PHOTOS: Meet John Mikel Obi's Beautiful Russian Blonde Girlfriend

The Super Eagles’ and Chelsea FC football star, John Mikel Obi, is apparently in romantic relations.

He is seriously dating and living with a beautiful Russian lady, Olga Diyachenko, in his UK house.

Below see some of the cute selfies, cuddling pictures, tongues-out series and kissing photos Mikel Obi and Olga:

WALKING DEAD: "Corpse" Wakes Up, Shocks Morgue Staff

Kenyan authorities have launched an investigation into how a man declared dead in a hospital woke up alive in its morgue the next day.

Paul Mutora was visited by relatives after being rescued from the morgue

Shocked mortuary workers at Naivasha hospital ran away when the body stirred and was seen to be breathing.

Paul Mutora, who had tried to kill himself by swallowing insecticide, was pronounced dead on Wednesday night.

The chief medic said the drug used to treat him slowed the heart beat, which may have led to the mistake.

"This might have confused medical personnel, but the victim was saved before he could be embalmed," Dr Joseph Mburu, the superintendent in charge of Naivasha District Hospital, was quoted by Kenya's Standard newspaper as saying.

According to the paper, Mr Mutora's father and other relatives visited the morgue on Thursday morning to view the body and then returned home to start funeral arrangements.

"But in the afternoon we were informed, he was alive and were left in shock," the father said.

A witness said that when noises were heard inside the cold room: "The mortuary attendant and a worker took to their heels screaming."

Journalists photographed Mr Mutora later recovering on a male ward in the hospital in the lakeside town, 90km north-west of the capital, Nairobi.

"This was a mistake from the start and I apologise to my father," the patient said.

BABY FACTORY FULL STORY: Owner Is Real Billionaire, Lives In Luxury + PHOTOS

James Ezuma, a medical doctor nabbed by the police in Owerri, Imo State, for operating baby factories, is the face of child trafficking in Nigeria.

The signboard of the ‘hospital’

The glassy signpost with blue, white and black lettering promises would-be visitors succour. Its delicate frame announces to the public the presence of a private hospital. Near this board is another with less aesthetic appeal on a lonely street off Egbu Road, in Owerri metropolis, which announces to the vulnerable, a place of refuge.

The World's Biggest Family: Man With 39 Wives, 94 Children And 33 Grandchildren + PHOTOS

Ziona Chana is the head of the world's biggest family - and says he is 'blessed' to have his 39 wives.

The wives and me: Mr Ziona Chana poses with his 39 wives at their home in Baktawng

Ziona Chana also has 94 children, 14-daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren.

They live in a 100-room, four storey house set amidst the hills of Baktwang village in the Indian state of Mizoram, where the wives sleep in giant communal dormitories.

Mr Chana said: "Today I feel like God's special child. He's given me so many people to look after.

I consider myself a lucky man to be the husband of 39 women and head of the world's largest family."

The family is organised with almost military discipline, with the oldest wife Zathiangi organising her fellow partners to perform household chores such as cleaning, washing and preparing meals.

You treat this place like a hotel: With 100 rooms, the Ziona mansion is the biggest concrete structure in the hilly village of Baktawng in Mizoram, India

One evening meal can see them pluck 30 chickens, peel 132lb of potatoes and boil up to 220lb of rice.

Coincidentally, Mr Chana is also head of a sect that allows members to take as many wives as he wants.

He even married ten women in one year, when he was at his most prolific, and enjoys his own double bed while his wives have to make do with communal dormitories.

He keeps the youngest women near to his bedroom with the older members of the family sleeping further away - and there is a rotation system for who visits Mr Chana's bedroom.

Feeling peckish? The senior ladies of the Chana family show what it takes just to make a meal

Rinkmini, one of Mr Chana's wives who is 35 years old, said: "We stay around him as he is the most important person in the house."

He is the most handsome person in the village. She says Mr Chana noticed her on a morning walk in the village 18 years ago and wrote her a letter asking for her hand in marriage.

Another of his wives, Huntharnghanki, said the entire family gets along well.

The family system is reportedly based on mutual love and respect.

Shared bedroom: A look inside the four-storey mansion

And Mr Chana, whose religious sect has 4,00 members, says he has not stopped looking for new wives.

"To expand my sect, I am willing to go even to the U.S. to marry," he said.

One of his sons insisted that Mr Chana, whose grandfather also had many wives, marries the poor women from the village so he can look after them.

Monstrous radioactive squid on California beach? Some actually believe these stories

Fabricated report just one of many that need to be debunked as concern about Fukushima radiation is turning into borderline hysteria

Photoshopped image showing what is said to be 160-foot “radioactive squid” is via Lightly Braised Turnip

Some people logged onto their computers Thursday morning and discovered an amazing story circulating on social media. Showcased was an image of a monstrous giant squid that had washed ashore on a Southern California beach (top photo).
The story, published by the Lightly Braised Turnip website, blamed leaking radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan for growing oversized sea creatures. Remarkably, some people believed the story, which quoted experts who don’t really exist.
As of early Thursday afternoon the story, from a website that produces more than its share of parody, had been Facebook “liked” more than 97,000 times.
Reads one of many comments: “The ‘gift’ that keeps on giving: Fukushima.”

