₦airaland Forum

Arsenal

Olivier Giroud (£10.56m), Lukas Podolski (£10.56m), Santi Cazorla (£16.72m)

TOTAL: £37.84m


Aston Villa

Brett Holman (free), Karim El Ahmadi (£2.46m), Matthew Lowton (£3.3m), Ron Vlaar (£3.344m)

TOTAL: £9.108m

Chelsea

Marko Marin (£7.04m), Eden Hazard (£35.2m), Oscar (£28.16m)

TOTAL: £70.4m

Everton

Steven Naismith (free), Steven Pienaar (£5.06m), Kevin Mirallas (£6.73m)

TOTAL: £11.79m

Fulham

Hugo Rodallega (free), Mladen Petric (free), Sascha Riether (free)

TOTAL: £0

Liverpool

Fabio Borini (£11.704m), Joe Allen (£16.72m), Oussama Assaidi (£3.52m)

TOTAL: £31.944m

Manchester City

Jack Rodwell (£13.2m)

TOTAL: £13.2m




Manchester United

Shinji Kagawa (£14.08m), Nick Powell (£6.6m), Robin van Persie (£27.016m), Alexander Buttner (£3.9m)

TOTAL: £51.596m

Newcastle United

Romain Amalfitano (free), Gaël Bigirimana (£1.1m), Curtis Good (£453,200), Vurnon Anita (£7.48m)

TOTAL: £9.033m

Norwich City

Steven Whittaker (free), Jacob Butterfield (free), Robert Snodgrass (£2.816m), Michael Turner (£1.672m), Sebastian Bassong (£2.64m), Javier Garrido (loan)

TOTAL £7.128m

Queens Park Rangers

Samba Diakité (£3.52m), Ryan Nelsen (free), Andy Johnson (free), Robert Green (free), Ji-Sung Park (£2.728m), Fabio Da Silva (loan), Junior Hoilett (free), Jose Bosingwa (free)

£6.248m

Reading

Adrian Mariappa (£3.34m), Chris Gunter (£2.64m), Pierce Sweeney (undisclosed), Pavel Pogrebnyak (free), Danny Guthrie (free), Nicky Shorey (free), Garath McClearly (free), Stuart Taylor (free)

TOTAL: £5.984m

Southampton

Jay Rodriguez (£7.612m), Steven Davis (£880,000), Nathaniel Clyne (£2.816m), Paulo Gazzaniga (undisclosed)TOTAL: £11.308m




Stoke City

Jamie Ness (free), Geoff Cameron (£1.892m), Michael Kightly (£3.08m)

TOTAL: £4.972m

Sunderland

Carlos Cuéllar (free), Louis Saha (free)

TOTAL: £0

Swansea City

Michu (£2.262m), Kyle Bartley (£1.144m), Chico (£2.2m),

TOTAL: £5.606

Tottenham Hotspur

Gylfi Sigurdsson (£8.8m), Jan Vertonghen (£11m)

TOTAL: £19.8m

West Bromwich Albion

Ben Foster (£4.4m), Claudio Yacob (free), Markus Rosenberg (free), Yassine El Ghanassy (loan), Romelu Lukaku (loan)

TOTAL: £4.4m

West Ham United

Mohamed Diamé (free), Stephen Henderson (£655,600), Jussi Jääskeläinen (free), George McCartney (free), Modibo Maiga (£5.28m), Raphael Spiegel (undisclosed), James Collins (£2.816m), Alou Diarra (£2.2m)

TOTAL: £10.9516m

Wigan Athletic

Fraser Fyvie (£558,800), Ivan Ramis (£5.28m), Ryo Miyaichi (loan), Aroune Kone (£3.344m)

TOTAL: £9.182m

PREMIER LEAGUE TOTAL SPEND: £316,587,600

Source
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/how-ex-generals-daughter-cynthia-was-killed-by-facebook-friends/

See those camera men, couldn't they save they young man?

The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Monday, returned N1 million worth of recharge cards, among other items, to an accident victim, Mrs. Felicia Obanla.

The Ogun Sector Commander, Mr. Ayobami Omiyale, told newsmen in Ota while handing over the items to the victim that the accident occurred last Friday in Ota, involving five vehicles.

Omiyale said: “An articulated vehicle coming from Lagos to Sango lost control around Sango- Ota Toll Gate and rammed into a Mazda bus, with number-plate LAGOS XV 388 KJA.

“This also rammed into a Nissan Pathfinder jeep, with number-plate TF 368 KJA, and this jeep seriously hit Obanla as she was about to come down from a commercial motorcycle.

“She lost consciousness immediately and the FRSC Rescue Team took charge of the scene and conveyed victims to nearby hospitals for first aid treatments.”

Omiyale said although 17 people were involved in the accident, only five people were injured. He said N11,000 cash, a cell phone,  ATM cards, deposit slip, keys, among others, were also recovered at the scene of the accident.

He said it was difficult to locate Obanla because all the accident victims had been discharged from the hospital when FRSC officials visited the hospital to hand over the materials.

