APC presidential ticket: North woos Danjuma

The newly registered All Progressives Congress has begun moves to  draft  a former Minister of Defence (retd.), General Theophilus Danjuma,  into the 2015 presidential election race, Saturday PUNCHhas learnt.
It was learnt that the North had foreclosed the possibility of getting the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential ticket with President Goodluck Jonathan’s grip on the party.
Investigations showed that the North had shifted its focus to the newly registered APC.
A source familiar with the permutations of the northerners confided in our correspondent that the region was desperately looking for a candidate, who could unite its people, who had been divided by religions.
He said, “Unlike in the First Republic when the late Saudana of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, was around, the North is divided. Some northern leaders reason that as part of efforts to reunite the region, Muslims must be ready to concede the Presidency to the Christian North. We are zeroing in on T.Y.Danjuma.”
It was, however, gathered in Abuja, on Thursday, that a final decision had yet to be taken because consultations were still on-going.

Rivers crisis: Amaechi gives Jonathan condition for peace

There are indications that the political crisis in Rivers State may linger following the condition given to President Goodluck Jonathan by the State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi, who had visited the President in Aso Villa Friday last week, had gone into a brief meeting with Jonathan with a view to resolving the crisis rocking the state, including the dwindling security situation in the state.
An impeccable source had told Saturday PUNCH that one of the conditions given to President Jonathan by the state governor was the sacking of the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
The governor, according to the source, who is a stakeholder of the PDP in Rivers State, had expressed his discomfort over Wike’s overbearing attitude in the state.

16 contestants enters MTN project fame season 6 academy

16 contestants out of a wide pool of potentially famous young music talents across West Africa has been ushered into this year’s MTN Project Fame performance Academy where they will live throughout the duration of the reality TV show competition.
The selection of these lucky contestants which took place at the Ultima Studios in Lagos last week-end was witnessed by Veteran Nollywood artiste, Olu Jacobs, amongst other industry giants, spanning telecommunications, oil and gas, manufacturing and media, who were proud to identify with the development in the project.

Jonathan lacks focus – Osoba blasts

A call has gone to the Federal Government to use good governance, social security, economic prosperity in the atmosphere of peace, and security for life and property as instruments to burnish Nigeria’s unflattering image among the comity of nations.
Journalism icon, and former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, who made this call in an exclusive interview with Saturday Sun during the week, said accountable governance and security would polish Nigeria’s image and make the country to dazzle in the comity of nations.

APC To Meet Tuesday On Membership Registration

The Interim National Executive Committee of the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to hold its inaugural meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
Sources close to the party’s hierarchy told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the main agenda of the meeting would be the modalities to be put in place to ensure mass registration of members into the party across the country.
The sources who pleaded not to be mentioned in a telephone interview stated that the meeting was called by stakeholders in the new party who stated that the move was aimed at sustaining the momentum gained so far in the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
Also, the sources stated that the move is as a result of the need to follow up on the visitation of some select members of the new party to some notable Nigerian leaders who were said to have shown soft spot for APC.
“The Interim National Executive of the party is expected to hold its inaugural meeting on Tuesday,” one of the sources told our correspondent in a telephone interview but refrained from divulging information on the agenda.
Another source close to the leadership of the new party however stated that the meeting “would workout modalities for the registration of members into the party and it will it also discuss some other issues that I am not willing to tell you now.”
LEADERSHIP

Wazirin Kano Dies At 88

A Kano-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Isah Waziri, who held the exalted traditional title of “Wazirin Kano”, is dead.
He passed on yesterday during a brief illness at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and was buried according to Islamic rites. The funeral prayer for the octogenarian was held at the Galadanchi Mosque at Kano Emir’s palace ground (Kofar Kudu) and was buried at Gidan Gona cemetery. He is survived by three wives and 22 children.
Until his death, Waziri served as Sharia Court judge, school teacher, imam and “Wazirin Kano”, a senior adviser to Kano emir.
At the funeral prayers, the Imam of Kofar Mata Mosque, Ustaz Muhammad Nasir Adam, described Isa Waziri’s death as painful because “a prominent scholar has gone”.
Another Islamic scholar, Ustaz Tijjani Bala Kalarawi, said that Isa Waziri died at a time the Muslim community needs his teaching for unity in Islam.
A close associate of the deceased, Alhaji Kabiru Usman Sanka, prayed Almighty Allah to give him eternal rest.
The deceased was the Imam of the Murtala Muhammed Jummat Mosque and became the Chief Imam of Kano and Wazirin Kano.
Source

