Thursday, 27 June 2013

JONJO SHELVEY SET TO SWAP LIVERPOOL FOR SWANSEA

ABOVE: Jonjo Shelvey looks poised to join Swansea
“
It's expected a fee of around £5m will be enough to secure a deal for the 21-year-old midfielder
”
27th June 2013

By Jack Wilson

JONJO SHELVEY is certain to leave Liverpool for Swansea, according to bookmakers.

Both SkyBet and BetVictor have slashed the odds for the England U21 star to swap Anfield for the Liberty Stadium.
At the start of play yesterday, Shelvey was a 14/1 shot to join the Swans.
But just 24 hours later the price has plummetted into 1/8.
It's expected a fee of around £5m will be enough to secure a deal for the 21-year-old midfielder.
Shelvey played 19 times for the Reds in the Premier League last season, netting one goal.
Norwich were also rumoured to be interested in his services but Swansea are the front-runners to sign him.
Liverpool bought Shelvey from Charlton three years ago in a £1.7m deal.

JONJO SHELVEY SET TO SWAP LIVERPOOL FOR SWANSEA

ABOVE: Jonjo Shelvey looks poised to join Swansea
“
It's expected a fee of around £5m will be enough to secure a deal for the 21-year-old midfielder
”
27th June 2013

By Jack Wilson

JONJO SHELVEY is certain to leave Liverpool for Swansea, according to bookmakers.

Both SkyBet and BetVictor have slashed the odds for the England U21 star to swap Anfield for the Liberty Stadium.
At the start of play yesterday, Shelvey was a 14/1 shot to join the Swans.
But just 24 hours later the price has plummetted into 1/8.
It's expected a fee of around £5m will be enough to secure a deal for the 21-year-old midfielder.
Shelvey played 19 times for the Reds in the Premier League last season, netting one goal.
Norwich were also rumoured to be interested in his services but Swansea are the front-runners to sign him.
Liverpool bought Shelvey from Charlton three years ago in a £1.7m deal.

JONJO SHELVEY SET TO SWAP LIVERPOOL FOR SWANSEA

ABOVE: Jonjo Shelvey looks poised to join Swansea
“
It's expected a fee of around £5m will be enough to secure a deal for the 21-year-old midfielder
”
27th June 2013

By Jack Wilson

JONJO SHELVEY is certain to leave Liverpool for Swansea, according to bookmakers.

Both SkyBet and BetVictor have slashed the odds for the England U21 star to swap Anfield for the Liberty Stadium.
At the start of play yesterday, Shelvey was a 14/1 shot to join the Swans.
But just 24 hours later the price has plummetted into 1/8.
It's expected a fee of around £5m will be enough to secure a deal for the 21-year-old midfielder.
Shelvey played 19 times for the Reds in the Premier League last season, netting one goal.
Norwich were also rumoured to be interested in his services but Swansea are the front-runners to sign him.
Liverpool bought Shelvey from Charlton three years ago in a £1.7m deal.

I Want Osaze, Nsofor Back on The Team – Steven Keshi

Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi has said that the national team can still use the help of veteran striker Osaze Odemwingie and Captain Joseph Yobo
These players who when excluded took to the public to show their dissactifaction with the Coach's call has been given a lifeline back only if they will accept to be a team and not try to divide it
Speaking after the Confredations Cup Keshi said “They should just be themselves, play their game,” Keshi said. “Yobo is still my captain. It’s unfortunate that he’s not here, but he’s still the captain of the team.
“Taiwo is still playing but I have younger players that are playing well. I have Juwon (Oshaniwa), who is not here. I have Benjamin Francis, and I have (Elderson) Echiejile, whose performance has improved greatly. So it will be a difficult thing for Taiwo to get back in
“For Osaze, he still has a place in the team.
I’m not looking for an apology from him. Osaze is somebody that I like very well and he knows that. The thing is, it’s about the team that I’m worried about.
I don’t want to have a player that will come in and divide the team, or want to come and do something to destabilise the team, because when the team is not together, it becomes very difficult to win.
I’m not saying he is going to come in and do that, but a little bit of what he has shown has told me that this is possible.
I really want to have him on the team, and I would like to give him another opportunity.”
One player that Keshi says he really wants to see back in the national team is Obinna Nsofor, along with Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins.
“The person I am really keen on having is Obinna Nsofor.

Unfortunately, each time I call him, he’s always injured. Hopefully next time he will be fit.”

I Want Osaze, Nsofor Back on The Team – Steven Keshi

Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi has said that the national team can still use the help of veteran striker Osaze Odemwingie and Captain Joseph Yobo
These players who when excluded took to the public to show their dissactifaction with the Coach's call has been given a lifeline back only if they will accept to be a team and not try to divide it
Speaking after the Confredations Cup Keshi said “They should just be themselves, play their game,” Keshi said. “Yobo is still my captain. It’s unfortunate that he’s not here, but he’s still the captain of the team.
“Taiwo is still playing but I have younger players that are playing well. I have Juwon (Oshaniwa), who is not here. I have Benjamin Francis, and I have (Elderson) Echiejile, whose performance has improved greatly. So it will be a difficult thing for Taiwo to get back in
“For Osaze, he still has a place in the team.
I’m not looking for an apology from him. Osaze is somebody that I like very well and he knows that. The thing is, it’s about the team that I’m worried about.
I don’t want to have a player that will come in and divide the team, or want to come and do something to destabilise the team, because when the team is not together, it becomes very difficult to win.
I’m not saying he is going to come in and do that, but a little bit of what he has shown has told me that this is possible.
I really want to have him on the team, and I would like to give him another opportunity.”
One player that Keshi says he really wants to see back in the national team is Obinna Nsofor, along with Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins.
“The person I am really keen on having is Obinna Nsofor.

Unfortunately, each time I call him, he’s always injured. Hopefully next time he will be fit.”

LIVERPOOL UNLIKELY TO SNAP UP PORTO ACE JACKSON MARTINEZ

ABOVE: Jackson Martinez is discussing a new deal at Porto
“
We want to renew his contract but keep more or less the same conditions
”
Jackson Martinez's agent
27th June 2013

By Jack Wilson

ONE-TIME Liverpool target Jackson Martinez looks set to stay at Porto.

The 26-year-old Colombia international was also rumoured to have interested Spurs.
But the striker is poised to sign a new contract, even if his agent is keeping the door open on a possible move away from Portugal.
Martinez's agent Luis Manuel Manso told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo: "We don't want to turn Jackson [Martinez] into an inaccessible player.
"We want to renew his contract but keep more or less the same conditions.
"I don't know for how many more years, we will only know after we all talk."
Porto won the Prmeira Liga last season without losing a game.
Martinez netted 29 goals in 38 games in all competitions.

Why Do Women Sleep Around?

