₦airaland Forum

Party elder and former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has asked the court-reinstated national chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff, to make sure that the party does not die in his hands.

It was gathered from a reliable source that Anenih advised Sheriff and his loyalists who had a closed-door meeting in his house yesterday that he should utilise the opportunity available to him to reach out to all aggrieved members so as to rebuild and reunite the party.

Although both Anenih and Sheriff failed to give details of what transpired during their less than 30 minutes meeting when Journalists posed questions to them, it was learnt that the chief offered what could be regarded as hard choices for a return of peace.

However, when asked to shed more light on his discussions with Sheriff, the former Minister of Works and Housing, said: “I have spoken to my son and he will carry out my advice.” When prodded further, Anenih said that he would not disclose the issues since “it is a family matter”
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On his part, Sheriff said his team had a very fruitful deliberations with the former BoT chairman, “and was offered suggestions” on what should be done to rebuild the PDP.

“Anenih is not just a former PDP BoT member; he is a leader in Nigeria. This PDP we are enjoying today and everybody is claiming, if there are two founding fathers, he will be among them. I came to consult him, I came to inform him about the situation we are in and he as the father who founded this party should be able to guide and advise us on how to restore the party to its 1999 status. He has given advice on what do on all the matters.”

The former National Vice Chairman of the PDP (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who was appointed by Sheriff to serve as Deputy Chairman (South) in replacement of Prince Uche Secondus, told journalist yesterday that he would be ready to step-down if that would bring about peace.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/pdp-must-not-die-in-your-hands-anenih.html

Northern youths under the aegis of Arewa Youth Forum, AYF, have alleged that most members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, do not wish President Muhammadu Buhari well.

In a statement by its National President, Comrade Gambo Ibrahim Gunjungu, the group explained that most APC members do not wish the President well because they are working to succeed him.


AYF alleged that rather than pray for the quick recovery of the President, some state governors in the North were working with some South West politicians to take over from Buhari and upstage the interest of the north.

According to the statement, “The umbrella organisation of all Northern Youths, Arewa Youth Forum, (AYF) is worried about the developing situation in the country as it concerns the polity and health of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari and its attendant consequences for social economic growth and development of the country.

“After an in-depth look at the prevailing circumstances, we deem it necessary to affirm that all is not well with the country and most especially the north as the region that holds the political reign of the country.

“President Muhammadu Buhari like any human being can be sick and looking at his age and the demand of superintending over a country like Nigeria, it is not surprising that his doctors have recommended further rest for the President to enable him to recuperate towards facing the task of taking the country to the next level.


“However what is worrisome is the attitude of the politicians especially those of Northern extraction towards the health of the President.

“Information available to us shows that instead of praying for the quick recovery of Mr. President and working to put the country in a better state ahead of his return to the country, many of them including some northern Governors are working to position themselves for personal political gains to the detriment of the ideology of Mr. President and the reason for which he was overwhelmingly elected by majority of Nigerians.

“It is now clear that many APC politicians do not mean well for the country and only supported the President for what they stand to gain. It is truly only the masses of this country that genuinely love and believe in the President and praying for his quick recovery.

“We are also worried and investigating information about some top northern politicians who are already collaborating and frolicking with top leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress from the South West in a new power alignment that might not be in the interest of the North just for selfish reasons.

More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/ayf-why-northern-apc-governors-want.html

A faction of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday condemned the leader of Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, for saying that Biafra would be actualized without gunshots.

It said the comment was selfish because some persons had paid the ultimate price for Biafra and a clear sign that Uwazuruike cannot lead the course he claimed to be fighting for.

Uwazuruike had on Wednesday during a meeting between members of his MASSOB loyalists and Biafra Independent Movement, BIM, in Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Uwazuruike stated that Biafra will be achieved without firing a single gunshot.

Represented by BIM’s Director of Information, Chris Mocha, Uwuazuruike said the long awaited breakup of Nigeria would take its natural course at the appropriate time.

Uwazuruike disclosed that the first procedure for declaring independence was to first notify the United Nations, UN, of the desire to secede.

But in his reaction, MASSOB factional leader, Uchenna Madu, in a statement issued in Awka, the Anambra capital, stated that Uwazuruike was afraid of confrontation with those against Biafra because he was protecting his business interests.
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Madu said: “From inception of the current struggle for Biafra actualization and restoration, MASSOB then under Uwazuruike, who was expelled November 30, 2015 at MASSOB headquarters, Okwe, lost about one thousand members through gunshots by Nigerian security agents, including hundreds of IPOB members through the same gunshots in many cities of Biafra land.

“How can Uwazuruike, who claimed to be championing the cause of Biafra, confidently and boldly, declare that Biafra will be actualized without gunshots? What other gunshots was he referring to? Is he referring to the war of 1967-1970? He has no regard for the people that died through these gunshots.

more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/uwazuruike-biafra-will-be-achieved-with.html

this is so adorable
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/queen-nwokoye-turn-to-igbo-elderly-man.html

Cristiano Ronaldo is the ultimate Adonis and the player ceases on every opportunity to display what many men can only dream of. He was at his preening best as he took part in a promo shoot for his CR7 underwear range.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/c-ronaldo-puts-his-rippling-body-on.html

More than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression, which is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO, in a global estimate published yesterday noted that at its worst, depression can lead to suicide and close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 to 29-year-olds.

