Associates of All Progressives Congress, APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are lining up three possible running mates for Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) should the former head of state prevail in the forthcoming presidential nomination convention of the party.

The synergy between Team Buhari and the Tinubu camp was formally brought to public light last Wednesday when many of Tinubu’s political associates, including his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu got prominent presence at Buhari’s public declaration for the presidency in Abuja.

The three prospective running mates, according to Vanguard sources are Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a former commissioner in Lagos State, Senator Ajayi Borofice presently representing Ondo North in the Senate and Mr. Wale Edun, a former commissioner in Lagos State.
Two other choices in the consideration of Team Buhari, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and another former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo were said to have been taken off the radar by the Asiwaju forces on account of political differences.

The intrigues in the relationship between Dr. Fayemi and Tinubu reached a crescendo last week when Tinubu absented himself from the commissioning of the Ekiti State Government Liaison House in Lagos.
On the scheduled day of the commissioning, the APC leader was said to have become invisible, sources close to the development told Vanguard, a fact that seemed to underline the increasing political disconnect between the once close men.

The projection of the three men, Borofice, Osinbajo and Edun by the Tinubu camp follows the rejection by the mainstream of the party of a Muslim-Muslim ticket that would have seen a Buhari- Tinubu ticket.
Sources say that Tinubu may have lately withdrawn himself to that fact and is now believed to be preparing himself to position his own man to be a possible number two man for the country.

The consideration of Osinbajo Vanguard learnt is based on the twin factors of his relatively clean character and respect in the Christian community. Osinbajo, who served as attorney general and commissioner for justice in the Tinubu cabinet has won a respectable image as a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
He is said to be fairly close to Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the RCCG. Those rooting for him say that positioning him on the ticket would balance any insinuation on the country drifting towards an Islamic path as some critics of Buhari have sought to assert.

The consideration of Senator Borofice, it was learnt, was aimed at strategically breaking up the hold of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Ekiti/Ondo axis, where the PDP is presently known to have set its foothold.

“By bringing out Borofice, who is about the only APC senator elected official in the Ekiti/Ondo axis, we can push for presence in the two states given that the PDP is in control of those two states,” a close associate of Tinubu said at the weekend.

Edun, who is reported to be the third person under consideration served as commissioner of finance for the two terms Governor Tinubu between 1999 and 2007 and he is said to be in position to bring relative youth to a presidency under Buhari’s watch.
“Our consideration of Edun is on the need of young blood given that Buhari is now of age and would need, young savvy men to keep him in track,” a source said.

Both Osinbajo and Borofice were acclaimed at Buhari’s declaration. Edun’s presence at the event could not be confirmed at press time. One other prospective nominee, Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora Vanguard learnt was like Dr. Fayemi not being favourably considered by the Tinubu camp ostensibly because of his independent trait, which reportedly came to fore in the testy days leading to Governor Babatunde Fashola’s certification of a second term ticket in 2011. Mamora was also present at Buhari’s event.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/buharis-running-mate-a-senior-pastor-of-rccg-may-emerge-see-list/

Ogun State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji, on Tuesday lost his wife, Rachael, in an auto crash.

Rachael who was a deaconess was aged 58.

She was said to have died after the driver of a car she was travelling in to Abeokuta lost control. The car somersaulted around Akinale, in Ewekoro Local Government.

She was returning to Abeokuta after attending Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s assessment tour to Ifo Local Government.

One of the deceased’s children, Bolaji confirmed the death of his mother, stressing philosophically, “God knows best.”

According to family sources, the remains of the deceased will be buried in two weeks time.

Her corpse has been deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital, Ijaiye in Abeokuta.

She is survived by her husband and four children.

In another development, the Governor Ibikunle Amosun on-the-spot assessment tour continues tomorrow despite the demise of the wife of the State Chairman of APC. She was on her way back to Abeokuta after the Ifo assessment tour of Gov. Amosun.

All is set to welcome Gov. Ibikunle Amosun's assessment team to Abeokuta North tomorrow - 23rd of October 2014 as final preparation at the venue of the rally is being put in place as at the time of filing this report.

Source - http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ogun-apc-chairman-loses-wife-in-auto-crash-as-amosuns-tour-continues/

[img]http://cowbellcompetition./wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ScreenShot001.jpg[/img]

You can download Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition Past Questions and Answers here.

The available Past Questions and Answers are:

(a) 2009 Junior 2009 Senior
(b) 2010 Junior 2010 Senior
(c) 2011 Junior 2011 Senior
(d) 2012 Junior 2012 Senior
(e) 2013 Junior 2013 Senior
(f) 2014 Junior 2014 Senior

Visit http://cowbellcompetition./download-past-questions-and-answers/ to access the past questions and answers

The Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime has declared Thursday, 25th September, 2014 a work free day in Enugu State.

A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Chuks Ugwoke said this was to enable Enugu State citizens and other residents to participate fully in the rally in honour of President Goodluck Jonathan, organized by the Enugu State Movement for the Re-election of President Jonathan (EMJ).

The grand rally will hold at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu by 10 am.

According to the Statement, all schools, markets, banks and other financial institutions in Enugu State, will be closed on that date as a consequence of the work free day.

read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/2015-jonathan-rally-enugu-state-government-declares-work-free-day/

Pupils in at least 15 states in the country will not return to their classrooms today as directed by the Federal Government.

This is because in most of the states, teachers are insisting that safety measures must be put in place to protect them and their pupils from contracting the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

In some of the states like Lagos and Ogun, the governments opted not to comply with the September 22 date until necessary Ebola safety kits were put in place in their schools.

Also, the gates of the 104 Unity Schools in the country will be shut from today as their teachers commence an industrial action.

The other states where normal academic activities will not resume are Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kano, Kwara, Kogi, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states.

Teachers in Lagos will be on duty today but pupils will remain at home until October 8.

There had been controversy over the directive by the Federal Government that schools should resume on September 22 since the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease had been contained in the country.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers however ordered its members to shun academic activities until the government provided gadgets in schools to ensure not only their safety but that of their pupils.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, after meeting on Sunday with public school headteachers, said the decision was to ensure that schools in the state were safe for both the teachers and their pupils.

He said, “On this issue of resumption, we are on the same side. We are all concerned about safety in the schools.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ebola-no-school-resumption-today-in-lagos-14-other-states-see-affected-states/

Son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, at the weekend declared he would contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The entire PDP, its Board of Trustees, governors and members of the National Assembly in the party had all separately endorsed President Jonathan for a second term in office.

The President on Saturday also commended the party for giving him a right of refusal saying this was how democracy is practised in the western world.

Balewa, who condemned what he called the plot by the leadership of the party to demoralise other presidential aspirants with the endorsement, said: “I’m not intimidated by the decision of the PDP governors and the party to support the second term aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“What type of democracy do we have? Is the PDP a communist party? Where is the place of internal democracy?”