In this feature article we look through the five major causes of multiple sexual partners among the fairer sex,
Not so long ago men had the monopoly on having more than one partner but it seems the female folks are catching up.
Now we take a look at the reasons why women in our generation want to experience more.
1- No Time for a relationship
If you've ever been in a relationship you will know it takes time energy and sacrifice to make it work from both parties but working class women  these day don't always have the time and energy to make this happen especially after every 40 hour working week the last thing that they need is to keep an eye over her boyfriend making sure he is happy and content when she can just get the easy and cheap thrill of one night stand with no responsibilities and sexual release.
2- Fear of commitment
Due to the past relationship where she has opened herself up to her ex but ended up in bitter and sad breakup, Some women these days are scared of going through the pain and tribulation again so they numb there emotions and just get on with life.
Through sleeping around they think that it is a good way to avoid developing feeling for another person which would possibly make the hurt again.
3- Just For Fun
Some women just adore the act of sex, they love it more than guys do. For these women sex is only for fun and to get a release.
They want it as often as possible and if the opportunity presents itself they often respond positively with a phrase like - ''you only live once'' Y.O.L.O.
4- To Get Back At Him
When some women feel played, used and dumped they will sometimes feel to revenge the guy but not only the guy in questions some will take it as a task to make sure that all male must pay for her heartache.
Instead of understanding they where with a bad man they scream out the victim song and bind all men together as one, by sleeping around they are hoping to hurt other men like they have been hurt not realizing that in the long run they are only hurting themselves and making a quite healthy number of men happy.
5- To Forget Their Ex
Some women also do use meaningless sex as a method to forget their exes. They sleep with a lot of men in order to get over the emotional pain of letting a very loved one go and to fill the big void it left in there heart. But these kind will usually stop sleeping around when they are ready for a new boyfriend.

I Want Osaze, Nsofor Back on The Team – Steven Keshi

Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi has said that the national team can still use the help of veteran striker Osaze Odemwingie and Captain Joseph Yobo
These players who when excluded took to the public to show their dissactifaction with the Coach's call has been given a lifeline back only if they will accept to be a team and not try to divide it
Speaking after the Confredations Cup Keshi said “They should just be themselves, play their game,” Keshi said. “Yobo is still my captain. It’s unfortunate that he’s not here, but he’s still the captain of the team.
“Taiwo is still playing but I have younger players that are playing well. I have Juwon (Oshaniwa), who is not here. I have Benjamin Francis, and I have (Elderson) Echiejile, whose performance has improved greatly. So it will be a difficult thing for Taiwo to get back in
“For Osaze, he still has a place in the team.
I’m not looking for an apology from him. Osaze is somebody that I like very well and he knows that. The thing is, it’s about the team that I’m worried about.
I don’t want to have a player that will come in and divide the team, or want to come and do something to destabilise the team, because when the team is not together, it becomes very difficult to win.
I’m not saying he is going to come in and do that, but a little bit of what he has shown has told me that this is possible.
I really want to have him on the team, and I would like to give him another opportunity.”
One player that Keshi says he really wants to see back in the national team is Obinna Nsofor, along with Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins.
“The person I am really keen on having is Obinna Nsofor.

Unfortunately, each time I call him, he’s always injured. Hopefully next time he will be fit.”

Press Statement: Davido & Manager Were Not Arrested in Hungary for Spending Fake Currency


Yesterday, an unconfirmed story was making its rounds across blogs that Davido, his brother – Adewale Adeleke and his manager Kamal Ajiboye were arrested in a club in Budapest for using fake euros to pay for for drinks.
Davido‘s camp has sent across an official press release clearly stating Davido didn’t get arrested.
Read below the Official Press Release 
It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous rumour peddlers have chosen to malign Davido’s hard work ethic and reputation.
Davido has been on his European tour for a few weeks and landed in Budapest, Hungary on Friday June 21 for his Budapest stop. He was met with what is perhaps the worst case of unprofessionalism from a promoter in his career as a touring artiste. The promoter in this case is known as Mr Frank of BLACK DIAMOND ENTERTAINMENT. To the dismay of his management, the agreements on Davido’s ryder were not met despite assurances written and verbal that everything was set. Please note the following facts:
Against their agreement, Davido and his management were given a one bedroom suite to house them during their stay in Budapest.
The promoter had issues with the venue for the show. Up until the night of the performance, the venue had not been paid for and Davido’s management were informed that he might not be able to perform on the stage. This was finally sorted a few minutes to the show.
When it was finally time to perform, the promoter had not arranged for sound and Davido only managed the situation and decided to perform because of his fans that had paid to attend the concert. A fight broke out at the club and the promoters did not arrange any form of security for Davido, it was the intervention of the venue security guards that ensured that he got back to his hotel room in safety.
Davido and his management did not receive any direct payments from the said promoter. Infact the promoter is yet to pay up in full Davido’s performance fees as agreed.
Davido and his management team catered to their every need while in Budapest from their personal funds Davido’s management wishes to state distinctly and clearly that Davido was not at any point arrested in Budapest, Hungary. He is currently in Paris, France where he is set to perform on the 28th and the 29th of June.

Thank You

Speaker Says PDP Will Win 2015 Governorship Election In Nasarawa

The Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, said on Thursday that his party, PDP, would win the governorship seat in the 2015 general elections.
photo The Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, said on Thursday that his party, PDP, would win the governorship seat in the 2015 general elections.
Ahmed said this while speaking with newsmen in Lafia on his return from legislative studies tour of German, Polish and British parliaments.
He said “with the strong structures of PDP on ground and the thousands of those that decamped from other political parties in the state, we will win the 2015 governorship election.”
“PDP had already built its structures in order to capture its governorship seat in the state come 2015.”
The speaker said that with the ``developmental strides'' of the previous PDP government, people would vote massively for the party in 2015 general elections.
“I am appealing to our aggrieved members who left for other political parties, to see the need of returning home.”
 He said the required machinery was on ground to ensure level play field to all members “of our great party in the state''.
 “I am assuring all those that decamped to PDP of total support and close working relationship as the party is working tirelessly to win the governorship seat in 2015.”
Ahmed said that the party would build and continue to rebuild its structures for optimal results in the state and the country at large.
According to him, the PDP is not only focusing on the governorship seat but would want to make sure that the party wins all the elections in 2015.
Ahmed congratulated those that defected to the party last Saturday, saying that they took the right decision at the right time.
The speaker also assured the people of the state of quality legislation that would transform their lives for their overall development.
The speaker further condoled with the family of the assembly’s late Sergeant at Arm, Mr Barnabas Anyuku, describing his death as unfortunate and a great loss to the family and the entire state.
Ahmed prayed to God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. (NAN)
- See more at: http://leadership.ng/news/270613/pdp-will-win-2015-governorship-election-nasarawa-state-says-speaker#sthash.s17sNjII.dpuf
The Speaker of  Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, said on Thursday that his party, PDP, would win the governorship seat in the 2015 general elections.
Ahmed said this while speaking with newsmen in Lafia on his return from legislative studies tour of German, Polish and British parliaments.

Nelson Mandela Much Better Today - Jacob Zuma


South African President Jacob Zuma says that Nelson Mandela's condition has improved, but still remains critical.
"He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night," Mr Zuma said after speaking to the 94-year-old's medical team.
South Africa's first black president  an icon of the anti-apartheid struggle has been in hospital in Pretoria since 8 June with a lung infection.
Mr Zuma cancelled a visit to Mozambique to visit Mr Mandela in hospital.
Meanwhile Mr Mandela's daughter Makaziwe said he was "still there" and responding to touch.
US President Barack Obama, who is in Senegal, described Mr Mandela as "a hero for the world".
"His legacy will linger on through the ages," he said.

