Governor Babatunde Fashola Gets Verified On Twitter

 

Ummmmmnnn, correct governor, you wan try...lolzzzzz

Nigeria's State Security Service Personal Contact Details Released Online!

News agency, AP is reporting that personal records, which includes names and home addresses of family members of employees of Nigeria's State Security Service have leaked on the internet.

Personal information of more than 50 past and current SSS employees, including that of the agency's DG - his mobile phone number, and bank account particulars, were posted in the comment section of a website.

AP wrote that the information was leaked along with a threatening message that claimed to come from Boko Haram. .

Interview: Charly Boy Is Not My Son — Justice Oputa

In this interview with the Nigeria’s foremost legal luminary, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa,  gives a careful  explanation  on why Charlyboy is not his son.  This is among other national issues the justice had raises in this interview.

Excerpts
You have been quite for a while now, we used to know you as the Socrates of the Nigerian Bar Sir, what have you been doing?
Resting.  That is what retirement is all about, resting after having an active life and trying to get ideas from writing books. Since I retired, I have written two or three books. As you can see, I have them on my desk here and many others in my Library. You need to read them. They are good.
These days, you shuttle between Abuja and Oguta, what is good in your village?
Have you been to Oguta? If you have been to Oguta you will not call it a village.  Well, it does not matter what you call it,  Oguta is Oguta. That’s where I am born and you cannot run away from your birth place.  I grew up there and went to school there before I went to college in Oguta, CKC to Yaba higher college to Achimota, from where I proceeded to Britain.
How old is the Justice now?
Well I am almost 92. I was born in 1920. Don’t I look it? Most of us were born but our birth was not recorded but all I know is that I started school in 1931. Then you cannot be admitted into school until you are eight years or so, your hand must touch your ear on the other side over your head, otherwise you have not grown enough to go to school.

Teju Babyface's Traditional Wedding (Photos)

Check out some pictures from Comedian Teju Babyface and Tobi's traditional wedding at the Ten Degrees Centre, Billingsway.

Paralympics: Nigeria’s Adesokan wins first gold, breaks World record

The medal that eluded Team Nigeria during the London 2012 Olympics came tumbling in Thursday as Nigeria’s Paralympians begun their quest for medals and also to redeem the image of the country as a super power in sports. Team Nigeria’s outing at the main Olympics was colourless.
Yakubu Adesokan struck the goldmine yesterday in a refreshing manner in Powerlifting where he also sent the World record crashing with his amazing 178 kg lift in his men’s 48 category which was over three times his body weight.
Adesokan’s feat was celebrated by the country’s flagbearers in London Thursday as they hoped to win more medals. And back home, it was a double joy for the country that watched gleefully on television as the Falconets dumped Mexico 1-0 in a nail-biting quarter-final thriller to berth into the semi-final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup semi final.
Sports Minister and Chairman of National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi heaved a sigh of relief yesterday when the cherry news came and urged the Nigerian heros and heroines not to relent in their efforts to win more medals.
”The Minister is happy with the feat of Yakubu Adesokan in winning the first gold for Nigeria at the Paralympics and also over-joyed at his feat of breaking the World record. ”It is one thing to win gold and another super feat to break the World record”, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Julius Ogunro quoted the Minister.
Adesokan was a full 10kg ahead of silver medallist Vladimir Balynedc of Russia, while Taha Abdelmagid of Egypt claimed bronze with his 165kg effort.
Culled: Vanguard

Ogun PDP plans big party for Obasanjo

The Ogun state chapter of the People Democratic Party on Thursday inaugurated a 17-man committee to organise a reception for former president Olusegun Obasanjo who recently resigned his position as the Chairman of the  Board of  Trustees (BOT) of the party.

The committee, which has Mr Yemi Adefulu as its Chairman, is to submit its report within 90 days.
Mr Dipo Odujinrin, the new state Chairman of the party, said  at the inauguration  in Abeokuta  that the reception  was  deserved  honour for the elder statesman.
He described the programme  as “a welcome-back-home reception for a worthy ambassador of the state.’’
Odujinrin dismissed insinuations that the planned reception was belated, saying nothing meaningful could have been  done due to the crisis that rocked the party in the state.

Fire guts LUTH laboratory

An HIV/AIDS laboratory and clinic, called AIDS Prevention Initiative (APIN) Lab, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Thursday evening caught fire.

The lab, which is funded by the USAID, was completely razed.
No lives were lost in the incident, however, the cause of the fire was still unknown as at the time of filing this report.
The State Fire Service was immediately alerted to help contain the fire, while hospital staff and some sympathisers mobilised to move patients to safety.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Akin Oshibogun, said the fire was started around 7pm. By 8pm, the fire was put out, but a lot of damage had already been done.
“Some doctors were having a meeting inside the building when they were alerted by shouts of fire! fire! by passersby, and they immediately swung into action to evacuate the building,” he said.
The razed structure used to serve as a physiotherapy unit before it was later expanded and converted to an HIV/AIDS treatment and research facility.
LUTH is a federal teaching hospital, attached to the University of Lagos, Akoka.
It celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, with free medical treatment to the public for some categories of ailments.
Culled: Dailytimes

1, 500 Nigerian students face deportation in UK

Around 2,600 foreign students could be deported from Britain after their university was stripped of its ability to sponsor visas for pupils beyond the European Union, the government announced Thursday. The move provoked dismay from students and accusations that the move by the Conservative-led government, which is bent on reducing immigration, could damage Britain’s global reputation.

