I ‘ve Done Well, Says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, gave a robust defence of his administration’s performance at mid-term and dismissed public and media assessment of his ministers, saying the criticisms were mostly bereft of objectivity.
President Jonathan spoke at the public presentation of the administration’s mid-term report in Abuja during which administration officials rolled out positive financial indicators which among others was that Nigeria has become the highest investment destination in the continent.
The presentation was graced by former Nigerian leaders, including former President Shehu Shagari, General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya; one-time United States presidential candidate, Jesse Jackson among others.
Also present at the event were the Senate President, Sen. David Mark; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar.
Jackson, speaking at the occasion, commended the president for giving a mid-term report of his performance. He said that it was indicative that the ship of the nation was sailing in the right direction.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim also commended the leadership of President Jonathan, who he said had shown impressive democratic culture through his restraint in the face of unparalleled challenges to his authority.
President Jonathan was nevertheless dismissive of media assessment of his administration. He said that as a former teacher, he was conscious of the fact that any examination should be guided by a marking scheme.
He thus challenged the media to use the 234-page report as a veritable tool for any objective assessment.
He said: “Only on Monday, I looked through a particular publication in one of our dailies, which gave an assessment of the performance of the ministers.
“The first thing I looked for that I did not see was the criteria they used to assess the performance of the ministers. As a teacher, I know that for you to mark a student, you must have a marking scheme. Because, assessment could be very subjective, and if a fellow politician is assessing another politician, you assess the person based on heartbeats.”
He said two ministries; the ministries of Trade and Investments and National Planning which performed creditably well were rated average.
“Since I came to the centre in 2007, I have worked with three ministers of National Planning and three ministers of Trade and Investments. They have never done what is being done today.
“In terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) attracted to this country by activities of that ministry, it has never happened. In spite of our security challenges, there is so much interest from business men wanting to come to Nigeria.
“Before now, that Ministry of Trade and Investments was a dead end, but now they are very active. Talk about Ministry of Planning, people say that until Shamsudeen came on board, we did not even know that we had a Planning Ministry.
“But these two ministries were scored average and I asked what are the criteria? That is the purpose of today, our elders, ladies and gentlemen. The idea is to formally present a document to all Nigerians about the activities of the government these past two years.
“I plead with all of us especially those who want to assess and write about it to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark anybody’s paper. Develop your own, compare with previous governments. Develop your marking scheme and mark us.”

Eagles Set To Battle Mexico Tomorrow

African champions Nigeria are battle-ready to confront CONCACAF champions Mexico in a prestigeous, high-profile international friendly match at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, United States of America tomorrow.
The Super Eagles’ contingent to the match arrived in the United States of America on Tuesday afternoon, after an 11-hour flight from Frankfurt, Germany.
After airport formalities, the delegation was driven to its The WestinGalleria hotel in West Alabama and immediately had lunch. In order toshake off jet-lag, the team set out for evening training and also trained on Wednesday evening, to get used to evening period of the match.
Ukraine-based forward Brown Ideye also joined the team almost immediately, and Head Coach Keshi said he is confident the African champions would do the continent proud in the ‘Game of Continental Kings’.
“We are here to give a good account of ourselves as a team and also as the champion team of Africa. Definitely, we want to take a look at a couple of new players and see what they have to offer. But we take this match serious as it will prepare us for crucial encounters in the next few weeks,” Keshi told the media.
Nigeria play Kenya and Namibia away in crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches on June 5 and June 12 respectively, before flying into Brazil through South Africa.
The two teams are preparing for big dates in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil, with Nigeria to play World and European champions Spain, South American champions Uruguay and Oceania champions Tahiti in Group B.
Mexico, in Group A, will clash with host Brazil and Italy (who have NINE World Cup titles between them) as well as Asian champions Japan.
Friday’s match will start at 8pm (2am Saturday in Nigeria).