Search for owner
He said: “We started searching for her because of the worth of materials recovered and later found her at Medicare Clinic where she was receiving treatment. Some people had earlier come to our office, claiming to be her relatives, but we insisted that we want the handing over covered by the media.”

Obanla thanked the FRSC officials and confirmed that all the items were intact. “I don’t know that Nigerians can be this honest, I am very proud of this country.

FG/Boko Haram dialogue: NOA tasks Nigerians on tolerance

Following the revelation that the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, has indicated its willingness to negotiate with the Federal Government, Director-General of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, has called on Nigerians to support the move for the sake of peace.

Omeri, who spoke in Abuja, said the agency had offered to mediate in the dialogue.

It will be recalled that the Islamist sect had, in a recent statement, said it decided to initiate the peace move in response to numerous public appeals for peace in the country.

Omeri said: “In an atmosphere of peace, our differences can be better understood. As Nigerians, we are our brothers’ keepers and good neighbours.

“We have shared in the breaking of fast and have extended solidarity both ways. The call for dialogue at this hour is a manifestation of the efforts we have been making.

“I appeal to Nigerians from all shields of opinion and religions to guide against their comments, work towards peace and say only positive things that will lead us to lasting peace and brotherhood as one nation.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/fgboko-haram-dialogue-noa-tasks-nigerians-on-tolerance/

Chief Okhue Iboi is the Spokesperson for the Community of Nigerian White Witches. The 53 years old native    of  Edo State is proud of his association. “I am a white witch whose duty is to repair and not to destroy”. He is known for benevolence magic and accurate prediction.

In this exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard, “The Gifted One” unveils after the meeting of White Witches held  in Abuja last  Thursday “that witches, are trying their best to ensure that there is peace in the country and reveals that former president Ibrahim Babangida is not a terrorist. “He is the best president Nigeria has ever had.” He disclosed that the witches have concurred that the EFCC should investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria. He never failed to applaud president Jonathan for his steadfastness amid the security challenges in Nigeria. Excerpts

My story

My father. Chief Jonah Iboi, was a respected community leader, a farmer and  hunter. He went on hunting expedition with one of his friends. At a point, he heard the screaming of an animal in pain. He cocked his gun and pulled out his matchet to kill a deer he saw, but  to his amazement the deer was not held by a trap but was on the verge of giving birth.

Having allowed the deer to have its birth, a voice echoed from the animal that he should not touch it if he still wish to have his own children.



Chief Okhue Iboi

My father was not overly surprised about what he has seen and heard from the animal because of his knowledge of herbs enable him to understand the whole incident.

He, however, kept this bizarre experience to himself, until a month later when one of his five wives, Alice, being my mother became pregnant. Instead of the usual nine months, I spent 12 months in my mothers womb. When I was born in the 50s, I had leaves in my hands, which was a symbolic prelude to what I am renowned for today, as an herbalist, white witch.

As a white witch, where are the areas you specialize most?

I started from my childhood. I did not learn it but was a natural gift from birth. I also heal different types of sicknesses. I was asked to leave the primary school because, during those days, I do perform magic in the class and if a teacher is writing on the blackboard, instead of seeing what the woman is writing, I will be seeing different types of leaves there. I predicted in 1993 during the time of M.K.O. that he will win but will not be sworn in because of what he did to Awolowo.

I also predicted to IBB that because of what he did to MKO, he will not rule Nigeria again. I will not deny the fact that IBB is the best head of state Nigeria has ever had. I have predicted to so many people and it came to pass. Even in our other word, we praise him as the best head of state this country has ever had.

What is the difference between white witches and other ones?

White witches are the group that sees to the welfare of the people. We use our powers to heal people, predict what will happen in future and just for the good of the people. But people mis-understood us. They think we are the ones that kill people. It is only the black witches that can do that.

Like as we are thinking of the way to make the country good, the black witch can never think likewise. That is just the difference between the white and black witches. We also have international body where the whole witches in the whole world meets. We can meet anywhere anytime.

Recently, the Boko Haram sect made their demand that the president should resign for the deputy to take over and he should also change to Muslim for peace to reign, as a spokesman to Nigerian White Witches, what is your take on that?

Their demands can never be possible. To me, they are just joking. They know that it is quite impossible for Jonathan to comply to such demand. In our meeting in Abuja (Witches), we have seen it before other people that their demand cannot be possible. So, they should better stop disturbing themselves. We know that everything will soon settle. Peace will soon return to the country but it is just a matter of time.

You said that they will soon stop bombing, what do you think are the conditions for them to stop the bombing?

Yes, we have sent their leaders to talk to them. It will not be more than three months anymore the whole situation will return to normal. We the witches are trying our best to ensure that there is peace in the country. So we have sent messages across to Northern witches to talk to their people to give peace a chance.

State policing

I do not think there is any need for that. It will not bring solution to the problem. Most governors will use state police to victimise their opponents especially, during election period.

You know any law is made in this country, we the witches see that ahead of every other person. We know if it will work or not. I know that this state policing is a failed project. They will adopt the use of vigilante instead of the state policing.