 

Nicki Minaj Blasted By Fans For Jacking Beyonce's Photo

Nicki Minaj yesterday came under fire from Beyonce's fans after she changed her Twitter profile to a picture of her face photoshopped over that of Beyonce. She took the photo down a few hours later when the bashing became too much

'Twas probably a homage to Beyonce but still kinda creepy!

We'll Give Our Husbands Condom For Safety; Says Nollywood Twin Sisters

They are marvelous to behold. Delectable, hard working and talented, Nollywood twins, Chidiebere and Chidinma Aneke have carved a place for themselves in the industry.

The Enugu-based acts stormed Lagos recently to celebrate their birthday with the less privilege as well as release a new movie, National Experience and National Service. In an encounter with us, they talked about their lives.

ACN faults $40m contracts for Asari, others

The Action Congress of Nigeria has described as illegal, unconstitutional and indefensible, the $40m  being paid annually to some ex-militants to guard the country’s oil pipelines.
In a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said  “the reckless manner political power is exercised and monopolised by a few individuals is partly overheating the polity.
The statement added, “Regretably some actions and inaction of this admnistration have lent credence to the widely held belief that this administration is waging and exerting power only for the benefits of a section of the country.”

NLC advises FG to use N40bn earmarked for N 5000 to infrastructure

Lagos -The  President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwahed Omar, on Thursday urged the Federal Government to divert the N40 billion budgeted for production of N 5000 note into infrastructure development.
He gave the suggestion at the 8th Delegates Conference of the Metal Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria in Lagos.
Represented by Mrs Amina Danesi, an  ex-officio of  NLC, Omar said that the government should spend the N40 billion on repairs of roads, power and the informal sector, with a view to attaining  its Vision 20:2020.
“Since our country has over N40billion, we suggest the money should be spent on power sector, informal sector and roads, to ensure the growth of the economy and to achieve industrial heights in the year 2020,’’ Omar said.

President Barack Obama High School Found In Lagos (Photo)

No be small thing....lolzzzzzzzz

My wife indulged in drinking beer and adulterous — Pastor Oyedotun

A pastor, Samuel Oyedotun, stunned an Ake Customary Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State when he said  he wouldn‘t have got married to his wife, Lydia, if he knew the woman was not responsible. Pastor Oyedotun said his wife made him believe she was religious when they met, until after she bore two children for him and he discovered she indulged in drinking beer and was also adulterous.

This, according to him, gives serious concern to the extent that he hardly prayed as he used to do before they became husband and wife. The pastor said he met Lydia in lbadan and they got married legally while the union, according to him, is blessed with five children. He added that what informed his decision to sue for divorce was that he found she was dating some rich men in his church, and that when he confronted her, she  threatened to deal with him ruthlessly. The plaintiff said that all efforts to stop her from continuing in the habit proved abortive.
He therefore urged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant him custody of the children. Though the 37-year-old woman denied the allegations levelled against her by the husband, she told the court she was ready to accept the divorce since her husband was adamant.  Lydia said it was not the end of road for her.
The respondent however pleaded that the court grant her custody of the children because she knew that the money Pastor Oyedotun  would be making from the church would not be enough for the upkeep of the children. Meanwhile, the case was adjourned for further hearing.
Source 

Corruption: Buhari dares IBB

FORMER Head of State and Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the 2011 general elections, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday dared former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), to expose him if he had facts and insisted that IBB and other leaders played crucial roles in destroying Nigeria’s oil industry.

IBB had on Monday threatened to expose Buhari’s shady deals in the oil sector when he functioned as Petroleum Minister and later chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, if Buhari did not shut his mouth.
Speaking through his spokesman, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, the former Military President was responding to Buhari’s comments blaming President Goodluck Jonathan, IBB, Obasanjo for killing the nation’s oil industry. On IBB specifically, Buhari, who was hosting leaders and members of the CPC, led by the House of Representatives member from Funtua/Dandume Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Dr. Mansur Abdulkadir, on Monday, said the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida was responsible for the high level of corruption and destruction in the petroleum industry.
He added that the corrupt practices in the oil sector during the eras of Babangida, Obasanjo and Jonathan had led to the enslaving of the masses.
Countering, IBB had reportedly said: “We are conversant with General Buahri’s so-called holier-than-thou attitude. He was a one-time Minister of Petroleum and we have good records of his tenure as minister. Secondly, he presided over the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, which records we also have. We challenge him to come out with clean hands in those two portfolios. Those, who live in glass houses, do not throw stones. General Buhari should be properly guided.”
However, Buhari insisted on his comments and dared IBB to carry out the threat of exposing him.
Source

