Enugu Gov. Chime Abandons Meat And Wine Over Ill-Health

Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime’s health may have improved, going by his leaving the Indian hospital where he was reportedly rushed to after suffering an illness. What has not really improved is the fair-skinned governor’s state of health, in spite of the foregoing fact.
While his stay abroad lasted, however, wild rumours trailed his state of health.
Before he returned to Nigeria from the hospital, he was even rumoured to have died. But his return a few weeks back put paid to the rumour, as the governor himself revealed he was treated for cancer in the neck.
Meanwhile, the governor is believed to have been warned against eating red meat and consuming alcohol by the foreign doctors.
A privileged insider told this magazine that, Governor Chime, at the last Nigeria Governor’s Forum meeting in Abuja, the State’s chief security officers were served choice wine and food. But when others were doing justice to theirs’, Governor Chime declined eating.
A South-South governor who was said to have noticed Chime’s comportment reportedly asked why he would not touch the food and wine but drinking just water.
The simple answer Governor Chime reportedly gave was, “do you want me to die young?”

Source

I’m Old Enough To Be Amaechi’s Father, Says Jang

The war of words between foremost contenders to the chairmanship position of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) continued yesterday with Plateau state Governor Jonah Jang declaring that he cannot be seen to be contending a position with his Rivers state counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, who he called his son.
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the dinner organised by President Goodluck Jonathan to celebrate his mid-term in office, Jang said he is old enough to be Amaechi’s father.
“Amaechi is my younger brother, infact, I can say son because if you look at Amaechi’s age, I’m old enough to be his father” he said.
On a statement credited to Mr Amaechi that he won the NGF election by 19 votes to 16, Jang indicated indifference as he responded, “Well, that is his problem but I know that I am the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.”
Since the controversial May 24^th election of the NGF, Jang and Amaechi have both laid claim to the chairmanship of the Forum with their tussle splitting the NGF into two factions.

Pastor Adeboye, Governor Suswan Visit Suntai In New York

Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai who is recovering from grave injuries sustained in a plane crash should be able to resume his duties very soon, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State declared yesterday, referring to him as a living miracle.
Suswam also confirmed that Suntai spoke with Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday in his presence. Suswam visited Suntai in New York, United States where he is recuperating following last October’s air crash of a private plane that he was piloting.
He also confirmed that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God also visited Suntai same Tuesday.
Governor Suswam who was accompanied by his wife, Yemisi during his visit to Suntai, dismissed reports that Suntai was unable to recognize friends and family, saying that Suntai recognsied and called his wife by her name.

You can’t see Jonathan, guards tell Amaechi

It would have been an opportunity to mend fences – they are widely perceived to harbour some differences.
But, Wednesday’s “mid-term dinner for transformation team” at the Presidential Villa was for President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi a missed opportunity to pump hands and flash some smiles.
Amaechi entered the venue of the dinner and went straight to the President’s table – apparently to exchange pleasantries. He almost got to the President when a group of security aides blocked his way, fencing him.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman was unruffled. He went to take his seat.
A source confirmed yesterday that a security operative blocked Amaechi because of “a protocol breach”.
There was anxiety in the governor’s camp following alleged mumbling of some words by the operative.
A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The governor meant well in trying to meet with the President as a sign of deference to the nation’s leader.”

Actress Laide Bakare Dares Estranged Husband

Nollywood actress, Laide Bakare, has finally spoken out on the ongoing separation saga between her and estranged husband, Olumide Okunfulire, saying that she was duly married to businessman, Mr. Tunde Oriowo a.k.a. ATM.
The thespian performer, who forwarded us pictures of her reported Nikkah engagement to the new lover which held quietly in Lagos recently, added that, as the pictures show, at the time of the secret marriage, she was carrying Mr. Oriowo’s baby at the time.
Speaking from her U.S. base, the actress stated that, with the foregoing evidence, there is no mistaking who the father of her new baby is.
Olumide Okunfulire had, reacting to Laide’s public announcement of her new marriage in a media interview, threatened her estranged wife with arrest, claiming among other things that the U.S. court was yet to annul his union with the actress, therefore her decision to engage another man as husband, was foul of the American matrimony law.

