₦airaland Forum

The Convener of the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has dismissed the sentiments shared by a former Governor of Anambra State that the Igbo have not been treated fairly in the governance of Nigeria.

Ezeife had argued that President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who hails from
the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State, to head the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, was not enough to satisfy the South-East.

But in an interview with our correspondent on Friday, Mohammed criticised Ezeife, insisting that people of the Igbo nation have enjoyed favourable treatment.

He added it was wrong to reward the Igbo simply on the basis of the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted between 1967 and 1970.

Mohammed said, “If it is about
Buhari making the appointments based on merit, I have no problems with it. I don’t believe Buhari or Nigeria owes any Igbo anything. I don’t care what Ezeife says; if they had seceded, there would have been no Nigeria today. As people who acted outside the interest of Nigeria as a country, to expect compensation is a very odd logic.

“If the Igbo don’t like it, they can attempt secession again. If they do, they must be prepared to live with the consequences. Nobody owes them anything and nobody is out to compensate them for anything.”

The doctor-turned-politician also condemned claims that Buhari’s appointment of northerners into key positions
in government was done out of ethnic sentiment.

He said, “They (critics) should tell us which ethnic groups have been favoured by Buhari in the course of making his appointments in parastatals and agencies. Those who are making those allegations, particularly the Igbo, have not told us exactly which parastatals.

“For example, an Igbo man has just been appointed as the head of the NNPC, one of the most important government agencies in Nigeria. And over 50 per cent of those appointed before him were also Igbos. So, if people decide to be mischievous, there is nothing anybody can do about it. As far as I am concerned, those appointed have been good and credible persons.”

On reports that Buhari may head the petroleum ministry for the next 18 months, the northern leader stated that there was no living Nigerian at that public level who knew as much about the ministry as Buhari.

According to Mohammed, there is full justification for Buhari to be petroleum minister for as long as he desires.

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/breaking-newsbuhari-owes-igbos-nothing-junaid-tells-ezeife/

The Acting Chairman, Independent National Electoral
Commission, Mrs. Aminat Zakari, has said that the commission is awaiting reports of the police investigations into bribery allegations against some resident electoral commissioners and other staff of the commission.

Zakari, who disclosed this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH in Abuja on Friday, said INEC was waiting for security agents to provide tangible evidence against those involved.

The acting INEC Chairman, who said she had the capacity to be substantive INEC Chairman despite being a woman, denied claims that she is President Muhammadu Buhari’s in-law.

Zakari confirmed that security agents and INEC had received petitions against some RECs, but refused to give the number and identities of the commissioners involved.

Reacting to bribery allegations
against some RECs, she stated, “Everybody makes allegations about bribery, or about somebody being bribed.
Anybody can make the allegation, unless it’s proven by the security agencies or the
court, INEC does not take action.

Speaking on those that had been picked up by the security agencies, he stated, “Unless they (security agencies) give us anything in writing, we just leave it as it is until their investigations are over.”

Zakari, who dismissed an insinuation that she could not effectively perform as INEC Chairman because of her gender, said she was not desperate to retain the job in a
substantive capacity.

She stated, “I am a human being first. I have the capacity. If I have the ability to do something and there are ways and means of achieving your targets. You don’t rely on your brain alone. You have other people to rely on. I have
done administration. I have worked in organisations that demand accountability.”

The INEC acting chairman explained that she was not appointed commissioner in INEC by Buhari, adding that former President Goodluck Jonathan had appointed her.

“I can’t say the General (Buhari) is my in-law. I am not married to his son. My daughter is not married to him. That is what I understand about being an in- law, but obviously, in life, you have acquaintances, people you have known,” she said.

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/breaking-newsi-am-not-buharis-in-law-zakari/

Beyonce , husband-Jay-Z and daughter-Ivy Blue returned from a short family holidays in the Hamptons on Monday and when they arrived in New York by a helicopter from the beachside paradise, Beyonce was captured covering her stomach area.

For some weeks now, the blogsphere has been filled with rumours that the 33-year-old singer is pregnant—with this covered up fuelling the rumour this week.

Despite the warm summer weather , Beyonce wore loose clothing and a heavy denim jacket, covering her stomach area with a laptop, just as she was spotted doing last month.

