts told BusinessDay that the deployment of network infrastructure won’t happen at the required pace needed to match growing subscriber needs due to continuous delays in approval of site build.

How Life Has Turned For Pastor Chris Okotie’s Ex-wife

This ravishingly beautiful lady seemed to have struck gold when she married Pastor Chris Okotie at elaborate twin ceremonies a few years ago.
So in love were the duo that many thought it was too real to be true. He showered her with attention and gifts.

This remained the state of things until things turned ugly last year and they split. Following the break up, he not only retrieved the car gifts he bought for her when the going was good, he stripped her of all other privileges she used to enjoy as his wife.

For the mother of three, who is said to  reside with her sister in Lagos, she was sighted in a not-so-posh part of town riding in an air conditioned taxi.

NEMA Aids Disaster Victims In Kaduna And Kano

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sent relief assistance worth millions of Naira to the victims of a recent attack by unknown gunmen in Kaura Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State to ameliorate their plight.
The supplies, consisting of food items and building materials, were officially presented to the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency in Kaduna, Hon. Ishaku Dogo Makama, by the NEMA North West Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Ilallah.  They will be distributed to residents of Zangang, Tangan, Afan Zangan, Zakum and Tsokong, the five Kaura LGA communities that were affected.
 The Executive Secretary took possession of 150 bags of rice, 100 bags each of maize and millet, 100 bags of cement, 200 bundles of roofing sheets, 50 bags of zinc nails and 50 packets of roofing nails.
 In a similar development, NEMA also presented relief items to Kano State’s Hon. Muhammad Sani A. Rano, the member representing Rano, Bunkure and Kibia federal constituency in the House of Representatives, to aid victims of the recent windstorm in Rano and Sumaila.
 The relief items included 300 bags of cement, 100 bundles of roofing sheets, 100 bags of roofing/zinc nails, 100 bags each of rice, maize and guinea corn, 10 bags of sugar, 10 jerry cans each of palm and vegetable oil, and 150 pieces each of shadda and wax prints.  Other items were 100 pieces each of mattresses, towels and mosquitoes nets; 200 pieces of mats, 50 cartons of detergents, and 100 pieces each of buckets, plates and spoons.
 Alhaji Ilallah said the relief items will be shared to the two affected localities with the worst hit Rano victims receiving 80 percent while the Sumaila victims will take the other 20 percent.

Start-ups Success Tips For Young Entrepreneurs

In Nigeria and most sub-Saharan Africa, while formal employment is still highly prized, government across the sub-region are eyeing the growing culture of entrepreneurship. These small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) dominate the private sector of the Nigerian economy, but often time, these young entrepreneurs complain of lack of access to fund as a major challenge to their business success.
However, research has shown that some of the world’s most famous and profitable businesses were started by students. Microsoft began in Bill Gates’ Harvard dorm room, Google got its start on the Stanford campus as the computer science project of doctoral students Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and thousands of other student companies thrive in every industry.
Even if you’re not aiming to be another Bill Gates - maybe you just want to earn some extra cash with a summer landscaping business - you’ll have to navigate some unique challenges as a young entrepreneur testing the business waters. Here are some success tips for young entrepreneurs.
Do what you love: All successful teen businesses have one factor in common: Their owners love what they do - so choose a small business idea that aligns with your interests, no matter what they are.
Know what you want: Are you willing to leave school if your business takes off? Or do you envision your business as a side project? Being able to answer questions like these will help you organise your time and priorities.
Be radical...: In your late teens and early 20s, your thinking is fresh, original and full of energy. Don’t be afraid to try something no one’s ever done, create an off-the-wall product or shake up an existing market by changing factors (such as a service or delivery model) that established companies take for granted.
... but follow the rules: Being a young entrepreneur doesn’t exempt you from registering your business, keeping records and paying taxes. Following these simple rules now will save you from legal and administrative headaches later.
Manage your time: Running a business while going to school is stressful and difficult. Understand what is required of you in your separate roles as a student and a business owner, and employ planning and organisational tools - for example, a well-maintained appointment book, Microsoft Outlook or an online time/project management system - to make the most of your time.
Use school resources: Being a student isn’t a handicap in business; on the contrary, it can be an advantage. Your campus offers free computers and Internet connectivity, a host of potential employees and/or volunteers and the expertise of professors who would be happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. You’re literally surrounded by people and resources, so make the most of your situation.