He said the greater majority of Nigerians had been yearning for a leadership capable of fulfilling their high expectations and aspirations.

A statement by Taiwo Alao, chairman of the Tafawa Balewa Campaign Organisation, quoted Dr. Balewa as urged Nigerians to listen to facts.

“What Nigerians need and where they want the country to be in future are paramount issues. We need to put our ideas before the people and allow them to decide,” he said.

Promising to make Nigeria an industrialized country, Balewa said his administration would ensure zero unemployment, better education, maximum security and increased power supply adding: “Nigeria needs to move from Third World to First world.”

He expressed hope that he would be supported in the race by well-meaning Nigerians.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/2015-tafawa-balewas-son-to-contest-pdp-presidency-against-jonathan/

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said he would meet with Nigeria’s state governors on ways of averting building collapse in the country.

Mr. Jonathan, who spoke when he visited the scene of the Synagogue Church building collapse in Lagos, said it had become imperative for him to meet with the state chief executives on possible policies that would guide the erection of high-rise building anywhere in the country, to avert future collapse of buildings.

The yet-to-be-scheduled meeting will also take policy decisions on the alleged use of substandard materials in buildings and the strengthening regulations concerning high rise buildings, the President said.

A five-storey building inside The Synagogue Church of all Nation’s premises in Lagos collapsed on September 12 as three additional floors were being added to the original two-storey structure.



Eighty-six dead bodies were recovered from the rubble and 131 rescued, according to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

President Jonathan, who visited the scene to condole with the church and victims of the tragedy, described the incident as “very sad story and very sad incident”, but expressed his condolences to the Church members, the Head of the Church, T. B. Joshua and those who lost their dear ones in the incident.

He particularly condoled ‎with the South African people and their President, Jacob Zuma, whom he said he had already spoken with.

‎According to the President, “Today when I arrived Lagos, my first port of call was where a five-storey building collapsed and 80 people confirmed dead, about 131 people were injured.

“It is a very sad story, very sad incident to us and the international community because most of the people that died in that building collapse were not ‎Nigerians. In fact about majority of them are South Africans,” Mr. Jonathan said. “I spoke to the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma to first express our own sentiments and condolences to the President and people of that country.”

See more photos @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/jonathan-visits-synagogue-church-see-photos/

A student of National Open University of Nigeria, Abdulmalik Sa’idu, has been languishing in a police cell for over 20 days on the orders of the Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, for posting details of an alleged fertiliser scam in the state on his Facebook timeline.

This was disclosed to PREMIUM TIMES by Mr. Sa’idu’s family and lawyer.

Abdulmalik was first invited to Katsina government house on August 28 by a phone caller who claimed he had a message for Abdulmalik.

But when Abdulmalik arrived at the governor’s office, he was promptly arrested, handcuffed and taken to Batagarawa Police Station just outside the state capital, Katsina, and detained on the orders of Mr. Shema’s aide-de-camp, Shehu Koko, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP.

According to his father, Maiyawo Sa’idu, while the young student was not charged with any offence, he was accused him of cloning the governor’s phone number and using same to call the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair, Sani Makana, with instructions that Mr. Makana deposit N3 million in his account.

Mr. Sa’idu said his son was innocent. He said if indeed Abdulmalik cloned the governor’s number to dupe a commissioner he wouldn’t be tricked to come to the government house to be arrested.

“I think they are trying to frame him. I know my son cannot clone the governor’s number and call a commissioner to put three million into his account,” Mr. Saidu told PREMIUM TIMES.

He said Abdulmalik was arrested because he posted details of an alleged fertiliser scam by the government on his Facebook page.

Mr. Saidu said prior to his son’s illegal detention, some officials of the state government had warned his son to desist from criticising the governor on Facebook.

On one occasion, the General Manager of Katsina State Road Maintenance Agency, Jamilu Umar, threatened to pay N2 million to thugs or policemen to kill Abdulmalik if he doesn’t stop criticising the governor publicly, Mr. Saidu said.

Mr. Shema’s Chief Press Secretary of the state government, Sani Malumfashi, rejected repeated calls made to his mobile phone after this reporter told him he was calling about the case.

The Saidus’ case comes days after global rights group, Amnesty International, released a damning report accusing the Nigerian police of arbitrarily arresting, torturing and killing thousands of Nigerians without following legal process.

The report accused the police of running “torture chambers” where detainees are abused for money or for confessions.
The police dismissed the allegations as “falsehoods and innuendos” saying the force does not tolerate torture and that where it occurs, officials responsible are sanctioned.

But Abdulmalik’s arrest points to how widespread arbitrary arrests have remained even for the flimsiest of reasons. Many such arrests are effected on the directives of senior state officials, including governors.

In November 2012, a civil servant in Bauchi State who questioned the financial integrity of the governor, Isa Yuguda, was immediately dismissed on direct orders of the governor.

In a Facebook post, Abbas Faggo had accused Mr. Yuguda of corruption questioning the source of funding of the governor’s son’s wedding which took place then.

Mr. Faggo was first suspended, and later arrested by the police. He was eventually arraigned before the Chief Magistrate of the state for the same offence. The judge, Adamu Madaki, struck out the case because “it was not properly filed.”

A letter terminating Mr. Faggo’s appointment, signed by one Ibrahim Shehu for the Head of Service of the State, said his services were no longer needed.

Barely a year after the Bauchi case, the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, ordered the arrest of a businessman, Tonye Okio, for also criticising him also on Facebook.

Mr. Okio, who was also a former Abuja Liaison officer for Bayelsa State, was arrested on October 26 at his Abuja residence. He was subsequently blindfolded and driven to Bayelsa by the Special Investigation Bureau, SIB.

The police also stripped Mr. Okio of his mobile gadgets and all postings on his Facebook account about Mr. Dickson were deleted.

Two days after his arrest, the Bayelsa police released a statement that Mr. Okio was arrested for “seditious publications against the Bayelsa governor”.

“This is to inform the general public and the good people of Bayelsa State in particular that the Bayelsa police command has succeeded in apprehending one Tonye Okio ‘M’ of Otiokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State for the offence of seditious publications,” the police said in a statement. “The suspects whose syndicate members are now at large will be appropriately arraigned in court when investigation is complete.”

Police detained Mr. Okio for 10 days without trial before his lawyer filed a case at a Bayelsa High Court demanding his fundamental rights be enforce and that he be charged to court if he has indeed done anything wrong.

A day before the case was to be heard, the police charged Mr. Okio before a Magistrate Court for defamatory publication against the Bayelsa governor. After taking his plea, the Magistrate Court adjourned the case to November 21 for trial.

Mr. Okio was eventually released after spending 86 days behind bars.

Katsina family denied access to Abdulmalik

In Katsina, Mr. Sa’idu said he is worried about the wellbeing of his son after relatives were abruptly stopped from seeing him a week into his being detained.