Whatever it is, we will soon know —either there is indeed a baby in there or she is just pulling in the attention .

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/hot-photos-beyonce-continues-to-fuel-pregnancy-by-covering-her-stomach/

On the 1st of August, Federal Palace Hotel witnessed the
convergence of music lovers, fashion creatives, business moguls and more as everyone brought the glam to the kick off the
launch for DJ Cuppy’s 8
Country African tour in Lagos. Hosted by MTV VJ Ehiz, the concert was attended by the
likes of Cuppy’s dad, Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote, Segun Agbaje, Olamide, Iyanta, Ali Baba, Temi Otedola and many
more.

The concert aimed at
appreciating DJs and Producers
in the industry featured DJ
Neo who kicked off the
concert, DJ Nana, Leriq, DJ Olu,
Spellz, DJ Obi, Ikon, DJ Caise, Young John who had Lil Kesh perform on his set, Pheelz, Legendury Beatz and DJ Hazan.

Cuppy ended the show with 2 different sets, both of which included dance choreographies
and an electrifying blend of
native/international music
mash ups. In between both sets, a brief interview session between Cuppy and DJ Jimmy Jatt, who could not attend the concert, was played for the crowd. A special way of
showing appreciation to the legendary DJ Jimmy Jatt from Cuppy.

A special tribute was paid in
video to appreciate the
support of the <strong>Dangote Foundation</strong> , which sponsored the charity visit to St Peter’s Primary School in Epe, earlier in the week.

With 7 more countries to go
(Senegal, Ghana, Kenya,
Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda
and South Africa), follow the
conversation on social media
using the hashtag #CUPPYTAKESAFRICA and follow
DJ Cuppy on SnapChat, @CUPPYMUSIC. Find out what she gets up to
and how her plans are going as she gears up for the next
show in Dakar, Senegal .

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/top-nigerian-celebrities-turn-up-with-dj-cuppy-as-she-kicks-off-the-cuppy-takes-africa-tour-in-lagos/

Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives are pushing for the removal of fuel subsidy in order to put an end to persistent fuel scarcity in the country.

But they insist that the
authorities must put in place adequate infrastructure to
cushion the effect of the
subsidy withdrawal.

National Assembly correspondent, Joke Adisa
reports that for the past few
months, Nigerians have had to pass through travails in order to get fuel, facing long queues at filling stations and most often having to buy the commodity at prices, ranging from one hundred to one hundred and forty naira per litre.

Our correspondent also
reports that when the
commodity is in very short
supply, buying from fuel
vendors, otherwise known as ‘black market’ becomes the only alternative with the
vendors selling ten litres of
the product between two
thousand and three thousand
naira.

In Abuja and some other
parts of the country, the fuel situation oftem normalises only for fuel queues to reappear at filling stations after a short respite many concerned Nigerians want the government to find a lasting solution.
It is a challenge Lawmakers
seem ready to take on and
some members of Nigeria’s
House of Representatives
believe the solution lies in
government withdrawing subsidy on the commodity

The lawmakers are charging
the President Muhamamdu
Buhari-led administration to device ways of cushioning the effects of the eventual
removal while also diversifying the nation’s
economy.

They are hopeful that the
planned kick off of some
refineries across the country
will cushion the effect of on-
going fuel scarcity in the
country.

The legislators are also upbeat
about the much talked about Petroleum Industry Bill and are calling on the government to forward it to the National Assembly for prompt consideration and passage.


SOURCE: http://africwap.com/breaking-news-nigerian-lawmakers-call-for-removal-of-fuel-subsidy-2/

Have a gander at the above
shot of Nollywood actress and producer, Stephanie Linus slaying on the cover of Genevieve Magazine’s August issue.

The 32-year-old heavily-
pregnant actress effortlessly
slayed donning a pink gown
which accentuates her baby
bump.

Stephanie revealed last month
that she is expecting her first
child with her husband of
three years, Linus Idahosa.

Peep another shot of the ‘Dry’ actress sizzling in blue dress. An ethereal beauty!

SOURCE:http://africwap.com/hot-photo-stephanie-linus-her-baby-bump-slay-on-the-cover-of-genevieve-magazine/

Snoop Dogg has had another run-in with European
authorities.