I can’t shoot Amaechi for leading protest —CP

RIVERS State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, has said he will not shoot the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, if he (governor) eventually embarks on a planned protest in the state.
Mbu was reacting to Amaechi’s insistence to embark on a protest over the security situation in the state and the ban placed on all forms of demonstration by the state police commissioner.
Amaechi had dared the state police commissioner to shoot him, adding that he was ready to lead the proposed protest in the state against the Federal Government and Mbu.
But Mbu, who spoke at the state Police Command in Port Harcourt on Thursday while displaying a cache of arms and ammunition recovered by his men, said it was not possible for him to shoot a governor during a protest.
On Amaechi’s insistence to mobilise the people for a protest, he said the government was not contemplating such an action.
Explaining that though the ban on processions, rallies and demonstrations was still in force, Mbu described Amaechi as his boss and would not disrespect him.
The CP said, “How can I shoot my governor? It is not possible for me to do that. The state governor is my friend and my boss. The governor is the chief executive of the state, and I am his 2-I-C.
“On the planned protest by the governor, I know His Excellency is not thinking towards that direction, and we won’t discuss that now until then.”
He, however, accused the media of exaggerating what he said on the political crisis affecting the state.
Culled: Punchng

P-Square, Jude Okoye Gives OJB Jezreel N5m For Kidney Transplant

The music group comprising the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye, along with their elder brother and manager, Jude Okoye have donated the sum of N5million to the ailing music producer-cum-singer, OJB Jezreel for his kidney transplant.

The talented and rich music group gave out the amount as part of the N16million needed by OJB Jezreel to undergo the treatment.

OJB Jezreel, according to recent reports, has about eight to 10 weeks to undergo the kidney transplant.

NSC, NFF insist on $5,000 bonus for Eagles

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi

Officials of the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation have teamed up to take a stand on the Super Eagles’ match bonuses. The PUNCH learnt from very high levels in both organisations that the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil would be the last competition where the players would get the contentious $10,000 each for winning a game.

An official of the NSC, who spoke with our correspondent, lamented that neither the NSC nor the NFF could afford to continue sourcing for funds to meet with the $10,000 demand for each player and $20,000 for their coach Stephen Keshi who gets double what the players get for such. He however noted that a meeting has been scheduled for the coach and players’ representative to cordially sort out their differences on the matter.

Ajaokuta power plant to begin operation soon – FG

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Sada

Efforts are on to put into operation the thermal power plant and the light section mill of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Sada, has said.

Sada said this when he received the Managing  Director, Reprom Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Attah Achimugu, who led the firm’s management team and the foreign technical partners on working visit to the minister, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Public Relations in the ministry, Mr. Marshal Gundu.

Nelson Mandela’s family divided over his burial site

June 27, 2013 by Agency Reporter 2 Comments

former South African President, Nelson Mandela

 

While former South African president Nelson Mandela is still fighting for his life in a hospital, his family is squabbling over his final resting place.

The Star newspaper reports that the family is divided between his grandson Mandla Mandela, who wants the anti-apartheid icon buried at his birthplace in Mvezo village, and the rest of the family who want to respect his wish to be buried next to his children, The Star newspaper of South Africa reported Wednesday citing three sources.

Mandla is the head of the Mvezo Traditional Council.

The controversy arose as Mandla had exhumed the bodies of his father Makgatho, uncle Thembekile and aunt Makaziwe from the family grave at Mandela’s homestead in Qunu and reburied them at his birthplace Mvezo in 2011.

Mandela on life support, says official

FORMER South African President Nelson Mandela was placed on life support in a Pretoria hospital late on Wednesday, an official who had been briefed of his condition, said.
Considered the founding father of South Africa’s democracy, Mandela, 94, has been hospitalised since June 8 for a recurring lung infection.
Authorities have described his condition as “critical” since Sunday, and President Jacob Zuma earlier Wednesday said Mandela’s condition remained unchanged, South Africa’s national news agency reported.
In a statement late on Tuesday, the government said Mandela’s doctors “continue to do their best to ensure his recovery, well-being and comfort.”
As the nation remained on edge, police barricaded the street leading to the hospital’s main entrance. Well-wishers hung balloons, stuffed animals and messages of support along the wall outside his Pretoria hospital. Crowds hovering nearby sang, “Where is Mandela?”
“We need you!,” one sign read. “We love you tata, get well soon!” said another, referring to Mandela by the Xhosa word for father. Someone else left a stone upon which was written, “Sending you light and love.”