URGENT MESSAGE FOR GOV. AMOSUN: Over 20,000 People Will Lose Home In Few Hours, Please, Help!

We would like to remind Nigerians of the primary and main principles of the mass and social media. Naij.com exists to connect people, convey information, and provide the voiceless with the right to speak up. We are glad to be the platform through which anyone can deliver their message to masses.
Today, we publish the message sent to info@naij.com by a desperate Nigerian citizen, Ayantunji Afeez. Here what he has to say:

I hereby urge the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, to intervene in the ongoing surge at Onihale/Ilepa (Ifo/Abeokuta) interchange. Over 250 hectares of land have been claimed under the auspices of economical development without any form of compensation to the owners. Government officials showed up recently to mark our houses, hospital, school and town hall for demolition.

Please, kindly intervene as the community is undergoing an undefined threat. Over twenty thousand of people are going to be homeless. Please, your Excellency Gov. Ibunkunle Amosun, help us!

Chelsea stalwart Gary Cahill thinks the Blues are on the right path to glory

GARY CAHILL insists Chelsea can win the title this season.

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GAZ FIRED: Chelsea ace Gary Cahill [STUART ROBINSON]

But the England centre-back said the Blues need to play it quick if they want to stay in the thick of it at the top of the Premier League.

And he warned the rest of the league to watch out once Chelsea really start to click.

The Blues beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday to stay third in the table – two points behind leaders Arsenal.

Boss Jose Mourinho has played down the prospects of repeating his feat from 2004-05 and bagging the title in his first season back as Blues boss.

“The gaffer has touched on that, but it is a bit of a ­transitional period,” said Cahill.

“But at the same time we have the quality to be competing in the league, FA Cup and Champions League.

“At the minute we are in touching distance of the other teams. It’s going to be entertaining and will go to the wire, but as long as we stay in there we are in with a shout.

“I was reading a lot of negative things about the team leading up to the Arsenal game, but if we had won at the Emirates we’d have gone top.

“We should look at that as a positive. When we do click we can expect good things.”

Chelsea picked up seven points in six days with the draw at Arsenal and home wins over Swansea and Liverpool.

But Cahill reckons the victory over Brendan Rodgers’ team was the best performance since the return of ‘The Special One’.

He believes the secret of their success was that they played with more intensity. He added: “We played better against Liverpool than the last couple of games because we played at a higher tempo.

“We looked really lively and the first half was the best we have played this season.

TEAM NEWS: Chelsea miss trio Lampard, Ivanovic and Luiz for Southampton match

CHELSEA are without Frank Lampard, Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz for the New Year's Day trip to Southampton.

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Lampard out for Saints clash [GETTY]

Lampard (undisclosed muscular injury) and Ivanovic (knee) were injured in Sunday's win over Liverpool, when Luiz picked up his fifth booking of the season to incur a suspension.
Ivanovic's injury means Ashley Cole is set to return at left-back with Cesar Azpilicueta switching to the right, while midfielder Ramires is back from a one-game ban.
For Southampton, Dani Osvaldo suffered a knock in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle and, having recovered from that, was then struck down by illness, but could return for the match against the Blues.
Morgan Schneiderlin returns from suspension while Nathaniel Clyne will be hoping to start as he steps up his return from a hamstring complaint.
Artur Boruc (hand), Victor Wanyama (shin) and Guly do Prado (knee) remain sidelined.
Chelsea's provisional squad: Cech, Cole, Essien, Ramires, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Hazard, Ba, Willian, Schwarzer, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Eto'o, Blackman, Bertrand.
Southampton's provisional squad: K Davis, Gazzaniga, Cropper, Clyne, Chambers, Shaw, Fox, Lovren, Fonte, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Schneiderlin, Reed, Cork, S Davis, Ward-Prowse, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Lallana, Gallagher, Osvaldo, Lambert.

Arsenal can forget about signing Manchester City star Edin Dzeko

MANUEL PELLEGRINI has told Arsenal to forget about a January swoop for Edin Dzeko.

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WANTAWAY STRIKER: Edin Dzeko wants to leave the Etihad due to lack of games [EPA]

And the Manchester City boss has also insisted out-of-favour midfielder Jack Rodwell will not be allowed to leave the club on loan.
City are not planning to bring in any fresh faces in the January transfer window, with Pellegrini happy his side are strong enough to land the title.
Arsenal are keen to add firepower to boost their title bid and are among a number of clubs interested in Bosnian Dzeko (below).

TEAM NEWS: Liverpool hit with double injury blow but could have Gerrard for Hull clash

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard could make his return to action in the Premier League clash with Hull at Anfield on New Year's Day.