The body said that although there are known, effective treatments for depression, fewer than half of those affected in the world (in many countries, fewer than 10 per cent) receive such treatments.

It noted that barriers to effective care include a lack of resources, lack of trained health-care providers, social stigma associated with mental disorders, and inaccurate assessment.

According to the WHO, in countries of all income levels, people who are depressed are often not correctly diagnosed, and others who do not have the disorder are too often misdiagnosed and prescribed antidepressants.

Indeed, the burden of depression and other mental health conditions are on the rise globally. A World Health Assembly resolution passed in May 2013 has called for a comprehensive, coordinated response to mental disorders at country level.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/who-300-million-people-suffer.html

A call by the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, that mosques in the North should be converted to schools in order to stem the tide of terrorism, underdevelopment and poverty in the region may seem a bold statement but is it right? IYABO LAWAL and UJUNWA ATUEYI in this report examine the motive behind the proposal.

Ten-year-old Musa Muhammed has a face that should be on a billboard – a billboard bearing a message about endangered children. Aisha, his mother came from Kebbi State and dropped him off at a Quranic School in Kano State when he was seven.

Left to his own devices, he is gaunt, and clad in torn clothes, which haven’t been touched by water in a long time. He is inside a local restaurant, cleaning off the plates of a customer who has just finished eating – with his tongue.

Like Musa, over seven million children in northern Nigeria are in the Almajiri System, according to figures from the National Council for the Welfare of Destitute (NCWD).




That figure is three times the population of The Gambia.
They are lopped off at thousands of Quranic schools that dot cities in many parts of northern Nigeria where they learn five-days in a week, and attend classes four times in a day. They are also expected to earn a living by begging and sometimes provide for their teachers’ upkeep too.



On Fridays, they are let loose on the city where they beg for alms to feed, or run errands. The notorious ones get their preliminary introduction in fundamentalism from rabble-rousing street preachers who introduce them to the terror trade.

Placed in this context, the call for the conversion of mosques to schools by the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, sounded like the words of a sage. However, there are those who say it is a recipe for chaos.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, in an address at the joint convocation of 2,000 teachers held at the Kano Government House, on February 7, regretted that the North has been lagging behind educationally.

Mallam Sanusi challenged northern governors to build a giant remedial college to accommodate all northern candidates, who fail to secure admission into conventional universities and for the use of mosques as schools.

To convince his audience that his ideas were not impractical, Sanusi cited the example of Morocco where this model of education was obtainable. He argued that this remedial institution would improve literacy rates in northern Nigeria, which currently plays catch up to the southern part of the country.

However, the debate about the much-touted educational backwardness of northern Nigeria is often starved of the benefit of a background. Prior to the infiltration of foreign cultures both Western and Islamic, indigenous Nigerians had functional education systems.

There existed well organised ancient city states across the various parts of what is today known as Nigeria. Prior to the arrival of the British colonialists, the Almajiri System was founded to perpetuate Islamic education. Pupils lived with their parents, the schools were within their vicinity, institutional funding was provided and even an inspector reported to the Emir on progress.

“The British invaded the region and killed most of the Emirs and deposed some. The Emirs lost control of their territories and accepted their new roles, as mere traditional rulers. They also lost fundamental control of the Almajiri System,” Professor Idris Abdulkadir, former Executive Secretary of National University Commission (NUC) said.
Abdulkadir further stated, “The British deliberately abolished state funding in respect to the system arguing that, they were religious schools. With loss of support from the government, its immediate community and the helpless Emirs, the Almajiri system collapsed like a pile of cards. Karatun Boko, western education was introduced and funded instead. The pupils now turned, Almajiri together with their Mallams, having no financial support resorted to begging and other menial jobs for survival. This is certainly the genesis of the predicament of the Almajiri system today.

Scholars argued that the North never believed that education was bad, only the Western kind, which they believed would corrode their values roil their stomachs.

Therefore, administrators in the region bowed to pressure from religious groups and did little to push western education. The consequence is the current system where there are more mosques than schools and millions of young northerners who lack skills that would make them self-sufficient today.

Extremism
The proliferation of mosques in the North and the failure of the Almajiri system have led many to believe that the system has morphed into a fertile ground for recruiting extremists.

“As the system is currently being practised today, lots of the children never made it. Some are lost through violence in the streets and some remain as untrained armies available to anybody poised to foment trouble. They have their own axes to grind against their parents, authorities and the society at large,” Abdulkadir stated.

A large population of illiterates coupled with an army of unemployed northern youths bruising under the weight of a corrupt political system is among the conditions that gave birth to Boko Haram in 2002 in Maiduguri, Borno State, by 32-year old Mohammed Yusuf.

Yusuf, a preacher gave scathing sermons against the government, which resonated with the people who hold a searing grudge against the establishment and Western education. When he was killed by security forces in 2009, hardliners in his organisation led by Abubakar Shekau, led a bloody insurgency whose embers still burn to this day.

This, however, is in sharp contrast with the southern part of Nigeria where though a church is springing up at every block, does not experience any sort of extremism.