Democracy And Expectations In Nigeria

There have been hue and cry over whether Nigeria should retain May 29 as its democracy Day or it should revert to October 1. Both days hold significance for Nigerians, but for different reasons. And as such they either elicit animosity or excitement. Advocates and adherents of May 29 see it as a day in which some people forced the military out of power against their wish. Quite contradictorily, others see it as a day foisted on the Nigerian people by the military; that rather than affirming democracy, it meant the funeral of democracy. Some argued that Nigeria was in a hurry to have something done, to rewrite the history of democracy and hence they wanted to turn a new leaf in authoritarian rule.
Yet, some have argued that subsequent events after May 29, 1999 did not suggest that much was achieved in democratic consolidation. First, the adherents of this school of thought marshaled the point that those who are beneficiaries of power today or since May 29, 1999 were not those who struggled for it, hence they do not even know, neither do they appreciate the meaning of democracy-having being mere opportunistic gatecrashers and beneficiaries of the struggle for democracy. Second, some argued that those who took over power on May 29, 1999 were anti-M.K.O Abiola, to the extent that they in one way or another worked to undermine the June 12 struggle.
On the other hand, October 1 was seen as a culmination of the struggle for decolonization, anti-racism and emancipation. Hence, October 1 is said to be more politically superior to May 29. Indeed, May 29 is said to be an aberration, a political oddity and an anathema that impinges on our democratic credentials as a nation state.
My take on this is that symbols and symbolisms are important in the political life of a people and nation state; hence we shall continue to have emotional attachment to October 1st, as we shall have several political interpretations of May 29. Just like a myth, what is important is not whether it is true or false, but what we make out of our present existence or the use to which we are able to put those symbolisms is far more important.
Ordinary Nigerians are unhappy, disenchanted with, and disappointed by the political class. This is because every where they turned they find failure or defeat. The promises of the struggles of independence have been betrayed. The promises of the struggle for June 12 have been betrayed; the promises of the struggle of antimilitarism have also been betrayed. The electoral promises of the political class to the people have been betrayed. The civil servants have betrayed the people, the private sector operators have betrayed them, and the bankers have also betrayed them. It is a galore of betrayal, nationwide.
Undergirding this betrayal is greed and corruption. The cost of corruption in Nigeria is socially and economically heavy and burdensome. Poverty and crime, unemployed and underdevelopment are some of its social consequences. We are paying the price of bad governance and the culture of impunity in Nigeria. Nobody cares about the public interest; everyone is so inward looking and individualistic that we are losing the meaning and essence of patriotism. But where will all this take us? Failure rate at WAEC is over 80%, failure rate in JAMB is over 70%; unemployment rate is almost 50 million, PHCN of Nigeria cannot meet the minimum 6,000 Megawatts set for it in the past 10 years. The EFCC cannot conclude the prosecution of corrupt politicians due to the inherent weakness of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and the corruption in the judiciary. The Police have remained the chief extortionist agency in Nigeria with even an Inspector-General charged with corruption and unaccountable police funds. Many state Governors left office richer than their states.
Everywhere we turn we find ignorance, poverty and disease. Infrastructure have collapsed, the notion of the public good has disappeared and a new discourse whose root is to be found in the head offices of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organizations (WTO) has taken over in Nigeria.
Our role as a developing country is now being re-conceptualized as that of perpetual or permanent dependence. Our leaders are hardly keen about how to get the country out of poverty as many of their actions plunge the nation further into poverty and want. All we are concerned with is poverty management, as if the management of poverty is the catalyst or recipe for economic growth. Several other countries of the world whose take-off point was the same as Nigeria’s have made marked improvement on the development template-Brazil, Malaysian, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea and so on.
What is worse about Nigeria is that we have not only witnessed reversal but worse still; we have witnessed a decline and negative development. Most of our key industries are shut down, the private sector has weak absorptive capacity, and there is a process of de-industrialization taking place. The privatization of enterprises by BPE has not made such enterprises efficient neither has it made them to have an impressive absorptive capacity. The logical consequences of all this can be seen in the soaring and alarming unemployment rates.
Nigeria is in a dire situation of social and economic emergency. There is need for concrete and progressive policies that will lift people out of poverty, create jobs, provide efficient infrastructure and ensure decent livelihood to the people. There is no linkage between the financial, manufacturing and agricultural sectors; and the small scale enterprises. While oil money is in the air, it gives us a delusional sense of growth, while indeed, there is no real manufacturing taking place. Indeed there has been negative growth in the economy due to weak impact on development and minimal effect on toiling Nigerians. The private sector performance continues to be experience doldrums and inertia with poor inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) occasioned by negative international perception.
The cost of running our democracy is too high, relative to other countries such as Britain or even the United States of America. There is a retinue of hangers and parasites who feast on the political system, from jobless Godfathers to Political Aides and Assistants who merely parasite on the system. Sometime ago, a Governor in one of the northern states of Nigeria was reported to have on his pay roll almost 1,000 political aids and assistants.
Minimally this would have meant that those aids gulped N300 Million Naira in salary and allowances, monthly. This same amount if properly invested could have saved lives of many mothers and infants in the same state which is reputed to have very high maternal and infant mortality.
We have failed to invest in our people; we have failed to believe in our people. We have taken them for granted, ignored them, ridiculed them and insulted their sensibilities. The other day an elected official paid the arrears of salary of workers and began to celebrate it on the pages of newspapers. When indeed he should have been asked why was the salary not paid in the first place? Nigerians must learn to ask the right questions, and insist on the right answers.
We must hold our leaders accountable; we must demand good governance and justice. We must demand inclusive and participatory government, But to do this we must also be responsible ourselves, we must meet our civic responsibility, pay tax and abide by the law. There are many good laws, rules and procedures in Nigeria but they are upheld in the breach. The culture of impunity is so repugnant and appalling. Everybody blames it on long years of military rule. But this is a self- defeating assertion because the military had left the turf over a decade ago; yet we have not changed in our values. For how long shall we continue to be prisoners of the “military-caused it” mentality?
All of us are to share in this blame, from the lowest to the highest placed person. Every society gets the government it deserves. We must fix our electoral process, fix our schools and hospitals; we must fix our roads, our banks and our governance. To do this successfully we must fix our homes, fix our mindset, our value system and mentality, we must fix our churches and mosques that have also been part of the problem rather than the solution. Everything has to be fixed; our behavior and attitude have to be fixed or reoriented. Nobody should therefore exempt his or herself from the Nigerian crises. We all share in it through our actions and inactions. That is why we must now all return to the drawing board and be honest enough to admit our guilt and seek a new methodology of political work.
May 29 affords us the opportunity of rethink, for sober reflection on what is good for our people, the future of our children and the unborn. We should not be thinking about now, about ourselves but about generations yet to come. That is how great nations are built, that is what statesmen do for their people. Our leaders must know that it is better for them to immortalize themselves rather than get themselves into money racketeering, corruption and bad governance. They should strive to do things that will outlive them, they should try to create a legacy of service for others to emulate. They should initiate strong policies and build strong institutions. They should know, and indeed they do know but do not care, that a good name is far more superior and enduring than a notorious one that many current have. How we are judged by history should be more important to us than how we are judged by praise-singers, bootlickers and sycophants.
Finally, it is the people that make history, not individuals; hence Nigerians must crave for the government they want and struggle for it. People must make demands on their leaders and insist that governance must be inclusive and participatory.

PHOTOS: Tonto Dikeh Rocking 'Tom Boy' Swag

Nollywood actress,Tonto Dikeh tries a different look in a recent photo shoot.
We are use to seeing Tonto dikeh, wearing dresses and skimpy outfits.
In this recent shoot, she is all covered up rocking that boyish swag.
Are you feeling her look?

us on twitter and become a fan o

Geography Of Death 2012: How Many People Were Executed In Different Countries

On average, only one out of 10 countries in the past year has applied the death penalty, according to annual report of Amnesty International on the use of capital punishment.

According to the human rights organization, the trend of moving away from the death penalty exists in the world, but the statistics is seriously affected by Asia and the Middle East.
In 2012, like 2011, only 21 countries carried out capital punishments; 140 countries, more than two-thirds of the world completely abolished the death penalty or introduced a moratorium.
The largest number of people were executed last year in China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Yemen.
Employees of Amnesty International found documented 682 executions in 2012, an increase of two cases more than a year earlier.
However, these statistics do not take into account China, which holds the secret data on the use of capital punishment, and Syria, where civil war prevented the collection of information.
It is assumed that China commits several thousands of executions per year, higher than the statistics of all other countries combined.
Iran ranks second in the world in the application of capital punishment: 314 official cases, though, according to some reports, some executions kept secret.
The total number, according to Amnesty International, can not exceed 500. Most executions in Iran have been convicted of drug trafficking, consumption of alcohol, adultery and homosexuality.
The country has a common practice of public executions by hanging and sentencing of juveniles, which violates international agreements.
The UN Special Rapporteur, who was assigned to investigate the human rights situation in Iran, said the high speed of execution of sentences and the “lack of fair trial standards”.
In neighboring Iraq, were executed at least 129 people, 61 more than in 2011. Practice of capital punishment in this country is developing very rapidly: in 2010 was recorded only one case, and in the past year 34 people were executed in one day.
According to official data, 79 death sentences were executed In Saudi Arabia, 43 in the United States, 28 in Yemen, 19 in Sudan , 14 in Afghanistan , 12 in Somalia.
Amnesty International has not been able to gather information in Egypt. About 23,000 people were under sentence all over the world.Latvia became the 97th country the last year, which removed the death penalty from its legislation.
In Europe and the Americas there are only 2 countries which practice capital punishment, Belarus and the United States.
In the USA lavel of executions remained the same as in 2011, they were distributed among nine states, compared with 13 states last year.
In 2012, only 58 countries sentenced people to death, compared with 63 in the 2011. African republic of Benin and Ghana have started the process of changing the law towards abolition of the death penalty.
Sierra Leone declined executions only de facto at the moment. A number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which did not practice death penalty for several years, returned to the practice in the past year.
India and Pakistan executed one person, Japan commites seven executions. Despite the increase in enforcement of sentences in some regions, the head of the Amnesty International Salil Shetty said that the global trend towards the gradual abolition of the death penalty.
According to him, “in many parts of the world penalties disappear” as there is no evidence that the death penalty is a deterrent to crime, and looks more populist measure or direct tool of political repression.

8 Things Women Desperately Want From Men

Someone once said 'To generalize on women is dangerous. To specialize on them is infinitely worse'.

Well, what women want still remains the unanswered question across the globe. However, men needn't lose hope for all is not lost. There are still a good number of things that most women like. Here are a few from the long list which can perhaps help you make her fall head over heels in love with you. Take your pick to woo and sweep her off her feet!