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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could be back to face Hull [GETTY]

Gerrard, who has missed the Reds' last four games after sustaining a hamstring problem in a win over West Ham on December 7, has been back in training and his condition is being assessed ahead of the contest.
Joe Allen (abductor) has been ruled out for "a few weeks" and Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) also looks set to miss a number of matches, but Jordan Henderson is expected to be fit despite feeling sore after Sunday's defeat at Chelsea, while the on-loan Victor Moses is available again after being ineligible for the meeting with his parent club.
Provisional squad: Mignolet, Jones, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Cissokho, Kelly, Toure, Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard, Sterling, Alberto, Aspas, Moses, Coutinho, Suarez, Smith, Rossiter.

Paper Review: Chelsea close in on Colombian ace, Man Utd plotting fresh double bid

BRENDAN RODGERS has hit back at Jose Mourinho's claims that Luis Suarez is a diver and Andy Carroll has returned to full training as he bids to end his injury hell at West Ham.

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Everton star Leighton Baines [GETTY]

Daily Mail: Nicolas Anelka was ordered yesterday not to repeat his sick goal salute as it emerged Samir Nasri has also been photographed making the quenelle gesture. Also: Andy Flower wants to continue as team director despite England's dismal performance in the Ashes.
Daily Express: Manuel Pellegrini has rubbed salt into the wounds of his desperate Premier League title rivals by boasting that he is so happy with his squad at Manchester City he is unlikely to make any signings or sales when the transfer window opens tomorrow.
Also: Chelsea are closing in on a £14 million deal for Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin as manager Jose Mourinho beefs up his squad for a title push.
Daily Mirror: David Moyes is ready to battle Everton again for Leighton Baines with a fresh £16million bid.
Also: Mauricio Pochettino has launched an astonishing attack on referees claiming Southampton get a raw deal - because their players are "young and good-looking".
The Sun: Samir Nasri apologised last night after being pictured doing a Nicolas Anelka-style salute. Also: Samuel Eto'o admits he should have been sent off for this tackle on Liverpool's Jordan Henderson.
The Times: Graham Gooch may be an early casualty of England's disastrous Ashes tour after Andy Flower signalled a fresh start but said that he would remain team director yesterday. Also: Brendan Rodgers has hit back at Jose Mourinho's condemnation of Luis Suarez.
The Independent: Manchester United manager David Moyes fears that his hopes of reinforcing in the crucial left-back slot, which he considers one of the squad's week spots, will be dashed again this January. The vultures were circling, Andy Flower saw them coming and gently ushered them away.
The Guardian: West Bromwich Albion went into into full scale damage limitation mode yesterday as the Football Association discussed Nicolas Anelka's contentious quenelle celebration with Jewish leaders.
Also: Andy Flower believes England have come to the end of an era but is excited about the prospect of helping to build a new team from the wreckage of the one that might well feel a final twist of the knife in Sydney this week.
Daily Telegraph: After months of speculation Andy Flower has committed himself to England's future. Also: David Moyes is considering a £20 million move for Luke Shaw in the January transfer window, despite fears that Southampton will resist all offers for the 18-year-old full-back.

TEAM NEWS: Tottenham's Paulinho out for Man Utd clash, while Kyle Walker returns from ban

PAULINHO will miss Tottenham's trip to Manchester United and the next four weeks through an ankle ligament injury.

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Paulinho to be out of action for around a month [GETTY]

The Brazil midfielder, making his return after a three-match ban, sustained the injury during Sunday's 3-0 defeat of Stoke.

Kyle Walker will return from suspension at Old Trafford, although Sandro (calf), Younes Kaboul (thigh), Andros Townsend (hamstring) and Jan Vertonghen (ankle) remain sidelined. Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Danny Rose (fatigue) are doubts.

Provisional squad: Lloris, Friedel, Walker, Naughton, Fryers, Rose, Dawson, Chiriches, Veljkovic, Capoue, Dembele, Lennon, Fredericks, Bentaleb, Sigurdsson, Eriksen, Chadli, Lamela, Holtby, Adebayor, Defoe, Soldado.

TEAM NEWS: Man City lose Silva as Zabaleta set for Swansea return

MANCHESTER CITY playmaker David Silva is suspended for the New Year's Day trip to Swansea in the Premier League after accumulating five bookings.