Demolition of houses  in Abuja?

As you rightly said, yes we saw that. And we knew that it will not bring any problem in the country. People whose houses were affected will only complain after which, they will settle.

All the land are owned by government, so the government has the reserved right to ask people who did not comply with their requirements to leave whenever they want. We Nigerians are very stubborn. We Nigerians do not like doing what is right, we prefer the hard way.

Over dependence on oil

I strongly do not agree with this Nigerian idea of putting all their trust in oil as the only source of livelihood. There are some other countries that do not have oil but they still survive better than us. So I do not see any reason why a reduction in oil price in Europe will be affecting us here in Nigeria.

We should find other thing to develop as a source of living instead of believing solely in oil. The funniest part of the whole thing is that this oil money is circulating in the hands of few Nigerians while others are suffering.

Impeachment saga ?

Yes, we have had a meeting of the National Conference of Nigerian White Witches in Abuja about that issue and we have seen that it cannot work. They cannot impeach the president.

Privatization of PHCN?

That is a very wonderful idea. The best way I believe to tackle the problem of power failure is if the PHCN is privatized. If this happens, there will be competition in the sector just like what is happening in the telecommunication industry. There are different companies who are ready to render the services properly at a very cheaper rate.

So, everybody is struggling to meet up in order not to lose its customers. With this PHCN privatization, you can comfortably choose which company to use and in a situation where any of the companies fail in its service delivery, you conveniently, change to another company. A huge amount of money has been pumped into this sector which suppose to make it work perfectly well starting from the Obasanjo administration.

But we do not know where all these money are being directed at. Some individuals will sit in their houses and embezzle the money meant for the good of the nation. In fact, this is a very wonderful idea by the government. We applauded the idea when we heard it.

On CBN

The witches want the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria. That is one institution that many people have not look into. The governor, Mr. Sanusi is a good man but the people that are working with him are not sincere, so they should be investigated, because we have seen it from our world.

What do the witches foresee in 2015 general elections?

In that year, Nigerians need to pray as they have never prayed before because, from what we see at night during our meetings, there will be war. All the religions in the country should pray. Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers should pray whether there will be election that year.

The Northerners are saying that they are cheating them that they supposed to produce the head of state, likewise the Easterners and other parts of the country. This will create problem. And if Nigerians cannot pray, there will be  no election.

IBB Vs Clark

I want to tell you the truth; IBB has no hand in Boko Haram. He with other Imans are praying seriously for the good of this country. I do not see any reason why somebody will be suspecting him. He is innocent.

Chances of Jonathan on second tenure

It will be very hard. Jonathan going for the second tenure will be very hard for him. Because, there will be a very big problem. Though he is a very nice man but since he is not a military man, his chances are not bright.

What are the strategies the witches put on ground to avert these problems you are saying?

Yes, we are trying our best to see that there is no problem in the country because, if problem starts, it is the poor masses that will suffer. The rich will fly away with their families. In our meeting last Thursday in Abuja, we have agree to come together to form a strong formidable force to be able to hold the country together for good.

Calls for National Confab

Then we agreed that the president should call all the ex-presidents both during the military and civilian and solicit for their support to enable him do his duty very well. He should call them irrespective of their political affiliation. So that everybody will say what he/she thinks about the problem in the country?

The national conference should include representative from the six geopolitical zones and different age groups should also be represented. Then, they will put heads together for the good of the country.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=36140

The Government of the State of Osun in its resolve to making life better for its people living in the state and outside, will on Friday commence its free railway transportation to aid those holidaying during the festivity.

According to a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the train service will kick off on Friday through Saturday by 9AM and convey passengers from the Ido Terminus in Lagos to Osogbo, State of Osun.

He also added that passengers will also be conveyed from Osogbo to Lagos for 2 days which commences from Sunday and ends on Monday starting by 10AM each day.

The Omoluabi Train, as the service is popularly called, the government said, is to facilitate easy movements of people in the state during the festive period.

According to the statement, the service is part of the tourism and economic development strategies of the administration.

The statement also quoted the Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Mr. Ismail Jaiyeola Alagbada, as assuring holidaymakers of smooth rides reiterating the commitment of the of the government towards the welfare of the people.

Alagbada said, “Apart from our desire to ensure that the culture of rail transport is revived through strategies like this, the welfare of our people is also very paramount to this administration. This is why the government shall leave no stone unturned in its determination to provide all services that can make live better for them.”

It will be recalled that the free train service conveyed travellers during the last Easter holiday from Mushin, Ikeja, Agege (all in Lagos); Agbado, Abeokuta (in Ogun State) Ibadan, (Oyo State) to Osogbo.

The free train service had also come in handy during the transportation crisis caused by the sudden increase in the prices of petroleum products in January this year.

Those who had benefitted from the services in the past had commended the government for restoring the hopes of Nigerians in the capacity of the railway system as catalyst for speedy economic development.