Police arrest 700-year-old ‘spirit’ in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has arrested one Nura Hamza, who posed as a 700-year-old spirit, to allegedly dupe unsuspecting members of the public.
The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Ibrahim Idris told newsmen on Wednesday in Kano that the accused, who resides at Kurnar Asabe quarters, was arrested on August 23, following a complaint from one of his alleged victims.
According to him, the suspect used his cell phone and called the complainant severally claiming to be a spirit aged 700 years, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“He (the suspect) directed the complainant to source money and take it to a nearby bush on an ant hill for spiritual duties,” the complainant said.
The commissioner said after the complainant had deposited N800, 000 as directed by the suspect, he decided to inform his relatives.
“This culminated in the arrest of the suspect after luring him to the usual destination,” he said.
The commissioner said items recovered from the suspect included seven pieces of fake $100, three bundles of cut-to-size paper with pretext to be $100 and four MTN Sim certificates.
Others were three motorcycles, a generator, and one mobile phone line among others.
Idris said as soon as investigation was completed, the suspect would be charged to court.
The commissioner also said that the command had arrested 150 suspected criminals in addition to smashing five robbery gangs within the last two weeks.

Culled: Punchng

Court dismisses suit against Wada

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Wednesday dismissed a suit filed by Jibrin Isah Echocho asking the trial court to declare the swearing-in of Idris Wada as the governor of Kogi State invalid.
The winner of the January 2011 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, Jibrin Isah Echocho and a governorship aspirant, Oyebode Makinde, had concurrently instituted suits against Wada.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, presided over by Justice Zainab Bukalchuwa had remitted the case back to the trial court which dismissed the suit for being an abuse of court process and awarded the cost of N100, 000 against the plaintiff.
While delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Abdul Kafarati said Echocho lacked the locus standi to initiate the suit having not participated in the governorship election that brought Wada into power adding that the court also lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit.
Justice Kafarati said it is a post-election matter which only the election tribunal can adjudicate upon since said telection took place in December and the action was filed in February.
Reacting to the judgment, the Special Adviser on Public Communication and Strategy to Echocho, Phrank Shaibu, said his boss will appeal the judgment stating that they will continue the struggle. Until they achieve victory.
“Our team of lawyers shall move to the higher courts at the shortest possible time and we are encouraged by the presence of the several fearless men and women of the Bench in our present day judiciary,” he said.
Source

Hotel sacks staff over Cynthia’s murder

Manage-ment of Casmillia hotel, where Cynthia Osokogu, only daughter of a retired Army General, Frank Osokogu, was murdered last month, has laid off some of its staff as a result of the incident.
However, the exact number of those affected by the hotel management’s sledge hammer could not be ascertained, Wednesday.
Reliable sources said those affected included staff that were on duty from the day the first suspect checked in to the day Cynthia was murdered.
Vanguard gathered that when the incident occurred, the hotel management carried out an in-house investigation where it was discovered that some of the staff did not carry out their duties as expected. For instance, it was discovered that one of the suspects, Okwumo Echezona, checked into one of the rooms with a fictitious name.
It was also learnt that the staff were blamed for being negligent in their duties, as none of them was able to figure out the killer’s suspicious moves when they were leaving the hotel, until the suspects called to inform the hotel.
The most negligent act on the part of the affected staffers, as informed by a staff of the hotel who spoke on condition of anonymity, was that the guests never showed any identity card bearing the name he checked in with.
The source said: “The standing rule is that any guest checking in must present his identity card at the reception that must bear the name he or she wants to check in with. We have been instructed never to lodge anybody in without meeting this procedure.”
It was, however, not clear what Echezona told the receptionist before he was checked in. However, an unconfirmed report said Echezona presented no identity card that bore the name he gave to the receptionist.
In the absence of an identity card, the staff informed that guests were expected to either drop their complementary cards or passport photograph, as this would help in tracing them if the need arises.
Meanwhile, the suspects, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo, 33; and his cousin, Ezike Ikechukwu Olisemeka, 23; the pharmacist that reportedly sold the tranquiliser used by Echezona, Orji Osita, and one Maduako Chukwunonso, are currently cooling their heels at the Ikoyi prison, while the remains of Cynthia will be interred on September 5.
Culled: Vanguard

House summons Sanusi over proposed N5,000 note

In a bid to address the ongoing debate that is trailing the announcement of a N5, 000 note into the Nigerian financial system, the house of representatives has summoned the management of the Central Bank of Nigeria to defend the introduction of the new note.
The  Chairman, House Committee on Banking and Currency, Chukwudi Onyereri, speaking in Abuja, said the committee is not clear how the new note will affect government’s cashless policy.
The lawmaker said the committee will meet with the apex bank to ensure that due process is followed and that the interest of the ordinary Nigerian is protected.
The chairman said the committee will take a position on the policy after a full briefing by the central bank.

Source

Former MBGN Tourism, Diana Odiaka gets engaged

The 24 year old ex-beauty queen got engaged to her boyfriend of nine months, Funsho Peters, an I.T Solutions architect and CEO of Infinion Technologies limited (pictured above with her) on Monday August 27th.

Diana is former MBGN Tourism 2009 and former Miss Tourism Africa 2009. How Funsho proposed to Diana....