It was against this backdrop that Sanusi made the call with an explanation that mosques could serve as alternatives pending when government can provide a conventional school structure.
He said that historically mosques are used for the accomplishment of other things other than worship. They have been used for instructions, meetings, arbitrations, policy planning and education.
Is Sanusi’s call a solution to encouraging education or just a little step in the long way to help northerners in educating their children?
The issue has elicited strong reactions from northern opinion leaders. Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, called the Emir’s statement “mischievous”, insisting that it will not solve the problem of millions of children begging on the street.

In the same vein, the Chief Imam of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Murtala Bidmos said the idea is not ideal.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/viability-of-sanusis-suggestion-on.html

Police in Ekiti State have arrested a student of College of Health Technology, Ijero Ekiti, Busayo Kayode, who tricked her bosom friend to be raped by 10 cultists in a bush within the school premises.

The police said Busayo, who is a member of AVE (Act Very Effective) cult group, specialised in wooing female students of the institution for recruitment.

According to a detective, who pleaded not to be named, part of the initiation process is that female students are blindfolded and raped by the cult members serially.

“They are thereafter warned to shut their mouth as initiates or risk losing their lives. But the last victim (name withheld) defied the threat and reported to her parents who informed the police, which led to the arrest of three of the cult members.”

A source within the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many female students had fallen the same fate but kept their mouths shut to avoid stigmatisation.

Kayode and three of the rapists were among the 26 suspects paraded on Wednesday by the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti, Wilson Inalegwu.

The CP said the command had also arrested a man, Olalekan Ezekiel, for allegedly parading himself as a police inspector.

According to him, Ezekiel was arrested on February 20 on Esure-Awo road, Igede by a patrol team and later confessed to the crime.

He said one unregistered red Honda Motorcycle was recovered from the suspects.

The CP said the police had also arrested six persons in Kano and Kaduna in connection with the killing of police paymaster in Ekiti, Mr. Idowu Taiwo, and one Engineer, Kunle Enisan as well as the kidnap of a Turkey-based Emmanuel Adeleke.

“The operatives successfully recovered a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Motorola Android Phone and Blackberry Passport belonging to the late OC MSS . Also, Infinix and Itel phones belonging to the waitresses working at a joint where the late officer was abducted before being killed.
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“The suspects are helping my men and they will be charged to court soon.”

Inalegwu said one Okada rider, Femi Omolewa, picked one Ruth Adeniyi from one ATM point in Ado Ekiti and robbed her of N24,000 and a Techno L8 phone.

He said investigation led to the arrest of one Omoniyi Oyindamola, Abdullahi Ajao; a phone repairer, Ayodeji Jeremiah and Omolewa.

The Police Commissioner added that he had established a ‘crime Hot Spot Policing Squad’ to smash criminals hideouts in Atikankan, Adebayo, Ajilosun and Ojumose areas of Ado Ekiti.

Inalegwu disclosed that the command was partnering with sister commands in Ondo, Kwara, Kogi and Osun States to curtail activities of kidnappers in the zone.

He said his men were also mapping thick forests along Ikere-Igbara Odo-Ogotun and Ise-Emure axes where kidnap victims were being regularly kept in the state to reduce this nefarious act .

“We are also enlisting the services of local hunters and vigilante groups for constant patrol of these deadly forests, so that when we occupy their hideouts, they will have no option than to run,” he said.

On the rampaging herdsmen killing the people, Inalegwu said, “We have also made very landmark achievement in the area to ensuring peaceful co-existence among the herdsmen and farmers.

“We are forming various groups selected from all these stakeholders so that all of us can be on the same page to be able to checkmate incessant crisis among them and ensure that Ekiti is in peace.”

Inalegwu commended the state government over quick intervention in Ayede/Itaji Communal clash and for clearing the road necks in all the 16 local governments.
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President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo on Tuesday 21st February 2017 continued his awareness campaign on the plight of the Igbo nation in Nigeria, wondering aloud why a group as big as the Igbos would be totally shut out from sensitive positions in the country.



Chief Nwodo, who has been visiting the seven Igbo-speaking states alongside Lagos and Abuja since his emergence as President General of Ohaneze, reiterated his position when he led other executive members of the organisation to a meeting with Rivers State governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike at the government House Port Harcourt.

“The current government in Nigeria has passed a vote of no confidence on Igbos, as being incapable to head any security service in Nigeria.”
He said.



“We are not Chief of Army staff, we are not Chief of Naval staff, we are not Chief of Air staff, we are not Inspector General of Police.”
He added.

Chief Nwodo also raised objection at the little attention given to infrastructural development in the South South, wondering aloud why a region responsible for a very significant percentage of the nation’s foreign exchange earner would be left to rot.

He also raised objection at the killing of unarmed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, wondering what the youth, who are clearly not happy with the unfair treatment being meted out to them in a country that was supposed to be theirs, did to warrant being killed.

“In today’s newspaper, Amnesty International says 177 IPOB and MASSOB people have been killed since they started their struggle.”
He revealed.

“Nobody has told us how they were killed and what they did to be killed.”
He added.