Superman: Women love to be protected. So show in more ways than one to prove that you will be her saviour should your damsel land in distress! Women are always in awe of men who can step up in times of conflicts. Be sure you grab every opportunity that situation throws at you.
Smell good: Deodorant Ads may be going overboard showing men being lured by women's perfume. But the other way is also true. Choose a deo that suits you. Especially if it's your first date, it's best not to try anything experimental. Know what smells best on you. Remember, what smelt heavenly on your friend might stink on your skin! For everything depends on your body odour. When you spray perfume on your body, what you smell is a combination of the deo spray and your body odour. Choose wise.
Surprises galore: Women love surprises be it chocolates, love notes, gifts or even a bouquet of flowers. Women don't mind them in any numbers. You are sure to score brownie points with this one!
Transparency: Honesty is still the best policy. Never lie to her if you are thinking of a long-term relationship. Never mind you will face some initial flak, but eventually you will win over her trust.
Perfect body: What with the celebrities being obsessed with getting a six pack or eight pack abs, girls too go ga ga over men with a well-toned body. Get into the habit of regular workout so you can make heads turn!
Dress well: Nothing turns off a women than a poorly-dressed man. Do a style-check, spot the trends in fashion, speak to a stylist to find out what looks best on you. Clothes maketh man literally!
Crowning glory: Nothing like a funky haircut! A good hairstyle can give you a different look altogether. What are you waiting for? Get that stunner look so you can impress that chick you have been eyeing.
Magic of your hands: You might have taken your girlfriend to the hottest restaurants in town, yet she will not mind if you can cook one of her favourite dishes (or even plain instant noodles) when she's hungry. Such moments are never forgotten.
There's a joke doing the rounds that 'A woman's mind is cleaner than a man's That's because she changes it more often'. However, there are some things that remain constant.

Igbo People Are Killing Nollywood With Tribalism - Actress, Halima Abubakar

One actress who really struggled for several years in Nollywood before she eventually got her big break is Halima Abubakar. She saw the challenges, faced them and eventually conquered.

But she said it no longer easy for up and coming actresses who are gifted but are not being allowed to prove themselves in the industry due to the high level tribalism of the Igbos who control the industry and are now making themselves lord over others. See her complains below...
 

“I have experienced tribalism, I know people would say it is a lie, but that is the truth. Why have those from a particular group not reached out to people who are not specifically from their areas?

“I have worked with a lot of Igbos, my marketer is Igbo, I have worked with a lot of them and I know those I have not worked with, I have not seen the right roles for me yet, but I believe they will come.

"But how about others, who are independently shooting movies, does that mean those are the only set of actors in Nollywood? I am not saying they should give me roles, but there are people who want to see fresh faces. We need to give others opportunity to showcase their talents.

“I am saying, stop tribalism and bring everyone under the umbrella of AGN,” Halima insisted.

'Rotimi Amaechi Must Fall' By Adekoya Boladale, Political Scientist

‘God is a democrat, he does not support rigging but God approves those that rig and succeed’.

For the record the above statement was made by Air Commodore Jonah Jang, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria. Mr. Jang as my friend Wale Odunsi described him is the current leader of ‘Jang-gang’, a special squad put together by the presidency with operation code name ‘Amaechi Must Fall’. This deadly squad is being funded wholeheartedly by the ever humanitarian governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

Let me start by saying that the current tussle for the chairmanship position of the non-constitutionally recognized Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is shameful and despicable, it is an unnecessary glorification of madness and a charade of stupidity, a pointer to the rot in our nation’s democratic system, a display of gross power intoxication by the gods at the helm of affairs and desperation of the power that be.
It is shameful that the 36 governors who claimed to have been democratically elected and parade themselves as advocates of free and fair election could not peacefully conduct a simple electoral exercise which over the years has been carried out by primary school children in selecting class captains and governors. This singular act brings doubt to mind on the authenticity of our so called reformed electoral process. The question on the lips of well meaning Nigerians and social critics remains, how on earth did these set of people get into power?
Today I stand to praise the men and women who included the immunity clause in our constitution, or what would have saved Rotimi from the rain of bombs thrown at him. The desperation of Goodluck Jonathan to bring this man down is alarming; the president has done all in his book to ensure he becomes ‘a thing of the past’. Obviously it is now a taboo to exercise one’s constitutional right to contest any position in the country including but not limited to the position of the president.
Politics can be funny but above all humiliating, or what could have made a 70-year-old man whose earthly days are numbered to take up a ridiculous and illegal chairmanship position. Jonah Jang as history has it has not been able to make any meaningful landmark in his political career, apart from his years of service at the Nigerian Air force, his sojourn at the governorship position has been of no significance to the people of his state but rather a continuous massacre of innocent citizens and destruction of properties has marked his tenure. Yet this same man was picked by our 'shoeless' president to be the governor of all governors.
As if we have not seen enough, the much praised governor of Ondo state, the generally acknowledged 'Iroko', a man who most believe is more learned, allowed himself to be dragged into this craze-party and even made to defend ambiguity. I understand Dr Olusegun like every human would want to pitch tent with a group that is not in any way connected to his enemy but in most situations the enemy of your enemy is not always your friend.
Rotimi Amaechi has not been so significant in our nation’s political history; in fact he occupies no position in the league of men who have fought hard for our democracy. I have nothing against him but like all other political office holders, I don’t like him. One for the fact that he is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and secondly that he is a politician who has in one way or another brought havoc to the lives of innocent citizens.
He is no saint and must answer to the way he administered his position as the governor of Rivers State, he must convince us all how he suddenly became a proud owner of a Private Jet but apart from this he still deserves our steadfast support and sympathy with the current political situation and storm raging his life.
I think President Jonathan need to talk to former President Olusegun Obansanjo and learn a thing or two on how to bring down political enemies, you don’t make them heroes. Every attempt by President Jonathan to bring down Amaechi has brought the presidency to ridicule and public condemnation. Like governor Fashola said this is more of a party issue, but the more we try to ignore it and move on with our 'Nepa-less' lives, the more we give room for more absurdity.
Every Nigerian must stand up not for Amaechi but for common sense and fairness. The position of the president is indeed powerful but never in history has it been more powerful than the electorate. The joke is on us all, if we sit down and watch the presidency drag Rotimi through mud without saying a word.
We all should note that if Amaechi falls, sanity will fall.

By Adekoya Boladale

Six Condoms Tips,They Won’t Tell You!