Confession Of A Boko Haram Member: "I Killed 23 People In 2 Days"

A member of Boko Haram Islamist sect shocked the people of Ngomari Airport Ward ‘Bakin Borehole’ area in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, when he confessed to have killed 23 people in two days, including a village head and Police officers in the area.
photo
The Boko Haram member, who was arrested Tuesday evening, was said to have rented a room in the area about a year ago.
A resident of Ngomari, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen yesterday in Maiduguri that the sect member was arrested wearing a jeans trouser and vest at a borehole, where he went to fetch water.
According to him, the sect member who was arrested by vigilante youths, called ‘Civilian JTF’ was a resident of Gwange, a stronghold of the sect.
He said the arrest was made possible when the youths went looking for him and arrested his younger brother, who took them to Ngomari where the suspect had been hiding.
The resident said: “We were shocked when we heard that Civilian JTF came and arrested a sect member in our area. We never imagined we could have somebody like that in our area because we have been living peacefully.
“We were most shocked when the sect member confessed that he killed 23 people in two days. That is horrible and unimaginable but a reality.”
He added that while members of the youth group were beating the arrested sect member, they also asked him of one Idris Musa, who they believed was one of the sect members.
Meanwhile, over 50 detained members of the sect have appealed to Federal Government to give them a second chance as they were ready to assist the government in bringing the crisis to an end.
The sect members made the appeal when the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North visited one of the detention centres in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
One of the detainees, Adam Konto, introduced himself to the chairman of the committee, Kabir Turaki as the Amir (Commander) of the Bayan quarters, one of Boko Haram’s strongholds in Maiduguri.
He said he was speaking on behalf of the other detained members of the sect and that they would not take up arms against the government again.
Konto said: “We pledge to assist the authorities if given a second chance as most of us were brainwashed and recruited into the sect and given instructions to carry out dastardly acts without our full understanding of what we were doing.”
Another detainee, who identified himself as Babagana Saje, said that he was ready to denounce the sect and that the Police should be commended for keeping them alive.
He said: “The police have been treating us fine. We have been allowed to take our bath and have been well fed.”
Chairman of the presidential committee, however, promised the detainees that their cases would be looked into.
He said: “If you are sincere with this information we have gathered, we will bring you into the proposed amnesty agenda.”

Confession Of A Boko Haram Member: "I Killed 23 People In 2 Days"

A member of Boko Haram Islamist sect shocked the people of Ngomari Airport Ward ‘Bakin Borehole’ area in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, when he confessed to have killed 23 people in two days, including a village head and Police officers in the area.
photo
The Boko Haram member, who was arrested Tuesday evening, was said to have rented a room in the area about a year ago.
A resident of Ngomari, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen yesterday in Maiduguri that the sect member was arrested wearing a jeans trouser and vest at a borehole, where he went to fetch water.
According to him, the sect member who was arrested by vigilante youths, called ‘Civilian JTF’ was a resident of Gwange, a stronghold of the sect.
He said the arrest was made possible when the youths went looking for him and arrested his younger brother, who took them to Ngomari where the suspect had been hiding.
The resident said: “We were shocked when we heard that Civilian JTF came and arrested a sect member in our area. We never imagined we could have somebody like that in our area because we have been living peacefully.
“We were most shocked when the sect member confessed that he killed 23 people in two days. That is horrible and unimaginable but a reality.”
He added that while members of the youth group were beating the arrested sect member, they also asked him of one Idris Musa, who they believed was one of the sect members.
Meanwhile, over 50 detained members of the sect have appealed to Federal Government to give them a second chance as they were ready to assist the government in bringing the crisis to an end.
The sect members made the appeal when the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North visited one of the detention centres in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
One of the detainees, Adam Konto, introduced himself to the chairman of the committee, Kabir Turaki as the Amir (Commander) of the Bayan quarters, one of Boko Haram’s strongholds in Maiduguri.
He said he was speaking on behalf of the other detained members of the sect and that they would not take up arms against the government again.
Konto said: “We pledge to assist the authorities if given a second chance as most of us were brainwashed and recruited into the sect and given instructions to carry out dastardly acts without our full understanding of what we were doing.”
Another detainee, who identified himself as Babagana Saje, said that he was ready to denounce the sect and that the Police should be commended for keeping them alive.
He said: “The police have been treating us fine. We have been allowed to take our bath and have been well fed.”
Chairman of the presidential committee, however, promised the detainees that their cases would be looked into.
He said: “If you are sincere with this information we have gathered, we will bring you into the proposed amnesty agenda.”

Confession Of A Boko Haram Member: "I Killed 23 People In 2 Days"

A member of Boko Haram Islamist sect shocked the people of Ngomari Airport Ward ‘Bakin Borehole’ area in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, when he confessed to have killed 23 people in two days, including a village head and Police officers in the area.
photo
The Boko Haram member, who was arrested Tuesday evening, was said to have rented a room in the area about a year ago.
A resident of Ngomari, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen yesterday in Maiduguri that the sect member was arrested wearing a jeans trouser and vest at a borehole, where he went to fetch water.
According to him, the sect member who was arrested by vigilante youths, called ‘Civilian JTF’ was a resident of Gwange, a stronghold of the sect.
He said the arrest was made possible when the youths went looking for him and arrested his younger brother, who took them to Ngomari where the suspect had been hiding.
The resident said: “We were shocked when we heard that Civilian JTF came and arrested a sect member in our area. We never imagined we could have somebody like that in our area because we have been living peacefully.
“We were most shocked when the sect member confessed that he killed 23 people in two days. That is horrible and unimaginable but a reality.”
He added that while members of the youth group were beating the arrested sect member, they also asked him of one Idris Musa, who they believed was one of the sect members.
Meanwhile, over 50 detained members of the sect have appealed to Federal Government to give them a second chance as they were ready to assist the government in bringing the crisis to an end.
The sect members made the appeal when the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North visited one of the detention centres in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
One of the detainees, Adam Konto, introduced himself to the chairman of the committee, Kabir Turaki as the Amir (Commander) of the Bayan quarters, one of Boko Haram’s strongholds in Maiduguri.
He said he was speaking on behalf of the other detained members of the sect and that they would not take up arms against the government again.
Konto said: “We pledge to assist the authorities if given a second chance as most of us were brainwashed and recruited into the sect and given instructions to carry out dastardly acts without our full understanding of what we were doing.”
Another detainee, who identified himself as Babagana Saje, said that he was ready to denounce the sect and that the Police should be commended for keeping them alive.
He said: “The police have been treating us fine. We have been allowed to take our bath and have been well fed.”
Chairman of the presidential committee, however, promised the detainees that their cases would be looked into.
He said: “If you are sincere with this information we have gathered, we will bring you into the proposed amnesty agenda.”

South Korea Vs Nigeria - U20 World Cup

The Flying Eagles would be playing today 27th June 2013 At 3pm against North-Korea.
photo The Flying Eagles would be playing today 27th June 2013 At 3pm against North-Korea.
The Flying Eagles who got their World Cup campaign back on track after a 3-0 win over Cuba on Monday, and they will need a result today against second-placed Korea , who forced group leaders Portugal to a thrilling 2-2 draw.

Nigeria is presently third in the standings with three points.
Which of the teams do you think would leave the pitch smiling today???? Share your opinion by posting a comment!

Political Parties Lack Organisational Capabilities To Deepen Democracy

Political parties lack organisational capabilities to spur Nigerians into real political participation, Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Prof. Tijani Muhammed-Barde, has said.
photo
Barde made the aseertion  in Jos on Wednesday at the opening session of a conference on political parties and democracy and the inauguration a Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre, funded by the United Nations Development Programme.

He said the ability of political parties to deepen democracy depends on their proper organisation, lamenting that political parties have not created much political consciousness.

“What parties do is very important. I have political parties to do a lot of things, to drive policy that would enhance and deepen democracy in the country depends on how they organise themselves.

He said it was in realisation of this that the institute, with the assistance of the UNDP, decided to provide a platform to train leaders of political parties to assist them to develop policies that would drive the country's  development.

According to him, no other institution can provide such a partisan platform than NIPSS, to drive the exercise.