LG Autonomy: Governors To Lose Control Of N2tr Yearly

Governors of the 36 states of the federation may lose control of over N2.2 trillion revenue, which accrues to the 774 local government areas (LGAs) and oil-producing communities from the Federation Account yearly, if the planned autonomy for LGAs and the clamour for direct payment of the 13 per cent derivation funds to oil-producing areas is actualised.
In the last one year alone, all the state governors have controlled an estimated N1.53 trillion revenue, being the LGAs’ share of allocation from the Federation Account. Each month, billions of naira are paid directly to the states instead of the councils, data gathered by LEADERHSIP Weekend have shown.
In addition, the governors of oil-producing states have been controlling more than N565.86 billion paid to them as the 13 per cent derivation funds, rather than the oil-producing areas as stipulated in the country’s constitution.

ASUU strike will end in 2 weeks – Gov. Suswam

The ongoing strike by university lecturers may be called off in two weeks when the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities should have reached an agreement, the Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has said.
Mr. Suswam stated this when addressing journalists after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.
The Benue Governor, who chairs the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) assessment implementation committee for universities, said his committee recommended projects worth an initial N1 billion in the universities, which President Goodluck Jonathan will flag off between now and September.

Miss Africa contestant found stabbed to death next to her daughter

Model & former Miss Africa contestant, 29 year old Linah Keza was stabbed to death on Wednesday July 31st in her home in front of her 3 year old daughter, Holly.


Neighbours who responded to her call for help found the Rwanda-born model in a pool of blood in her London flat next to her crying daughter.
Linah's off/on boyfriend and father of her child, club promoter David Kikawa, 38, (pictured above with Linah) has been arrested in connection with her death. According to neighbours, David was a regular visitor at her flat until about two weeks ago. They told police he was jealous and possessive and frequently fought with Linah.
Linah's home had a panic button fixed when she alerted the police about cases of domestic violence. Sad. RIP, Linah!

Lindaikeji

Aliyu, Lamido, others have hidden agenda –Presidency

Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako

The Presidency on Thursday accused the five northern governors currently on consultation visits to elder statesmen across the country of harbouring a secret agenda.

It said the agenda of the governors – Aliyu Babangida (Niger); Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) – was beyond the professed desire to resolve the crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the People Democratic Party.

“These governors have their own agenda. They have already set the agenda long before now. They are just using the Rivers State scenario as an excuse. Whatever the agenda is, they know and God knows, but this continued move and perambulation show that there are things they are not telling us,” Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told journalists in Abuja.

Woman beats three-year-old girl to death for vomitting

Rebecca and the dead child

A 21-year-old woman, Rebecca Bassey, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly beating her husband’s three-year-old niece, Deborah Bassey, to death.

According to police authorities, the suspect beat up the girl because she vomited and defecated on herself.

A police source told PUNCH Metro on Thursday  that the incident occurred at Ijaiye Ojokoro area of the state on July 22, 2013.

He said, “The victim (Deborah) lost her mother in 2010. Early this year, Deborah’s father was evicted from his home and he decided to send Deborah and his second child to go and stay with his brother, Vincent, until he settles down.

“Deborah and her nine-year-old sister were living with Vincent and his wife, Rebecca, in a one-room apartment at Powerline, Jankara, Ijaiye Ojokoro. However, Rebecca was always maltreating the two children.”

I’m Not A Child - Osita 'Pawpaw' Iheme Cries Out

I’m Not A Child- Osita Iheme Cries Out! Size, to Osita Iheme, the midget actor, is nothing; but image. The Nollywood actor popularly called Pawpaw frowned at people who see him as a small boy. Recently, in one of his interviews, Osita bemoaned how people viewed him.

He expressed his disappointment about people seeing him as a child, hear him, “If you are a child in a drama, in real life you are not a child. You don’t need to behave like a child. Yes, a lot of people mistake me for a child in real life, but that is their problem. I am not a child. I don’t think I look like a child. I don’t allow that to bother me because I am not seeing it.