“For the first week they used to bring him out to me. He would eat in front of me and they would take him back to the cell but for more than 12 days have not seen him. They told me that they have a directive from above not to bring him to me,” he said. “The DPO (Divisional Police Officer) told me they have a directive from the Government House not to bring him out for his family or anybody in Kaduna to see him.”

Akin Ajayi, a Kaduna based lawyer, who is helping the family on the case, said the DPO of Batagarawa Police Station told him he had order from above not to release Abdulmalik on bail.

“I spoke to the DPO of the Batagarawa Police Station and he said he cannot do anything because it was an order from above,” he said.

Mr. Ajayi said as a lawyer the governor should realise that he was breaking the law by holding the boy beyond 48 hours on a “frivolous claim.”

“The governor is a lawyer, his deputy is a lawyer and the attorney general is a lawyer and they all know that it is wrongful of them to arrest someone and keep him in detention for more than 48 hours on a frivolous claim that the boy cloned the governor’s number and wanted to collect N3 million and some other concocted allegations which are not proven.

And they now kept the boy incommunicado. His family cannot reach him, and these days because of the security situation in the north, he could be killed,” he added.

Mr. Ajayi warned that if Abdulmalik was not released he was going to send a petition the National Human Rights Commission and the Inspector General of Police.

The DPO of Batagarawa declined to talk to PREMIUM TIMES after he was asked on whose orders Abdulmalik was being held beyond the 48 hours stipulated by law.

The Police PRO, Abubakar Sadiq, also refused to return several calls after promising to find out the details of the case.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/gov-shema-of-katsina-detain-noun-student-indefinitely-for-criticising-him-on-facebook/

Chief Orji Kalu, the immediate past governor of Abia state and Chairman of Slok Group of Companies has purchased a brand new Gulfstream G650 jet worth $72 million (N11.5 billion).

The jet, according to bayoadeyinka blog, landed Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, in the early hours of Thursday 18 September from New York.


“It is arguably the fastest civilian jet in the world, has room for a basketball team, 8,000-statute-mile range and some of the most sophisticated avionics rivaling nearly anything in the sky, and it’s also perfect for doing business on a global scale.

Gulfstream described the aircraft as ultra-high-speed, ultra-long-range business jet and the gold standard in business aviation. Former governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff was first to acquire the jet in Nigeria,” writes the blogger.

See photo and read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/orji-kalu-acquires-gulfstream-g650-jet-for-n11-5b/

The founder of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has defended the tuition fees charged by schools owned by the church, describing the provision of quality education as an expensive venture.

Oyedepo said this while addressing journalists on Friday in Ota, Ogun State, at a media chat organised in commemoration of his 60th birthday coming up on September 27, 2014.

Private schools in the country, including Covenant and Landmark universities, owned by the church are often criticised for being too expensive for average Nigerians to afford.

But Oyedepo highlighted some of the church’s humanitarian programmes which include providing scholarships and bursary awards to assist students.

He said, “I’m sure we all agree that education is expensive. Education carries cost; nothing of value is free. Our mission for years long, before we started any university or secondary school, was a bursary awarding church and we have not stopped doing that till tomorrow.”

Oyedepo said that the church was committed to providing quality education to youths, adding that many Nigerians complain about the cost of education in private universities because they have got their priorities misplaced.

“Our problem most of the time is priority; an average Nigerian can spend N1m on burial but to spend N200,000 on education (is a problem), because of wrong priority.

“On a yearly basis, we have N1.5trn that Nigerians spend to overseas universities, so people thrive on it. Nigerians spend N463bn a month on recharge cards, how much are they paying for schools fees? So it’s all a matter of priority. This is the largest market for telephone in the world. Now, to pay N500,000, some people have only one son, they have huge business and houses all over the places, they will never pay it.”

Speaking further, Oyedepo said he had chosen not to respond to the many controversial reports about him on the social media because he considered it as a waste of time.

He said, “My understanding of opposition, persecution is simply someone’s opinion harshly expressed. Everybody has a right to his opinion. Today, millions follow after Christ but you will be surprised that when you get to Israel some people do not believe that Christ has come.

“People have rights to their opinions. I naturally don’t feel it’s necessary (to respond). The energy I would need to react, I can use it to make moves. I have enough to think about than start running after a man who says you are a fool.

“If he says you are a fool and you are behaving so, then he’s right. If you leave your job and start pursuing somebody who says you are a fool, he has already said so, your going around doesn’t change it. So why going around, why don’t you settle on your job and make moves?

“I’ve also come to understand that those who make news hardly watch them, they are so busy making news while others are busy watching.”

Asked about the challenges he has faced in life and in his ministry, Oyedepo said he had never dwelled on his challenges but that he has rather been fuelled by them.

He said, “Life essentially is full of challenges, it is those challenges that make champions. You can’t emerge a heavy weight boxing champion except you receive punches. You can’t change classes in school except you write exams.

“So to me, life is an adventure in challenges and I’ve said often that it is normal to be challenged but it’s unscriptural to be defeated. Challenges are the stepping stones for the making of champions.”

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/nigerians-spent-millions-to-host-parties-but-to-pay-200000-school-is-a-problem-oyedepo/

ONDO State Government has granted an extension of one week to the previous deadline given for closing the registration in it’s on –going teachers’ recruitment exercise. It has also cancelled some of the requirements initially requested of applicants.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade in a statement issued in Akure at the weekend said government decided to extend the deadline to give all applicants ample opportunity to register for the recruitment exercise successfully.

“In the circumstance, the new closing date for registration is now Saturday, September 20th, 2014.

Read the details requirement needed and dates for Aptitude's test @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ondo-extends-deadline-for-teachers-recruitment-exercise-relaxes-requirements/

Osun State government has announced that Monday, 6th October, 2014 is the resumption date for the 2014/2015 academic session for public and private primary and secondary schools in the state.

A release from the office of the commissioner for education, Mrs Grace Laoye Tomori stated that after a careful consideration of views from stakeholders, the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has directed all public and private schools in the state to resume academic activities on the fixed date.

The decision, according to the release, would enable both principals and teachers to receive adequate training and put in place all necessary measures to prevent Ebola epidemic in schools and the state in general.

Mrs Tomori who is also the deputy governor of the state assured the people of the state that Osun is Ebola free.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ebola-osun-schools-to-reopen-oct-6/

The deputy governor called on school managers to ensure daily practical demonstration of hand washing by the pupils, students and teachers, and maintain the culture of general hygiene.

The United States Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal filed by Buruji Kashamu, a chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, to quash his indictment for smuggling drugs into the U.S.

In a decision on the appeal by Circuit Judges Posner, Kanne, and Tinder; the judges noted that Mr. Kashamu did not want to be extradited to the U.S. to stand trial on the “very serious criminal charges” against him.’

In May, a U.S. District Court had equally denied a motion by Mr. Kashamu, a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, to quash his indictment by a U.S. court.