Director of Research, Prof. Olu Obafemi, whose efforts culminated in the establishment of the centre, said what Nigetia needed at this time of development were strong political parties to drive democracy in the country.

This, he said, was necessary because research had shown that political parties in Nigeria were weak, personalised and not inclusive.

Meanwhile, Vice President, Namadi Sambo, said political parties in Nigeria lacked capacity to develop into strong instruments for social engineering.

He said rather than developing strong political institutions to deepen the country’s democratic culture, more attention was being paid to the establishment of governmental bodies and civic organisations.

The vice president, who spoke at the inauguration of the Centre on Wednesday, said both institutions were important but added that without strong and dynamic political parties, democracy could not survive on the long run.

Sambo, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Senator Isaiah Ballat, said political parties, like any other institutions, should continuously seek to enhance their capacity in response to changing circumstances.

FG Begins Scrapping, Merging of Agencies, Parastatals

FG Begins Scrapping, Merging of Agencies, ParastatalsAny moment from now, the Federal Government will begin the rationalisation of commissions, parastatals and agencies as recommended by the Steven Oronsaye led presidential committee.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday rounded off deliberations on the draft white paper on the said report which is now before the secretariat for proper clean-up and action, as well as publication of the document.
Information Minister who gave the hint while briefing State House Correspondents after FEC meeting yesterday noted while some agencies will be scrapped, other agencies and departments with duplicating functions are to be either merged or be made to be more effective and result oriented.
Accordingly, he said FEC proceeded to constitute two separate committees chaired both by the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Usman Shamshudeen to look at the re-alignment of research agencies and institutes particularly those under the ministry of science and technology in order to make them more effective and profitable to the country.
Noting that there are about 22 research institutes under the Ministry of Science and Technology,

Execution Directive Rights Groups, Tell Jonathan To Withdraw Convicts

Two human rights groups have advised President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw his directive to governors on the execution of prisoners on death row.
photo Two human rights groups have advised President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw his directive to governors on the execution of prisoners on death row.
The groups – Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and  the Human Rights Law Service – gave the advice in separate statements on Wednesday.
The groups, in their statements to  the News Agency of Nigeria, condemned the recent execution of four prisoners in Edo State.
SERAP, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, said it had petitioned the African Commission to ask Jonathan to withdraw the directive.
Mumuni said the petition was filed by SERAP’s counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), and addressed to the Chairperson of the Working Group on Death Penalty, Zainabo Kayitesi.
He said SERAP would seek adequate compensation to be paid to the families of the four executed prisoners.
He added, “Unless the African Commission urgently intervenes in this case, there is a risk of irreversible denial of several death row prisoners in Nigeria.
“This will, in turn, render nugatory, the resolutions on moratorium on executions by the African Commission and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.”
Programme Officer, HURILAWS, Mr. Collins Okeke, said the signing of the execution warrants was a draw back on Nigeria’s human rights campaign.
Okeke said, “With regard to the moratorium on death penalty, though we voted against it in the UN General Assembly resolution, Nigeria continues to exercise a self-imposed moratorium.
“We, therefore, urge the Federal and state governments to retrace their steps,  and to observe its international commitments and obligations by leaving in place the moratorium on executions in Nigeria.”

Drama As Jonathan’s Bodyguard Stops Amaechi From Greeting Him


A mild drama occured on Wednesday night at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, venue of the Presidential dinner organised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
photo
The Governor was stopped by a presidential bodyguard from greeting the President.
Amaechi who is the supposedly winner of the NGF election came in from the Rivers Governor's lodge with his loyalist arrived when was already in progress.
On his entourage were Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Adams Oshiomole (Edo); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Abdulazeez Kyari-(Zamfara); Muritala Nyako (Adamawa) and Magartakada Wamakko (Sokoto).
Amaechi who got up and made his way towards where President Goodluck Jonathan was seated in company of Presidents Joyce Banda of Malawi and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, apparently to pay homage.
However, a presidential bodyguard blocked the governor from meeting the President. The Governor resisted for a while but had to return to his seat when it was glaring the bodyguard won’t allow him.
Not only was he blocked from seeing the President he was also not recognised. While Mr. Akpabio who he was seated with was introduced as chairman of the PDP Governors Forum..
The paper also reported an altercation between Amaechi and Akpabio. The duo reportedly accused each other of being undemocratic.
“You are not democratic”, Mr. Amaechi told Akpabio and the latter instantly fired back, “You too, you are not democratic”. Few minutes after that, Governors Amaechi, Fayemi and Oshiomole left the venue.
Governor Amaechi who said his presence with other governors had nothing to do with with the crisis in NGF.
According to him "Was NGF sick? I don’t know about factions. We are holding NGF meeting and we agreed that those of us who were there should honour the President and attend the dinner.
Amaechi said he had no business if Jang was invited for the dinner and as far as he is concerned he still remains the Governor of the NGF because 19 governors voted for me while 16 governors voted for Jang and If he does not accept the 19, he is undemocratic. Anybody who supports him, including television houses, are also undemocratic.
He stated that if 19 governors vote don't count then we should be afraid of 2015. We must learn to be democratic.
Gov Amaechi said he is not aware that the party has any reason to suspend him but if he is been suspended by the PDP for that wining an election then its too bad.
On the way forward, that's a question for Jang and those supporting him to answer. Those with me are in majority."

Ritual Killers Sentenced To Death By Hanging

More states seem to be embracing the death by hanging penalty regardless of the pressure from civil society groups and the international community.
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Justice Chukwuemeka Ohakwe of Owerri High Court on Tuesday sentenced seven persons to death for murder of one Okechukwu Osuji on May 11, 2001.
The offence was contrary to Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Volume 11 laws of the Eastern Nigeria 1963 applicable to Imo State.
The condemned persons include Ejike Okoro, Cajetan Okoro, Rapheal Ike, Paul Njoku, Eric Igbo, Chidiebere Njoku and Anyanwuchukwu Unamba. Justice Ohakwe also discharged and acquitted the third, sixth and seventh accused persons (Uchenna Udeh, Ikechukwu Ukonu and Boniface Okoro) for lack of evidence.
In his judgment, the trial judge said: “From the evidence by the prosecution, there is no evidence except the confessional statement by the first accused person (Ejike Okoro) linking the third, sixth and seventh accused persons with the murder.”
According to him, the confessional statement of the first accused person was not binding on them and they were therefore discharged and acquitted. He said the prosecution had established the offence of murder of Okechukwu Osuji on May 11, 2001 against the first, second, third, fifth, eighth, ninth and tenth accused persons, stating that they had been found guilty of offence of murder. He therefore sentenced each of the accused persons to death by hanging.
Ohakwe said the prosecution had an overwhelming evidence that members of a secret cult killed the victim in a thick forest along Toronto-Egbu Road in Owerri North Local Government Area of the state on the fateful day and collected his brain for ritual purposes.
The accused persons who were caught by the police in an uncompleted building during their evil act all hail from Owalla Uratta in Owerri North Local Government Area.