Italian financial police said
they stopped the rapper at
the Lamezia Terme airport in Calabria on Saturday, Aug. 1, with $422,000 in cash, well
above the limit that can legally be transported across EU borders undeclared.

The incident comes less than a week after Snoop Dogg was briefly stopped in Sweden on suspicion of drug use after a concert near Stockholm.

Financial police confirmed a
report by the Italian news
agency ANSA that half of the
cash was impounded under
Italian anti-money laundering codes. In such cases, the balance is returned minus any fine set by magistrates.

Travelers within the European Union are required to declare 10,000 euros ($11,000) or more in cash.

Snoop Dogg played in Calabria
Friday night, and is scheduled
to perform Sunday at the
Kendal Calling Festival in
England.

Last weekend in Sweden, the rapper was questioned and tested for suspected drug use north of the capital. Authorities said test results would not be available for some time.

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/snoop-dogg-stopped-by-italian-customs

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has been found guilty of assault following her encounter with a paparazzo photographer in August 2009.

The 45-year-old model was given a six months suspended prison sentence, which her lawyer has vowed to appeal.

“We are appealing the ruling surrounding the 2009 incident,” attorney Guido Carlo Alleva said in a statement.

“Due to the ongoing legal process, we cannot discuss the matter further at this time,” Carlo Alleva added.

The photographer, Gaetano Di Giovanni , accused Naomi of scratching his eye and hitting him with a handbag when he attempted to take pictures of her and then- boyfriend , Russian billionaire Vladimir Doronin, as they walked through the Sicilian island of Lipar in 2009.

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/breaking-news-naomi-campbell-gets-six-month-suspended-prison-sentence

One more victim of the
chlorine gas explosion, which occurred at the water
treatment plant of the Plateau State Water Board in Jos, has died, bringing the death toll to nine.

Eight persons were said to
have died and more than 101 others received treatment for reportedly inhaling excessive poisonous gas, when a cylinder, containing chlorine, exploded last Friday night.

Our correspondent gathered that the latest victim is 18- year-old Samuel Nwosu.

Nwosu, who lived at
Millionaire Quarters, just
behind the water board
premises, was said to have
been rushed to the Plateau
State Specialist Hospital, in Jos.

His condition, however,
reportedly worsened a few
days after and was rushed to another hospital on Thursday, where he eventually gave up
the ghost.

Nwosu’s death was confirmed
by his father, Chief Larry
Nwosu, who added that the
deceased had been buried.

Some residents of the area,
who spoke to our correspondent, expressed
worry about the long effect
of the explosion on their
health.

They were particularly
concerned that the
government had not
conducted an environmental
impact assessment to
determine the long effect of the inhalation of the gas.


SOURCE: http://africwap.com/jos-chlorine-explosion-victim-dies

These scorned spouses who go about pouring acid on their exes really need to learn to move on. People get dumped all the time, and if all of us spurned souls decided to retaliate humanity would go extinct in a minute.

A 37 year old driver who poured acid on his wife for dumping him has been arrested by police in Teshie.

The suspect, Yaw Frimpong, reportedly got furious after his wife of fourteen years decided to up and leave the marriage.

According to Graphic Online, his wife , Joyce , packed her stuff and carried her three children out of the house after a misunderstanding between the two of them.

Frimpong thus tracked the movement of his wife , and poured acid on her when she was coming out her cosmetic shop in Teshie.

She suffered injuries on the right side of her head and neck, also sustained severe burns on her hands and chest. Her cries for help attracted residents who took her to hospital.

Frimpong went into hiding, but has now been arrested by Police who would arraign him before court.

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/man-arrested-in-ghana-for-pouring-acid-on-his-wife

hmmm.. Am from ile-ife.. This news is verify

There is another twist to the
the yet-to-be-officially
confirmed death of the Ooni
of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria.

The traditional chiefs in Ife
have denied that the Ooni is
dead.

Addressing journalists at the
palace of Ooni, the secretary
of Ife Royal court, High chief
Adetoye Adewole and the
president of Ife Development Board, Prof Muheeb Opeloye denied that the Ooni is dead

SOURCE: http://africwap.com/palace-denies-death-of-top-nigerian-monarch-ooni-of-ife