We’re ready for Ondo poll, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it has put machinery in motion to ensure that the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State is free and fair.
The electoral body confirmed that 1,654,205 legible voters who registered for the last 2011 general elections will be participating in the poll.
The INEC Director of Voters Registration, Mr. Emmanuel Akem, spoke in Akure, the state capital, at the public presentation of soft copies of the voters’ register to the 13 political parties that are participating in the election.
The INEC director explained that the female represented 50.10 per cent and the male 49.80 per cent of the electorate.
Akem said the voters’ register statistic showed that the students’ category has over 400,000 eligible voters.
He said: “The total number of persons registered during the 2011 voter registration in Ondo State is 1,654,205. The Addendum figure is 7,539, while the voters’ figure is now 1,646,666. Female voters carry the majority 50.10 per cent and the Male, 49.80 per cent.”
The Residential Electoral Commissioner (REC) Akin Orebiyi said INEC has provided enough logistics to ensure that its officials are not compromised during the poll.
He assured that electoral materials would arrive various units across the state before 8am to prevent irregularities.

Emeka Ossai And Wife Welcome Twins!

Early this morning, Nollywood actor, Emeka Ossai and his adorable wife, Jumai welcomed a set of twins in the United States Of America. Jumai gave birth to a girl and a boy. The mother and her babies are said to be doing well.

This are the first children Emeka's family is getting from his 5-year-old marriage to Jumai.

A very big Congratulations to the couple!

Military officers describe penalties in new Lagos Traffic Law as extreme

Some military officers on Thursday described the penalties attached to some sections of the new Lagos State Traffic Law as extreme.
The officers expressed their views at an enlightenment forum, organised for naval officers and men at the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos.
Some naval officers and ratings at the forum urged the Lagos State Government to review the law in conformity with the realities of life.
They pointed out that not many low-income earners could afford to pay the fines prescribed by the law.
Group Capt. O. A. Akinyele, of the Nigerian Air Force Logistics Command, said the law would create criminality and encourage corruption, particularly in a situation where offenders could not afford to pay fines.
Also, Lt.-Col. B.A. Oguntayo, of the Nigerian Army Special Investigation Board, Apapa, urged the government to allow others on essential duties to use the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lane.
Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, said the forum was organised to educate naval personnel on the new traffic law to enable them to know the dangers of violation.
Ikioda, who was represented by Cdr. Henry Babalola, the command’s operation officer, said the Nigerian Navy was committed to its personnel obeying the law.
Ikioda said the command would register its staff buses for the use of BRT lane through the Naval Headquarters to reduce daily traffic problems in the city.
The forum was attended by Mr Adebayo Olusoji, the head of operation, Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Office, and Mr Nseobong Akpabio, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, Lagos.
Earlier, Olusoji, had called on officers and ratings to respect the Traffic Law and be more disciplined on the roads to avoid embarrassments from traffic officials. (NAN)

Comedian Klint Da Drunk & wife celebrate 5th wedding anniversary

The top comedian and his pretty wife Lilien, celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary yesterday. The couple have two kids together. Congrats to them!

Bill Gates tops 2012 Forbes list of richest people in America

Forbes has released its 2012 ranking of America's richest 400 billionaires...and Bill Gates remains the nation’s richest man for the 19th year running. See the top 10 below...

1. Bill Gates, Medina, Wash., $66 billion
2. Warren Buffett, Omaha, $46 billion
3. Larry Ellison, Woodside, Calif., $41 billion
4. Charles Koch, Wichita, Kan., $31 billion
5. David Koch, New York City, $31 billion
6. Christy Walton & family, Jackson, Wyo., $27.9 billion
7. Jim Walton, Bentonville, Ark., $26.8 billion
8. Alice Walton, Fort Worth, Texas, $26.3 billion
9. S. Robson Walton, Bentonville, Ark., $26.1 billion
10. Michael Bloomberg, New York City, $25 billion

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was the biggest dollar loser. The company’s lackluster IPO in May resulted in a huge drop in market value that cut the value of his shareholdings almost in half, costing him $8.1 billion in net worth. That dropped Zuckerberg from No. 14 on the list to No. 36. See more at Forbes.com

123 Nigerians spend over N500 billion on private jets

The acquisition of private jets by Nigerians, for business or pleasure, has increased in the last three years, according to the president of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers. He said in the last one year, the number of private jets acquired by wealthy Nigerians have more doubled. 123 Nigerians which includes billionaire business men like Mike Adenuga, Ifeanyi Ubah, Aliko Dangote, Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Peter Odili, Nduka Obaigbena, ex bank MDs, politicians, business moguls, oil companies and banks have spent over N500 billion buying very expensive private jets.

In the last one year, at least five Hawker 900 XP jets have been bought and each cost $14.9million. Five 800 XP at $13 million and at least two Hawker 4000 at $21 million have been bought.

Many of these private jets are parked at the apron near Arik Air hanger and at the General Aviation terminal near Aero Contractor's terminal. It costs at least N80 million to maintain these jets annually and over 500 expatriate pilots and engineers working on these private jets.

Bye bye N5000 note: Jonathan orders Sanusi to stop controversial plan

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday finally bowed to pressure as he directed the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, to suspend the planned introduction of N5,000 note.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed the development to State House correspondents in Abuja.

Abati told journalists that Jonathan’s latest disposition to the issue was based on the need for more “enlightenment and consultation”.

He said, “The introduction of the new note is being suspended for now to enable the CBN do more enlightenment on the issue.Yes, President Jonathan has directed that the implementation of the new N5,000 note be suspended for now.

“This is to enable the apex bank to do more in terms of enabling Nigerians understand why it proposed it in the first place. So, for now, the full implementation is on hold.”

The CBN, in a statement on Thursday, also confirmed that it had received a presidential directive to stop action on the currency restructuring plan.

The statement by the apex bank’s spokesperson, Ugo Okoroafor, reads, “The CBN hereby informs the general public that the President, on Thursday, September 20, 2012, directed that further action on the approved restructuring exercise be stopped.

“It is important to stress that till date, no contract whatsoever has been awarded by the CBN in connection with the printing and minting of the new currency notes and coins. Consequently, no currency note or coin has been printed or minted under the proposed exercise.”

The planned introduction of the note had attracted a huge outcry in the public domain. Those against the move had hinged their position on the fact that it could worsen inflation in the country.

They also said it was contrary to the apex bank’s cash-less policy.

PUNCH