Junaid Muhammad Blasts ‘Illiterate’ Patience Jonathan

Popular political critic, Junaid Mohammad has shown concern over the recent crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) warning that they are soon going to cause a major security crisis in Rivers State
In a today's press release in Kano, Dr. Muhammad said Rivers “coming to the limelight because of the irresponsible, unconstitutional and bizarre, illiterate actions, of the so called first lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan, who hails from the island village of Okrika in Rivers State and who sees not only Okrika but the whole of Rivers States, as her personal domain to exploit, abuse and destabilize as she sees fit because her husband Jonathan happens to be the president.”
He also noted that the constitution has no place for the post of the First Lady and confers no rights, privileges or responsibilities on the wife of our leaders
“It is therefore illegal and completely ultra vires the constitution for any citizen, president or his spouse to usurp executive powers, and go about throwing their weight, as if they were legally recognized holders of such offices according to the law,” he warned. “ As at the time of writing, the commissioner of police in Rivers, his command structure and other security services are at the command of Patience Jonathan, and by her and presidential orders, most security facilities due governor, the speaker and others so entitled, have been withdrawn. Mean-while professional thugs and all manner of criminals are being recruited and pressed into service to destabilize the elected government of Rivers State.”
Stressing that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat its mistakes, Dr. Muhammad pointed out that current developments in the PDP and especially in Rivers State bear an uncanny resemblance to the old Western Region, which led to the collapse of the first republic, with very serious and bloody consequences. Then and now, the popularly elected leaders of those parts of the country were prevented from exercising political power and control, and the operations of the police, the army and the rump of security services were interfered with in a brazen political manner.
“The current CP Rivers, is bending over backwards to accommodate the president, his cronies and his illiterate wife, to ignore or pervert the law and the constitution and norms of decent political behavior, to harass, intimidate Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and thus destabilize, a strategic state like Rivers. Those in the PDP who imagine that this serious and fundamental crisis can be contained by some band aid or artificial cordon sanitaire, have a shocker awaiting them,” he said.
He noted that the overriding attitude of PDP leadership, the PDP president, his cronies etc. is an open invitation to anarchy, for his party, his tottering crisis prone government and most unfortunately for Nigeria.

My Ex-Husband Wants A DNA? He Must Be Mad – Laide Bakare

Popular Nollywood Actress Laide Bakare, who is in paternity claim mess with two men has taken time to respond to the claims made by her ex-husband Olumide Okunfulire.
Okunfulire recently asked her to submit her new baby for a DNA test to ascertain who the real father is.
Okunfulire revealed that in the past nine months he and his estranged wife had intercourse and is shocked why she is saying that her new swing Mr ATM is the father
Reacting to her husband’s claims, Laide Bakare said: He must be “mad and oozing from chronic drunkenness” to dare ask her to come out for a DNA test in order to prove who the father of her baby is.
She said, “ordinarily, I would not believe all the stories of him saying that rubbish in the media. Maybe he was being pushed to say those things by those who know nothing about how we lived together or, maybe, they just want to put him in big trouble.”
Laide Bakare, who failed to confirm if she was having sex with both men, simply said “I’m sure he has run mad”.

President Jonathan Prays For Nelson Mandela

President Jonathan, today, posted a message on his Facebook page wishing ailing former South African President, Nelson Mandela, a speedy recovery.
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On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I would want to let President Jacob Zuma, the government and the people of South Africa know that we are with you in prayers at this trying times. We stand firmly with you our South African brothers and sisters and together wish our leader, the unequalled humanist, the great son of Africa, former President Nelson Mandela Gods' speed on the journey to recovery. GEJ

Gov.Amaechi, Jang, Others Attend Jonathan’s Dinner

For the first time since the election that caused a division in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, almost all the 36 state governors converged on the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday for a mid-term dinner organised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
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The two main antagonists in the NGF crisis Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who won the  May 24 election of the forum and Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who leads a faction of the group- attended the event.
Although Jang and members of his faction were already seated before the arrival of the President which signalled the commencement of the dinner, Amaechi and his loyalists arrived at the same time shortly after the event had started.
A mild drama however played out when Amaechi, who cancelled a meeting of the NGF earlier scheduled for 8pm on Wednesday,  joined the table where Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and others were already seated.
In the process of exchanging pleasantries, Amaechi was heard pointing to Akpabio and saying, “No, you can never be a democrat.”
Some governors in the Amaechi faction were initially seated among journalists at the back of the hall before they were ushered in to the front where seats were reserved for them.
The other  governors  in attendance were  those of Niger, Lagos, Nasarawa, Imo, Edo, Adamawa, Zamfara, Ogun, Kano, Ekiti and Jigawa.
Others were the governors of  Sokoto, Cross River, Bauchi, Abia, Plateau, Kogi, Ebonyi , Ondo, Delta, Anambra and Kaduna states.
The  acting governor of Taraba State and the deputy governors of Bayelsa, Kwara, Katsina, Benue and Gombe States were also in attendance.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwwal, was however absent at the dinner attended by the President of the Senate, David Mark; and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The dinner was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Before the cancellation  of the NGF meeting, some of the Pro-Amaechi governors had converged on the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, where they took the final decision to  attend the dinner.
In a brief chat with journalists before they moved to the Villa, Amaechi said “We have shifted the meeting to honour the invitation sent to us for dinner by the President. We would have loved to meet, but we have to honour the President’s invitation.

Lagos joins country’s oil-producing states

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Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, joins the country’s oil-producing states with the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in the coastal state.
Yesterday, Afren Plc and its partner, Lekoil Limited, announced significant oil discovery offshore Dahomey Basin in Lagos, according to the London Stock Exchange.

In separate announcements, the partners said they discovered a significant light oil accumulation based on the results of drilling and wire line logs from a high impact Ogo-1 well, located on the Oil Prospecting Licence, OPL 310 offshore Nigeria.

Afren is optimistic that the discovery is likely to be significantly higher than the anticipated 78 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), which encourages search to further high potential zones.

The discovery is subject to the authentication of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which is expected in two weeks.

If certified and the partners produce the first barrel of oil, Lagos will become the 11th oil producing state in Nigeria, a club Anambra State joined recently. It will also boost the economy of Lagos, which currently generates about N29 billion internally every month.

The other oil producing states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Abia, Imo, Edo and Cross River.

Geological studies indicate that the Dahomey Basin is a combination of inland/coastal/offshore basin that cuts across some West African countries including Lagos, Nigeria as well as Southeastern Ghana, Togo and the Republic of Benin.

The basin is said to be separated from the Niger Delta by a surface basement popularly called the Okitipupa Ridge.

“The Ogo-1 well has been drilled to a total measured depth of 10,518 ft (10,402 ft true vertical depth sub sea), and has encountered a gross hydrocarbon section of 524 ft, with 216 ft of net stacked pay.

“The well was targeting 78 mmboe of gross P50 prospective resources, but based on evidence to date, targeted resources are likely to be significantly in excess of previous estimates,” Afren said in a statement made available to Vanguard.

The company added that “further evaluation using wire line log analysis is currently underway prior to extending the well to a total measured depth of 11,800 ft (11,684 ft true vertical depth sub sea) to target further high potential zones.”

Execution Directive Rights Groups, Tell Jonathan To Withdraw Convicts


Two human rights groups have advised President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw his directive to governors on the execution of prisoners on death row.
photo Two human rights groups have advised President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw his directive to governors on the execution of prisoners on death row.
The groups – Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and  the Human Rights Law Service – gave the advice in separate statements on Wednesday.
The groups, in their statements to  the News Agency of Nigeria, condemned the recent execution of four prisoners in Edo State.
SERAP, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, said it had petitioned the African Commission to ask Jonathan to withdraw the directive.
Mumuni said the petition was filed by SERAP’s counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), and addressed to the Chairperson of the Working Group on Death Penalty, Zainabo Kayitesi.
He said SERAP would seek adequate compensation to be paid to the families of the four executed prisoners.
He added, “Unless the African Commission urgently intervenes in this case, there is a risk of irreversible denial of several death row prisoners in Nigeria.
“This will, in turn, render nugatory, the resolutions on moratorium on executions by the African Commission and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.”
Programme Officer, HURILAWS, Mr. Collins Okeke, said the signing of the execution warrants was a draw back on Nigeria’s human rights campaign.
Okeke said, “With regard to the moratorium on death penalty, though we voted against it in the UN General Assembly resolution, Nigeria continues to exercise a self-imposed moratorium.
“We, therefore, urge the Federal and state governments to retrace their steps,  and to observe its international commitments and obligations by leaving in place the moratorium on executions in Nigeria.”

