PDP losing weight to gain strength - Maku

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said on Wednesday that the defection of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to All Progressives Congress (APC) was a blessing in disguise.

Maku, who spoke to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, said that the defection would strengthen the PDP in the long run.
"No party would be happy to lose its members to any other party, but I have always made a point that sometimes, you need to lose weight to gain strength.
"This is exactly what has happened in PDP because when a number of these people are leaving, the party will be healthier in the long run.
"If you look at all those who had left the party, some of them are those that have caused all the headaches in PDP.

Chelsea can win league title, Hazard insists

Eden Hazard is confident Chelsea have the qualities to win the Premier League title following the 1-0 victory at Manchester City.

Chelsea ended City’s 100 per cent home record in the league this season on Monday after Branislav Ivanovic’s first-half goal moved Jose Mourinho’s side level on points with their opponents.

Though Mourinho has played down Chelsea’s title chances in his first season back in charge at Stamford Bridge, the Blues sit just two points behind leaders Arsenal.

Hazard, who has been Chelsea’s star performer in recent weeks, praised the performance at the Etihad Stadium and is determined to keep his team in the fight for the title.

Two men rape eight-year-old girl to death

PUNCH NG - Eight-year-old (name withheld), a primary three pupil of Christian Victory Nursery/Primary School, Ikot Ekang, in Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, has been raped to death by two unknown men.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on Tuesday between 6.45pm and 7.30pm, when her maternal grandfather, Mr. Enobong Wilson, sent her to a nearby store.

The girl was said to have moved to Wilson house when her father, Mr. Udo Jimmy, died late last year. It was gathered that Udo’s burial arrangement has been fixed on March 8, 2014.

The Head Teacher of the school, Mr. Ufok Tommy, said when the girl did not return from the errand her maternal grandfather sent her, the man became anxious about her whereabouts.

He stated that after a long search for her in the night, they thought Emediong had gone to her father compound to see her other relations.

Tension rises in Senate

The Senate for the second time in two days held an executive session  on Wednesday because of  the fear that an open deliberation  on the defection bid of the 11 Peoples Democratic Party senators to the All Progressives Congress could generate tension.

But tension still played out as the aggrieved senators and their APC counterparts  left   angrily immediately the session which lasted about two hours ended.

The action of the  senators , who were led by Senator Magnus Abe,  was considered ‘strange,’ going by the fact that the Senate President, David Mark,  was usually allowed to  leave the chamber  before  other lawmakers.

A meeting between  Mark and  the aggrieved senators on Tuesday night over the issue had ended inconclusively.

Our correspondent learnt that the  intention of the aggrieved  senators    was to brief  journalists about what transpired  during the executive session.

First Bank marks 120th Anniversary...Unveils New Logo

FBN Holdings PLC popularly known as First Bank recently unveiled a new corporate identity (logo) as part of her 120^th Anniversary celebrations.

The new logo didn’t lose the iconic Elephant symbol but rather refreshed it in a number of ways. The raised head of the elephant is a promise to all customers that with First Bank in your corner, every financial challenge you face, you can face with your head held high.

WAEC Introduces 39 new subjects in the Syllabus

Plumbing and Fitting, Photography, Salesmanship, Upholstery, Painting and Interior decoration are amongst 39 subjects recently added to the examination syllabus of The West African Examination Council, WAEC by the examination body.
Of the 39 subjects, four of them, Computer Studies, Insurance, Store Management & Office Practice would serve as electives while the remaining 35 are for Trade-related courses.
Revealing this, the Council’s Acting Head, Test Development Division, Mrs. Olayinka Ajibade said the recent introductions were in line with the Nigerian Education Research & Development Council’s new secondary school curriculum.
Ajibade said the new syllabus would take effect from this year’s May/June WASSCE Examinations and students would be required to take four core subjects which would include English Language, General Mathematics, Civic Education and Trade/ Entrepreneurial Studies

Source

‘We get mad at each other 10 times a day’- Olu and Joke Jacobs

Mr. Olu Jacobs and his wife, Joke, are top artistes. Inside their home, it is not all the time a bed of roses.  They share their happy and challenging times in this piece.

Marriage has been good, it has been wonderful.
How I met my husband
I met him at the National Theatre while we were rehearsing for Jero’s Metamorphosis by Professor Wole Soyinka in 1981. I was to play Sister Rubeka  and he was playing the role of Prophet Jero and, at the same time co-directing the play. That was where we met.
What happened when I met him
People  had been talking about him before I arrived the country because he was based in the UK at that time.  Everybody was talking about him, especially Miss Ene, the then Artistic Director of the National Theatre and Dr. Ashiwaju. They had met in England and I guess he would have been the Chiwetel Ejiofor of that time. Just as what Chiwetel is to this present generation, so he was then.

Obasanjo, Buhari, Amaechi shun council of state meeting

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State were among members of the National Council of State who were absent as the council’s meeting started at the Presidential Villa, Abuja at about 10.50am.

Three former military leaders, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) and Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar (retd.), as well as former President Sheu Shagari and Chief Ernest Shonekan, however attended the meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwwal, and four former Chief Justices of the Federation are in attendance.
The council which has Vice President Namadi Sambo as the deputy chairman has all former Presidents and Heads of Government, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; all the 36 state governors and the Attorney-General of the Federation as members.
The meeting is still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

PUNCH NG

Mbu bans political rallies in Rivers

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, on Monday placed a ban on rallies in the state.

Mbu, who said the decision was based on the increasing political tension in the state, specifically said the ban affected political rallies.

Before the outright ban, the CP had directed that those holding rallies in the state should apply for permission from the police.

He also prohibited activities involving the Grassroots Development Initiative, Save Rivers Movement, and the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation.

A statement signed by the state police command’s spokesman, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad read, “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that as a result of increasing political tension in the state, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, has banned all political rallies in the state under whatever coloration or name.