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Manchester City will be without David Silva [GETTY]

Top scorer Sergio Aguero (calf) also remains on the sidelines along with striker Stevan Jovetic and defenders Martin Demichelis and Micah Richards (all hamstring).
Goalkeeper Joe Hart will play despite five stitches in a wound under his left eye and right-back Pablo Zabaleta, rested against Crystal Palace on Saturday after recent injury, is fit.
The news of the stretched backline comes after the news the high spending team are not planning to bring in any fresh faces in the January transfer window, with boss Manuel Pellegrini happy his side are strong enough to land the title.
Provisional squad: Hart, Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Nastasic, Boyata, Kolarov, Clichy, Nasri, Milner, Navas, Toure, Fernandinho, Garcia, Rodwell, Dzeko, Negredo, Guidetti.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini [GETTY]

Canadian Government Designates Boko Haram Terrorist Organisation

Following the United States designation of Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation, the Canadian government, Monday, listed the outlawed group a terrorist organisation under the country’s Criminal Code.
The Canadian government also listed the Caucasus Emirate blamed for recent bombings in Russia a terrorist organisation.
Rights groups have blamed Boko Haram for the death of more than 3000 people mostly in the Northern part of Nigeria.
Boko Haram started an insurgency against the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2009. The group says it wants the northern states of Nigeria placed under Sharia law.
The U.S. government says the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, is the ninth most wanted person in the world and has placed a $7 million (N1.1 billion) bounty on his head. The Nigerian military, however, believes Mr. Shekau might be dead after getting caught in a shootout.
“Boko Haram is an organization that is responsible for over 300 attacks in Northern Nigeria, which have resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people,” says Steven Blaney, Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
“The actions of Boko Haram and the Caucasus Emirate meet the legal threshold set out in the Criminal Code, which requires the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that the entity has knowingly participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity or is knowingly acting on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with such an entity,” reads a statement from the ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
“The Government of Canada is keeping our streets and communities safe. Listing terrorist entities facilitates the prosecution of perpetrators and supporters of terrorism, as well as countering terrorist financing,” added Mr. Blaney.
By virtue of these listing the asset of the groups and anyone associated with them in Canada will be “seized and forfeited.”
“There may be severe penalties for persons and organizations that deal in the property or finances of a listed entity. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity,” the statement reads.

"Forget National Confab" - Nyako Urges Jonathan

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, yesterday, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to perish the thought of national conference and pay more attention to giving Nigerians good governance.
Nyako, who spoke to Vanguard in an interview, said the planned confab amounted to waste of time and scare resources, which could have been used to provide social amenities.
According to the governor, Nigerians need concrete development projects that could enhance their life expectancy and not talk shops that add no real value to life.
The governor pointed out that the country also needed serious development plans backed by an implementable time frame and the political will to move the nation forward.
Nyako, who is the second governor to oppose the impending confab, said his Ebonyi State counterpart, Chief Martins Elechi, who was the first to kick against the conference, was absolutely right and should be commen-ded for his forthrightness.
Nyako said:”Governor Elechi is absolutely right. What we need now is a development programme and not national conference or dialogue.
“We need critical infrastructure, we need ports and railway system, functional and compulsory education for Nigerians and not talk shops that cannot take us to anywhere.
“We need primary schools that can be described as the best in the world. We do not need too much grammar about develo-ping Nigeria, but concrete efforts and the political will by the government to translate talks into reality for the overall benefit of Nigerians.”

Canadian Government Designates Boko Haram Terrorist Organisation

Following the United States designation of Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation, the Canadian government, Monday, listed the outlawed group a terrorist organisation under the country’s Criminal Code.
The Canadian government also listed the Caucasus Emirate blamed for recent bombings in Russia a terrorist organisation.
Rights groups have blamed Boko Haram for the death of more than 3000 people mostly in the Northern part of Nigeria.
Boko Haram started an insurgency against the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2009. The group says it wants the northern states of Nigeria placed under Sharia law.
The U.S. government says the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, is the ninth most wanted person in the world and has placed a $7 million (N1.1 billion) bounty on his head. The Nigerian military, however, believes Mr. Shekau might be dead after getting caught in a shootout.
“Boko Haram is an organization that is responsible for over 300 attacks in Northern Nigeria, which have resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people,” says Steven Blaney, Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
“The actions of Boko Haram and the Caucasus Emirate meet the legal threshold set out in the Criminal Code, which requires the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that the entity has knowingly participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity or is knowingly acting on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with such an entity,” reads a statement from the ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
“The Government of Canada is keeping our streets and communities safe. Listing terrorist entities facilitates the prosecution of perpetrators and supporters of terrorism, as well as countering terrorist financing,” added Mr. Blaney.
By virtue of these listing the asset of the groups and anyone associated with them in Canada will be “seized and forfeited.”
“There may be severe penalties for persons and organizations that deal in the property or finances of a listed entity. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity,” the statement reads.

CONTROVESIAL LETTER: South-West PDP Chieftain Challenges Obasanjo Over His Letter

As the face-off between the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan heightens, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun has challenged  Chief Obasanjo to give proofs of the allegations leveled against the President.
He said the onus lies on whoever raises such destructive and inciting allegations against anyone to prove them.
“If he fails to prove all the allegations against the president, Nigerians would take him to be a liar,” he said.
Chief Ogundokun, who spoke with newsmen on diverse national issues, faulted the contents and the channel through which the 18-page letter  was sent, said the patriotism that Chief Obasanjo “always claims leaves much to be desired by the way he made the letter public.
“What patriotism is in someone speaking about breaking up Nigeria when he should be working for the unity of the country,” he added.