Senegal Rolls Out Red Carpet For First Family As Obama Starts Africa Tour

Senegal rolls out red carpet for the First Family as Obama starts Africa tour amid fears over Nelson Mandela's failing health. The First Family landed safely in Senegal, kicking off a highly-anticipated tour of Africa that will see President Barack Obama visit three countries with First Lady Michelle and their daughters Sasha and Malia in tow.
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However, the failing health of former South African President Nelson Mandela is casting a shadow on the President's weeklong visit - only his second since taking office.

Air Force One touched down in the Senegalese capital of Dakar on Wednesday evening. The president and his family are also scheduled to visit South Africa and Tanzania.
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Obama advisers have been reluctant to publicly discuss what impact his condition might have on Obama's trip. There had been no formal plans for the two men to meet, though Obama aides did leave open the possibility of the U.S. president meeting with Mandela's family.

'Ultimately, we want whatever is in the best interest of his health and the peace of mind of the Mandela family,' said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser.

The president is expected to be greeted warmly during his trip, despite the underlying sense of disappointment. American flags dotted the roadways as Obama's motorcade sped through this coastal city, and signs welcoming Obama and bearing his picture hung on homes and businesses.

Obama's father was born in Kenya and several of his relatives still live there. But despite his family ties to the continent, Obama spent just one day in Africa during his first four years in office and has focused instead on strengthening U.S. ties with Asia and Latin America.

Oprah Winfrey Tops Forbes' Most Influential Celebrity List

Oprah Winfrey Tops Forbes' Most Influential Celebrity ListIt was the fifth time the former talk show host has headed the annual ranking of 100 celebrities. Singer Lady Gaga came in second, followed by director/producer Steven Spielberg and singers Beyonce and Madonna.
“There is nobody else with that kind of consistency and power,” said Dorothy Pomerantz of Forbes.com.
“There are only three people who have been on every single one of our lists since 1999. It is Oprah, Howard Stern and Steven Spielberg.”
Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, who was No. 1 last year, dropped to 12th place. With earnings of $77 million from June 2012 to 2013, Winfrey was not the highest earning celebrity, an honour that went to Madonna who made $125 million.
But Forbes said Winfrey's position in Hollywood and her presence in the press, on television and in social media propelled her to the No. 1 spot.
“She still wields an enormous amount of power, which is really what we look for in our fame matrix. She is taking this cable network and turning it around just through the sheer force of her will, her connections and her ability.”
See the TOP20 of the list below:
1. Oprah Winfrey $77m
2 Lady Gaga $80m
3 Steven Spielberg $100m
4 Beyonce $53m
5 Madonna $125m
6 Taylor Swift $55m
7 Jon Bon Jovi $79m
8 Roger Federer $71m
9 Justin Bieber $58m
10 Ellen DeGeneres $56m
11 Hugh Jackman $55m
12 Jennifer Lopez $45m
13 Rihanna $43m
14 Coldplay $64m
15 Tiger Woods $78m
16 LeBron James $60m
17 Simon Cowell $95m
18 Katy Perry $39m
19 David Beckham $47m
20 Robert Downey Jnr $75m

FG Begins Scrapping, Merging of Agencies, Parastatals

FG Begins Scrapping, Merging of Agencies, ParastatalsAny moment from now, the Federal Government will begin the rationalisation of commissions, parastatals and agencies as recommended by the Steven Oronsaye led presidential committee.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday rounded off deliberations on the draft white paper on the said report which is now before the secretariat for proper clean-up and action, as well as publication of the document.
Information Minister who gave the hint while briefing State House Correspondents after FEC meeting yesterday noted while some agencies will be scrapped, other agencies and departments with duplicating functions are to be either merged or be made to be more effective and result oriented.
Accordingly, he said FEC proceeded to constitute two separate committees chaired both by the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Usman Shamshudeen to look at the re-alignment of research agencies and institutes particularly those under the ministry of science and technology in order to make them more effective and profitable to the country.

Church Minister Arrested For Having Sex With Underage Girls During "Private Prayer Sessions"

A church minister has been accused of having sex with underage girls.
According to reports, the minister, Larry Durant, would tell the girls that the sex acts he performed on them would prevent them from getting pregnant and becoming homosexuals. He also allegedly tells them that being sexual with him would preventthem from contracting sexually-related diseases.
The grandmother of one of the alleged victims talks about their obliviousness to the shocking act going on;
"We thought he was really talking to the children, but find out that wasn't the case," she said. "All I want is justice done, that's all. Justice done,"
Police reports revealed that this criminal act began in 2011.

Bank Staff Arrested For Robbery

Robert Olusegun, a staff of a new generation bank who waylaid a customer and robbed him of N4.7 million was among 273 armed robbery suspects arrested by the Police Command in Kano, northwest Nigeria.
According to the state Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura who briefed the press at the Command headquarters on Wednesday, Robert conspired with one other person now at large and attacked a customer of the bank where he worked with a pistol and knife on his way to the bank to deposit the money.
“They robbed him of the sum of N4, 755, 200.00. The suspects were vigorously pursued by members of the community and Robert was arrested with the money. One revolver pistol loaded with three live ammunitions and a knife were recovered from him. Investigation is on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspect,” Daura stated.
The Command also smashed a kidnapping syndicate at Rogo Local Government Area where the held two worker s at Sorey Construction Company and demanded for ransom, “they were arrested on the spot by the Police, suspects have been charged to Court for prosecution,” Daura added.
Another suspect, Opheke Michael was arrested along Aba road, Sabon Gari while in possession of 63 units of N1000 notes discovered to be counterfeit.
Also, the Police boss stated that Sa’adu Abdullahi of Badawa Quarters and Ismaila Ishaq of Kaugama in Jigawa state confessed to the Police to have plotted to vandalize pipelines, adding that they were in possession of one Toyota Camry, reasonably suspected to have been stolen and they were carrying with them, one pumping machine, one electric generator, two rolls of hose and other implements primed for pipeline vandalisation.

Evening at the Bar Ended with Sex with My Ex in Park. Now I'm Confused

Evening at the Bar Ended with Sex with My Ex in Park. Now I'm ConfusedI had a few drinks at a bar one night. My ex walked me home and we stopped in the park and had sex.
The grass was damp but it all felt so good that I wished we could stay there all night, but he had to get back to his girlfriend.
I’m 22 and my ex is 23. He was my childhood sweetheart and we had a thing going when we were both still at school. We broke up when we were 17 and lost contact for a few years.
We both went on to other relationships but were free when we met up again last year. It was brilliant to see him and soon we were meeting up regularly to have sex. It felt like I knew him so well there was no need to talk about where it was going or what would come next.