Mr. Kashamu and 14 others were, in 1998, charged by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in an international conspiracy to smuggle heroin into the US.

But the politician, a major campaigner for President Jonathan in the South West, allegedly fled to the U.K. where repeated efforts by the U.S. to extradite him failed, before he returned to Nigeria.

In the court ruling delivered on September 15 by Judge Posner, the US court noted that Mr. Kashamu has remained in Nigeria, where he is living openly as a prominent businessman and a politician belonging to the ruling party.

“Although the United States has an extradition treaty with Nigeria, our government has made no effort to extradite him….,” Judge Posner said.

“‎He is correct that the district court has no jurisdiction over him at present. But should he ever come to the United States, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, he could be put on trial in the federal district court in Chicago, since the indictment has no expiration date.

“An original indictment remains pending until it is dismissed or until double jeopardy or due process would forbid prosecution under it. ‘United States v. Pacheco, 912 F.2d 297, 305 (9th Cir. 1990); see also United States v. Smith, 197 F.3d 225, 228–29 (6th Cir. 1999)’

“Only two possible avenues of relief remain open to him. One is to return to the United States to stand trial, and at trial (or in pretrial proceedings) renew his motion for dismissal on the basis of the speedy-trial clause; were the motion denied and he convicted, he could challenge the dismissal on appeal. His other possible recourse is to obtain from us, as he is trying to do, a writ of mandamus ordering the district court to dismiss the indictment.

“As he won’t risk the first path to relief, which would require him to come to the United States and fall into the clutches of the federal judiciary, he must rely entirely on mandamus.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/american-court-dismisses-buruji-kashamus-appeal-says-he-must-face-trial-for-drug-trafficking/

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has relieved six of his commissioners, who expressed intent to run for various positions in the 2015 general elections, of their positions.

In a statement signed by Okorocha’s Principal Secretary, Dr. Paschal Obi, the governor explained that the commissioners were relieved of their positions to enable them pursue their elective political career which they are currently aspiring for.

According to the statement also aired on the state owned Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), the commissioners involved included the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Theodore Ekechi; Mr. John Chike Okafor (Finance); Mr. Nick Opara-Ndudu (Internal Resources and Pension Matters); Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu (Public Utilities); Dr. Uche Ejiogu (Primary and Secondary Education), and Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro (Industry).

They were directed to hand over to their Permanent Secretaries.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/2015-okorocha-sacks-six-commissioners-see-list-of-affected-commissioners/

See full list below.

LIST OF 2013/2014 NATIONAL HONOURS AWARD RECIPIENTS

The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has approved the award of National Honours to the following Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, in various categories as listed below:

2013 AND 2014 NATIONAL HONOURS AWARD - See Complete List @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/jonathans-taxi-driver-military-chiefs-and-305-other-nigerians-to-receive-national-honours/

For swindling a 75-year-old woman of €200,000 in a romance-scam, a 31-year-old conman, Adio Opeyemi Michael, who hails from Owu local government area of Ogun State, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Dutchwoman Jeanet De Jonge allegedly met Michael on dating site, ‘Net log’, where Michael posed as a 41-year-old American citizen, working as a chef in a Nigerian restaurant and in need of a wife.

The profile attracted Jeanet and, in no time, she began sending him money through Western Union and Money Gram.

“She was sending me money monthly, ranging from $800 to $900 from June 2012, through Western Union Money transfer and Money Gram; to the extent that Western Union blocked her from sending money to me in Nigeria. Following the blockage, she requested that I go to London to enable her send me money there. I contacted a friend, Osas Odiah, in London, so that he can receive the money and send it to me here in Nigeria. She first sent €2,000 to Odiah’s account in London and, later to my Keystone Bank account, which was actually a Forex Trade account. We started using this account when we discovered that my friend was not remitting all the money sent by Jeanet to me,” the suspect revealed.

According to EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujiaren, investigations further revealed that the suspect collected the various sums under the pretext that he was going to use the money to perfect his travel plans and obtain the required documents that would enable him travel to Holland to join or visit De Jonge. However, his continued refusal to honour the invitation from De Jonge prompted the petition to the EFCC.

Michael will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/love-scam-fraudster-arrested-for-swindling-woman-75-of-e200000/

The Federal Government has reversed its earlier decision to re-open schools on October 13, 2014 following series of meeting with relevant stakeholders.

It has therefore announced that schools across the country should re-open on September 22, 2014.

It earlier directed that all public and private nursery, primary and secondary schools should remain closed as the country stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the ebola virus disease.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ebola-fg-orders-school-to-resume-nation-wide-on-september-22-2014/

The Hope Democratic Party (HDP) has  sued President Goodluck Jonathan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, Attorney-General of the Federa-tion Mohammed Adoke and others over the pro-Jonathan’s re-election rallies by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN).

They, alongside TAN, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba, were sued at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The party’s originating summon filed Wednesday is seeking an order of the court restraining TAN and others from canvassing votes and holding political rallies for Jonathan.
The party said the rallies were encouraging unwholesome violation of the provisions of the constitution in section 221 and was an undue wastage of the tax payers’ money.

Mr I.I. Emmanuel, who represented the party’s presidential aspirant Ambrose Owuru, is arguing that the campaigns and rallies violate sections 221 and 229 paragraph 15 of the third and seventh schedules of the 1999 Constitution.

He also wants the court to determine among others “whether the violation and lack of protection of section 221 of the 1999 Constitution by the defendants is not an abuse of power and office and dereliction of duty to the detriment of the right of the citizenry to a dignified and lawful and orderly means of political campaign and vote seeking by candidates at an election through their political parties’ platform.”

No date has been fixed for hearing.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/hope-democratic-party-hdp-sued-jonathan-anyim-over-tans-rallies/

The imminent breakup of their marriage may be the least of the problems popular mega-church pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Anita, are facing at the moment as the United Kingdom agency is investigating the UK branch of their church, Christ Embassy, over controversial payments.
The United Kingdom Charity Commission has launched a probe into the transfer of at least N941 million (£3.6 million) by the church to overseas entities between 2008 and 2012.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Charity Commission said it has opened a statutory inquiry to investigate Christ Embassy over “a number of serious concerns relating to the use of charitable funds, in particular large connected party payments and the potential misapplication of grant funding.”

According to the Charity Commission, which is the regulator of charities in England and Wales, statutory inquiries are only opened to investigate “the most serious” regulatory breaches.
The commission said the purpose of the inquiry is to “determine whether there has been any mismanagement or misconduct on behalf of the charity trustees; to establish whether charitable funds have been properly applied and take appropriate remedial action if necessary.”

The investigation was initiated in July 2013, but after interviewing members of the board of trustees and perusing the records and books of the church for a year, the commission was still not convinced that the church has been prudent in managing its finances.
Subsequently, the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, has withheld N711.4 million (£ 2.7 million) due to the church in donation between 2008 and 2012 until the conclusion is resolved.