GOOD NEWS: French Priest Kidnapped by Boko Haram in Cameroon Regains Freedom

French President Francois Hollande made an official statement which said that a French Catholic priest kidnapped in Cameroon by the suspected Boko Haram members on November 13, 2013, has been released.

A 42-year-old Georges Vandenbeusch (in the photo) was kidnapped by gunmen in northern Cameroon, close to the border with Nigeria.

Boko Haram Islamist group later said it was behind the kidnap.

PHOTOS: Actress Mary Uranta Hot New Stunning Pictures

Actress cum ex-beauty queen Mary Uranta has put out these new hot pictures of herself looking incredibly hot.
What do you think?, Do you like?

BAD LUCK: Man Grabs Gun Instead Of Wallet, Shoots Himself In The Bum

This Thursday, a man at the store in Brighton, Mich., reportedly reached for his wallet and accidentally grabbed his gun.

The 40-caliber Glock went off, and the 32-year-old ended up shooting himself in the rear end.
As s result of the accident, the man, whose name was not revealed, was treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital.
He had a concealed pistol license, and no charges were expected to be filed, the local radio station reports.
Interestingly, it is not the first time the shopper hits bottom in public.

Wife-Abusing Ex- Akure Monarch's Pleas Were Not Considered, a New Deji of Akure Is Throned (PHOTO)

A new regent, Princes Adetutu Adesida Ojei, was installed to fill the throne of the Deji of Akure which became vacant on December 1, 2013, after the death of Oba Adebiyi Adesida from an undisclosed illness.

A controversy around this posted started after the deposed former Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina, has written an emotional letter of consideration to the Ondo state government begging to reinstate him as the paramount ruler.

Nevertheless, it had no effect and Princes Ojei, a pharmacist based in the United Kingdom, and the first female child of the late Oba Adesida, became the ruler of AkureLand.

Our best wishes to her.

45-Year-Old Woman In Court For Stealing 82 Pigs

Naimot Alimi, 45, was, yesterday, arraigned before an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Iyaganku  for allegedly  stealing  82 pigs.
Inspector  Ade Adebusuyi, the prosecutor, told the court that Alimi  stole 82 pigs valued  at N1 million, property of one Babatunde Oduwole.
Adebusuyi  alleged that  Alimi  also stole  15 turkeys, 42 fowls,  one Toyota Avensis saloon car valued at N800,000 and a cash sum of N2.2 million, all property of Oduwole.
The offence was said to have been committed between August 2013 and  December 19, 2013  at Alabata area of  Moniya, Ibadan.
The accused person, however,  pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief  Magistrate, Mrs Olusola Adetujoye,  granted the accused bail in the sum of  N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case till Jan.14, 2014.

Zambia's BBA's Housemate Cleo Looking Hot And Cute In Nigeria

Former Big Brother Africa house mate flew in from her home country Zambia to Nigeria over the weekend to attend a friend's party in Surulere.
Cleo looked amazing in her outfit, What do you think ?

PDP Angered By Oshiomhole's Lies, Saying He Didn't Fulfill Any Promises To Stowaway Boy

The Edo Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of lying to the state in several occassions and even failing to fulfill the promises made to the electorate and the stowaway boy, Daniel Ikhena.
Dan Orbih, the Chairman of the party in the state, told journalists in Benin that Mr. Oshiomhole had repeatedly denied that the state was indebted. Mr. Orbih said the government had, however, set aside N20 billion in the 2014 budget for debt servicing.
He described the sack of 836 teachers by the state government as “tissues of lies”, adding that Mr. Oshiomhole was playing politics with the figure. The chairman alleged that more than 3,000 teachers were sacked and there was no plan to recruit new ones. He said the state government had failed to fulfill the promises made to the electorate and the stowaway boy, Daniel Ikhena.
He said people who wanted to help the boy were stopped because of the government’s declared intention to take care of the boy and his family. “Government did not fulfill the promise made to the family.
“People who wanted to help them stopped because they assumed they were being looked after by government. We also gathered that the mother is now sick,’’ he said.
Reacting to the issues, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Kassim Afegbua, said the state government had never denied that it was indebted.
“There is no government all over the world that is self sustaining and without having recourse to certain borrowings to meet up its statutory obligations,” he said. “What is bad in borrowing is taking the money without using it.
“Since this government came on stream five years ago, we were servicing the debt inherited from the previous PDP government in the state. “We took a bond specifically meant for the ongoing Benin water storm project, and as we speak, the Edo debt stands at between N11 and N12 billion.
On monthly basis, there is certain amount taken from the internally-generated revenue to service that debt.’’ On Ikhena, he said that the boy, like several others on scholarship, was in the boarding house, adding that the boy was not abandoned.
He said that only 836 teachers were sacked, adding that the decision was taken after the outcome of the evaluation carried out in respect of teachers recruitment, population, competence and qualification

PDP Crisis: Over 70 Chieftains Defect to APC

The crisis of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State deepened on December 30, 2013, Monday, following the defection of former Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Yaro Makama, ex-commissioners and 70 other chieftains of the party in the state to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Other defectors included the former Campaign Director General of late former Governor Patrick Yakowa during the 2011 elections, Ambassador Sule Buba; and former Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government Area, Alhaji Auwal Ali Tafoki.