O ya gba ori re mu... Ki o kepe Jesu lohun rara... bi aja t'okada gba...so wipe Ooooluwa ooooo!!!!!!!
Tani eni naa t'o gba blackberry bold5 lowo mi, t'o wa gbe Nokia 3310 lemi lowo... Ina Olorun ooo!!! Jowo ba mi naa ki o si fi BB Porsche ati Samsung Galaxy Tab3 ropo fun mi....O ya gba aduaaaa!!!!!.

English:
Grab your head...shout d name of Jesus with a loud voice like a dog that is hit by an Okada....say Godddd, who is dat person that collected from me Blackberry Bold5 & gave me Nokia 3310 in exchange..... Firrrreeee of Godddd ooo... deal with d person...and give me BB Porsche + Samsung Galaxy Tab3 in replacement....o ya prayyyyyy.....

Really we need to pray dis prayer of restoration oooo
Enjoy ur day

Psquare eating groundnut Akon staring at a statute's buttock Obasanjo drinking gari with groundnut 190 eating fufu with vegetable soup, Mukinat cooking in the kitchen All sorts of rubbish on the front page! You guys need to a new strategy

Three time Nigerian ruler, Olusegun Obasanjo drew attention and patronage from far and wide during his stewardship of the country. The scant attendance at the launch of a book on him last Tuesday, however, showed that things are not the same for the man once hailed as the father of modern Nigeria.

POLITICIANS are known to be fair weather people with no permanent friends, but permanent interest. The reality of this axiom seems to be playing out in the political camp of former President Olusegun Obasanjo following recent occurrences.

Gone are the years when Obasanjo would cause a serious stir in the entire country because he wanted to hold a function. Those were the years he held sway as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In those days, dignitaries across the country and beyond scrambled for Obasanjo’s invitations and even those, who were not invited to those functions sometimes gate-crashed, all in the name of currying the political favour of the Ebora of Africa (African deity).

Some of the events which were must-attend include the celebration of his village tagged; Ibogun-Olaogun Day, Owu Day, his birthday and launch of his Presidential Library.  At these occasions, billions of naira were realised by Obasanjo with ease.



Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Presidential library
And what happened during the launch of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library where over N2 billion was realised at a stretch speaks volume on the influence Obasanjo wielded when he was the cynosure of all eyes.

As a three-time head of state and chairman, Board of Trustee, BOT of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, whenever Obasanjo sneezed, governors and other who is who in all the sectors including the economy caught cold. Now, things appear to be changing as recent development seems to be indicating.

Then, governors, ex-governors, incumbent presidents across African countries, diplomats, technocrats, politicians and royal fathers across the country were at his beck and call but today, they hardly attend OBJ’s functions. His acclaimed political sons and daughters across the country seem to have abandoned their erstwhile political godfather.

They were loudly absent at the recent book launch by their political godfather held in Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library hall in Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

Arguably, Obasanjo is the most celebrated Nigerian leader, who at the same time paraded an array of benevolent politicians during and shortly after he exited the most plum job in the country in 2007.

Penultimate Tuesday, it became obvious that Obasanjo, who was honoured for his meritorious service as head of state and President of Nigeria might have been abandoned.

It was a day that a book titled: “Olusegun Obasanjo: Passing the Torch” written on his personality and achievements by a prominent personality, Ambassador Albert Omotayo, was launched. His usual  ‘ Chief launchers’ were no where to be found and the few ones who showed interest sent representatives.

Attendance: The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who was invited by Obasanjo, could not come in person. She sent a representative in the person of the Minister for Water Resources; Sarah Ochekpe.

Governors of Kebbi, Kaduna and Katsina states also sent representatives. The Kebbi governor sent his deputy, Aliyu Khalil, his Kaduna counterpart sent the state Chairman of the PDP, Nuhu Audu while their  counterpart from Katsina sent his Attorney-General.

Attorney general
Even the host governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was also represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Shuaib Salisu. Surprisingly, ex-governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke drove himself to the venue early and waited till the end of the programme.

Chairman, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; foremost businessman, Oba Otudeko; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; National Secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel all sent representatives.

The ultra-modern 700-capacity hall was scanty with journalists, ushers and security operatives constituting a sizeable number of the population.

Those who personally attended Obasanjo’s latest show were former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti and legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, who chaired the occasion.

Also in attendance were PDP chieftain, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and former Minister of Defence, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode.

Reactions to the low  turn-out of dignitaries
Chief Afe Babalola, who chaired the occasion, fired the first salvo when he expressed his disappointment over the scanty audience, adding that, he had expected the hall would be packed in honour of the great Nigerian leader.

According to him, what happened today might mean one of these; may be Baba decided to celebrate it in low-key or people did not get the information about this.

“As a matter of fact, the decision to accept to be chairman of this occasion was not one that came easy for me. I have been turning down all invitations. However, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCON is a man for whom I have tremendous respect and admiration and from whom I enjoy a measure of goodwill,” he said.