Is condom education needed for Baby Boomers? Yes, sex ed. to protect and heighten the experience!
Arousing statistics when it comes to the Baby Boomer generation and dating! With new found freedom, the creation of the little blue pill and Barry White on CD, the retirement plan became a bit steamier.
Free from the stress of a job, kids out of the home, and new health developments, the Baby Boomer generation has romance on the mind. The amount of dating sites geared to the over 55, proves this new generation is entering the dating world in force.  As this scene continues to grow tremendously, so does the amount of sexually transmitted infections.
Getting a second chance at romance when wiser and more mature may be cause for re-education on the birds and the bees.  A group in Miami solution to this need, a claymation video, “sex and the Seniors,” to help prevent the spread of STDs.
Unfortunately, it focused on the fear of STDs rather than the benefits of condoms.  When giving sex education talks to people 55 and above, I like to focus on how to make safe sex work for them romantically. The importance of safe sex is obvious, but still seems not to be motivating. The Baby Boomers are open, free, loving life and ‘getting frisky.’ However, missing out on the dating scene during HIV/AIDS left a gap in sex education.
Yes, sexually transmitted infections have always existed, but were not a huge concern, since multiple partners and pre-marital sex were less common.  ‘Locker room’ style boasts can be heard throughout retirement centers more than chats about what condoms people prefer. Hell, amazing sex peeks our interest more than great condoms. However, the rise in STDs with the 55 year old and above population more than doubled over the last decade, exemplifying a condom chat is what’s needed!
When not use to wearing condoms, the thought can be less than stimulating. Remember, condoms not only prevent STDs, they can help heighten the pleasure if utilized correctly. To become familiar with the world of condoms, let’s review the basics. First, to help protect against STDs the condoms need to be latex, polyisoprene, or Microsheer (medical polyurethane).  Lambs skin allows infectious diseases to pass through the condom. Also, find a condom the fits comfortably, they come in various sizes and different brands have a slight variance in shape to accommodate larger or smaller heads, thicker or thinner shafts, etc. Best of all, several condoms have a barely there sensation.
1. Thin is the next best thing to nothing: Trojan Thintesity or BareSkin are super thin. Durex Extra Sensitive Ribbed combines ultra thin latex with a ribbed texture for the pleasure of your partner.
2. LifeStyles Skyn mastered thin and long lasting lubricant, an extra plus for when you no longer produce as much natural lubricant.   LifeStyles Skyns are polyisoprene, which is ultra thin plus transfer body heat making them feel more natural than latex. Also, latex can be irritating, especially to mature skin
3. Getting it on and getting the condom on… When in the heat of the moment, opening a condom may seem like you are fumbling with an impenetrable package. The most efficient maneuver is to tear the wrapper in half. You will not rip the condom.
4.  After opening, find the rolled edge and un-roll it a wee bit adding a little extra lubricant on the inside. This trick prevents the condom from sticking to your skin causing discomfort.
5. Since blood flow may be an issue, it is best not to lie on your back when putting on the condom. Kneeling on the bed or standing helps blood flow to where it is needed most.
6. Last, but not least, make sure to buy a box of non-lubricated latex free condoms for oral s*x. Oral Herpes can spread via oral s*x and no one likes the taste of latex or lubricant!

It’s Rih-naldo! Cristiano Takes A Shine To Pop Star Rihanna

Cristiano Ronaldo can’t hide his glee – or his shiny face – as he grabs a photo op with pop titan Rihanna.

 

The Real Madrid winger posted a backstage snap of himself posing with the singer on Facebook after watching her perform in concert. 

 

The footie ace – who was at her gig in his native Portugal last night – did his best to look streetwise as he beamed for the camera, nailing a deuces hand gesture. 

 

Rihanna played it cooler, pulling a combative facial expression and crossing her arms. 

 

Ronaldo donned a tight white T-shirt and Mr T-style gold chain for his night out in Lisbon. 

 

However, most notable was the sight of his gleaming mug – suggesting he’d gone overboard applying skin products before heading out. 

 

His barnet appeared equally greasy, with every hair precisely waxed into place. 

 

Rihanna posted an explosive pic of her latest Diamonds World Tour show on Instagram. 

 

The deceptive image appears to show the chart-topper going up in flames. 

 

But worried fans need not fear – the snap is just the result of camera trickery combined with a pyrotechnics display going off behind her.

Barca Close In On £8m Reina

La Liga giants bid to snatchkeeper from Liverpool

Jose Reina could sign for Barcelona in the next two weeks after his agent flew in for talks with Liverpool.

 

The Spanish giants hope to tie up an £8m move for the Reds keeper and a deadline has now been set for the transfer to be completed.

 

Arsenal and PSG have also shown an interest in Reina, but the player has promised Liverpool he will not sign for one of their Premier League rivals, and does not fancy a move to France.

 

Reina, who is under contract until 2016, wants to return to his first club and Barcelona have targeted him because their current No.1 Victor Valdes is set to join Monaco.

 

Reina’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, met Anfield directors at the weekend and talks will now begin between Liverpool and the Spanish giants.

 

But the 31-year-old has told Liverpool that if a move cannot be agreed, he will sign a new contract with the club.

 

Starsport understands there is a new deal on the table for Reina which would keep him at Anfield until June 2018.

 

But Reina’s Liverpool place is not as secure as it used to be and his form has dipped at times in the last two seasons.

Kenya Lose Another Top Star For Eagles Match

Coach insists Eagles won't intimidate his players, move training base

 

Harambee Stars midfielder David Gateri has been ruled out of next week’s game due to injury.

 

Gateri who was influential in the first round match in Calabar was injured while playing for his South African based team Salt River Blackpoo ASD in the South African second division.

 

Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche rued his absence saying The news had affected his plans since the player played a fundamental role in Nigeria.

 

"Gateri has been ruled out of the Nigeria return match because of an injury he got while playing for his team. This is a big blow for us as he was an established player in the team and I will have to quickly try and get his replacements before we face Nigeria next week," Amrouche told supersport.com.

 

"Our preparations are going on well but this is the time a coach does not want to be faced with issues such as injuries as they disrupt all plans put in place," he added.

 

Meanwhile Amrouche has insisted his  team will not be intimidated by Nigeria when they meet on June 5.

 

“We have a young squad and I expect to field a good number of local players. I believe they are capable of giving us positive results against Nigeria.

 

“The training has been good, so far. We still have a few more days to tie up lose ends,” said the coach.

 Amrouche also announced that the team will move to Naivasha Wednesday for specialised training ahead of the World Cup qualifier.

 

“We have settled on Naivasha because it is conducive and will give our players the concentration required to focus on the game. We don’t want them to be distracted by other family and domestic problems,” Amrouche said.

 

He also confirmed that Genk forward Ayub Timbe and Parma midfielder, MacDonald Mariga, have pulled out of his squad to face Nigeria. Timbe cited ‘personal’ reasons for his decision to pull out of the team while Mariga is scheduled to undergo an operation in the US.

 

But the coach is unhappy by Timbe’s move since it was not related to injury and he would have been a good addition to the squad.

 

This is the second time Timbe has declined a call-up for national duty. He refused to play for Kenya in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier against Nigeria claiming he is owed ticket refunds. Football Kenya Federation (FKF) denied the allegations.

 

“I am disappointed that Timbe has refused to honour national duty due to personal reasons. This was his chance to make a difference considering the level of opposition we are facing. Playing Nigeria is a great opportunity for any player to build his career.

 

“With this attitude, he should not expect any further call-ups to the national team because I am only willing to work with those who are ready to work with me,” the coach pointed out.

APC Created for National Cohesion but not Personal Advancement - Buhari

Muhammad Buhari, the leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) stated that the evolution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not for personal advancement, but for national cohesion.

He said this on Wednesday at the inauguration of constituency projects by a member representing Zaria at the House of Representatives, Abbass Tajuddeen, in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Mr. Buhari, represented by CPC Chairman in Kaduna State, Ahmadu Yaro-Cocacola, said APC, if elected, was determined to foster national unity and restore hope to Nigerians.

He called the electorate to remain humble and peaceful during and after 2015 general election with a view to electing credible candidates into various elective positions for the good of the nation.

The former military head of state lauded the efforts of the lawmaker for bringing the dividends of democracy close to the door steps of his people and called on other members to emulate him.

In his speech, the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Sani Sale, appealed to the people to join the wagon of what he described as liberation vanguard.

He said that CPC lawmakers had distinguished themselves in honour and service to humanity, hence the need for people to rally round the party.

Responding, Mr. Tajuddeen said that the gesture was aimed at giving all manner of people a sense of belonging, and gave the assurance that more dividends of democracy for his constituency were in the pipeline.