Facebook fraudsters using my name – Pastor Adeboye

General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said some people are impersonating him on Facebook.
He said the impersonators were fond of demanding money from unsuspecting members of the public and he (Adeboye) urged people to verify the authenticity of messages credited to him before heeding to such instructions.
He said, “Please be very careful what you easily fall for. There are some persons going around creating false Facebook pages or names, claiming they are Pastor E. A. Adeboye.
All you have to do is a search for them on Facebook and they will add you and then pretend to be me, telling you to send some money into an account and because they know you will obey me, they are using this as a new form of fraud. Please stop them and report those pages to Facebook so they can be stopped.”
Adeboye said a member of the church had reported to him on how he had been ordered by an impersonator to pay certain sums of money into a bank account for a trip to India.
As of press time, over 3000 comments had been made in response to the Adeboye’s warning.

NUPENG to PDP: You’re Nigeria’s greatest problem

NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, said Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lacked the moral fibre to question it over its decision to embark on strike over the non-payment of subsidy and other issues, noting the party was Nigeria’s biggest problem.
The planned strike was, however, suspended last week after an agreement between labour and government.
NUPENG, in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Mr. Isaac Aberare in Abuja, said the PDP had drawn Nigeria years back in her national development and could not be taken seriously in its recent outburst on the union.
It challenged  the party to respond and face the barrage of daily criticisms of its activities by the opposition party— Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
NUPENG said: “The PDP spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh, exhibited ignorance on the demands of the union, and only responded on impulse and faulty base.
“The union has never sabotaged the efforts of the Federal Government, especially when it bothers on transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
“We have always been in the forefront in the fight against many obnoxious polices of government.”
Culled: Vanguard

Lover Exposes Married Bank Manager’s Nude Pictures *Viewer Discretion Advised* (Photos).

She is a manager in one of the financial institutions. According to gist, she had a relationship with one of her male staff and started another one with another male staff. The first guy got to know and after a brief quarrel, they separated and he decided to expose her. The pics you will be seeing shortly are the result of their fight.

I must say that I am first of all shocked to the marrows that a married woman and career lady will be so careless as to send nude pictures of herself to her lover, for whatever reason, it is the height of indiscretion and infidelity.



What drives married couples to become unfaithful in their relationship? Moreso, if you look at the pictures closely, you will notice that the background looks like that of an office. If the woman is eventually identified, what becomes of her job? Her reputation? Forget about her marriage- it’s past tense except her husband is from Mars.

Apparently, this is a case of a love tale gone sour. The details are sketchy as to who released the photos but it certainly is not the woman at the centre of the storm which leaves her alleged lover as suspect. There is no justification for any man no matter the offence to release nude photos of his erstwhile lover or girlfriend to the general public. She sent it to you in confidence and with the belief that it is meant For Your Eyes only. If you have such photos in your possession, soft or hard copy after break-up, why not permanently delete or shred it instead of playing childish and stupid by releasing it online or elsewhere? What if that were your mother, sister or niece?

Ladies, beware! Stop sending nude pictures of yourself to your boyfriend, lover or even keeping same on your phone or computer because you never know who might see it and decide to ‘expose’ or blackmail you at the slightest opportunity. A word they say, is sufficient for the wise.
I can't upload the pictures on my own blog, so CLICK HERE.

Source: Alabamauncut

Obasanjo blasts Eedris Abdulkareem again over 'Jaga jaga'

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has once again criticised rapper Eedris Abdulkareem over his hit song ‘Jaga jaga’ like he did in 2004.

Obasanjo while speaking at a forum organized by Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 expressed his disapproval of the ‘modern day youth towards Nigeria’.

In that light, Obasanjo recalled Abdulkareem’s 2004 hit track ‘Jaga jaga’ citing that the KENNIS Music rapper doesn’t believe in the future of the country.

‘One of the worst problems Nigeria is facing is disbelief. Nigerians no longer believe in themselves neither do they believe in their country. That takes me back to that song ‘jaga jaga’, how could a sane man dare to call his country jajajaja? It is the height of blasphemy. We are grooming our youths for tomorrow’s leadership and with such persons I don’t think the country can move forward’, Obasanjo was quoted as saying.

‘Jaga jaga’ was released on Abdulkareem’s third solo album in 2004 and turned into a nationwide hit, shortly after.

PHOTOS: Meet Nadia Buari and her hot mum

Nadia Buari and mum teach us how to pout

Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari is said to have a very close relationship with her mother and we can tell from these photos.

Popularly called Mama Buari, Nadia’s mum also doubles as her manager and has even styled her on several occasions. Nadia shared with us some personal photos of herself and mum hanging out and  having fun.

Now we all know where the Ghanaian actress got all that beauty from. How close are you with your mum?

Policeman Gets Arrested For Allegedly Having Anal S** With Children In Bauchi State!

A policeman serving with the Bauchi State Police Command has been arrested for allegedly having anal sex with children between the ages of nine and twelve. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan, confirmed the incident while speaking with Daily Trust.

“A division was investigating the matter, but I have directed them to transfer the case to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).  The accused is in detention at the moment, and after investigation, we will make our discovery known to the public”, he said.