Corroborating Babalola on the perceived boycott of the event by Obasanjo’s political associates, former head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan said, “ Chief Obasanjo can be likened to biblical prophet who is never honoured in his own country and among his own people (Mathew Chapter 13 verse 57 and mark Chapter 6 verse 4)
“Chief Obasanjo is acknowledged and respected worldwide for his achievements and leadership qualities.

“But, it has not been the case at home. What I am saying therefore is that we must learn to celebrate our heroes rather than pull them down. Other countries that we think are better than our country also have their bad sides which they cover. It is only when we celebrate our heroes that emerging leaders can see them more as guiding lights and the heroes can work harder to achieve more for the country.”

Obasanjo, however, felt indifferent to the complaint as he maintained sealed lips throughout the five-hour programme.

Tributes to Obasanjo
Dame Patience Jonathan, who was represented by Ochekpe, described Obasanjo as an enigma and urged researchers to work on other notable personalities.

According to her, “Obasanjo has devoted his life to the service of the nation and humanity. He is a patriot who is still actively engaged in peace mediation efforts and advisory initiatives. It is important for all Nigerians especially the youth, who we will hand over to eventually, to have a good understanding of their socio-political antecedents.”

After the government sent them parking along Apapa-Oshodi express way, the tanker drivers now use this road, still under construction as their new park. Government should do something ASAP before it gets out of hand

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a total and comprehensive re-organisation of the Nigerian sporting sector following the disastrous outing of the country’s contingent to the recently concluded Olympic Games in the United Kingdom.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku who dropped the hint after Wednesdays federal Executive Council meeting however declined to give details on who may lose his job in the planned re-organisation of the sports sector.

According to the Minister a national retreat which will involve state governments as well as the private sector to re-order priorities in the Nigerian sporting sector would be convened to address the challenges in the sporting sector.

The minister said “President Goodluck Jonathan today ordered for total and comprehensive re-organization of the sporting sector, following the disappointing performances of Nigerian contingent to the London 2012 Olympics. The President accordingly directed for a national retreat which will involved state governments as well as the private sector to re-order priorities in the Nigerian sporting sector.

“He said what took place in London must be the beginning of a new momentum to place Nigerian sports at a level that will enable this country return to the glory it is known for in the areas of  sports.

“President Jonathan believes for us to change the present scenario we need to specialize, we need to plan and we need to fund sports in a way that this country will continue to make impact in the sporting sector.

Okija_juju: The OP said the Driver and two passengers were FATALLY wounded...

Does fatally wounded mean death?

Esss: If you say 13 years of PDP hasnt gotten us anywhere, then you are a fallacious liar and the truth is not in you...

Talk is cheap! Prove your point by naming what PDP government has achieved in the past 13yrs.

Esss: If you say 13 years of PDP hasnt gotten us anywhere, then you are a fallacious liar and the truth is not in you...

Talk is cheap! Prove your point by naming what PDP government has achieved for the past 13yrs.

2gbasky22: but seriously people nor get fear of God again sha! Hw can somebody plan to poison someone who is half human and half spiritual
wel i don't believe the story though cos am sure dat man do not eat 4 grater part of a year and if does eat, it should be in his house.

You have spoken reasonably!

OP, when did this happen? I passed through Okene today, it was just too dry and soldiers were not in town. We saw them before IBILO and after Okene. I doubt your story

manny4life: Now this news is rather annoying, when did it concern the govt to build homes? Like serious, GEJ what is wrong with your ministers?

There is nothing wrong with government building homes. It is part of government responsibilities to give shelter to her citizens. The only issue is that, it may never materialised

When will these people repent from telling lies?

FG to construct 1mn houses annually, says Minister The Federal Government is to construct one million houses annually to meet the 17 million houses required in the country to house citizens.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple, gave the assurance on Monday in Bauchi while inaugurating 288 housing units tagged “Bauchi Unity Estate” constructed by Terraquest Development Company.

Pepple said the effort to build the houses was to provide cheaper and affordable houses as part of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

She said that the Federal Government had also embraced a new technology toward building the houses in all states of the federation.

The minister stated that various agencies of the Federal Government, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Federal Housing Authority and Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development had embarked on various housing schemes for civil servants.

According to her, the State Governments were also doing good jobs in establishing housing estates towards providing adequate and affordable houses for their citizens. NAN

When things fall apart, Nigeria was no longer at easy and when the arrow of god fails, she becomes a subject of ridicule

9ja_I_hail: Don't mind him jare my honorable commissioner.I am sure you are aware of the adage that said fowl always leave the knife that cut off his neck and bend the neck to the innocent grand. See aboki bashing your papa,reminding the youth of your tribe how their warning made your fathers took to their heed and join the war,shei i tire for u guys lack of mind of your own is what kill you people.today breeze has blow we have seeing the fowl yansh, we all can see from the horse mouth that their warning made the great awo shiit on his pant 10xx and asked south westerners to join aboki to fight their fellow southerns.

It is not difficult to identify the morons here. Simply by their comments, we shall know them. Just a fictitious write up from one northern idiot springs you into uncontrolled action of opening your stinking mouth widely to say rubbish. No wonder you guys are being sidelined in the scheme of things, because you always think through your yarnsh !