The ex- PDP leader in Kaduna State, Makama, had cited injustice as one of the reasons that forced the defectors out of the party, noting that the political situation in the country was like a revolution.

“We cannot wait to be consumed by the political revolution that is happening in this country. The injustice in PDP is one of the reasons why we left the party to APC. As you can see most of the people here are PDP members that have played a greater role in its development,” he said.

There are several indications that that there would be more defectors.

It would be recalled that the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, had to meet with stakeholders of the party in Kaduna on December 30, 2013, Monday, in order to avert planned mass defection of party members to the opposition party.

Kano Emir To Al-Mustapha: "Forget The Past, Live In Peace"

Kano - Yesterday, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Kano Emir, hosted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who is former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha. 
The Emir urged Al-Mustapha to leave his past behind and start living in peace. Al-Mustapha, on his part, denied claims that his visits to distinguished Nigerians was politically-motivating. Rather, he said, his "major preoccupation now is to better the life of humanity through a credible non-governmental organisation."
It will be recalled that for 15 years, Al-Mustapha was a prisoner at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison for allegedly playing a role in murdering pro-democracy activist, Kudirat Abiola. He was released in July this year, although Lagos State government is still contesting the appeal court verdict at the Apex court.
Al-Mustapha paid homage to the Emir who has been ailing for the last couple of months. He arrived at the Emir's palace, followed by a convoy of over a hundred cars carrying sympathisers and well-wishes.
Ado Bayero addressed Al-Mustapha thus:

"I want you to bear in mind that whatever happened to a man in the journey of life was predestined by Allah, therefore, your experience over the long incarceration was a fulfillment of destiny. I urge you to leave it behind and forge ahead in peace."

After the meeting, Al-Mustapha answered some journalists' questions. He said, in particular, that his visit to Kano Emir was "a manifestation of father-child relationship."
Stressing the fact that he still is a commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army, he said,

"My stalled progress in the army is the direct consequence of the criminal case instituted against me in court. Until it's finally determined in court, I remain a major in the Army."

He also stated he has no ambition to venture into politics or seek political position in Nigeria:

"I have not decided to venture into politics now and I have not been invited into that direction.’"

Al-Mustapha explained that his visits to some states, particularly to the troubled areas across the country, were fueled by his desire to ensure peace and unity.

"Many organisations and associations actually contacted me with invitations that took me there. I did it with a view to putting a helping hand. Right from 1984, I found it mandatory to help associations in support of peace and unity, and now that God has granted me freedom, I cannot say no. We have opened ground for reconciliation to many tribes and communities and we hope it will add colours towards achieving peace, unity and development in the country.

"To us, the background we have is that of a country solidly united, where hopes and confidence of the people are fully restored and anchored upon progress and development. We are looking for a country that is firmly rooted with the God’s given resources and given the direction and taking giant strides in Africa for development and progress," he said.

Al-Mustapha pledged to continue to respond to such calls by organisations and associations provided they were meant to foster unity and peace in the country.

TRAGIC DEATHS: Nigerian Musicians/Actors That Died In 2013

Death, it is generally believed, is an inevitable end for all creatures. This year, the entertainment industry has literally been hit at different times by the deaths of some notable celebrities.
In some sense, it has been like a harvest of deaths, writes Mercy Michael.
They are in the eyes of the public. When anything happens to them, the people are always eager to know the details. Their privacy is flung out of the window the moment they become celebrities. Welcome to the world of entertainers, actors, actresses and musicians.
This outgoing year the entertainment industry has been hit by good news. It has also been hit by bad news. Some of these bad news were about the death of members of the industry, who, over the years, have brought smiles to the faces of the people, either with their music or their acting prowess.
From the aged Fatai Rolling Dollars to the youthful Goldie, the industry has had its fair share of the deaths in the year.
Fatai Rolling Dollar

One of Nigeria’s oldest highlife musicians, Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, popularly known as Fatai Rolling Dollars, died in June this year.
He died at 85 at Marritol Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, following a brief illness.
Rolling Dollars, who had three wives and 16 children, was reportedly on a musical tour of the United States when he took ill and had to return home.
He was admitted initially at Ahmadiya Hospital in Abule-Egba area of Lagos, before he was transferred to Marritol Hospital in Surulere, where he died.
Juju music legend-turned-Evangelist, Ebenezer Obey, while reacting to Rolling Dollars’ death, described him as “an epitome of decency and a talented musician.”
He said, “I’ve lost my boss, my friend and my mentor. And I know the country has lost a talented singer.”
Also, in his tribute, reggae artiste, Orits Wiliki, said Rolling Dollars lived well as a musician, adding that “even though his death remains a big loss to the industry, he will be happy that members of the young generation are taking highlife music to the next level. We should be praying to live up to his age and still be strong the way he was.”
He started his musical career in 1953 and mentored other great musicians like Evangelist Ebenezer Obey and the late Orlando Owoh, among others.