A source told Daily Trust that the policeman was accused to have slept with about eight children in Kandahar area of Bauchi metropolis. He said the policeman was arrested following reports by some parents. A senior staff at the Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, who doesn’t want his name in print told Daily Trust correspondent that about nine children were brought to the pediatric ward of the hospital by the policemen from the state’s Criminal Investigation Department for treatment.

Daily Trust

10-Year-Old Boy Set Ablaze Over Witchcraft Allegation In Lafia!

A ten-year-old boy (names withheld) was in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, set ablaze for allegedly being a witch.

The incident which took place on Shalele street, near Immaculate Primary School, Lafia-East, Lafia, caused the child to be hospitalized at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia.

The Nasarawa State Child Protection Network (CPN) which got wind of the incident has decided to take over the issue legally. The men who perpetrated the act - one Adamu and one Suleiman - were said to have gone to the boy’s house at about midnight when his parents were not around, put pepper in his eyes, poured petrol over his body and set him on fire.

The men took the action sequel to a complaint by Adamu’s wife that the boy appeared to her in a dream in the form of a lizard and attacked her. Although LEADERSHIP learnt that at the time of the incident, the parents of the boy were not at home as the father was reported to be ill and hospitalised in Wamba LGA of the state, the boy’s elder brother and aunt watched helplessly as the men engaged in their evil act.

Jonathan’s statement, admission of failure – Opposition parties

Opposition parties on Tuesday lashed out at President Goodluck Jonathan over his statement that he was the most criticised President in the world.
The two main opposition parties  –  the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change  – said Jonathan’s statement was an admittance  of failure.
The President had, at the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Monday, also said he was being blamed for the problems of the country, which he inherited from previous administrations.
The ACN, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the President’s statement as, “as an admission of failure, incompetence and unpreparedness to govern.”
The party said what it expected from the President were words that would inspire the citizenry, not demoralising statements.
It said, “Even in the face of imminent defeat and paralysing casualties, Winston Churchill was still able to inspire and rally his people to victory and faced with Cuban Missile crisis President J. F. Kennedy did not throw up his hands in despondency.
“Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan that the buck stops on his desk? Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan that an administration inherits both the assets and liabilities of his predecessor in office?”
The CPC, which spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, said the President  “came into office out of the expediency of regional balancing and by default, not necessarily out of sheer competence”.
The CPC stated, “In financial recklessness, it is unparalleled. In budgetary imprudence, it is unrivalled. In decadent administrative incompetence, it has unassailable lead over others.
“In paucity of ideological depth and initiative, it is the numero uno. In terms of clueless and blinkered understanding of statecraft, it is the champion.”
On her part, the president of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said Jonathan had created new problems for the country.
She said, “From whom did he inherit the N3trn subsidy scam? He should be more reflective before making public pronouncements.”

PUNCH

I achieved all my targets as President – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has scored his administration high, saying he achieved all that he set out to do as President between 1999 and 2007.

Obasanjo said this in Lagos on Tuesday after delivering a lecture titled, ‘Leadership foundation and underpinning’ as the guest speaker at the forum of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative.
He said after observing that Nigeria was at the precipice and under heavy debt, he focused on holding the country together, securing debt relief and improving the image of the country.
When asked if he had regrets concerning his two cycles of political leadership of the country, Obasanjo said, “When I was military Head of State, my main concern was how do we forge a united country and a self reliant country? So, the constitution was very important. We established a constitution that helped us to achieve that.
“When I came back in 1999, some people came to me and said I will be the last president of Nigeria. There were different groups at that time; there were the Egbesu Boys, the OPC and the Arewa. Some people thought the centre would not hold together. The need then again was how do we hold the people together and how do we pay off our debts?”
He added, “Nigeria was a pariah state, which nobody wanted to touch. But by the time we left, Nigeria was the darling of the world. So (for that) I don’t think there was anything I wanted to achieve that I didn’t achieve.”
He however admitted that his administration did not succeed in fixing the power sector, but blamed it on paucity of funds.

Source 

Ill luck responsible for Olympic failure – Chukwumerije

Team Nigeria captain at the London 2012 Olympics, Chika Chukwumerije, has blamed ill luck for his inability to win a medal in taekwondo at the Games, even as he insists he had the best preparation ahead of the event.
Nigeria, with a total of 53 athletes featuring in eight sports, had their worst outing in over two decades at the Olympics, equalling their performances at the 1980 and 1988 Games.
Chukwumerije, a Beijing 2008 bronze medallist, was one of the bright prospects in London before falling to his Cuban opponent, Robelis Despaigne. But he refused to shy away from the public, as the rest of the team, by explaining what was responsible for his failure.
“I’m deeply hurt by the results, and so are a 160 million Nigerians. There are no excuses to be given, no blames to be shared, and no escape from the trauma of dashed hopes,” the 28-year-old said told the press in Lagos on Tuesday.
“I am disheartened that my results fell short of the high expectations Nigerians rightly had of me and perhaps, a number of my teammates.  I make no excuses for the results.
“I trained long and hard for London 2012 Games using a programme initiated in 2005. The same program saw me conquer Africa and win a gold medal at the 2007 All-Africa Games. The programme saw me clinch an Olympic bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. That same programme helped me win a silver medal in the 2011 All-Africa Games, and qualified me for the London 2012 Olympics.
“I had the Olympics on my mind for four years, and I was ready for it. I prepared well but I ran into hard luck.”
Chukwumerije and his fellow taekwondoist, Isah Mohammed, were tutored by Korean coach Keum-si Hwan who was provided by the Korean Embassy in Nigeria. Despite the poor outing in London, Chukwumerije said the Korean remains the best coach to handle the athletes.
“I had the best training under the Korean coach. The preparation was on point. I would use him again if I had the chance but the decision to retain him will be with the National Sports Commission,” Chukwumerije said.
“I was better at the London Games than I was in Beijing; the coach should be given the credit for that.”