A Good piece from Goke Butikakuro...

This piece is from Goke Butika, Assistant Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State chapter, currently, the Press Secretary to the Speaker, the State House of Assembly of Osun


How Aregbesola Braves Rough Weather of National Conspiracy

"It is easy to stand with the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone".

So, Bayelsa state, where Preident Goodluck Jonathan hails from could copy the State of Osun in giving the State and its people a common denominator called cultural identity via a state anthem, flag, and coat of arm or crest?

Under the watch of the President, Aregbesola was vilified and embarrass by a section of compromised security agency under the ambit of the President for casting common denominator which promotes moral and cultural value of a virtuous being called, 'omoluabi'in Yoruba parlance, by his party men, not because they have locus for their argument, but because it was Aregbesola that initiated it.

I think it will not be out of place to ask the President to instruct his security agencies and his party to tender unreserved apology to the unusual governor of the State of Osun, because today, the home state of Jonathan now hoists its flag, rises to its anthem, and hangs its crest as a state symbol, or else, we shall share the belief that Bayelsa under the watch of Jonathan's boy, Governor Serieke Dickson want to secede like Osun?

However, I must salute Dickson for doing the right thing, by borrowing idea from Aregbesola' s state of Osun, and it is quite pathetic that the man who once ruled the same state, without having a clue to cast common denominator for the state, a simple task, is the President of the country today. He is even the shadow behind the emergence of the governor who sees senses and future in Aregbesola of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) initiative.

That reminds me, sometimes last year, my column in Osun Defender newspaper, HOME TRUTH crossed a line drawn by Iwo born, State of Osun People's Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Abiola Ogundokun when he began to demonise his estranged benefactor, the ousted governor of the state, Prince(Gen.) Olagunsoye Oyinlola immediately after Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took up the mantle of leadership in line with the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal led by Hon. Justice Bata Clara Ogunbiyi now a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Of course, the matter should have been left for the duo of Oyinlola and Ogundokun as a family affair, in relating to the common parlance of their party, but then as a columnist, my intervention should be seen to have crossed all boundaries of prejudice, but the old man picked an axe with me immediately, telling the world that as a PDP chief he was privy to how I was collecting patronage from Oyinlola, and that was the reason I was taking side in their brawl.

When my attention was drawn into Ogundokun's rejoinder, I elected to ignore it on two grounds: one, the old man was old enough to be my father; two, the old man has a record of unnecessary controversies, to the extend that he had once dragged our literary icon, Nobel Laurette, Emeritus Professor Wole Soyinka into allegation of terrorism, because the wise don was fighting late Gen. Sani Abacha, Ogundokun's god . So, it is needless to join issue with him further.

However, while I take you to the memory lane, particularly, those who have been following my work in the last seven years as columnist is to set a template for Fairplay in this piece. Quit your suspense, I intend to discuss why Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola should be watched cautiously as a governor. Get me right, is it not my intention to compare and contrast, but to state it the way I see it.

In the first premise, it must be established that Aregbesola was the first person who indicated willingly, strongly and practically to be the governor of the State of Osun, and maybe we need to open window of history to verify this fact.

The first elected governor, Senator Isiaka Adeleke was coerced into governorship race by his father, senior Senator Adeleke, who was a political giant of his time, that was why he operated the office of the governor in a psychedelic operandi. I knew for sure how contracts could be given to anyone on the party's dance floor then. Pardon me, to reveal that there was a time the funky politician said in an interview that his love for siren reinforced his desire to be the governor of the state.

When Chief Bisi Akande was asked to preside over the state, the disciplinarian was reluctant, and he was not too willing to pick the gauntlet. As a matter of fact, he was ordered out of the Presidential Hotel as the then sitting chairman of the newly formed Alliance for Democracy(AD) by the slain Chief Bola Ige when the decision to choose who will fly the flag of the party for the 1999 governorship election in the state was to be taken by the stakeholders.
Though, Governor Akande turned out his best upon his challenges, the fact that he was not willing to take the fight, still posed some questions then.

Besides, it is a recent history that Oyinlola never wanted to become governor, and he worked hard to go to the Senate, before late Chief Sunday Afolabi led elders of the PDP drafted him to the governorship race in conjunction with a prominent traditional ruler in the state.

However, when he determined in 2003 to take the shot himself, his goodwill had recorded deficit in governance, while his stick, carrot and diabolical style of politicking did drag the leftover of his integrity into disequilibrium, before it was sealed by his violent disposition to the formidable opposition led by Aregbesola then. And that put him and his party at a disadvantage by the time election of 2007 approached.

Getting to the saddle, Aregbesola, in line with his promise during his electioneering campaign hit the ground running, by engaging 20,000 youth under the banner of Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), he slashed the tuition fees of all higher institutions of learning he inherited by half, and rescheduled the suffocating debt of N18.3 billion incurred by Oyinlola regime, a situation that made it easier for the government to pay all his workers and political functionaries their salaries and running cost as at when due, irrespective of the story of shortage of allocations from Abuja.