Why I Deal Mercilessly With Nigerian Policemen – Notorious Robber Speaks

A most wanted armed robbery leader, Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka Abbey Godogodo, who has been terrorising the South-West of Nigeria for years, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

Speaking on our a became a criminal, Godogodo said: 

"[When I was young] I was charged for fighting; I spent about seven years in prison. My prolonged stay in prison for minor crime of fighting hardened me and I vowed to pay back the police for that injustice. After I was released, I went to Katangowa in Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos to meet my friend, Odun.

“I started robbery in 1996 but in 1999... 

"Odun was an armed robber, so, we started operating together. We worked with several gangs and I invested lots of my money in arms buying. I also built five houses in Ifo, Ilaro, Ikorodu and Ibadan. I usually kill policemen and take their rifles because policemen have killed several of my boys and taken most of my rifles from them.

I’m Not A Child - Osita 'Pawpaw' Iheme Cries Out

I’m Not A Child- Osita Iheme Cries Out! Size, to Osita Iheme, the midget actor, is nothing; but image. The Nollywood actor popularly called Pawpaw frowned at people who see him as a small boy. Recently, in one of his interviews, Osita bemoaned how people viewed him.

He expressed his disappointment about people seeing him as a child, hear him, “If you are a child in a drama, in real life you are not a child. You don’t need to behave like a child. Yes, a lot of people mistake me for a child in real life, but that is their problem. I am not a child. I don’t think I look like a child. I don’t allow that to bother me because I am not seeing it.

FEC meeting: Jonathan fails to announce cabinet shake-up

Relief came the way of ministers on Friday as President Goodluck Jonathan failed to effect a cabinet shake-up as widely speculated.

Fear of cabinet shake-up had on Thursday gripped many ministers as Jonathan convened an emergency Federal Executive Council meeting.
The emergency meeting however discussed the Federal Government’s medium-term fiscal framework for 2014-2016 appropriation years.

Fresh Pregnancy Rumour Trails Actress Omotola

For the second time in two years, star actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, is being trailed by the rumour of pregnancy. The sexy star actress was at the 2013 edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant which held in Bayelsa State two weeks ago. That was where gist merchants said Omotola was noticed carrying herself like a five- months old pregnant woman.
Those who should know said that what triggered the February 2012 rumour was the star actress’ unusual jutting tummy.
Some close friends, however, came to Omo Sexy’s defence, saying the state of her tummy was natural. A particular source squealed that the actress for a long time has been known to love wearing a strap around her tummy in order to maintain her trim figure.
At the Bayelsa event, Omotola was said to have had a little difficulty adjusting her dress when called upon by the Master of Ceremony to mount the stage with the State’s governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson to make some announcements.
Omotola was 35 years old in February 2013 and has four children for her husband. She is believed to have been pregnant with her 5^th baby based on this latest speculation.

Source

Plot To Impeach Gov. Nyako Thickens

Except the situation changes, a reminiscent of what transpired during the war between former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar is about to repeat itself in Adamawa State.
It would be recalled that during the tug of war between Chief Obasanjo and Alhaji Atiku, the former in conjunction with some powerful politicians in and outside the state used Governor Muritala Nyako to destabilize and uproot the political structure of Atiku in Adamawa State. Few years down the line, Governor Nyako is perhaps, about to find himself in the same shoes if information at our disposal is anything to consider.
Governor Nyako who has been having a running battle with the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is also said not to be having it smooth with his deputy, Ngillary, though, the two parties have variously denied existence of disagreement between them.

Malawian President Kneels Down to Greet Fellow President

Malawian President, Joyce Banda was named by Forbes as the 71st most powerful woman in the world in 2012 and named the 47th in 2013. She was seen at a recent official function with Tanzanian President where she knelt down to greet him. How would you describe this?