On August 11, the commission effectively side-lined the church’s board of trustees and appointed an interim manager to take over the management of the church.
In what it described as a “temporary and protective measure,” the commission appointed Rod Weston of the international audit and accounting firm, Mazars, to take over the running of the church.

Until when investigation is concluded, Mr. Weston would “take over the management of the charity, including its staff, assets, interests, and relations with third parties,” the commission said. He is also expected to discharge the functions of the church’s trustees and take steps necessary to secure and take control of the assets of the church.
The commission however added that the activities of the church would not be suspended by the appointment as the Interim Manager is expected to work with the pastors of the church to ensure its religious and charity activities continue as before.

Curious payments
Though the Charity Commission said it does not provide details of on-going cases so as not to jeopardize the investigations, PREMIUM TIMES assessment of the case however revealed that the church may have curious payment worth at least N941 million ((£3.6 million) to individuals and companies closely connected with it.

A study of the churches financial statement from 2009 to 2012 posted on the Charity Commission’s websites, show that approximately N403 million (£1,572,047) was paid to Love World Limited from the transmission of the church’s broadcast.

Curiously, the sole director of Love World Limited and sole shareholder is one Pastor Obiora Chiemeka who is also listed as a trustee of the church. Mr. Chiemeka was appointed a trustee in 2009, the year the church began to make the payment to his company.

The church also paid an estimated N538.5 million (£2.1 million) as grants to mostly Nigerian partner organisations between 2008 and 2012. On a closer look, PREMIUM TIMES discovered that some of the charges the payments were said to cover were arbitrary, suggesting they might have been used for other purposes other than what they were listed for.

For instance, between 2010 and 2012 a total of N320.4 million (£1.24 million) was paid to Love World Television Ministry, LTM. These payments appear to be a duplication of the payment for transmission of television broadcast paid to Love World Limited. Though the church’s dedicated television station is called Love World Television, it is not clear how Love World Television Ministry differs from Love World Limited. Love World Television Ministry is not listed on the church’s website among the ministries Christ Embassy runs.

Also, in 2009, N9.6 million (£37,785) was paid to the church’s healing ministry known as Healing School. In 2010, N20.5 million (£97,850) was paid to the same school. However, the amount paid to the ministry dropped drastically in 2011 to N346, 072 (£1,350). Then the payment to the ministry shot up astronomically to N25.6 million (£100,000) in 2012.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/update-uk-commission-probes-christ-embassy-pastor-ashimolowos-kicc-over-payments/

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday restrained twenty commercial banks in Nigeria from honouring any withdrawal cheque from Sani Dangote, younger brother of the richest black man, Aliko Dangote and his companies, Dansa Foods Limited and Bulk Pack Services Limited.

The restraining order, according to the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, is to be in force until September 11, 2014 when all applications filed in a suit brought by Union Bank against Dangote and his companies .

The judge also ordered all the banks involved to, within five days of the interim order, file affidavits declaring the defendants statement of accounts with them.

Union Bank had taken Dangote and his companies to court over alleged refusal to liquidate about N5.2bn loan granted them since September, 2008.

The bank, through its lawyer, Mr. Chukwudi Enebeli from the chambers of Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) had instituted suits seeking an order of mareva injunction to restrain all the defendants’ banks in Nigeria from allowing them withdraw funds from their accounts pending the determination of the suits.

The banks named are  Access, CITI, Diamond, Ecobank, Enterprise, Fidelity, Keystone, Mainstreet, Skye, Wema, Heritage, Sterling, Unity and Zenith Banks.

Others are  First Bank, First City Monument Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chartered Bank and United Bank for Africa.

In the affidavits in support of its suits, Union Bank Plc urged the court to urgently grant the mareva order  because in a bid to evade payment of the loan, Dangote has been making frantic efforts to deplete the funds in the accounts of his companies, and that the bank’s investigations revealed that the defendants had started diverting the funds to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Canada and Switzerland.

One Olufunmilola Ayoola, an official of the bank, who deposed to the bank’s affidavit,  alleged that the failure of the defendants to liquidate the monumental debt had negatively affected the Nigerian economy, a development which the bank claimed necessitated the suits.

According to Ayoola, Union Bank Plc has been having difficulty in extending credit facilities to small scale businesses which in turn would have helped in boosting the nation’s economy and salvage the country from its present malaise of corruption and under development crisis.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/shocking-court-freezes-dangotes-accounts-in-20-banks/

There is currently panic among residents of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital over suspected case of Ebola at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Doctors, nurses and other health workers, as well as patients have deserted the hospital for fear of contracting the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sunday Nwangele has reacted to the panic situation, describing as false alarm and urged residents to go about their normal businesses.

See more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/breaking-panic-in-ebonyi-over-suspected-ebola-case/

The Federal government has approved the release of the 2014 admission into the Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, directed prospective candidates to the portal address:

Wike said merit would hence-forth play a major role in admitting students into the 104 federal unity colleges. He said: “merit would be placed above other considerations such as catchment area, environmental factors and state quota because of the need to inculcate the right values in the future generations.”

According to him, the re-introduction of aptitude tests is aimed at ensuring that only the qualified candidates are admitted into the colleges.

See the link to download and more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/fg-approves-unity-colleges-admission-see-admission-list-online/

… Now 127th in the world

Despite Nigeria’s current status as Africa’s largest economy, the country slumped in the global competitiveness ranking released on Tuesday.

Africa’s biggest oil producer fell by seven places to 127th position.

According to the 2014-15 Global Competitiveness Report, infrastructure (human and physical) continues to be Nigeria’s toughest challenges.

The report attributed the decline in Nigeria’s global competitiveness “to weakness in public finances (as a result of lower oil exports), continuing institutional frailty and deterioration in national security.”

The outcome, the report said “are similarly mixed for other middle-income countries in the region.

Lesotho (107th) and Cape Verde (114th) registered the largest improvements, while Botswana (74th), Namibia (88th), Zambia (96th), Ghana (111th), Senegal (112th) and Swaziland (123rd) are relatively stable.

Among the oil-exporting economies, Gabon is the highest-ranked economy (106th) followed by Cameroon (116th), Nigeria, Angola (140th) and Chad (143rd).

Among Africa’s low-income economies, Ethiopia recorded the biggest leap, rising nine places to 118th.

The report stated that only three sub-Saharan countries – Mauritius (39th); South Africa (56th) and Rwanda (62nd) are in the top half of the world’s most competitive economies.

read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/africas-largest-economy-nigeria-drops-in-global-competitiveness-ranking/

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said on Wednesday that students in private and public schools in the country may resume from holiday by the middle of this month.

Prof. Chukwu disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

At the briefing were the Ministers of Information, Labaran Maku, Transport, Umar Idris, National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman and Power (State), Mohammed Wakil.

The Federal Government through the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, had last month announced October 13 as resumption date for all schools.