It appeals to sight now that Osogbo, and other major cities and towns in the state have become huge construction sites in the hands of Aregbesola, not to talk of its cleanliness in the state. I am more convinced now that it was untidy environment the people of the state contended with before the emergence of Aregbesola that overburdened hospitals both at primary secondary and tertiary health levels in the state.

Besides, thousands of people should have been thrown to the streets as floaters before they were rescued from devastating flood without demolishing a single structure. Today, when it rains, people go to sleep and sleep so sound like productive farmer who lays his back on the mat after delicacies of egusi soup and pounded yam.

The last time I travel to Ila Oragun, my journey from Ikirun, Iree axis was quite revealing, as one dangerous bend was phased out in the course of rehabilitating the road. I chose to mention site, because I want you to get the picture with mathematical probability.

In the House of Assembly, the entire structure is being reconstructed, new buildings like e-library are springing up, and I learnt that rural areas are getting their portion of the development too.

No wonder, each time the Ijesa born governor goes walking on the street with commoners under the guise of 'walk to live' the entire city rises for him. Aregbesola appears to have returned the government to the ordinary people in his state.

Yes, it was alleged that he stuffed his administration with Lagosians, but wait, is this argument not too pedestrian? What I realize about some elements insinuating the gibberish is crass ignorance, lack of requisite exposure and social illiteracy. Many do not know while Lagos state shares a common denominator of development with advance nations like US? In those developed climes, where you come from does not count in anyway, and anybody can become anything as long as it flows with their laws.

Take for instance, President Barack Obama would not have been elected in any African nation, because of the ethnic or politics of retrogression we play, because by Nigerian perspective, Obama is a Kenyan, for him to reach the peak of world power, it shows that the USA only cares what its leader has upstairs not the color of his skin. So, if Osun indigenes with exposure and expertise could be brought home to develop their state, is there a crime? Please divorce politicking from this view in order to get it right.

I will not state all what Aregbeola has done, so that i will not be accused of laundering the image of the government, because I have in my Honour, vow to make FairPlay my watchword in this intervention, but if you agree with me that he has done this much I stated above, a situation that has made Osun a fertile ground of ideas where other states are on daily basis drawing lessons, I think, a determined person is better than unwilling governor. Osun, a micro setup of the country has tried two husbands, and the better one seems to have emerged.

Take it to the nation, aside from late Gen. Muritala Mohammed and Buhari/Idiagbon who gave this polity called Nigeria a good shot, tell me of any other Head of State or Government we could say has changed the course of history of this severely raped country? It is because ever since, this country has been unlucky to be having unwilling presidents who desire allure of office, but could not perform its duties and responsibilities.

Osun's case is a typical case study of the country, and not until the people of this country rises to elect a man that is willing to rule the nation with ideas,governance will continue to remain a rocket science.

I so submit

Goke Butika
Press Secretary to the Speaker
House of Assembly of the State of Osun

One Yinka Johnson, a female banker with Standard IBTC bank, yesterday crushed a Lagos State  traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official, 33-year-old Hammed Balogun, to death along the Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos State.

Confirming the story, the General Manager LASTMA, Engr. Babatunde Edu, said the deceased was carrying out his official assignment at his duty post at Mega City, Ajah area of Lagos before he met his untimely death.
He said the driver fled the scene after crushing the LASTMA official to death, adding that she was later arrested with the help of the Area J Commander, ACP Felix Vwamhi.

He said; “The suspect whose identity was revealed by the Auto Inspector device as Yinka Johnson a staff of IBTC drove in a Green Land-Rover Jeep,SUV with registration number plate, CY 276 LSD against traffic from Mega chicken inward toll Plaza Two.

”She was intercepted by three officials of LASTMA led by the Head of Operations, Mr Quayum Asafa for traffic violation and in a drama like scene, Johnson started driving recklessly in order to escape contravention and in the process ran over the officer.

”The deceased was rushed down to Germaine Hospital where he later died as a result of injuries sustained from the accident while the corpse was deposited at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja for autopsy.”

Edu said the female banker on realising what she has done, ran and escaped from the scene of the incident into Ikota Estate, Ajah with the security men shutting the gate permanently.

He said: “The situation became riotous as the security attached to the gate refused all pleas to open the gate until the intervention of the Area Commander in charge of Area J, Mr Felix Vwahmi, mobilised and called for backup before access could be gained into the Estate.

”The suspect was finally arrested and taken to Ajiwe Police station from where she was transferred to the Criminal Investigative Department, Panti for further interrogation.”

Seven Olympic athletes have disappeared amid fears they have fled the London 2012 Games to claim asylum, according to team officials.

Five boxers, a swimmer and a footballer from Cameroon were reported missing earlier this week leading team officials to suggest they had "defected."

"What began as rumour has finally turned out to be true," David Ojong, the Cameroon mission head said. "Seven Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games have disappeared from the Olympic Village."

The Cameroonian athletes have not broken British immigration rules introduced for the Olympics that allow competitors, their coaches and families to stay in the country until early November.