Has Success Ruined Gov. Adams Oshiomhole?

When Omotola, a renowned Nigerian actress secured a slot in the Time Magazine’s highly coveted positions, for the 100 most influential people in the world, for the year 2013, a very humane comment describing the quality of her rich personality, was made by Richard Corliss, Time’s movie critic. 
According to him, Success hasn’t spoiled Africa’s most renowned leading lady. Rather than going Hollywood, Omotola wants to stay Nollywood. What Richard Corliss pointed out about Omotola is a rare quality among the rich and the influential in Nigeria. In Nigeria today, there is a social phenomenon that is being created by what I have chosen to articulate as ‘celebrity syndrome.’
Once people who were hitherto nobody shoot their way to fame and stardom, the next thing that follows is a radical change of attitude. Beginning with the pomp and pageantry that announce their movement, as well as the security details that glow all around them like the halo of holiness, one cannot but expect, as a necessary corollary of such status, a paradigm shift in their relationship with the common folk. True to this claim, some events in the past and even at present have etched into our collective consciousness the utter reality of this paradigm shift. For instance, not so long ago, a buzz about Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, dissing a fan on his Twitter handle for daring to correct his wrong grammar rented the sky. I think the exact words of Wizkid read like this; broke people always think they have opinion. What of the embattled words of our amiable Chimamanda Adichie, describing Elnathan John, one of the nominees for the 2013 Cain prize, as one of her boys at the workshop she normally organizes?
Those words might appear mindless and patronizing when viewed dispassionately. And most recently, our collective consciousness was once again jostled by a verbal assault, from a serving governor to a poor widow. It was a most unfortunate statement in which Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, told a poor widow hawking her goods at one of the road sides in the state, to go and die for daring to use widowhood as an alibi, for indulging in the roadside trading that has been banned in the state.  All these mindless comments of our elite men and women and the constant media buzz trailing them, is a testament to the reality of the social tension rife in Nigeria. Mind you this is no attempt to pithy the poor against the rank and files.
However, the point is that unlike our amiable Amazon, Omotala, success has spoiled most of our elite men and women and especially our elected officials. Within the privileged circle of Nigeria’s elites and celebrities, one notices a culture of exclusivity, poshness and a disturbing elitism that not only set them apart from the rest of the masses, but also dubs them as sacred cows. In Nigeria today, the divide securing the world of the rich from the poor is clear and impassable. There is hardly any meeting point. But the irony of our age is that we celebrate this divide using beautiful expressions like: celebrities, elites, V.I.Ps, aristocrats, cream of societies and so on without knowing the enormous claims they are making on the fabric of our social life. How prescient was Fulton Sheen when many years ago, he summarized the leanings of this age with a most perceptive title of a book called Old Errors and New Labels?  It is pretty concerning that our sociologists and other social activists are not being perceptive to how portentous such seemingly harmless expressions are becoming for the health of human family.
While there is a vast corpus of literature condemning the ancient and traditional caste system for the stigmatization and segregation it has brought to human family, there is hardly any known voice (be it political or religious) condemning the social tension celebrity syndrome is creating in our age. But the fact is that these seemingly harmless phrases have no doubt fragmented and stratified the human family with a radical nature never seen before. Think of the many young men and women who have been killed or maimed just for the crime of falling in love with the daughter or son of a wealthy man. Think of the human struggle for survival in Nigeria and how many Nigerians that loses that battle on daily basis. Think also of the fact that social media like facebook has created a celebrity page where poor masses can neither send nor receive the offer of friendship from men living on the affluent strata in our society.  For all its atrocities as a social crime, caste system has never been anywhere near the fatality score-card of celebrity syndrome. As the world counts her victory over the strongholds of caste systems of the old and traditional order in some parts of the globe, she should warm up for a more challenging task. Celebrity syndrome has created a new social caste system that is more infernal than the old caste system.

Things A Lady Shouldn't Do In The Presence Of A Man

Here with the help of our friends we are going to disect some few immediate turn offs men see in some ladies. 
• Farting In Our Presence
Men hate this to the core, they may pretend not to but they really hate when you do it in their presence. If you doubt me, go and ask a man whom you don't know to tell you what he thinks of a lady who fart or always fart in front of him.

• Eating too much
Whenever you Ladies are in our Presence please try to control your eating habits. Not that we're too broke to buy you Food but eating without Class just because your indoors is disgusting to say the least!

• Washing of your undies (panties)
Please try to reduce the amount of times you wash your undies in our presence. Forget that popular slang which tends to say that when a man loves you, he can even wash your undies, we're not that cool with seeing someone else's undies!