Rivers State governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on the other hand enumerated the several challenges faced by his government under the Buhari-led federal government.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/nnia-nwodo-nigeria-treats-igbos-as.html?m=1

A Reprisal attack against South Africa’s business interests in Nigeria could do huge damage to its economy, those who have been following the ongoing xenophobic attacks against other Africans in South Africa told The Guardian yesterday.

Although most business analysts — including the Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf — dismissed concerns over reprisal, they said South Africa has firm grip on major sectors of the Nigerian economy and could lose badly unless it does more to stop the recurring attacks.

Most of the attacks in South Africa occur in areas occupied by black Africans. “Cape Town is governed by the opposition party and they are mainly whites and coloured. The problems are always within the areas dominated by blacks,” says Cape Town-based medical doctor, Mr. JohnMartins Chinedu Mbamalu.

During his last visit to Nigeria, President Jacob Zuma said there were 120 big South African companies in Nigeria, sparking off debate on obvious trade imbalance and lopsided economic ties between both countries.

While South African companies in Nigeria are believed to be experiencing growth and patronage, Nigerian companies in South Africa complain of socio-economic asphyxiation. Business leader and president of the more than one million Nigerian residents was quoted as saying that South Africans have in place “some laws to ensure that foreign businesses do not thrive in their country.”

South Africa’s leading companies in Nigeria include MTN, Power Giant, Eskom Nigeria, South African Airways, South African Breweries (SAB miller), Stanbic Merchant Bank of Nigeria, Multichoice and Umgeni Water.

Others include Refresh products, PEP Retail Stores, Shoprite, LTA Construction, Protea Hotels, Critical Rescue International, South African-Nigeria Communications, Global Outdoor Semces, Oracle and Airtime. Experts say entry and growth of Africa’s interests and businesses in the current democratic dispensation have been ‘phenomenal,” moving from just four, in 1999, to 120 in 2016.

“Reprisal attack is a possibility but I’m hoping it does not happen”, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, told The Guardian. “ The South African government can do much better,” she said, stressing that a mayor in Pretoria made inciting statements that fuelled attacks on Nigerians and other Africans, especially Zimbabweans. “No responsible government will encourage reprisal because that will mean bringing yourself lower than them,” she cautioned.

Dabiri-Erewa said: “The Nigeria Mission in South Africa has met with the South African Police authorities and they have assured us they will (henceforth) provide protection for Nigerians.” Erewa-Dabiri, who on Monday urged the African Union (AU) to prevail on South African authorities to halt the attacks, however, noted that self-help or reciprocity could worsen the issue.

In a statement in Abuja Dabiri-Erewa had described the attacks as “unnecessary setback.”
Dabiri-Erewa said the AU was being called to intervene because information had it that there would be fresh xenophobic attacks against foreigners today and tomorrow.

In a telephone interview with The Guardian yesterday, Erewa-Dabiri said the latest attack was done by “just a small part of” South Africa’s population . Some time ago, we used the principle of reciprocity; when they (South Africa) turned back an Arik aircraft, we turned theirs back. But this is the time for the AU to intervene.”

Yusuf who runs the Lagos chamber of commerce dismissed the possibility of reprisal attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria, noting that, unlike small businesses predominantly owned by Nigerians in South Africa, most of the South African ventures are large enterprises.

“There may be a couple of protests but Nigerians are not violent and would not toe the line of South Africans. Moreover, Nigerians benefit largely from South African businesses in the country through employment, as many of the businesses have over 90 per cent of Nigerians as their employees. So there may not be the need for such an action.

“Nigerians have a lot to lose if such reprisal actions occur. However, I do not see that happening. Nigerians are not crude”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government while strongly condemning the incident “urged the South African government to take the strongest measures to protect the lives and property of foreigners living in South Africa and also to quickly bring to justice the perpetrators of these heinous crimes”.

The government in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs observed that incidents of xenophobic attacks have continued unabated in South Africa since 2015, and that Nigerians are among the groups that have been mainly targeted for attack and looting of their property.

The Ministry, however, urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm and law-abiding, adding that high-level communications aimed at permanently resolving the crisis have commenced. It nonetheless advised Nigerians in South Africa to be vigilant.

In the same vein, the Senate has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately review Nigeria’s foreign policy following the attacks.

Besides, the government of South Africa has condemned the xenophobic violence describing it as not only despicable but demeaning of the African people.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/120-south-african-companies-in-nigeria.html#more

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, tuesday urged the Lake Chad Basin Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to step up its operations against Boko Haram resurgence, and defeat remnants of the Boko Haram sects still staging attacks in the North-east.

Olonisakin stated this in Abuja during the opening of a three-day meeting of experts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission member states and Republic Benin.


He explained that though the activities of Boko Haram sect had been on the decline, the resurgence of attacks in recent times remained a great source of concern.

Olonisakin contended that the dismantling of the terrorists’ stronghold has prompted a “dispersal and resultant sporadic attacks in the MNJTF Area of Responsibility (AOR).”

He observed that there was a strategy by the sect “to survive and possibly regroup. Thus, the need to step up the tempo of operation in the MNJTF AOR.

“I am happy to note the successes achieved by MNJTF in Operation Gama Aiki I and to express confidence that Operation Gama Aiki II, which has just commenced, will achieve even greater successes by dealing a decisive blow on Boko Haram terrorists in our collective area of responsibility.