PUNCH

Doctor Arrested in Bauchi for Removing Patient’s Kidneys

Wonders, they say, shall never end especially in Nigeria. There has been a lot of talk in recent times about how the Nigerian government does not appreciate it’s human resources, thereby resulting in what has been described as massive “Brain Drain”. One of the sectors that suffer this so called brain drain is the medical sector. Recently, the Federal Ministry of Health decried the massive export of Nigerian medical personnel.
What could be responsible for this trend? Some believe they are not being appreciated in their home country. Easily, people will even cite examples like the recent showdown between the Lagos State Government – supposedly one of the most respected states in the country – and medical doctors in its employ. And this crisis is duplicated in various states all over the country.
It is against this background that one seeks an adequate explanation for what recently happened in Bauchi State where a medical Doctor, one Dr. Sani, the proprietor of Aminchi Clinic in Yakubu Wanka, Bauchi, was alleged to have removed the two kidneys his patient, one Abubakar Buba. Buba is currently lying critically ill in hospital on dialysis. It was gathered that he now needs about N7 million for kidney transplant to survive.
The 23-year-old Abubakar, it was gathered, fell ill and was taken to the clinic by his parents. His condition was said to have worsened after the doctor allegedly carried out an operation on him. The police in Bauchi State have since arrested the medical doctor.
 Source

Deadline on airport projects threatened as work drags

EVEN when everything, such as the slow pace of work and paucity of funds point to the fact that the December 2012 deadline for fixing 11 of the nation’s airports is no longer realistic, the Federal Government insists that the target will be met.
While it however admits that the task is daunting, the government says it is forging ahead with the projects to give Nigerians and other stakeholders in the aviation sector airports, which meet global standards.
When The Guardian visited some of the airports being re-modelled by the government at the cost of N14 billion, it discovered that except for the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, no significant progress had been made in the others.
The Ministry of Aviation, which initiated and oversees the projects, had set April 2012 for their completion but later shifted the deadline to December of the same year.
But four months to the new target, there are strong indications that the government’s plan to complete the work within the period is no longer certain.
Some senior officials of the Ministry of Aviation and its affiliate agencies who spoke with The Guardian on the ongoing work on the airports, said the decay in the facilities and in the industry was under-estimated by the government when the projects were initiated.
At the nation’s airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Yola, Owerri, Benin, Kaduna, Ilorin and Sokoto, the decay is pervasive and the same overhaul is planned for them.
Early this year, Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, who tagged the entire project as an “emergency measure,” had assured Nigerians that the airports’ repairs would be completed before last April.
The worst affected are the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and Port Harcourt, where work on the facilities is yet to reach 50 per cent level of completion.
The remodelling of the airports under the first phase as planned by the minister started in the third quarter of 2011, with the completion time set for six months.

Why I’m silent on national issues – Bankole

Barely 14 months after  the former Speaker of  House of Representatives,  Mr. Dimeji Bankole, left office, he has explained  the reason why he kept mum on national issues, saying he preferred to remain silent so as to ‘live long’. Bankole, who paid a visit to the Matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief H.I.D Awolowo, in her Ikenne home, yesterday, met secretly with her for 30 minutes.
He, however, declined comments when he was approached by newsmen who got the hint of his visit to Awolowo.
The former Speaker, who was clad in white Kaftan, white cap and black sandals, drove himself to Awolowo’s residence at 1. 18 p.m.
He was received by Mama Awolowo  in company of her daughter, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu.
He later went into a secret meeting that lasted about 30  minutes with the her.
Vanguard gathered that the meeting  might not be unconnected with the issues of unity among the Yoruba and the alleged marginalisation of the race by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The meeting also came  five days after a meeting was held under the aegis of  Yoruba Unity Forum, YUF,  at the same place where issues bordering  on the relegation of the race in the scheme of things in the country, among other things, were discussed.

Source

$620,000 subsidy bribe: Farouk returns from Saudi-Arabia, reports to police

Erstwhile chairman of the fuel subsidy probe panel of the House of Representatives who had been on an elongated visit to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, on Monday reported to the Police headquarters in Abuja to announce his return to the country and readiness to face the charges that would be preferred against him when the case comes up in court.
Farouk Lawan who was accused of collecting $620,000 as bribe from oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola was granted permission to travel for his religious obligation and given a specific time frame to return to the country.
Recall that Police authorities investigating bribery allegations against Lawan have since (four weeks ago) completed their investigations and sent the report of the investigation which sources said overwhelmingly indicted Lawan, to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for legal advice. The AGF’s office is, however, yet to take action on the report.