The ceremony featured presentation of gifts to winners of inter-primary and secondary schools quiz and football competition. It also featured the inauguration of ICT/skills acquisition centre, wall fence and solar bore holes, among others.

Some of Top Officials Absent from Jonathan’s Midterm Peport Presentation

Some of the top officials of the Nigerian Government shunned the ceremony where President Goodluck Jonathan presented the scorecard of his administration in the last two years.
When top officials of the Nigerian Government gathered on Wednesday to listen to President Goodluck Jonathan present the scorecard of his administration in the last two years, one notable absentee was observed.
The event, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, was attended by Nigeria’s top five public officials but one, the fourth citizen by Nigeria’s official hierarchy.
Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was conspicuously absent at a ceremony attended by Mr. Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam Mukhtar.
No reason was given for the speaker’s absence although it was later announced during the programme that he was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha.
Though a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Tambuwal has never really been a darling of the ruling party or indeed of the president.
“ ..the joke here (at the presidency) used to be that the Speaker is an APC man in PDP government,” a presidency source told Premium Times, saying they were not surprised the speaker was absent.
Mr. Tambuwal’s election as speaker was opposed by both his party and allegedly the presidency; while he got the support of the opposition for his emergence as speaker. He is known to hold secret political meetings with top opposition leaders like one recently held with Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, two national leaders of the emerging All Progressives Congress, APC.
Rumours have also been spread that the speaker is being considered as a presidential candidate of the APC, a merger of Nigeria’s largest four opposition parties, a claim the speaker denied.
However, Mr. Tambuwal’s spokesperson said there was no big deal to his principal’s non-attendance.
“Usually, the Speaker goes to his constituency on a day like this (Democracy Day) to interact with his people, there is no issue at all,” Imam Imam, Mr. Tambuwal’s spokesperson, said.
He said the Speaker left Abuja for Sokoto on Tuesday after the sitting of the House, and has commissioned some projects undertaken by Governor Wammako.
“In any case even the invitation sent, read the House of Reps, and the Deputy Speaker was there to represent the House, so it will be erroneous to assume that the Speaker shunned the event,” Mr. Imam added.
Mr. Tambuwal was, however, not the only major dignitary that shunned the event witnessed by ministers, lawmakers, foreign guests, and others, and broadcast live to millions of Nigerians.
Obasanjo, Babangida, Abdulsalami, Atiku

At least four former heads of state: Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, and a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, also shunned the event, which was used by the Jonathan administration to showcase its successes. However, all of them were invited, the Premium Times reports.

Although no official reason was given for Mr. Obasanjo’s non-attendance in Abuja, he was present as Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa outlined the achievements of his administration in the state. Mr. Lamido, also a member of the ruling party, is seen as a loyalist of Mr. Obasanjo and is believed to be one of the PDP Governors that voted against Jonah Jang, the PDP and presidency’s reportedly backed candidate for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF.

Posters have already been circulated across various Nigerian states of a joint ticket of Mr. Lamido and Rotimi Amaechi for the 2015 presidency, a move reportedly supported by Mr. Obasanjo. Mr. Amaechi, who won the NGF chairmanship election, is currently having a running battle with the presidency and the PDP leadership. He has since been suspended from the ruling party.

The Jigawa event was also attended by Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the Central Bank, another person who has the backing of the opposition parties. Though serving in a PDP government, when Mr. Sanusi was being honoured with a traditional title in Kano, the event was largely attended by opposition leaders including Mr. Buhari and Mr. Tinubu.

Mr. Sanusi also preferred to attend the Jigawa event than attend one by Mr. Jonathan even though several achievements of the economic team of which he is a core member were being highlighted at the Abuja event.

Two other former military heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar, were also absent at the event, attended by three other past Nigerian leaders: Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari, and Ernest Shonekan.
Mr. Babangida challenged Mr. Jonathan for the PDP presidential ticket in 2011 but eventually lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a northern consensus arrangement before the latter lost the party ticket to Mr. Jonathan. He eventually declared his support in the presidential elections for Nuhu Ribadu, the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in 2011.

Mr. Babangida also recently encouraged Mr. Tambuwal, the speaker, to run for “higher office.”

On his part, Mr. Abubakar, the former head of state, who is said to be a cousin to Mr. Babangida, is known to always share the same position with the latter and has also not been seen attending presidential meetings and events.

Another notable absentee was Atiku Abubakar, also a member of the PDP, and the loser in the PDP presidential primaries of 2011. Mr. Abubakar recently warned that the PDP faced disintegration with the various crisis it is facing.

Buhari expectedly absent

Of the prominent absentees, perhaps the least surprising is that of Mr. Buhari, a perennial challenger for the office of president.

Mr. Buhari was the runner-up in the 2011 elections to Mr. Jonathan; and had earlier contested in 2003 and 2007.
A major critic and outspoken opponent of the Jonathan administration, it would probably have been more of a surprise if the former general attended the meeting.

When Mr. Jonathan was first appointed acting President in 2010, Mr. Buhari attended meetings of the National Council of State at the presidential villa, but stopped attending the meetings or even going to the villa after Mr. Jonathan was announced as the winner of the April 2011 presidential election which Mr. Buhari as candidate of the opposition Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, challenged up to the Supreme Court.

I Was Inspired by Gospel Songs – M.I.

Referred to as African Rapper No. 1, M.I. meaning Mr. Incredible, rose to prominence in 2006, when his song “Crowd Mentality” became popular in his home town, Jos. He released his widely acclaimed debut album, “Talk About It” in December 2008 and has won several awards including MTV Africa Music Awards in 2009 and City People Artiste of the Year 2012. He was nominated for BET 2010 Awards for the Best International Act Category. M.I. is UN Ambassador on Drugs and Crime.

 

Why did you decide to take up the offer and be part of the judges for X-Factor West Africa?

 

First of all, X-Factor is the best talent-hunt show in West Africa and I am glad to be part of it. Secondly, you don’t say ‘No’ to Glo. (laughs) When Glo asks you to do something, you can’t say ‘No’. It is not that I can’t say ‘No’ or that I am afraid to say ‘No’, but because they always make an offer that you are happy about. You are happy to be part of the family. which is what X-Factor is all about. It is a great platform for me to be on. Lastly, I am glad to be here helping a new generation of talents, which is what X-Factor is all about.

 

What exactly are you looking for in a contestant?

 

That X-Factor; nobody knows it. That is why it is called X.  You remember in Mathematics, they tell you to find ‘X’. You don’t know what X is until you find X. So, we are solving ‘Mathematics’ here; we are looking for X. When we find it, we will know what it is. For some people, it is their stage presence, their voice, carriage, the way they carry themselves, the way they present themselves. Whatever it is, we are look for the X-Factor. The competition is generally into music, singing and rapping. So far in the auditioning, we have a large number who have made it through. They have done a good job.

 

What are the measures that have been put in place to ensure that the process will not be rigged?

 

At the end of the day, the fans choose. If they choose a contestant because the person can smile or because the person can sing, so be it. Our powers as judges cease somewhere. After that, it is up to the fans. Until then, we will do our best to make sure we select only the best contestants to stand so that when it gets to that stage everybody has a fair chance to stand. The truth about it is that when you get to the finals and you have a big family and you come from a state where they love TV and they love music, you will have a good chance.

What have you been up to lately?

 

I have a new song called “Chairman”. We have been working on it for some time now; it will be released in June, after the X-Factor (contest). And, I still have many more things to come.

 

What were your early musical influences?