“It is obvious that the range of threats confronting the region is so multifaceted that the solutions to them require a multi-dimensional approach by various member states,’’ Olonisakin stated.

The CDS added that there was an urgent need to deploy strong force to tame the resurgence of the terrorists, adding: “Accordingly, a combination of hard and soft power approaches are required if the fight against terror and other criminality is to be won.

“Therefore it is my firm belief that when all efforts are combined in a holistic manner, we will be able to defeat terrorism and restore peace and order in the Lake Chad Basin region.”

Commander of the MNJTF, Maj Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, informed journalists that though the terrorists had been routed from some of their territories, “they had not been completely destroyed. They still move about in splinter and wreck some havoc,’’ Adeosun said.

He stressed: “There is need for new strategies to ensure that we really get over them by removing the remaining vestiges of their capabilities in whatever form.”
The three-day event seeks to address critical security threats in member states under the umbrella of the Multi-national Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

The MNJTF was set up in 1998 for the conduct of joint military operations within the Lake Chad Region.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/cds-wants-lake-chad-multinational-force.html

The fears of many Nigerians were confirmed yesterday when the presidency revealed that the results of the medical tests undertaken by President Muhammadu Buhari in the United Kingdon would require him to remain in London for longer than anticipated.

This was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.


“During his normal annual check up, tests result showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the president staying longer than originally planned,” Adesina said.

The results of the tests were however not made public.

Adesina, in a statement he issued on February 5, had said that Buhari was compelled to extend his stay back in the UK in order to complete his medical tests as recommended by his doctors.

But yesterday, Adesina said the president thanked millions of Nigerians who had been sending goodwill messages and praying for his health and well being in mosques and churches throughout the country.

According to him, the president is immensely grateful for the prayers, show of love and concern.

“President Buhari wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is no cause for worry,” the statement added.

Also, speaking to State House correspondents after he had issued the statement, Adesina said only Buhari could disclose the ailment that has kept him away from his job for over a month.

He said the president wanted Nigerians to know that he appreciates their prayers, concerns and goodwill.

Adesina said: “He has added that there is really no cause to worry. He is the one who owns the body and there is nobody who will know his body more than him and he says no cause to worry.”

When asked how long the president will continue to rest in the UK Adesina replied: “I speak for somebody, I do not speak for myself. So it is what he tells me to say that I say and the statement transmitted to me is that the president needs to rest for some more time.”

The president’s spokesman also said that the statement issued by him on behalf of the president was Buhari’s way of speaking to Nigerians.

“What he has just done is to speak to Nigerians,” Adesina said.

When pressed again on the exact nature of the health concerns keeping the president in London, Adesina said: “Don’t you know that the Hippocratic Oath even forbids a doctor from speaking about the condition of his patient except the patient authorises it?

“It is only the patient himself who can speak about what he is going through.

“This is the person going through these series of tests and rest, and he says no cause to worry, let us believe that.”

Adesina was also tasked on the harassing of Nigerian journalists who have been trying to reach and interview the president in the UK.

On this he said that he did not consider the treatment meted out to reporters of The Guardian and Nation as harassment.

He said: “I do not consider that harassment. Presidents are not hijacked and interviewed. These things are scheduled. So I do not consider that as harassment.”

On speculations that the president may remain in the UK for months, he said: “What we have just said is what I will want us to believe. The president said he needs to rest further. The same president that communicated that to us, when it is time for him to come, he will also communicate to us.”

On the claim that the president has lost his voice, Adesina also challenged those who have made the claims to prove it.

He said: “He spoke with President Donald Trump. Did Trump say he did not speak with the Nigerian president? Anybody can allege anything.

“My message to Nigerians is for us to learn to believe our leaders. This is a man we elected into office and he says no cause to worry, let us believe him.”

In the president’s absence, his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, to whom Buhari handed over the mantle of office, shall continue to act as president.

In a related development, Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday said Buhari had expressed hope that he would return to the country soon, insisting that the president was healthy and in good spirits.

Saraki, who made this remark at the resumption of plenary in the Senate while briefing his colleagues on his recent visit to the president in London, said the president conveyed his best wishes to members of the National Assembly.

His briefing was made after he read the president’s letter of February 5, informing the Senate of his decision to extend his initial vacation for 10 working days indefinitely.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/presidents-test-results-require-him-to.html

More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/reginal-daniel-looking-beautiful-in-new.html?m=1

Love this swag
More photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/cristino-ronaldo-dapper-in-new-photo.html?m=1

People kept trolling 50 Cent's son, Marquise Jackson, to reach out to his Dad, 50 Cent, on IG to see if there was any way he could repair their bad relationship. He got tired of the trolling and showed people why he couldn't reach out to his Dad. See it after the cut...
He blocked his own son on IG.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/50-cent-blocked-his-son-on-ig.html

The Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed on Friday urged the media to eschew disinformation and fake news, saying the phenomenon if left unchecked, could damage the credibility of the media and endanger the country’s peace and security.

The Minister on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of Daar Communications Plc. owners of the African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower radio station deplored what he called the current siege of disinformation and fake news in the country.