Opposition’ll fall into eight-year coma in October – Mimiko

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said on Tuesday that the support of the grassroots for the Labour Party would ensure his victory in the October 20 governorship election and send the opposition into electoral “coma” for eight years.
Mimiko, according to a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, stated this while addressing an LP stakeholders meeting in Akure.
The statement read in part, “By the time the election is over and the results are out, the opposition will experience a thunderbolt defeat. The Edo State election everybody is praising as peaceful and fair will be nothing compared to what will happen here.
“It is going to be a very peaceful and credible one man, one vote election. We are not planning just to beat them, but beat them silly to the extent that they won’t recover from that electoral coma in the next eight years.”
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has dismissed allegations that the party lacked internal democracy.

PUNCH

Tinubu named LAUTECH chancellor

The governments of Oyo and Osun States have appointed former Lagos State governor and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho.
This was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday by Dr. Festus Adedayo, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Media.
LAUTECH, a university jointly owned by the two states, was established by the old Oyo State in 1988.
According to the statement, the choice of Tinubu, a financial expert, accountant and administrator, and now author, was arrived at after extensive deliberations between the governments of the two owner-states.
The former Lagos State Governor is expected to bring his administrative  experience in public management to bear on the running of the institution and reposition it to meet the standard of its peers all over the world.
Culled: PM NEWS

N5000 Note: ‘Only Jonathan Can Stop Sanusi’

The president of the Nigerian Economic Society, Prof Akin Iwayemi, has said that until the Central Bank of Nigeria Act is amended, only a presidential directive can stop the apex bank from going ahead with the proposal to introduce N5,000 denomination into the economy next year. CBN indicated recently that it actually got the presidential directive, just as the Senate summoned the governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for clarification on the issue.
He observed that the law establishing CBN empowered it to undertake currency restructuring, in addition to issuance and management of the legal tender.
On whether the Senate overstepped its bounds, Iwayemi said, “the National Assembly has prerogative to make statements on their mandate. So, I cannot comment on that, but the CBN Act gives it the mandate that covers even this currency re-denomination except the Presidency stops it.’’
The economic expert also said that re-denomination of the currency in itself was not capable of inducing inflation.
He insisted “many people don’t understand the fundamentals of inflation and they ascribe so many things to the causal factors of inflation.

Why I Resigned as Minister of Power - Bart Nnaji Speaks

In a move aimed at salvaging the reform and privatisation programme of the power sector, President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday in Abuja accepted the resignation of one of the key members of his cabinet, Professor Bart Nnaji as Minister of Power, with immediate effect.

The president was said to have decided to accept the resignation, following Nnaji’s admission that companies linked to him had submitted bids for one of the successor companies created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

However, speaking to THISDAY Tuesday night on his decision to leave the cabinet, Nnaji said he opted to resign in order to save the privatisation and reform programme from those who might want to use ulterior motives to bring down the programme.

Couple Sends Bestman To Prison Over Wedding Suit

A  newly married woman, Mrs. Ify Anyanwu has arrested and charged to a Lagos court her husband’s bestman, Chris Abasuonu for assaulting her when she demanded  the suit he wore as her husband’s bestman during their wedding.
The 31- year old Chris was charged before Apapa Magistrate’s court where he was remanded in prison custody.
Trouble started between the couple and Chris on their wedding day.
P.M.NEWS learnt that Chris started demanding N11,000 from Ify’s husband, saying that was the amount he spent on sewing his suit for the wedding.
When the woman heard it, she felt embarrassed and shocked over Chris’ attitude just as the couple was settling down after the wedding.
She reportedly gave him the money and asked him to return the suit since he had collected  the money.
Though Chris said he collected the money, he did not return the suit.
According to Ify, after the wedding, Chris started telling neighbours that her husband borrowed money for their wedding.

15 Year Old Nigerian Girl Secures Admission to Study in Havard

 

15 year old Saheela Ibrahim (pictured above) was accepted into 13 schools, which included Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, University of Chicago, North Caroline, Pennsylvania, Cornell and 4 other Universities. She picked Harvard. She will be heading to the university this fall to study neurobiology or neuroscience. 

The high school senior at Wardlaw-Hartridge private school wasn't sure any university would want to admit a 15 year old, so she filled out applications to 14 schools with her grade point average (between a 96 and 97 on a 100-point scale) and her 2,340 SAT score (a perfect 800 on the math section, a 790 in writing and a 750 in reading). 13 schools accepted her, including six of the eight Ivy League schools.

 

Saheela will be among the youngest members of Harvard's freshman class.

Saheela wants to become a research scientist who studies how the brain works. She credits her parents with teaching her to love learning and work hard. Her father, Sarafa, an analyst and vice-president at a New York financial firm, would often study with her at night and home school her in subjects not taught at school. “I try my best in everything I do,” Saheela said. “Anyone who’s motivated can work wonders.”