2015 Election ATIKU ABUBAKAR MAY JOIN APC

As the 2015 general election is fast approaching, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) is seriously considering a move to join the progressives  after the merger of three major parties- Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN),  Congress For Progressives Change (CPC) and All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) to form the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Atiku, whom we gathered has been making moves to get back into the decision making of PDP may announce his membership of APC. The source went further to disclose that Atiku has been having meetings with some Northern leaders including former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who have both been excluded from PDP activities because of their perceived power to hijack the structure of the party.  We gathered that, the former VP and other Northern leaders have been clamouring for power shift to the north in 2015 in spite of the fact that President Jonathan has indicated his intention to re-contest in 2015 election. Information has it that, the recent face-off among some Northern PDP Governors could also be traced to Atiku’s caucus in the PDP, all in his efforts to remain relevant in PDP or join another party to actualize the dream of the north in 2015. Meanwhile, the APC has indicated that its presidential candidate will come from the north in order to appease the aggrieved northern politicians. We gathered that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may join the APC to carry the party’s flag coupled with the fact that he has been a close friend of National Leader of ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Queen Salawa Abeni's daughter Candy engaged to Bashir Omotayo

Aminat Okikiola Ilori, aka Candy, the first daughter of Waka legend Queen Salawa Abeni and Kollington Ayinla, is engaged to her business man beau, Bashir Omotayo.

Candy said yes to Bashir's proposal on Sunday 28th July, 2013 in Lagos. There are speculations that they are planning to get married in September but Candy has cleared the air...

"No am not getting married in September, I just got engaged and the formalities will be done before the end of the year", she went on to say "I love him so much, and really I wasn't meant to say Yes to someone else but him. Lol. He is the one"

Candy runs an entertainment outfit called Candiva Signature Empire, and she's currently working on a reality TV show due to air in September 2013. Congrats to them.

Brazil 2014: Malawi ‘ll fall in Calabar

The Nigeria Football Federation has asked Nigerians not to panic following the widely publicised plot by Malawian coaches to help their national football team, the Flames bring down the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the last group match of the 2014 World Cup qualifier on September 6, in Calabar.
The First Vice President of the NFF, Chief Mike Umeh described the reported meeting of Malawi national team coach, Tom Saintfiet with other coaches in Blantyre last week as “a mere propaganda,” adding that, “we have nothing to fear because we will be playing on our soil.”
IVORY COAST, Abidjan : Ivory Coast’s forward Koelly Kevin Zougoula (R) vies for the ball with Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim (C) and Solomon Kwambe (L) during the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying football match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria on July 27, 2013 at the Robert-Champroux Stadium in Abidjan. Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2 – 0.
He said, “What they are doing is mind games and we are up for it. Remember, we will be playing in Calabar. We have never lost a match in Calabar, so I don’t see how we will start with Malawi who held us to a draw with a late equaliser in their own home.”
Umeh dismissed as “untrue” insinuations that Saintfiet whose employment as technical director by the NFF was scuttled in the last minute was out for a vengeful mission against Nigeria.
“No. He cannot do that because he has to keep faith. Who says he cannot be employed tomorrow? Look at Keshi who is in charge of the Super Eagles today; he had been turned down before. So, Saintfiet cannot think that way. Even if he does, he is only a coach who will pass instructions. He won’t do the playing.”
Umeh assured that the Eagles will soar over the Flames because the Stephen Keshi-tutored team was superior to their Malawi counterparts. “We are African champions and will ensure we get the right result.”

Culled: Vanguard

‘I fell ill after seeing my brother’s corpse’

L-R: Late Ifechukwude; dad; mum; and Gideon

Gideon Nwainokpor, the younger brother, of a 25-year-old undergraduate, who was lynched in Badagry area of Lagos State on July 21, 2013, told PUNCH Metro that he fell ill after  seeing the brutalised corpse of his brother in the mortuary.
PUNCH Metro had reported on Wednesday that two youths, Ifechukwude Nwainokpor, and one Kazeem, were allegedly lynched by hoodlums and policemen in Ajara area of Badagry.
Gideon, 20, told our correspondent, who visited his parents’ home in Badagry, that life would no longer be the same as he had now become the only child of his parents.
He said, “I am a chorister in my church and on that particular day, I was in the studio when I received a phone call from my aunt that my brother and another person were being beaten up at Ajara.

‘I fell ill after seeing my brother’s corpse’

L-R: Late Ifechukwude; dad; mum; and Gideon

Gideon Nwainokpor, the younger brother, of a 25-year-old undergraduate, who was lynched in Badagry area of Lagos State on July 21, 2013, told PUNCH Metro that he fell ill after  seeing the brutalised corpse of his brother in the mortuary.
PUNCH Metro had reported on Wednesday that two youths, Ifechukwude Nwainokpor, and one Kazeem, were allegedly lynched by hoodlums and policemen in Ajara area of Badagry.
Gideon, 20, told our correspondent, who visited his parents’ home in Badagry, that life would no longer be the same as he had now become the only child of his parents.
He said, “I am a chorister in my church and on that particular day, I was in the studio when I received a phone call from my aunt that my brother and another person were being beaten up at Ajara.