“Unfortunately this dangerous trend, if not checked by the media – especially the traditional media – is capable of tearing the fabric of the society and bringing the country to its knees,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said that to make matters worse, a section of the traditional media often amplifies the disinformation and the fake news being spread on the Social Media.

He noted that in spite of the incursion of the Social Media, the traditional media remains the most credible platform, hence it should not join forces with the purveyors of falsehood.


“My greatest problem is with the traditional media because most people will probably say Social Media is what it is. But when the traditional media also latches on the same fake news and the same disinformation, then I begin to get worried for many reasons. Number one, it affects the credibility of the media itself and once the media is no longer believed, once the media loses its credibility, then it has serious consequences for the media and the society as a whole,” the Minister said.

Alhaji Mohammed recalled the role that disinformation, fake news and hate speeches played in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda in which over 800,000 people were killed and urged the media to draw some lessons from that unfortunate development.

He expressed concern that in the past few weeks, the media was saturated with false news on the health of the President, and that even when the government and the presidency promptly clarified that the President is hale and hearty, some people did not believe them because of the lies they have read in the Social Media.

“What happened in the last couple of weeks is quite worrisome. Mr.President left for a vacation. When he was leaving, he transmitted the necessary letter to the National Assembly on who was going to act. He said during his vacation, he will also use the opportunity to carry out his routine medical check-up. Within 12 hours of leaving the country, the news was that he had died, and when that was not sustainable, they said he was critically ill.

”Some even went on to say that he was actually flown out of the country in an ambulance when the whole world saw when he was leaving and it was televised. For a week or so all we heard was this dangerous disinformation,” the Minister said.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/lai-mohammed-to-media-shun.html

Nickelodeon has announced the nominees for the 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards; and Nigerian's Yemi Alade scored a nomination for "Favorite African Star", which serves as the diva's first major award nomination in 2017. Hosted by WWE Superstar John Cena, Nickelodeon’s 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards is scheduled to take place on Saturday 11 March at USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles and premieres simultaneously on Nickelodeon and NickToons at 2:40PM on Wednesday 15 March.

Yemi Alade joins a long list of international nominees at this year’s KCAs including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Daya, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Megan Fox, Lukas Graham, Kevin Hart, Scarlett Johansson, Dwayne Johnson, Felicity Jones, Leslie Jones, Anna Kendrick, Bruno Mars, Melissa McCarthy, The Chainsmokers, Justin Timberlake, Twenty One Pilots and more.
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/yemi-alade-nominated-for-african-star.html?m=1

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Http://www.akelicious.com
Description-We Set The Standard In News And Information By Exposing Good And Bad Details Of World Politics And Entertainment With Others.

Reggae Blues” singer, Harrysong returns to his ex, Five Star Music.

It’s been a whole week of drama starring Harrysong, Alter plate and Five Star Music. News of his arrest and rearrest was all over the place. The drama has another twist to it. Harrysong has returned to Five Star Music as a prodigal son.

It’s 24 hours now, since Daddy Showkey reconciled Harrysong and the executives of Five Star Music. All is settled now as Harrysong gets back with the label.

This proof comes on as the “Reggae Blues” singer deleted his own Alter Plate from all his social media account and updated it with Five Star Music. The singer also acknowledged Five Star is family.
Read more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/harrysong-returns-to-five-star-music.html?m=1

The more you burn the shrines the more version of the Bible i will tear,Reverend Father Ebube Monso arranged some useless boys to come and burn our shrines that have been existing at Ekwuluobia before Ebube Monso was born,He have no right to burn it because there was tradition before Christianity come into existence so every community must have it own shrines that can never stop any one to serve or worship what so ever.That is why i tore the bible again
Read more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/ekwuluobia-boy-to-ebube-monso-more-you.html?m=1

They really look like brothers
More photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/photo-nollywood-actor-harry-b-anyanwu.html?m=1