Senate asks CBN to put N5000 note on hold

The Senate Committee on Banking and Finance has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to discontinue the planned introduction of the N5000 note pending the approval of the National Assembly.
The committee warned on Monday the decision may hurt the economy if pursued.
The CBN decision, announced on Thursday, has triggered reactions with many criticising the planned launch. Experts have said the measure will add no value to the economy.
Under the currency restructuring, N5000 will become Nigeria’s highest note while 20, 10, and 5 naira notes will be converted to coins. The remaining denominations are to be redesigned, the bank said.
At a media briefing on Monday, the committee chairman, Bassey Otu (Cross Rivers, South), said the Senate was not informed of the decision and no meetings have been held since its announcement.
“This type of action is only taken where there is a major crisis and the CBN must be very careful in order not to send a wrong signal or message to households, domestic sector and even the external ones that the Nigerian currency is valueless, which I believe it is definitely not; and that for every unit of value they need to carry a large quantity of cash,” the lawmaker said.

Source

Headgears and handbags banned in Catholic church in Enugu

ST. Theresa Catholic Cathedral, Nsukka, Enugu State yesterday Sunday August 26th, told their parishioners that from September 9th 2012, the church will no longer allow women with big head gears and handbags into the church premises. Only head scarfs and very small purses are allowed. What the church said below..

“Please, in view of the present security challenges, the church has urged women to stop coming to Sunday service with big headgears and bags to enable security men know when bomb will be smuggled into the church. The church has directed security men at the church gate to seize big head gears and bags from Sept. 9. This measure is aimed towards enhancing the security of the faithful during Sunday mass.”

FG to rebuild UN House with N2.6bn

One year after the bombing of United Nations office in the country, the Federal Government has committed N2.6 billion for the rebuilding of the UN House and also promised to refund $580,000 spent on treatment of victims.
Disclosing this at a memorial ceremony for the victims in Abuja yesterday, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who said the UN House bombing was a wake-up call to make Abuja a safe and secure capital city, assured that the government had risen up to the occasion.
He said: “Federal Government provided N3.2 billion to rehabilitate the UN House, made up of N2.6 billion to start rebuilding and N600 million for temporary accommodation.”
The Minister said Federal Government considered it paramount in its duty and responsibility to reconstruct the UN building.
He assured the UN and the international community of a safe environment to carry on their businesses as special security arrangements had been made to secure the city.
Senator Mohammed also revealed that the Nigeria government was ready to refund the $580,000 medical cost of overseas treatment expended on non-UN staff, which was borne by the UN.
On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, reiterated Federal Government’s determination ‘to handle terrorism head-on.’
Ashiru said: “Terrorism is a crime against humanity. We stand as one with the UN and the international community to condemn the act.”

Source

I am the world’s most criticised president – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said he was the most criticised President in the whole world and vowed to become the most praised before he left office.

Jonathan however absolved himself of any blame for the country’s problems for which he said he had become an object of criticism.

“I think I am the most criticised President in the whole world, but I want to tell this audience that before I leave I will be the most praised President,” he said at the opening of the 52nd Annual General of the Nigerian Bar Association at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

He added, “Sometimes, I ask, were there roads in this country and Jonathan brought flood to destroy the roads?

“Was there power and Jonathan brought hurricane to wipe it out?

“If Boko Haram is that of poverty in the North, were there farms and Jonathan brought tsunami and drought to destroy them? Within two years – is that possible?

“But what I can tell Nigerians is, ‘let those talking keep talking, time will tell.’”

The keynote speaker at the event, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, had earlier picked holes in the 1999 Constitution and said the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was the most powerful President in the world.

Kukah also said a messiah was needed in the country, but he emphasised that the identity of the messiah was still unknown.

Pastor Adeboye Advises Single Ladies

Pastor Adeboye

The Popular Man of God, Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, gave the most important advise to all single ladies. Infact, this advise is not for just single ladies alone but for single men also.

"Those of you who go to your pastor to pray for you and tell you who to marry, if care is not taken, you will become a victim of lies. You are simply lazy. No pastor or prophet should tell you who to marry.

They are to pray along with you, counsel and guide you using the Word of God. If you fail to pay the price to hear from God on that matter, you may be deceived. God can use your pastor or a genuine prophet of God to confirm what He had already told you.

Many homes have been established on falsehood and that is why things are falling apart ad the center can no longer hold. Some pastors are seriously into match-making.They have taken over from the Holy Spirit. Match-making remains God’s prerogative and He has not delegated it to any pastor."

Lagos installs road signs, cautions cyclists

THE Lagos State government has commenced the installation of 15,000 road signs as part of measures to ensure the successful implementation of the state traffic law.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, explained yesterday that the road signs were in addition to the existing 10,000 traffic signs currently “adorning major roads and highways in the state.”  He explained that installation of the roads signs would enable road users to be more conversant with the signs and their significance.
According to Opeifa, the signs would also assist road users to know the various restricted routes for motorcycles and tricycles, designated bus stops, no parking, no trading, no waiting, no u-turn and no entry zones to mention just a few.
The commissioner also advised Lagosians and visitors in the state to be conscious of traffic signs whenever they drive “as these would further guide them on how to drive safely and make proper use of the roads.”