My Ex-Hubby Is Mad And Drunk For Asking For A DNA— Laide Bakare

Nigerian actress, Laide Bakare, who has been enmeshed in a paternity mess with two men, has finally reacted to the claims by her estranged husband, Olumide Okunfulire, that he would challenge her for a DNA to determine the true father of her new baby.
In an interview with a popular Lagos gossip magazine, City People, Laide Bakare claimed her ex-husband must be “mad and oozing from chronic drunkenness’ for him to have ask her to do a DNA to know who the father of her new baby truly is.
“Ordinarily,” the actress stated, “I would not believe all the stories of him saying those rubbish in the media,” she said.
Laide Bakare further observed that, “maybe he was being pushed to say those things by those who know nothing about how we lived together or, maybe, they just want to put him in a big trouble.”
She declared that if truly Okunfulire asked for a DNA, then he “must have gone mad and must be oozing from chronic drunkenness.” Laide dared her ex-hubby to “go ahead if he really meant it but I’m sure he has run mad.”

(City People)

Amaechi, Jang, others attend Jonathan’s dinner

For the first time since the election that  caused a division in  the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, almost all the 36 state governors converged on the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday for a   mid-term dinner organised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The two main antagonists in the NGF crisis Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who won the  May 24 election of the forum and Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who leads a faction of the group- attended the event.
Although Jang and members of his faction were already seated before the arrival of the President which signalled the commencement of the dinner, Amaechi and his loyalists arrived at the same time shortly after the event had started.
A mild drama however played out when Amaechi, who cancelled a meeting of the NGF earlier scheduled for 8pm on Wednesday,  joined the table where Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and others were already seated.

2015 elections may end up like NGF poll – Amaechi

Rivers State Governor  Rotimi Amaechi on Wednesday lamented the  crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and then threw a bombshell: 2015 elections  may end up like that of the NGF.

“Let me put it on record that the way things are going,  2015 elections will end in this manner where people will win democratic elections and those in power will not accept the results,” he said at a stakeholders’ symposium on the  review of the 1999 Constitution   in Abuja.
Amaechi, who won the May 24 NGF election in Abuja, wondered why some people  would be backing Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who contested  against him and lost.
Amaechi described Jang and  his supporters as non-democrats and accused the Nigeria Bar Association of losing its  voice by failing to condemn the actions taken by Jang and his supporters after the NGF poll.
President Goodluck Jonathan is the major supporter of the Jang faction of the NGF  and Amaechi’s outburst appeared to  the audience to  be mostly  directed at him (the President).

Senators’ salaries and allowances in Nigeria

This is outrageous. Yet some people who are hardworking will not earn a senator’s one month salary in their entire working life. I see why some people would go extra miles to kill just to get into political offices…See the breakdown below…
Basic Salary (BS) = N2,484,245.50
Hardship Allowance: 50% of Basic Salary = N1,242,122.75. Constituency allowance: 200% of BS = N4,968,509.00.
Furniture Allowance: 300% of BS = N7,452,736.50.
Newspaper allowance: 50% = N1,242,122.70.
Wardrobe allowance: 25% = N621,061.37.
Recess Allowance: 10% = N248,424.55.
Accommodation: 200% = N4,968,509.00.
Utilities: 30% = N828,081.83.
Domestic Staff: 35% = N863,184.12.
Entertainment: 30% = N828,081.83.
Personal Assistance: 25% = N621,061.37.
Vehicle Maintenance Allowance: 75% = N1,863,184.12.
Leave Allowance : 10% = N248,424.55
One off payments (Severance gratuity): 300% = N7,452,736.50. Motor Vehicle Allowance: 400% of BS = N9,936,982.00.
Total per month = N29,479, 749.00. [$190,192]

Source: Nigeriafilms