 

I grew up in the church. My dad is pastor. My mum can sing and that background helped me to love music. While I was growing up, I listened to lots of gospel songs from Panam Percy Paul, amongst others. All these people inspired me to be what I could be. Funny enough, you were there – at one of my first shows. That was my first performance in Lagos. It was quite a big step for me.

So from a gospel music background, you moved to secular music?

 

To me, it is all the same. How you live your life is different from what you do at your leisure. So, I am a musician. Sometimes, I will sing about God. At other times, I will sing about even my girl friend. If you listen to my music, you will notice that there is a wall. I don’t sing about everything. I sing about things that affect my life so, even if I sing a love song, it is from a positive point of view. I am a musician and a musician is different from a worship leader. A worship leader can go on to make commercial music; that is what we call gospel music.

 

Do you write your songs?

 

Yes, I write my songs but I get a lot of help. For instance, Ice Prince wrote “Africa Rapper Number One”. He came up with that chorus. Then, Flavour came and added his part. I always like to work with people. It helps to bring the best in you.

 

How has it been over the years?

 

I will say God is good but at the same time, when I say God is good, I know I have to work hard. It is a lot of dedication and hard work. Each time I reflect back, I realize that when that pistol went off, there were many people that I left behind. It is not because I am too good. It is just luck; God’s favour and so I am very grateful for all my blessings.

 

What message do you have for young people out there?

 

In this country today, the same way that people are working hard and moving forward, it is the same way that people are working hard and moving backward, doing a lot of bad things. My word to every young person is to please work hard and focus on the positive in the end. It will pay off. I have not reached the end of my life but I can tell you that it pays to work hard. It might not come as quickly as you want it to be. So, you have to be patient, work hard and definitely it will come.

Nigeria Has Been Stagnant for So Long, It Is Time to Change – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday tasked political leaders to adopt practical measures to accelerate effective utilisation of human and natural resources for sustainable development in the country.

Obasanjo gave the challenge while speaking at the maiden Jigawa Economic and Investment Summit in Dutse.

The summit was organised by the state as part of the activities to mark the 2013 Democracy Day celebration.

The major highlight of the summit was to encourage investment on agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), solid minerals and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

Obasanjo said that Nigeria was endowed with abundant natural and human resources, which could be transformed to the social and economic benefit of the people.

“Nigeria is a land of opportunities and it is blessed with all it takes to develop, it has been stagnant for so long, it is about time to change these opportunities to actuality.

“There is no reason why we should not do that, we must invest in education to save the larger population of the country or else our population will become a liability,” he said.

The former president said that for Nigeria to attain sustainable development, children must be trained, educated and be skilled in every sector to be self-reliant.

Obasanjo said it was necessary for the government at all levels to adopt proactive measures to translate the improvement recorded on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the wellbeing of the people.

He explained that such improvement could be translated to provide employment opportunities, wealth creation and poverty reduction in the society.

According to him, a conducive and friendly business environment was necessary to attract investment opportunities.

Obasanjo commended the state government for its developmental stride in education, describing it as vital tool for development.

In a speech, a member of British Parliament, Lord Boateng, said it was good for the African countries to address the problem of capacity building and poor policies to attract investment.

“The challenge is to build capacity and communicate a message to move sentiment to strategy and turn dreams into reality,’’ Boateng said.

He said that for African states to attain sustainable development, they must invest in agriculture, education and infrastructure.

Kenyan Police Accused of Raping, Torturing Hundreds of Somali Refugees

 

Kenyan police tortured, raped, and arbitrarily detained at least 1,000 refugees in the country’s capital, Nairobi, between mid-November 2012 and late January 2013, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Wednesday.

The 68-page report, “You are All Terrorists: Kenyan Police Abuse of Refugees in Nairobi,” is based on interviews with 101 refugees, asylum seekers, and Kenyans of Somali ethnicity, the rights group said.

The report documents how police used grenade attacks, and violence by unknown attackers in Nairobi’s mainly Somali suburb of Eastleigh and a government order, as excuse to relocate urban refugees to camps where they were raped, beaten and extorted. At least 1,000 people were arbitrarily detained.

The police described their victims as “terrorists,” and demanded payments to free them. The assault lasted 10 weeks.

“Refugees told us how hundreds of Kenyan police unleashed 10 weeks of hell on communities close to the heart of Nairobi, torturing, abusing, and stealing from some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people,” said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher for Human Rights Watch and author of the report. “Randomly attacking men, women, and children in their homes and in the streets is hardly an effective way to protect Kenya’s national security.”

Human Rights Watch accused the United Nations refugee agency of failing to document and publicly report the abuses, and called Kenyan authorities to initiate immediate and independent investigation into the allegations.

Key members of Kenya’s government, including the country’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, currently face serious allegations of crimes against humanity and are wanted by the International Criminal Court to stand trial.

This week, Mr. Kenyatta received the backing of the African Union which raised a resolution asking that he be tried in Kenya, and not The Hague.

In January, Kenya’s High Court ordered the authorities to suspend the refugee relocation plan –under which 55,000 refugees and asylum seekers are supposed to leave Kenya’s cities and move to squalid, overcrowded, and closed refugee camps – until the court decides whether it is lawful.

Human Rights Watch said it received testimonies from Somali and Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers who had lived for many years with their families in Eastleigh, who narrated how police rampaged through the suburb beginning on November 19, 2012, a day after unidentified people attacked a minibus, killing 7 people and injuring 30.

Interviewees said officers from four of Kenya’s police forces – the General Services Unit (GSU), the Regular Police (RP), the Administration Police (AP), and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) – abused them, with the GSU committing the majority of the documented abuses.

Seven women described how police raped them in their homes, on side streets, and on wasteland, in some cases with children close by. One of the women who was raped said police also raped three other women in the same attack.

Forty refugees, including many women, described how police beat, kicked, and punched them and their children in their homes, in the street, and in police vehicles, causing serious injury and long-term pain, the rights group said in the report.

Dozens of people spoke about how police entered businesses and homes, often in the middle of the night, stole large amounts of money and other personal belongings, and extorted money to let them go free.

The report also documents almost 1,000 cases in which police arbitrarily detained refugees and asylum seekers in their homes, in the street, in police vehicles, and in police stations – sometimes for many days in inhuman and degrading conditions.

Kenyan authorities did not respond to the findings of the Human Rights Watch.

“The inaction deepens Kenya’s long record of impunity for law enforcement officers, who for many years have abused Somali Kenyans and Somali refugees in the country’s North Eastern region, including in the sprawling Dadaab refugee camp on the border with Somalia,” the group said.

Facebook Beefs Up Security With Page Verifier

Have you ever had issues with people impersonating your brand on facebook, well if you are a celebrity or successful business owner with this problem, guess your worries over. Facebook has just announced a new verified feature for pages and profiles, designed to give high-profile accounts an added level of authenticity. This is clearly a straightforward copy of Twitter’s own verified accounts, and even features a similar, small blue checkmark to indicate that a person or business is indeed the legitimate account holder. The mark appears on the pages themselves, as well as in search results and throughout the site.

The Verified Pages are being rolled out to “just a small group of prominent public figures (celebrities, journalists, government officials, popular brands and businesses) with large audiences,” Facebook says, and will soon roll out to profiles as well.

Facebook has a new section in its help center that describes what a verified profile or page actually is, but it doesn’t say how Facebook goes about verifying any of its users. The checkmark icon acts as a tooltip, providing more info about verification when you hover over with a mouse cursor, and Facebook says that there’s no way for users to request to be verified; just like on Twitter, the social network will come to you if they deem it a useful step in helping you prove your identity.