• Talking too dirty
Please, have control of things you say in our presence. Don’t be too naughty when it comes to your language except you want to remain a GIRLFRIEND FOR LIFE!!!!!

• Laughing excessively
Control the length you laugh in front of us. When we're not around, you can laugh and bring down the roof if you wish. I was talking to a lady and she laughed so loud that she didn't know when she polluted.
• Always watching movies
If your a Nollywood addict please, for the sake of not receiving any RED CARD, stop giving all your time to once your man is around. We need total concentration when we are talking to you
• Fighting
Never you fight in front of your man, he may feel that one day you will fight his mother.
• i Too Know attitude
Its very annoying when you always act like you know everything. When we argue about sports,romance,friends etc its cool for you to let us win sometimes as it would do you no harm than try to make sure you POV is the most correct even when its not.

An Open Letter To Stephen Keshi

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi
Head Coach
Super Eagles
Nigerian Football Federation
Olusegun Obasanjo Way
Abuja
Dear sir,
As we are in an open letter season, it is pertinent that we make the maximum use of this popular medium of communication, while it is in vogue.
So long as it is used positively to better our nation, enhance our collective lives, eschew errors of the past and suggest ways to make Nigeria a better place for all of us, it is a good thing.
Unlike other letters that are flying around at the moment, this one is from a friend and not a foe and be rest assured, it contains no personal attack, malice of negative criticism. This letter is designed to better our lot come June next year when the Super Eagles will be featuring in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Given your history as a former Super Eagles player, captain and assistant coach, you are fully aware of our footballing history and how we have featured ion four tournaments so far. To be honest, the last two World Cups in which Nigeria featured are best forgotten about as our senseless decision to change coaches and overhaul our teams with just a few months to go was suicidal to put it politely.
Come 2014, however, we are on the cusp of creating history and correcting the wrongs of the past as we are not changing the guard at the last minute, are African champions, are seeing a return of confidence and as our recent friendly with Italy showed, have the nucleus of a team that can compete at the highest level.  However, at this level, a few minor details, which may only account for say 5% of overall planning, can sometimes make the difference between failure and success.
In the main, we have a very kind draw, having been grouped with Argentina, debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina and minnows Iran in Group F.  We have a good chance of reaching the semi finals at the least if we get our act together but we have one major problem - Time is not on our side.
Unfortunately, there is only one Fifa window left before the end of the current season and after that, there will only be 18 days between when our camp opens on May 25 and the start of the World Cup. Subsequently, we simply do not have the time to arrange as many friendly games as we need to get our team in shape, which is a big worry.
How could we prepare:
[1] We are in the same group as Argentina, so should play Colombia. Given that Colombia are in the same group as Ivory Coast, I would imagine they want to play African opposition too
[2] South Korea are playing Algeria, so I would imagine they also want to play African opposition. Bear in mind we are playing Iran, who were in the same World Cup qualification group as South Korea (The Persians actually topped the group), I think this is a game that will also do us well
[3] Bosnia-Herzegovina qualified from the same European group as Greece, who are also in Ivory Coast's group. They play similar southern European football, just as we and Les Elephants play similar West African football, so a game will do both of us well
[4] In March, there is a Fifa window and we basically need to squeeze two friendlies into this window
[5] We could play Colombia on Tuesday March 4 and then Greece on Friday March 7, both in England
[6] We should play them in Europe, so we can fit in two games within the week. Ideally, it would be good to play both games in England, to avoid long travel
[7] At the end of the season in May, we can then play South Korea, maybe in Brazil itself
[8] In the run-up to the World Cup, we could play two or three more friendlies.
[9] While camped in the US for instance, we can play friendlies against South American countries Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia.
[10] Unlike everyone else, we need such a hectic schedule because we have to try out about 10 players who should be part of our current set-up but are not and they need to be tested

FEAR IN DELTA: Mysterious Rats Kill Man

Mysterious rats have killed a landlord, Augustine Erukaya, 46, in Ugbolu community near Asaba, Delta State, after he was reportedly bitten on his two legs while asleep.
 
According to the information gathered by Leadership, the victim died of swollen legs on Saturday, December 28, 2013, after his encounter with the mysterious rats.
Unconfirmed sources said there was a mysterious invasion of rats in the community in the last few months, saying it had been a source of worry to residents of the community.
One of the residents, Ogbueshi Sade, said it was not true, noting that when a rat bites, it implies a negative connotation for its victim.
Erukaya reportedly told his wife about the changes happening in his body after he had been bitten by rats. He was advised to seek medical assistance. However, he was unable to heed the advice as he started throwing up few hours after his complaint.
Commenting on the tragedy to Leadership, a relation of the landlord, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the victim made an attempt to kill the rats but they disappeared to his surprise, adding that few minutes later his two legs started swelling up.
Unconfirmed reports said that the landlord, before his sudden death, was alleged to be at logger heads with some persons over the ownership of a farmland.