Chukwu said the expert opinion on Ebola, with the strong containment efforts by the government, is that the students can resume earlier than October 13.

The new resumption date, he said, will be announced by the Minister of Education after meeting with states Commissioners for Education and other stakeholders, who were involved in fixing the October 13 date.

The minister, who gives weekly report to the Council on the Ebola disease brought to Nigeria by the late Liberian- American, Patrick Sawyer in July, said that there are presently 296 contacts under surveillance in the country.

The 296 under surveillance, he said, include 255 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and 41 in Lagos State.

After three weeks of surveillance in Lagos, he said 320 persons have been removed from surveillance list in the state.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ebola-schools-may-resume-mid-september-health-minister/

Nigeria’s ruling party, The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has hit back at the opposition All Progressives Congress, after the APC said recent allegations by a government-appointed Boko Haram negotiator, show that senior PDP members and allies of President Goodluck Jonathan are masterminds of the sect.

At a press conference Tuesday, the APC demanded the immediate trial of a former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff, a PDP member; and a former army chief, Azubuike Ihejirika.
Both former officials were named by an Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis, as Boko Haram sponsors.

The chairman of opposition party, Odigie Oyegun, said revelations by Mr. Davis show the federal government had wrongly accused the APC of being behind Boko Haram.

“They have called us all sorts of derogatory names, but failed to provide any shred of evidence to support their claim,” Mr. Oyegun said.
The APC chairman described Mr. Sheriff as a man known to all Nigerians as the founder of Boko Haram, but who has continued to escape justice and is now Mr. Jonathan’s ally.

“He is a known ally of the president and he is not known to be under any immunity. Yet he was never arrested or even questioned,” he said.
“The die is cast. The truth is finally out! Boko Haram sponsors have been exposed. They are within the ruling PDP. They are friends of President Jonathan.

“He cannot pretend not to know who they are and what they have done and are still doing. His myriad of intelligence agencies, including the SSS and the DMI, cannot pretend they do not have any information on these men,” Mr Oyegun said.

Mr. Oyegun said while it is true that Mr. Sheriff was until recently a member of his party, the APC had always suspected that he was a mole, planted to hijack or at best weaken the new Party for the PDP.

“We know for sure that Ali Modu Sheriff was planted in the APC to help decimate our party. We confronted him openly during the merger negotiation but he denied vigorously.
“His surrogate for the post of the Chairman of the APC, Chief Tom Ikimi together with whom they planned to hijack the Party for the Presidency was firmly rejected.

“Realizing they have failed, they fled our party and returned to where they came from, and were duly embraced by their controllers,” Mr. Oyegun said.
He added: “All through his time with our Party, every time they accused us of sponsoring Boko Haram, on the basis of his presence, we challenged them if they had evidence to arrest any of our members who is suspected to be a sponsor, they never did.

“They dared not, because Sheriff was their agent. Even if he had remained in the APC after we democratically encouraged him to go, they would still not have arrested him,” he said.

In its response Wednesday, the PDP said the APC merely sought to use the allegations by Mr. Davis to launder its image. The party said revelations by the Australian have merely confirmed that the APC was behind Boko Haram.
“If not to achieve the self-serving purpose of exonerating the APC, why would Oyegun’s statement choose to be silent on the revelation by Davis that some people opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan used their connections to Boko Haram to frustrate his efforts?,” a statement by party spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, said.

“We also wonder why the APC has chosen to ignore some of the revealing aspects of Dr. Davis’ interview concerning Boko Haram’s funding and sponsorship. Is it because they are not favourable to them?”

Read the full statement released by the PDP Wednesday

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has noted yet another failed image laundering stunt by the APC wherein its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun cheapened his office and person by attempting to use an unempirical statement by Australian Dr. Stephen Davis, to absolve his party of blames for promoting insurgency in the country.

Whilst we recognize the right of citizens to hold and canvass opinion in a democratic setting such as guaranteed under the PDP-led administration, we hold, and strongly too that such rights must be properly and respectably exercised.

It is therefore shocking and worrisome that the APC National Chairman, in a frenzied effort to extricate his party, could issue a statement completely lacking in validity, character and intellectual content befitting of a National Chairman of a political party.
Oyegun’s statement rather than exonerate the APC has reinforced and underscored its true identity as a party of desperate politicians supportive of violence and disunity through their utterances and body language, a fact that is already well known to all Nigerians.

In trying to stand the truth on its head, Oyegun has succeeded in further exposing the desperation of the APC to launder its image through renewed propaganda and blackmail, a project which has already failed.

If not to achieve the self-serving purpose of exonerating the APC, why would Oyegun’s statement choose to be silent on the revelation by Davis that some people opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan used their connections to Boko Haram to frustrate his efforts?

We also wonder why the APC has chosen to ignore some of the revealing aspects of Dr. Davis’ interview concerning Boko Haram’s funding and sponsorship. Is it because they are not favourable to them?

While not holding brief for anybody, it is clear to every discerning mind that Oyegun’s statement, with all intent and purpose is yet another decoy to frustrate genuine effort at finding solution to the security challenges we face as a nation to the advantage of the APC whose penchant to use the promoting of violence as tool to achieve political control is well known to all.

Nigerians may recall the frenzy with which the APC fought against moves by the British Parliament to investigate its involvement with terrorist elements as well as to divert attention from their meetings outside the shores of our country in their bid to promote insurgency in Nigeria.

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to restate that we stand by our statements that the APC as a party with a supporter of APC ideology has been promoting insurgency and acts of terrorism through the actions and utterances of its leaders. Indeed, no amount of blackmail or propaganda can erase this truth.

Nigerians have since noted the pattern and timing of violent attacks against our people which betray a trend tailored against the PDP and the Federal Government and provide impetus for the APC to find a voice and thrive. They know that it has become a recurring decimal that whenever the PDP or the Federal Government records or is about to record a major milestone, insurgents launch attacks on the people.

Oyegun must understand that Nigerians know the APC for what it truly is and can no longer be hoodwinked by propaganda, blackmail and tactical misrepresentation. He should therefore stop debasing his office by struggling for media space with his National Publicity Secretary.

It is indeed disheartening that the APC National Chairman has continued to disparage his office and age by making series of unguarded and inflammatory utterances and issuing statements laced with fabrications and wild allegations while leading his party like a frustrated rebel group desperate for political control; and whose understanding of opposition is crass unruliness and a culture of irresponsibility.

Chief Oyegun has only succeeded in disappointing many Nigerians who thought his coming to office will result in a more responsible and constructive opposition. Instead, the reprehensible image of the APC as a party that has nothing good to offer has worsened under his watch.

In the last two months, he has made more incendiary statements aimed to incite the people and balkanize the nation than any other opposition chairman has done. The threat to form a parallel government and other inflammatory statements at APC events readily come to mind.