We’ve reached out to Facebook to learn more about the verification process, and will update if the company sheds any light on what’s involved.

Facebook has previously launched a verification program, back in February 2012, when it allowed people to verify their account with a valid ID. This was an extra step that allowed people to then use nicknames (handy for celebrities with pseudonyms) and still appear highly in search results. But that program didn’t involve any kind of public badging, which this one does.

More and more, Facebook is trying to become a broadcast channel for media, journalists and celebrities, sort of in the same way that Twitter already primarily is. The subscription feature it launched last year to allow people to follow others and receive their updates without forming a reciprocal “friendship” is a perfect example of how it wants to make it possible for people to go to the social network as a news and information source, as well as a way to connect with people they actually know.

Facebook also hired Mashable vet Vadim Lavrusik back in 2011, who now spearheads efforts to get journalists to use Facebook as a key publication and sharing vector for content. A verification badge helps guarantee that celebrity pages are actually run by the person (or at least their communications team), but it also does a lot to help readers confirm the authenticity of reports purporting to come from journalistic sources.

The Verified checkmark badge is already live on Facebook, so if you peruse your favorite celebrity crushes you should be able to find the blue checkmark. And if you’re really big news, maybe you’ve already got one of your own.

Emergency Rule to End Soon – Senate President Mark

President of the Senate David Mark said the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States would be over soon.

Mark stated this at a church service to mark the 2013 Democracy Day at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja.

He explained that the state of emergency proclamation in some states of the federation was a last resort to tame the lingering menace of insecurity and bring normalcy back to the land.

“I know it is yielding positive result. Very soon, it would be over as our military formations are living up to the task,”
he explained.

He admitted that there are challenges militating against the nation but said they are surmountable.

“All we need is a collective resolve to confront our challenges and find a lasting solution to them,” he added.

The Senate President in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja urged Nigerians to be a good Apostle of peace in the country in order to facilitate delivery of the dividends of democracy.

He stated that the nation is currently passing through some difficulties especially in the areas of security and socio-economy challenges, pointing out that “We can collectively resolve to say enough is enough.

“All our efforts towards development would come to naught if the crisis continues,” Mark added.

He thanked Nigerians for their perseverance and cooperation in the propagation and sustenance of democracy, adding that democracy is a process everyone should uphold in order to benefit from its dividends.

Victor Moses Devastated by Eagles No-show

The Super Eagles take on Mexico in a friendly in Houston, Texas, on Thursday. They then travel to Kenya on June 5 and a week later they are in Namibia for World Cup qualifiers before they jet out to Brazil for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Moses has pulled out of all these games and his club have announced he will only be fit again by July 6 after undergoing treatment.

The player said on his Tweeter handle Wednesday @VictorMoses: “Devastated not to be able to represent my country this summer bt have to respect medical advice on injury. I’ll be supporting though #nigeria.”

Moses represented England at various age-group levels, but made his Eagles debut against Rwanda in a Nations Cup qualifier two years ago and went on to shine as Nigeria won a third Nations Cup in South Africa earlier this year.

Injury-hit Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike and Kalu Uche from Turkish club Kasimpasa have also pulled out of the Nigeria squad ahead of a hectic summer schedule.

NGF Crisis: North West PDP Supports Amaechi

National vice chairman North West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Ibrahim Musa Kazaure has expressed the  support of the zone to Governor Rotimi Amaechi as chairman Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

The vice chairman made this known while fielding questions from journalists in Dutse.

He said “Rotimi Amaachi is the democratically elected chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum.

“We are in democratic era and we respect any leader produced through election. The issue of governors forum is not only a PDP affairs. It involves other opposition political parties and the general public to understand this. Let me tell you governors are powerful and no one to can joke with them.”

He added , “whether you like it or not governors are the power brokers of the party and they can make or mar anybody adding that whatever position anybody is occupying today ,the governors are instrumental to it.”

The North West leader said the PDP is a big party adding that it is proper for the party to put its house in order before 2015.

Democracy Day: Borno Plans to Build 100,000 Free Houses to Rural Residents

As Nigeria celebrates her 14th Democracy Day under the Third Republic, the Borno Government on Wednesday promised to build and deliver 100,000 houses free to its rural residents.

Commenting on the free houses, the Borno Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Youths Empowerment, Zainab Gimba, said in Maiduguri that the houses would be given to villagers across the state to enhance their living condition.

Ms. Gimba explained that the houses would be constructed across the 27 local government areas of the state for even spread.

“Our target is to construct 100,000 block of houses for rural dwellers across the state to provide them with decent accommodation.

“The houses will replace thatched houses currently being used by the villagers,” she said.

The commissioner added that construction work had already commenced in some locations.

“We have started work in some areas like Damasak headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area, where about 75 out of the expected 750 houses had been completed.

“We are also mobilising to site in some other locations,” she said.

Ms. Gimba said that the objective was to provide democratic dividends to the people as well as prevent yearly fire disasters associated with thatched houses. She said that government had also employed about 30,000 unemployed youths to produce red blocks for the construction work.

“We have employed about 30,000 youths as labourers to produce blocks for the houses.

“This is in addition to about 25,000 youths engaged in the massive production of interlocking blocks for the beautification of the state capital,” she said.

She said that the state government had been able to reduce poverty by about 30 per cent among youth and women in the state through its various empowerment programmes.

Meanwhile, to mark the day, the Jigawa Government announced that it recruited 4,414 teachers in the last six years.

The state Commissioner for Education, Haruna Wakili, said that the recruitment was one of the major achievements of Gov. Sule Lamido’s administration.

Mr. Wakili explained that 2,927 teachers were employed to teach in primary schools, while 1,487 others were engaged in secondary schools. He said that the percentage of unqualified teachers at basic level had dropped from 74 per cent in 2007 to 42 per cent in 2012. He stated that the present administration was committed to ensuring that all teachers in primary and secondary schools were qualified.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Union of Teachers in Jigawa, Usman Ya’u, lauded Governor Sule Lamido’s administration for the transformation in the education sector, especially primary schools.

Mr. Ya’u explained that the present government had built and renovated primary schools and also provided furniture. He said that the 27.5 per cent increment was implemented in salaries and allowances to motivate teachers.

The chairman also commended the government for introducing various initiatives to improve skills and techniques.

Jesse Jackson Commends Jonathan’s Transparency

American civil rights activist, Jesse Jackson, after listening in on the presentation of the mid-term report of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, described the latter’s administration as transparent and unequalled in contemporary democracy.

Mr. Jackson, subsequently, urged Nigerians to rally round him in order to entrench democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

Apparently impressed by the achievements listed in the president’s report, Mr. Jackson said with the mid-term report, it is obvious that the ship of the Nigerian nation is sailing in the right course and should be supported by every Nigerian.

The American activist noted that the entire black race in the world has so much expectations from Nigeria as the most populous black Nation on earth and these expectations have to be justified through the implementation of programs which will improve quality of lives and inspire citizens to be productive.

He urged Nigerians to remain positive about their country and uphold its “ideals” at all times.

Speaking in the same vein, former head of the interim government in Liberia, Amos Sawyer, commended Nigeria’s leading role in peace keeping operations in Africa and urged political leaders to bury their differences especially at moments of National challenges.

Speaking earlier at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, said the Jonathan administration has enlarged the space for public discourse and dissent which are the hallmark of democratic governance.