Bodyshock: the Man with 64-kg Testicles

The extraordinary story of 49-year-old Las Vegas resident Wesley Warren Jnr, a man who lives with a rare medical condition so severe that he can't wear trousers, walk normally, go to work, drive a car, have sex, or even sit down without the help of a milk crate.
His story highlights the failings of the American healthcare system, which has arguably some of the best doctors in the world, but only for those who can afford them.
While the medical professionals are unsure what caused Wesley's condition, for him it all started one night in late 2008. Wesley accidentally knocked his testicles while turning over in bed, causing a sharp shooting pain, and the tissues around his testicles began to swell. They've been growing bigger ever since.
In a case reminiscent of the tragic 19th-century 'Elephant Man', doctors refer to his mysterious condition as scrotal elephantiasis or scrotal lymphedema, characterised by excess watery fluid collecting in tissues of the body. Things have got so bad that Wesley can't lead anything resembling a normal life.
This intimate documentary was watched by more than 3.7million last weekend. 
 Bodyshock: the Man with 64-kg TesticlesBodyshock: the Man with 64-kg TesticlesBodyshock: the Man with 64-kg Testicles

PHOTOS: See Woman Who Cries Blood

A woman has mystified doctors after she literally started crying tears of blood.
20-year-old Yaritza Oliva visited her doctor as soon as this strange condition started earlier this month. The doctor could not figure out what the cause is so she was sent home with some eye-drops.
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Oliva says the pain of the condition is "indescribable". Her parents are seeking help for them to raise moneyto send their daughter to an eye experts.
"Please put your hands over your hearts, see our situation and help my daughter," her father pleaded.
Experts say it's possible Yaritza has a very rare condition called haemolacria, which causes sufferers to produce tears containing blood.
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There are only THREE documented cases of the condition, which can be symptomatic of a more serious illness or a tumour - or caused by a high level of hormones in fertile women.

Lagos Belongs To The Tinubus

Life has some pleasantly ironic moments. Before the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party woke up to the news that the former governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, was about to install his daughter as the Iyaloja of Lagos, who could have thought the party would ever understand –or even acknowledge- that anything portends “great danger” to Nigerian democracy? Or, that the party would even canvass a process that is “transparent, liberal and credible?” These are surely interesting times we live in.
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Since the PDP put out its press release, part of which was quoted above, there has been some robust discourse on the social media about whether another Tinubu should step into the shoes of the late Abibatu Mogaji, “pioneer Iyaloja/President-General of Nigerian Market Men and Women” who held the prestigious position for many years even when she was old and frail; and at 96, was clearly incapable of functioning in that role with as much vitality as she would have exuded in her younger years.
The PDP, on getting to know about the announcement purportedly made at Mogaji’s burial, panicked and quickly issued the press release I excerpted above. It does not quite seem it has awoken to the reality that Lagos is Tinubu’s property; from there his influence extends to other states in South-West Nigeria. He is the go-to godfather of the region such that men like Lamidi Adedibu who once trod that path look like upstarts when contrasted with him.
My advice to the PDP is to cease its caterwauling and focus its energies on winning the 23 states President Goodluck Jonathan recently stipulated as their 2015 target. For now, not much will change as regards the ownership of Lagos political structure. The Tinubus own a lot and like the proverbial greedy man who insists on acquiring every parcel of land that touches his land, they keep expanding.
It is not for nothing that Tinubu was assigned an anti-democratic title of “Governor Emeritus.” There are similar examples of such labels created by fawning Nigerians to massage the egos of their leaders who are obviously plagued by the Mugabe Complex. This attitude, taken in its entirety, illustrates the intractable problems of leadership in Africa.
The Mugabe Complex is a fear of ordinariness; a symptom exhibited by people in power who just do not want to be out of the picture. In their minds, they are the awaited messiahs so they impose themselves on people by every means possible. Such people jump from Governor to Senator; from First Lady, they become Permanent Secretaries or Mother-of-the-nation; or transform into tribal leaders and godfathers. They practically configure the state finances to lead to their pockets. They clog the state machinery so that those who succeed them in office would have to contact them for solutions.

2015 Elections May End Up Like NGF Poll – Gov Amaechi


Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Wednesday lamented the crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and then threw a bombshell: 2015 elections may end up like that of the NGF.
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“Let me put it on record that the way things are going,  2015 elections will end in this manner where people will win democratic elections and those in power will not accept the results,” he said at a stakeholders’ symposium on the  review of the 1999 Constitution   in Abuja.
Amaechi, who won the May 24 NGF election in Abuja, wondered why some people  would be backing Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who contested  against him and lost.
Amaechi described Jang and  his supporters as non-democrats and accused the Nigeria Bar Association of losing its voice by failing to condemn the actions taken by Jang and his supporters after the NGF poll.
President Goodluck Jonathan is the major supporter of the Jang faction of the NGF  and Amaechi’s outburst appeared to  the audience to  be mostly  directed at him (the President).
Amaechi, who said he  had  been trying to avoid the microphone because  of too many problems in the country, told the gathering that since he had been made to mount the rostrum, he  was ready to make “headlines.”
First,  he blasted the NBA,  then Jang and the “government that supports him”.  Amaechi  described himself as the authentic NGF  chairman, saying that what  Jang was leading was  a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum.
 The  governor said, “The NBA cannot afford to lose its voice, but you have lost your voice. For the NBA to see a free and fair election, where 35 governors who govern 35 states in the nation, who make decisions for hundreds of millions of Nigerians, for NBA to say that ‘if they can’t organise themselves dissolve,’ you have lost your voice.

Amaechi May Cancel NGF Meeting in Deference to Jonathan

Amaechi May Cancel NGF Meeting in Deference to JonathanThe Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, is considering the cancellation of today’s meeting by the members of the forum.
Presumably, the cancellation might be in deference to the dinner that President Goodluck Jonathan would have with the governors later in the day.
 
Amaechi, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, was already consulting with other governors.
 
While majority of them were said to be interested in the meeting, they were said to have reasoned that there was no way they would be through with it before the dinner.
 
Both the meeting and the dinner have been fixed for 8 p.m.
 
While the meeting was to hold at the Rivers State Governors’ Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja, the dinner with the President, which would also be attended by other people, would hold at the Banquet Hall, inside the Presidential Villa.
 

Photo: UNILAG Student Kidnapped & Raped

22-year-old man, Babajide Bashorun, has been arrested by the lagos state police for allegedly kidnapping a female undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Akoka, and raping her.
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The suspect denied the accusations against him instead he claimed that the lady was his girlfriend. He admitted to have taken her nude pictures and gave them to his friends whose identities he gave as Aje Mayowa and Babajide Ademuyiwa, both final year students of  Architecture also of UNILAG.
The incident, as gathered, occurred two months ago at 1, Ajose Street,  Enu-Owa area of Lagos Island.  But the female undergraduate was silent over the matter until her relations abroad who stumbled on the nude pictures on the internet contacted her mother in Nigeria, last week.
Narrating how the incident occurred, the female undergraduate said: “Babajide  came to our house to treat our dog. In the process, he requested  for my phone number and I reluctantly gave him. He started calling me and told me he would like to go out with me.
“But I told him I already had a boyfriend whom I loved. Yet, he kept calling me, saying he was not interested in just going out with me but wanted to  marry  me. Aside that, he kept monitoring my movements and at a point, I deleted his contact on my phone.
“I was returning home for a weekend in April , a car stopped by my side at Idumota bus-stop. Jide was sitting beside a driver who was unknown to me.
“On sighting him, I walked past. But the next thing he did was to hold me by the hand, dragged me into the car and drove to his house.