‘I fell ill after seeing my brother’s corpse’

L-R: Late Ifechukwude; dad; mum; and Gideon

Gideon Nwainokpor, the younger brother, of a 25-year-old undergraduate, who was lynched in Badagry area of Lagos State on July 21, 2013, told PUNCH Metro that he fell ill after  seeing the brutalised corpse of his brother in the mortuary.
PUNCH Metro had reported on Wednesday that two youths, Ifechukwude Nwainokpor, and one Kazeem, were allegedly lynched by hoodlums and policemen in Ajara area of Badagry.
Gideon, 20, told our correspondent, who visited his parents’ home in Badagry, that life would no longer be the same as he had now become the only child of his parents.
He said, “I am a chorister in my church and on that particular day, I was in the studio when I received a phone call from my aunt that my brother and another person were being beaten up at Ajara.

RIVERS CRISIS: Gowon, former Zambian President, others to intervene

A former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; a former United Nations Secretary-General, Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali; and a former Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda, are among eminent Africans that will intervene in the current political impasse in Rivers State.
The Secretary of the Akasoba Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Jen Clarence, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
Clarence said the intervention was at the instance of the Akasoba of Kalabari and Chair of ACPCR, Queen Akasoba Duke-Abiola.

Don’t register APC, rival APC warns INEC

Chekwas Okorie, Olisa Metuh Lai Mohammed,and Shettima Yerima

24 hours to legal deadline for its registration, the African Progressive Congress, a phantom APC, has again warned the Independent National Electoral Commission not to register the All Progressives Congress as the legal consequences can create electoral anarchy if eventually the association won its case against the commission.

Reacting to reports and threats of violence by the rival APC, the National Legal Adviser of the African Progressive Congress, Barrister Nnadi Kinglesy stated that the association‘s case against INEC is very strong and that ongoing legal hearing is already confirming the merit of the substantive suit against the commission.

NGF CHAIRMAN: Jonathan drops Jang, accepts Amaechi

Four days after a peace meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and some governors who have been up in arms against him, indications have emerged that he (Jonathan) may accept the outcome of the May 24 election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), LEADERSHIP has learnt.
However, the governors have also reportedly made a commitment to the president that the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who won the NGF election would be compelled to apologise to the president.
The apology commitment, LEADERSHIP gathered, was as a result of the strong exceptions President Jonathan took to some disparaging remarks Governor Amaechi personally made against his (Jonathan) person in the course of the debacle.

PDP in final push to expel Amaechi

Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has now taken concrete steps aimed at pushing out Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, from the party with the announcement on Monday of the composition of its National Disciplinary Committee.
The committee is populated by loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The seven-man panel is headed by Umaru Dikko as Chairman, while Emmanuel Agboti is to serve as Secretary.
The other members are King Amalete Jonny Turner as Deputy Chairman, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Shuaibu Oyedokun, Nana Ayishat Kadiri and Hussaini Diraki.

"I support the Underage marriage law because Nigerian men are already rapists-Kemi Olunloyo

The controversial Kemi who has declared her intention to run for Governor of Oyo state come 1015, posted this on her blog..Read Below

"I support the UNDERAGE marriage LAW but encourage any girl to say NO if they don't want to marry...YET!
Nigerians please start pushing the GAY marriage out too and get your wish and stop being cowards.
IF YOU PUT MARRIAGE BILLS ON THE 2015 BALLOT LIKE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES DO, I'LL BE HAPPY.

Okorocha joined APC to save Igbo – APGA Chair

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, because of the current political reality in the country which does not favour the Igbo.
The state Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Marshall Okafor Anyanwu, said this in Owerri, the state capital. Anyanwu explained that the decision to join other progressives to form APC was taken in the best interest of the people of the South-East zone.
The chairman argued that the decision did not mean that APGA would cease to exist. He said: “This doesn’t mean that APGA has stopped to exist as a political party, it will remain an identity of the Igbo.”
Anyanwu added that there was need to consult wide and seek collaboration of Nigerians sympathetic to the cause of our Igbo.