Mr. Anyim explained that the President has given practical expression to the principles of checks and balances in government adding that “Mr. Presidents’ uncommon restraint at the face of many challenges is a manifestation of a great desire to deepen democratic culture in all aspects of our National life.”

The Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who gave a general over view of accomplishments in the Transformation Agenda said the fact that Nigeria’s economy is attracting great attention of investors worldwide is an indication that the positive economic indices are not phantom as cynics would want to assert.

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said the achievements recorded in the transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, power, health and education sectors in the last two years of the Jonathan administration are a result of careful planning, fiscal discipline and unwavering commitment of Mr. President to the total transformation of Nigeria.

She said the 234 page publication titled “The Mid-term Report of the Transformation Agenda’ which the President presented at the public event will further inspire the confidence of Nigerians in the ability of the Jonathan administration to deliver on its campaign promises before the expiration of its tenure.

Man Crashes His Car During Drunken Sex Session...

 

A man (on the photo) was arrested after he allegedly crashed his car while having drunken sex – catapulting his shocked lover through the windscreen.

Luis Briones, 25, was found wearing just one shoe with his shorts inside-out as he hid from cops behind a cactus, it is reported..

His female passenger was ejected from the wrecked 4x4 Ford Explorer and found sprawled naked on the ground. She was treated for deep cuts to her face and head.

Shockingly, Briones is accused of trying to speed away from the crash scene in Albuquerque, New Mexico, leaving his injured passenger behind.

But his getaway on Monday night was thwarted when a bystander grabbed his keys from the ignition.

He has been charged with aggravated drink driving, reckless driving and evading police.

After months of protests, French couple ties knot in first same-sex wedding

Vincent Autin, left, and his partner Bruno Boileau, chat with journalists on May 28, 2013, in Montpellier, France.

What are your thoughts on France's first same sex marriage? Share your views.

Montpellier, France (CNN) -- The French city of Montpellier witnessed history Wednesday when its mayor officiated the nation's first same-sex wedding in front of hundreds of guests.

Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau exchanged vows at a ceremony in the southern city, watched by some 500 guests seated on brightly colored chairs.

Autin, 40, is the head of the region's Lesbian and Gay Pride association, and he says his wedding to Boileau, 30, marks a big step forward for same-sex equality.

"When French children are born into this world, they are born with the same rights as everyone else -- but from the moment you said you were a homosexual, society deprived you of some of those rights," Autin told CNN in the couple's only interview on their wedding day.

Photos: Protests over gay marriage bill

"Today the French Republic has given these rights back to us, the ones they had taken away, and it has put an end to an institutional discrimination."

While France has allowed civil partnerships for some years, controversial legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt was signed into law by President Francois Hollande 10 days ago.

Boileau said he and Autin plan to build a family together.

"We want children, we want to pass down values that are important to us, that we hold dear, that are right. And we want grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a real family," he said.

A day in the life of same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage around the world

Open Mic: Same-sex marriage

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, minister of women's rights and a government spokeswoman, was among those attending the landmark ceremony, reflecting the governing Socialist Party's support for same-sex marriage. Montpellier's mayor, Helene Mandroux, also belongs to the party.

Protest marches

However, the move has prompted fierce opposition from many social conservatives and the Catholic Church, with hundreds of thousands of people joining protest marches in Paris and other cities over recent months.

While no official demonstrations were planned, there were concerns protesters would gather in Montpellier on Wednesday.

About 200 police officers were mobilized around the city in case of trouble, Montpellier police said.

On Sunday, a march against same-sex marriage in Paris attracted big crowds. Police put the turnout at 150,000, while the organizers estimated that a million people had turned out to fill the Esplanade des Invalides, a central plaza.

Opposition lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to have the new law blocked by France's highest court after it cleared the National Assembly and Senate.

Some 200 journalists were accredited to cover the wedding, many from overseas, signaling the global interest in the social landmark represented by the marriage.

Same-sex marriage: Who will legalize it next?

Guillaume Bonnet, senior campaign manager in France for the equality group All Out, said he was honored to be a guest at the wedding on what he described as a historic day for his country.

"We have shown that if we all work together anything is possible," he said. "Now couples like Vincent and Bruno can create life full of love and family just like any other loving and committed couple."

Internationally divisive

France is the ninth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriage.

If pending legislation in New Zealand and Uruguay is enacted as expected this year, the worldwide total of countries with legalized same-sex marriage will rise to 14.

Many countries remain split over the issue. A Brazilian court issued a directive this month removing a barrier that had limited same-sex marriage, but no bill has made it through Congress.

Legislators in the United Kingdom are also weighing proposals to legalize same-sex marriage. Lawmakers in Australia voted against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage last September. A poll for the advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality indicated that 64% of those surveyed "support marriage equality."

In the United States, the question went before the Supreme Court and justices are deliberating over the matter.

Twelve U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriages. On the other side, many states have specific laws blocking same-sex couples from legally marrying.

Kim's 'world class' ski resort: Would you ski in North Korea?

North Korea media reports said Kim Jong Un provided guidance on how to build the ski resort.

(CNN) -- We're guessing this is going to end up on a lot of "world's most dangerous ski runs" lists. But probably for a different reason than any of the other entries.

North Korea is building a "world class" ski resort on Masik hill in Wonsan with a range of ski runs and a hotel, according to the North Korean state news agency.

Located in Kangwon Province, Masik hill is 2,520 feet (768 meters) high and typically receives heavy snowfall from early November through early March.

Construction underway

A series of photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaking with his staff in front of the ski resort site was released this week.

The accompanying news report from the state-run Korean Central News Agency said the young leader dropped by to get a firsthand report on the progress of construction.

"He was greatly satisfied to learn that soldier-builders have constructed a skiing area on mountain ranges covering hundreds of thousands of square meters, including primary, intermediate and advanced courses with almost 110,000 meters (68.3 miles) in total length and 40-120 meters (131-394 feet) in width," said the KCNA report.

7 best ski and snowboard resorts in South Korea

The new resort will be accessible from the Pyongyang-Wonsan tourist motorway and will feature a hotel, heliport and "cableway."

Kim, who was partly educated in Switzerland, appears to be familiar with ski resort operations.

"He said it is necessary to build not only rest places, but first aid stations at starting, middle and final points of the courses, and establish an automatic cableway monitoring system for a real time watch so as to take measures to prevent accidents," said the report.

According to the report, Kim also emphasized environmental conservation: "He underlined the need to preserve the ecological environment and prevent pollution while building the skiing ground."

Behind the veil: A rare look at life in North Korea

Would you go?

According to a tour agency specializing in North Korean travel, the new resort will be open to foreign tourists.

"We've known of the plans for this development for a couple of years -- work only began recently though and I've seen the basic plans just last week," said Simon Cockerell, general manager of Beijing-based Koryo Tours.

Cockerell returned last week from the first Western tour of the North Korean border town of Sinuiju.

No opening date has been given for the opening of the resort.

South Korean media covered the news of the resort in critical fashion.

"The fact that North Korea is spending exorbitant amounts of money building a ski resort while its people and even its military don't have enough to eat shows that this is just a move to advertise the image of Kim Jong Un as a leader who cares about his people," an anonymous North Korean defector told NK News, a South Korea-based media company specializing in North Korean news.

The defector also said that existing ski infrastructure in North Korea is used exclusively for military purposes, and that there's a high likelihood this will also be the case with the new resort.