Our advice to the opposition is that they should learn to properly comport themselves, eschew bitterness, desperation and divisive tendencies and think of how to make meaningful contributions to tackle the challenges facing the nation.

On his own part, Chief Oyegun, as a former state governor should retrace his steps and strive to be nationalistic and statesmanlike and comport himself as an opposition leader. For now, he is a little more than a glorified media assistant. A word is enough for the wise.

Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary

More @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/boko-haram-sponsor-pdp-exonerate-sheriff-ihejirika-says-apc-a-party-with-a-supporter of APC-ideology/

Ondo State Government has directed the immediate recruitment of 2,000 teachers into its teaching service.

Briefing newsmen on the development yesterday, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said Governor Olusegun Mimiko had directed the state’s Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) to begin the recruitment exercise in earnest.

The exercise, according to the commissioner, was part of government’s efforts to create more gainful employment and improve the standard of education in the state.

Giving details of the exercise, he said 1,300 university graduates with teaching qualification would be employed.

He added that 200 National Certificate of Education (NCE) holders and 500 non-teaching staff would also benefit from the exercise.

See more and download application form for FREE @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/mimiko-orders-recruitment-of-2000-teachers-download-free-application-form-online/

The 19-year old law student of the Ahmadu Bello University [ABU] suspected to manifest some symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease [EVD] has tested negative to the virus.

Authorities of ABU and the Kaduna State Government had sent the patient’s blood to Lagos for testing after he reportedly manifested some symptoms associated with Ebola while on admission at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital [ABUTH].

The state Commissioner For Health, Thot Dogo, had told newsmen on Tuesday night that the result of the test was being expected on Wednesday afternoon (today).

But Ebola Alert, an authoritative evidence-driven group of volunteer professionals working on Ebola Virus Disease interventions in the country, told this newspaper laboratory test has shown the student does not have the virus.

An official of the group, who simply identified himself as Ladi, said the test, concluded earlier on Tuesday night, came out negative.

“Yes, it is true that the result is negative,” Ladi said in response to an enquiry by Newsnow Nigeria. “Whatever information Ebola Alert puts out is authentic.”

“Reaching a diagnosis of #Ebola is dependent on a laboratory test. However close it may be, it is not Ebola until it is Ebola.”

The Federal Ministry of Health and the Kaduna State Government are expected to announce the result of the test later on Wednesday.

The Kaduna Commissioner for Health, Mr. Dogo, had told newsmen that the student had been on admission at the hospital for a week.

He said after he “developed rashes with redness of the eyes”, authorities became suspicious and decided to isolate him and test him for Ebola.

The state government also provided protective equipment to medical officers attending to the patient, Mr. Dogo said.

But in a series of tweets Tuesday, Ebola Alert urged doctors and hospitals to refrain from divulging patients’ information so as not to stigmatize them while also creating panic in society.

It reminded Nigerian doctors and hospitals to note that several other diseases share symptoms with Ebola.

The organization said, “We hope our hospitals will continue to keep health information of their clients and care givers confidential especially #SUSPECTED#EBOLA.

“It is equally important to stay professional by not creating panic in the interest of your staff, patients and country at large. #Ebola

“Several diseases share symptoms with #Ebola and there are other viral haemorrhagic fevers.

“In an #EbolaOutbreak, it is challenging for the healthcare workers to balance between high suspicion and misdiagnosis. Remain professional.

“It will be hard to have public panic if patients #health#information is kept confidential as is #ethically required; even #Ebola patients.

“We hope our colleagues continue to remain professional as we work on this together. #Ebola#HCW#Nigeria Do not put patients’ info out there.

“When you wrongly classify an ill person as an #Ebola patient, we hope you will be around to clean the stigma caused. #CAUTION

“Reaching a diagnosis of #Ebola is dependent on a laboratory test. However close it may be, it is not Ebola until it is Ebola. #CAUTION

“Healthcare is a very responsible and accountable sector. #Ebola will bring out these leadership attributes out of us. Let’s lead now.”

See more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/update-suspected-kaduna-ebola-case-tests-negative/

Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua sounded a prophetic alarm in his church service yesterday, stating that a “very big ‘bigshot’” in Nigeria would soon be attacked and killed.

Boko Haram’s attention would turn to target the ‘political class’ - Prophet T.B. Joshua“Last time, I said we should pray for Nigerian ‘bigshots’ – because I am seeing these people begin to target them,” the cleric stated on Sunday 31st August 2014, reminding people of the message he had previously given early in May that Boko Haram’s attention would turn to target the ‘political class’.

He called for prayer against an impending ‘attack’ against a ‘very big bigshot’ in a service broadcast live on Emmanuel TV. “It will result to death,” Joshua plainly stated. “They are just looking for an avenue that will cause crisis and conflict in the region… When it happens, it will cause political crisis.”
Joshua continued by prophesying an imminent plane crash in the unstable region near Russia and Ukraine.

“Commercial planes should not pass there because I am seeing a plane full of passenger’s crash in that region. It will not be between Ukraine and Russia this time but it is close to that place, a neighboring region,” he warned.

The controversial cleric further revealed that US President Barack Obama would be rushed to hospital with a ‘health challenge’. “Pray for the president of America. I am seeing him being rushed to the hospital but he will get over it,” Joshua stated. “They should allow him to rest; he should not go for an operation,” he also warned. “I am not talking of myself; I am talking of God.”

Joshua further prophesied a ‘militant’ attack against a highly placed political figure in Southern Africa, also specifying the nation of Kenya for prayer. “I am seeing militants are interested in embarrassing a president – either they kill him or kidnap him. That is just their objective in the Southern region– to kidnap the president, vice president or first lady of that nation.”

Continuing, the Nigerian cleric stated crisis would soon envelop the European nation of Poland, calling for prayer.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/boko-harams-attention-would-turn-to-target-the-political-class-prophet-t-b-joshua/

BREAKING.............

A Diplomat has died in the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Asokoro District Hospital, in Abuja. He showed classic signs and symptoms of Ebola virus.

Based on this odoriferous development the A&E unit has been shut down and all patients evacuated and the hospital is being decontaminated.

The blood sample of the deceased has been taken for laboratory test and analysis.

Nothing has been confirmed.
Read more and updates @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/ebola-scare-in-abuja-a-section-of-asokoro-district-hospital-shut-down/

Presidency has said that there are 8,000 groups now asking President Goodluck Jonathan to run in 2015.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, disclosed this on Monday when the special committee set up to restructure the Goodluck Support Group chaired by Gen. Adamu Ibrahim (retd.), submitted its report to him.

Alkali said, “The preliminary observation from the report of the team is that contrary to our earlier position that there were about 3,000 groups rooting for Mr. President, we now have more than 7,000 support groups nationwide all calling on President Jonathan to declare for the Presidential race.

“Indeed, initially we printed 5,000 forms that were distributed to the NGOs and other Support Groups but the forms soon ran out and we had to print additional 2,000.