Gov.Amaechi, Jang, Others Attend Jonathan’s Dinner


For the first time since the election that caused a division in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, almost all the 36 state governors converged on the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday for a mid-term dinner organised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
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The two main antagonists in the NGF crisis Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who won the  May 24 election of the forum and Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who leads a faction of the group- attended the event.
Although Jang and members of his faction were already seated before the arrival of the President which signalled the commencement of the dinner, Amaechi and his loyalists arrived at the same time shortly after the event had started.
A mild drama however played out when Amaechi, who cancelled a meeting of the NGF earlier scheduled for 8pm on Wednesday,  joined the table where Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and others were already seated.
In the process of exchanging pleasantries, Amaechi was heard pointing to Akpabio and saying, “No, you can never be a democrat.”
Some governors in the Amaechi faction were initially  seated among journalists at the back of the hall before they were  ushered in   to the front where seats were reserved for them.
The other  governors  in attendance were  those of Niger, Lagos, Nasarawa, Imo, Edo, Adamawa, Zamfara, Ogun, Kano, Ekiti and Jigawa.
Others were the governors of  Sokoto, Cross River, Bauchi, Abia, Plateau, Kogi, Ebonyi , Ondo, Delta, Anambra and Kaduna states.
The  acting governor of Taraba State and the deputy governors of Bayelsa, Kwara, Katsina, Benue and Gombe States were also in attendance.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwwal, was however  absent at the dinner attended by the President of the Senate, David Mark; and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The dinner was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Before the cancellation  of the NGF meeting, some of the Pro-Amaechi governors had converged on the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, where they took the final decision to  attend the dinner.
In a brief chat with journalists before they moved to the Villa, Amaechi said “We have shifted the meeting to honour the invitation sent to us for dinner by the President. We would have loved to meet, but we have to honour the President’s invitation.

Atuche, Wife Must Answer To N25bn Theft Charge – EFCC


Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday insisted that the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Mr. Francis Atuche, had a case to answer over the N25.7bn theft charges it instituted against him and others at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja,
photo Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday insisted that the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Mr. Francis Atuche, had a case to answer over the N25.7bn theft charges it instituted against him and others at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja,
The anti-graft agency had charged Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth; and the former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu, with 27 counts of stealing the bank’s N25.7bn while he (Atuche) was the MD of the bank.
Opposing the accused persons’ “no-case submission” on Wednesday, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), said with the witnesses the agency had called to testify in the case, sufficient evidence had been adduced to prove their guilt.
He said evidence before the court was “potent, cogent and very forensic linking the defendants to the alleged crime”
But the defence lawyers, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Mr.  Sylva Ogwuemor, arguing the no-case submission applications, said the case of the prosecution was not strong enough to warrant the defence of the accused persons.
Idigbe, who represents Atuche and his wife, arguing  his application supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and a  written address,  prayed the court to dismiss the charges against his clients for being “duplicitous”.
“Counts 1 to 10 and counts 11 – 27 are similar charges that are duplicated which means that  one cannot commit the two sets of counts the same time,” he said.
He added that the prosecution witnesses were unreliable as their testimonies were tainted by contradictions of facts in relation to issues of the  actual money allegedly  stolen and acceptable banking procedures.

VIDEO: OJB Jezreel Finally Speaks Up


Versatile singer and producer OJB Jezreel  who is suffering from Kidney failure and needs a transplant finally speaks out in a recent interview.
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On his reason for going to the media
According to him" It has helped to debunk a certain idea, of course in the entertainment industry we make money but people expect more than the unusual".
OJB has said its not been easy because he has spent so much money in the hospital for treatment and still no solution. Hence his reason for seeking help from the public

2015 Election: No INEC Staff Is Above Prosecution – Jega


Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Attahiru Jega, ahead of the 2015 election, on Wednesday said no official of the commission was immune to prosecution if they were found wanting, as regards electoral malpractices.photo
He disclosed this  during the official unveiling/public presentation of Strategic Programme of Action of INEC from 2012 to 2016 to Political Parties and electoral stakeholders in Abuja.

Jega’s warning came on the heels of concerns raised by some chairmen of political Parties including Chiefs Sam Nkire of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chekwas Okorie of the United Progressive Party (UPP) and Victor Umeh of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Speaking separately, they questioned the autonomy and transparency of the commission; the failure to deal with corrupt officials of the commission, and the problems involved in the use of ad hoc staff.

The chairman who said that there were bad eggs in the commission, said that many staff of the commission who compromised standards had been either prosecuted or dismissed from their duties without fanfare.

Jega said, “INEC officials are not immune to prosecution. In fact, since we came here, as a Commission we have prosecuted INEC officials, probably it was not well advertised but prosecuted INEC officials who have been found guilty of breaching established laws, rules and regulations; we have also quietly shown people the way out. There were many people who were indicted for activities incompatible with the objectives and responsibility they were expected to bring to this job. We have retired people. We have dismissed people and asked people to withdraw their services. We have done a lot quietly and it is not something that really should have been advertised in our view.

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Reconstruction To Cost N160.7bn


The reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will cost the Federal Government N160.7bn.
photo The reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will cost the Federal Government N160.7bn.
The figure was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in an exclusive interview in Abuja on Tuesday.
Okupe said the road would consist of three lanes on either side from Lagos up to the Sagamu interchange, and two lanes from there up to Ibadan.
He also said, there would be a flyover and inter-change at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to resolve the traffic problems on that side of the road.
Okupe said, “The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project was awarded on Monday at a total cost of N160.7bn.
“The road project, which will be constructed by Julius Berger Construction Company and the RCC, will consist of three lanes on either side up to Sagamu junction, then two lanes up to Ibadan as well as a flyover and inter-change at the Redemption Camp to deal with the perennial traffic gridlock on that side of the road.”
He promised that the Federal Government would pay proper attention to the road project, which he described as major.
He also said the contractors had started mobilising to the site, adding that the government was determined to solve the crises on the road once and for all.
“Government is serious on infrastructure. You can see that major roads like the Kano-Maiduguri, Benin-Ore, Abuja-Lokoja, Owerri-Onitsha, Katsina-Daura and East-West roads and many others are being rehabilitated or reconstructed. The second Niger Bridge has been given out on concession and work is in steady progress,” the presidential aid said.
It will be recalled that the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, told journalists on Monday that the contract for the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had been awarded to Julius Berger and RCC.
He, however, did not disclose the cost of the project.
Like the minister, Okupe also did not disclose the duration of the project.

Atuche, Wife Must Answer To N25bn Theft Charge – EFCC

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday insisted that the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Mr. Francis Atuche, had a case to answer over the N25.7bn theft charges it instituted against him and others at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja,
photo Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday insisted that the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Mr. Francis Atuche, had a case to answer over the N25.7bn theft charges it instituted against him and others at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja,
The anti-graft agency had charged Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth; and the former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu, with 27 counts of stealing the bank’s N25.7bn while he (Atuche) was the MD of the bank.
Opposing the accused persons’ “no-case submission” on Wednesday, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), said with the witnesses the agency had called to testify in the case, sufficient evidence had been adduced to prove their guilt.
He said evidence before the court was “potent, cogent and very forensic linking the defendants to the alleged crime”
But the defence lawyers, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Mr.  Sylva Ogwuemor, arguing the no-case submission applications, said the case of the prosecution was not strong enough to warrant the defence of the accused persons.
Idigbe, who represents Atuche and his wife, arguing  his application supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and a  written address,  prayed the court to dismiss the charges against his clients for being “duplicitous”.
“Counts 1 to 10 and counts 11 – 27 are similar charges that are duplicated which means that  one cannot commit the two sets of counts the same time,” he said.
He added that the prosecution witnesses were unreliable as their testimonies were tainted by contradictions of facts in relation to issues of the  actual money allegedly  stolen and acceptable banking procedures.