Unless the proposed 2017 health budget is amended, millions of Nigerian children will end up dead this year from severe malnutrition and vaccine preventable diseases, experts have proclaimed.
This is despite president Buhari’s avowed promise that his government will ensure the provision of adequate healthcare delivery to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that during the inauguration of the Kuchigoro Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Abuja, that the President reaffirmed his campaign promise, to end needless maternal, child deaths and provide universal healthcare to Nigerians.But the 2017 appropriated health budget cast doubt to the sincerity of government toward the actualization of this promise. The N304bn budgeted for Health this year is only 4.17 percent of the national budget, an insignificant improvement on the 2016 budget of 4.13 percent. Considering the depreciation of Naira to Dollar, experts surmised that 2017 health budget is cumulatively lower than that of 2016.
Health advocates under the platform of The Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), said these figures are even more inadequate considering the public health challenges facing the country in areas of child- malnutrition, routine immunization, maternal and infant mortality, family health, among others.
Up till now, the country’s maternal and under-five mortality remains one of the worst in the world, with 111 women dying every day from pregnancy related causes, as well as 2,300 under-five children, going by the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS, 2013).
This is the more reason why more funds should be injected into health the group noted. “The 2017 proposed health budget is just 4.17 percent of the entire federal budget, a figure still very far- 73 percent gap from the 15 percent benchmark. It is quite disheartening considering that other African countries with very low influx of revenue such as Ethiopia and South Africa budget as much as 12 to 15 percent,” they said.
From their analysis, the proposed 4.17 per cent will drop further to 4.3 per cent when you consider the combined health budgets of the federal and state governments.
Analysing the 2017 health budget, a public health consultant, Dr. John Onyeokoro noted that the National Health Act (NHA) and the intervention fund of about N46 billion was not captured in the budget.
The Act provides that one percent of the Consolidated Revenue of the Federation should be set aside for health funding. Up till now, the NHA is yet to be implemented, hence the burden of paying for healthcare falls disproportionately on households.
If you consider other factors such as the refunds to Global Alliance fir Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) and Global Fund, totaling about N6 billion, the actually value of the health budget will further diminish, Onyeokoro said.
A 2013 report by the Africa Health Budget Network indicates that 69 percent of all health expenditure in the country was spent by households without insurance.
The project director of PSN-PACFaH, Remi Adeseun said the high exchange rate has a great impact on health.
“This is because most of our health services are reliant on importation. With official exchange rate now N305/US1, compared to last year’s N197/US1, the proposed 2017 health budget ($0.997million) is less than last year ($1.269 million), by 21 percent”, he said.
With the recession still biting hard, and the insurgence at North east, there is no doubt that more Nigerian children will experience hunger and malnutrition this year unless there is urgent intervention.
According to The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), these children are at risk of death from malnutrition, vaccine preventable deaths and malaria.
UNICEF has revealed that about 2.5 million children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Nigeria are in dare need of treatment. In order to avert more death from SAM, UNICEF Nutrition Advocacy Specialist, Zakaria Fusheini, said Nigerian government need to invest more in SAM intervention services such as the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM).The major cost of the programme is the Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the treatment. It cost UNICEF an estimated US$61 per child reached to procure and distribute the RUTF. This has been made possible, thanks to Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), British Department for International Development (DFID), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/2017-health-budget-promises-more-child.html#more

Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced Mrs. Ada Ugo-Ngali and the Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, Walter Wagbatsoma, to 10-year imprisonment for defrauding the Federal Government of N754 million in oil subsidy transactions.
The presiding judge found them guilty on each of the six-count amended charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Wagbatsoma was sentenced in absentia as he is currently being held in the United Kingdom on charges relating to a £12 million National Health Service (NHS) Trust fraud.Okunnu, in her ruling, noted: “For each of the counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, the defendants are sentenced to 10 years in prison.
“For each of the counts of obtaining money by false pretences, the defendants are hereby sentenced 10 years in prison.
“For the count of conspiracy to commit forgery, the defendants are sentenced to seven years in prison, for the offence of forgery, the defendants are sentenced to eight years in prison.”
Justice Okunnu said the total sentence was 69 years for each of the defendants but the sentence is to run concurrently.
“I hereby give an order of restitution to Ontario Oil and Gas Limited. The N754 million which was defrauded by the company should be returned to the Federal Government.”
The EFCC had alleged that Wagbatsoma, Ugo-Ndagi and the oil company on July 7, 2010 obtained the sum of N1.9 billion by false pretence from the Federal Government claiming that the money was subsidy payout to the company.
Meanwhile, a prosecution witness, Mr. Danladi Daniel yesterday informed An Ikeja sister court, presided over Justice Aishat Opesanwo, of how a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rickey Tarfa, allegedly initiated illegal communication with a judge.
The senior lawyer is standing trial for a two-count charge of obstruction of justice and pervasion of the course of justice preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/court-sentences-oil-marketers-to-138.html#more

Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was a guest on Channels TV last night where he gave a true picture of President Buhari's health.
"The true state of President Buhari's health is that the president is not ill. I have been in touch with the president and the people around him today(yesterday) just as I was also yesterday. The President is not ill, the president is fine.
Don't forget that the statement we issued said he was going on holiday and that during the holiday, he will do medical checkups. The sequence is very important. Holiday first, Medical checkup second. Nigerians want to turn the sequence. He is 74. Even if he is not 74, you need to check your health. The President is not ill. The President is Hale"he said
Asked Why President Buhari has always sought medical attention oversees instead of in Nigeria, Adesina said "You have what is called medical history where you consult people who are used to you and your constitution and your health, they have your medical history. Before he became President, he has been using these people. It serves to reason that the same people should continue to attend to him".
On whether President Buhari ever uses the medical facility in Aso Rock, Adesina said "I can't say. because when the President is at home, I have never seen him fall sick but he has a personal physician who attends to him. I will not be able to say categorically whether he uses the Aso Rock facility or not".
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/femi-adesina-true-state-of-presidnet.html#more

It is no longer news that the return of lifestyle reality show, Big Brother Nigeria, rechristened Big Brother Naija, is being hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Many have asked; how patriotic is a Nigerian show held in another country? Reasons have been given by promoters of the show on why it is economically wise to record the show from a long time purpose-built facility, given the poor infrastructures in Nigeria and the epileptic power supply that leaves organisers at the mercy of power generating sets and expensive diesel.

Here are 10 reasons why, despite odds, hosting the show from Johannesburg does not make it less a Nigerian event.