“As I am speaking to you now we have at least another 1,000 groups demanding to be screened.”

Alkali added that “with the report of the Screening and Evaluation Committee now submitted to us we are going to the next level, that is to say, we shall undertake content analysis of the reports with a view to properly positioning the various support groups for the challenges of the 2015 general election.

“We want to assure every support group irrespective of their sizes, from two-man group to 20 million-man group that they are all important to us and we shall carry them along.”

He, however, appealed to the group to start the “process of stepping down the structure and operations of their organisations to the Zonal, State, Local Government Areas up to the Ward level.

“They should mobilise men, women and youths for the great task ahead.”

The Chairman of the committee, Ibrahim said the President and the Peoples Democratic Party should expect a stiffer opposition in 2015.

Unlike 2011 when he said the opposition was not well orgainsed, he said the situation has changed now.

He said, “We should expect a stiffer opposition in 2015 because the opposition is now strong unlike in what we had in 2011.

“The party and the Presidency should come up with a strategy that will ensure that the President is returned to power in 2015.”

He promised that the group will work to ensure a landslide victory for President Jonathan.

See more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/jonathans-support-groups-now-8000-presidency/

The Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) 11, regional selection exercises which started on Saturday, August 2, ended on Saturday, August 17.

Among the thousands of individuals that trooped to the Awka Township Stadium was Ndubuisi Christian Uchechukwu, a 21 year old Nnamdi Azikiwe University undergraduate. One of his second semester examination papers was fixed on the first day of the Gulder Ultimate Search regional screening. The Electronics and Computer Engineering undergraduate however preferred to test his luck with GUS rather than going to his tertiary institution to take his exam.

When asked why he chose to risk his studies for GUS trials, he said: “It’s not that GUS is more important than my exams. I’ve actually been planning my participation in Gulder Ultimate Search 11 for eight months. I spent this time training and exercising in the gym. While I was registering for the course, I had no idea it will clash with my exams. But since it did, I told myself I must make sure I participate with the hope of emerging the Ultimate Man. I just couldn’t give up just like that after all the time and effort.

He however added that he had high scores in the continuous assessment of that course; hence he was sure he would pass even if he missed the exam. He however did not scale through the regional exercise and so still had ample time to meet up with his exams.

Kenneth Ofokansi’s experience also made an intriguing tale. When the 27 year old graduate of Pure and Industrial Chemistry of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, heard about Gulder Ultimate Search 11, he approached his pastor for advice.

He said: “My pastor told me, go, it is well, you are going to make it.” When asked if he drinks alcohol, the one-time Youth President of his church answered in the affirmative. Kenneth said drinking alcohol becomes a sin only if it is taken in excess.

The Gulder Ultimate regional auditions were held in Awka and Port Harcourt this year for the first time in the annals of the show. The selection exercises were also held in Benin and Lagos.

Read more @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/student-skips-exam-for-guilder-ultimate-search-another-said-his-pastor-pray-for-him-to-win/

STUDENT’S UNION GOVERNMENT OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY, AGO-IWOYE,
OGUN STATE – 28\08\2014
PRESS RELEASE



We express gratitude to God for His guidance and direction so far, in spite of all the odds against us since the beginning of this struggle. We have been recipients of harsh policies and decisions, yet, our resolve and determination to see this through a logical end, remains unbending, unyielding, and even more solid than it was when we set out to fight this noble course.

INSINCERITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT
Since the beginning of this struggle, the Ogun State Government has shown itself to be insincere with the way it
has used propaganda, told lies and peddled untruth against the innocent and lawful OOU students. Since we started, we have been very clear in what we want, but that has not stopped us from attending invitations and meetings called
by the State Government.

The only meetings the president of the Union, refused to attend was meetings which venue is the Legislative House of the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Tola Banjo, and which in most times are fixed at night. The state Government going on air to say we have refused to attend proper meetings because we have ulterior motives and alleged being sponsored by opposition is a grand lie from the pit of hell.

The second day of our peaceful protest to Abeokuta, 15th of August, the Governor, Senator Amosun requested for 7
days to resolve our issue, that he is not aware of certain things. Considering him coming out publicly to say that, we
suspended the peaceful protest, and returned to our various campuses. Five days into the 7 days, there was no call or invitation from the State Government. Our students were obviously angry and prepared to storm Abeokuta peacefully as we told the Governor on the last day of the protest.

On the 6th day, however, we were invited to a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, who chaired the meeting, with Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Segun
Odubela, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs, Mr Ikechukwu Clement, present from the
State Government side. After making our demands clear to them, we were told they were taking the demands to the
Governor, since that afternoon around 1:25pm, we never saw them again, around 8:35pm that we decided to leave
after calling the commissioner of Education and he wasn’t picking up his calls or replying text messages and SA’s
phone was switched off also.

The next morning they invited us to another meeting. Following their antics the previous day, we were reluctant
to attend the meeting, but for the sake of history, we attended. Around 9:00 am we entered Abeokuta on that
Friday, they never attended to us, anytime we ask the Commissioner of Education, he would reply that they were
coming. After waiting till around 7:45pm, we called the commissioner of Education and he told us that he would
advise us to return to our campus, thinking that the government in their usual manner like the way they rushed
to the media to announce fee reduction without mutual agreement in any meeting, all to score political point. We
thought, they will announce the implementation of it commencing in our own current session, 2013\ 2014 and
other demands on the media. However, to our chagrin on Saturday, the Government announced the shutting down of
our institution with shallow, baseless and unreasonable premise.

ON ACCUSATIONS OF BEING POLITICALLY SPONSORED
The State Government’s claim that we are being sponsored by the opposition is a mother of all lies and is diversionary tactic. We are not surprised because history has shown that irresponsible and irresponsive Government as we do have them in this part of the world, always look for hiding places when confronted with genuine agitations. During the ‘Alli-Must- go’ struggle of the 70s, the protesters were accused of being politically motivated by the Federal Government.

During OAU students’ struggle, the students were accused of being sponsored by the APC. During LASU students’
struggle, the State Government of Lagos said they were sponsored by ‘fifth columnist’ and the Minister for State on
Defense, Amb. Obanikoro. We don’t expect our own case to be different. But for record’s sake, we state it boldly that
we are neither sponsored by any political party nor political actors. This is why we have been careful from the
beginning of this struggle. If the State Government is confident of all it claims that we are being sponsored, let it
publish the names of our sponsors and the name of the student leaders involved with proof. Our agitations are
premised on truth and conviction in what is right, since 2011 that we have this exorbitant fee, nothing less than 600
students have dropped out from the school. More than 200 have applied for Leave for absence to leave school that
session and come back when they have the money.

Unfortunately, many left without coming back, coupled with poor funding of the University. Why then will the students fold hands as government systematically snatch Tertiary Education from them?.......

Read the concluding part @ http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/press-release-olabisi-onabanjo-university-sug-the-struggle-so-far/