1. The twelve housemates are Nigerians selected from the six geo-political zones.


2. The popular Big Brother Voice is that of a Nigerian.

3. Series Director, Gbenga Kayode is a Nigerian and Nigeria-trained.

4. Head of content and about nine other members of his team are Nigerians.

5. Title sponsor, Payporte is a Nigerian online retail company.

6. Foods, drinks, fabrics, decors, props are largely from Nigeria.

7. English, pidgin, and other Nigerian languages are permitted in the show.


8. Nigeria’s major language interpreters have been engaged on the show

9. Winner’s monetary prize of 25 million is in Naira

10. Show is reaching more subscribers in Nigeria with the inclusion of GOtv channel.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/top-10-reasons-big-brother-naija-is.html#more

Despite all his efforts to stay off the media, the MMMG boss, Ubi Frankline has had his own share of publicity, both for good and bad reasons. From the time he parted ways with his former record label mate, Iyanya to the time he started dating Lilian Usoro until their final marriage which has been surrounded with so many controversies. His marriage to the talented actress despite producing a child, crashed barely four months after they gave birth to their first child, Jayden. Ubi Franklin & Lilian Esoro While some reports are saying that the crashed marriage was as a result of distance as the thespian always complained Ubi was not always around in most of her filming works, others are saying that the crashed marriage was as a result of infidelity and domestic abuse. With all these stories raging, the MMMG boss, seems to have retreated into a shell and decried that the media has not been fair to him. In a chat with him during the Miss Nigeria contest held recently, he said,
read full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/ubi-franklin-media-has-been-unfair-to-me.html#more

AKELICIOUS FACE OF THE MONTH CONTEST
Like every piece of clothing has its own nature and finesses, we at Akelicious.com, also wish to promote a face that redefines freshness and innocence of the modern times. This is done through a contest. This contest is open to all and can engage any youngster who wants to showcase their style element and present it to the world. Though this contest does not engage any serious fashion models, its mainly targeted to pull out the style quotient form the crowd within all of us. We are not looking for people who are already famous but wish to explore the options of the people who are just worth it and not publicized.
THE RULES TO FOLLOW :
Though there are no hard and fast rules to follow, the only pre requisite is that you should have a facebook account which is functional and linked to our contest. All you would have to do is get a best picture clicked and link it to the face book account.
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING ? IT’S EASY ! :
You do not need to stand in a long line for the whole day for registering yourself for this contest. All you have to do is use your existing facebook account and inbox us with a picture of your face, which you deem fit to be entered into the contest. Login to your face book account and search for Akelicious. Like page & inbox us your picture with a beautiful smile along with your details. All the girls and boys can participate as long as you are sending us your original picture. So find a good picture and inbox it to us along with your Name, Mobile no & Email Address.
RESULTS :
All the pictures that would be submitted to us would be published on our page on starting of this contest onwards & would be promoted all across the portal. These pictures will be awarded points accordingly to Likes/Comments/Tags on your picture. The person scoring the maximum points will eventually be awarded the winner. Selected people gets call for modelling shoot with Akelicious.
This might be your chance to win the prize and rank top among the contestants.
POINTS AWARDED ARE AS FOLLOWS :
Once you are done sending you picture with a brief about your details to us, we will start posting them on our face book page and the marks are calculated according to the likes, the tags and shares that your pic would get.
1 Like = 2 Points : which will keep on adding on for the number of times your picture is liked. This means more the number of people liking your picture, the better ranking it would give to your pic.
1 Comment = 3 Points :. So, this means that every time someone comments on your picture, you would earn three points for every comment which is made. Your comments in response to the comments made will certainly not be counted but every comment that you have responded to is certainly credible for increasing your ranking and points.
10 Tags = 1 Point : gained for you. So once we post your picture, go ahead and tag as many people as you can and ask them to tag others further. More the number of tags, more the points you would earn! 20 Shares makes 1 point. Share your picture among the people you can and every share would allot a point a ranking higher.
20 Shares = 1 Point : Share your picture with us and every share would allot a point a ranking higher. You cannot share your own picture though. Let us do it for you!
Enter this contest now and you have a chance to win attractive prizes. The first prize winner would get a certificate and a surprise gift. And the Two runner ups would be awarded with the certificates and a surprise gift too.
for info please call 08136054074

In case you're wondering how the most expensive player on the planet didn't make FIFA's team of the year, world football's governing body has an explanation. In an announcement, FIFA said:
The closest call was the third midfield position, with Kroos narrowly beating Pogba by two votes'. 'It is the smallest margin ever in the 12-year World XI history to decide on inclusion in the World XI.'Before his big money move to Manchester United, Pogba helped Juventus to a fifth straight Serie A title and reached the final of the Euros with France. The FIFPro World XI was dominated by players from Real Madrid and Barcelona, Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer is the only player from outside the two Spanish giants to make the cut
Read more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/pogba-missed-out-on-fifa-team-of-year.html#more

checkout more photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/photo-kelly-handsome-and-shoemaker-take.html#more

Prize money for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon totals $16.4 million (15.5 million euros), a 64 percent increase on the previous tournament in Equatorial Guinea two years ago.
Winners: $4 million
Runners-up: $2 million
Semi-finalists: $1.5 million each
Quarter-finalists: $800,000 each
Third in groups: $575,000 each
Full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/africa-cup-of-nations-prize-money-soars.html#more