But the athletes' disappearance and Ojong's comments have received widespread attention in Cameroon, where people said they were embarrassed by the news but understood the predicament facing the athletes.

"The conditions in Cameroon are very difficult – there are no opportunities here and if you have the chance to go the UK, it's understandable that you would want to stay there," said Henri Tchounga, a tour guide in Yaounde. "But my fear is that now Cameroonians will have a bad reputation and in future we will not be able to get visas. It's good for them but a serious problem for the rest of us."

Ojong said a reserve goalkeeper for the women's soccer team, Drusille Ngako, was the first to disappear. She was not one of the 18 finally retained after pre-Olympic training in Scotland.

While her team-mates left for Coventry for their last preparatory encounter against New Zealand, she vanished. A few days later, swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue disappeared along with his personal belongings.

Ojong added that five boxers eliminated from the Games, Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo, went missing on Sunday from the Olympic village. It was reported that four of the athletes were last seen at a team reception at the Royal Garden hotel, next to Kensington Palace, west London, on Friday.

Ojong is understood to have held talks with the sports minister Adoum Garoua at the Olympic Village on Tuesday.

It is not the first time Cameroonian athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions.

At past Francophonie and Commonwealth games as well as junior soccer competitions, several Cameroonians have quit their delegation without official consent.

In June, an Ethiopian torchbearer, Natnael Yemane, 15, also disappeared after he went missing from a hotel in Nottingham.

Meanwhile three Sudanese athletes who hoped to compete in the Games were last month reported missing amid claims they would apply for political asylum.

Flaubert Mbiekop, an economist from Cameroon, said: "The bottom line is to look at the economic conditions in Cameroon and see how hard the system is for many people, especially the athletes who don't receive any support from the government. London presented an opportunity; I'm not at all surprised that they took it."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/07/london-2012-seven-cameroonian-athletes?newsfeed=true

egift: But both of them are still among his top 3 godfathers and backers. Include Tony and the list is complete.

Which BTW make even his fans wonder when he will grow some balls and be a man

As much as I know, GEJ is not dancing to their tune. I am even suspecting that OBJ and IBB are up to something else

I think I got your point, experience can't be bought. The man was simply saying the duo were not better when they were presidents

AN eight-day-old baby girl, was, weekend, allegedly killed by her step father for ritual purposes. The gory incident took place in Jesse, Delta State.

Already, the suspect, who confessed that he carried out  the act on the orders of a spiritualist in Ghana, is currently in police custody.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, who confirmed the development in a statement, yesterday, in Asaba, said: “One Mrs. Gladys Emafuru, female, of Okunu village Jesse, reported that at 15:10 hours, while sleeping with her eight-day- old baby girl, the child’s step father (names withheld) 24 years old, walked into the apartment and killed the baby with a cutlass, opened the stomach and collected the intestines and other vital parts.”

Muka  added that “the suspect after collecting the vital parts of the baby, concealed them in a black cellophane bag and was about escaping to Ghana when he was caught. He has confessed committing the act, saying that it was demanded for in Ghana.”

FORMER President Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday, slammed elder-statesman Chief Edwin Clark over his allegation that some Northern leaders including him, Babangida, were soft on the Boko Haram insurgency.

In a stout rebuttal to the assertion, Babangida alleged that sense may indeed have departed from Clark and hence his disregard for the historic role he (Babangida) played in unifying the country.



Ex -President Ibrahim Babangida and elder-statesman Chief Edwin Clark

Affirming that he had no reason to play politics with the issue having left the ‘political industry’, Babangida traced the difficulties of the Jonathan administration to divisive people he said were of the same mindset with Clark, who have prevented the present administration from seeking reasonable counsel from those that could help it.

 

He specifically alluded to former Heads of State who he claimed were not being consulted by the present administration.

Babangida spoke in response to Clark’s claims last Wednesday that some northern leaders were behind the increasing spate of violence in the country.

Clark spoke as guest speaker at the second State of the Federation Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS.

Clark had specifically challenged Babangida and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to condemn the activities of the Boko Haram group that has claimed responsibility for the insurgency campaign in many parts of the north.

Clark noting the joint declaration by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Babangida on the spate of insecurity had said at the lecture:

“Boko Haram preceded Jonathan. It started in 2002 when Obasanjo was President. It was there when Yar’Adua was also ruling. It is not synonymous with Jonathan. I had expected that somebody like Babangida should have spoken since. I thought he would have spoken with his friend Buhari. Two of them have been meeting. So why is he now with Obasanjo?

“At 72, Babangida said he will wear uniform and fight for the unity of Nigeria, he should therefore stand up now and condemn Boko Haram from the bottom of his heart, not with Obasanjo. Obasanjo has gone to Maiduguri to meet the people, why has Babangida not gone?” he asked.

But responding yesterday, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, Babangida said:

“The statement reportedly credited to Chief Edwin Clark on Friday, August 3, 2012 in several newspapers and online media to the effect that General IBB has a hand in Boko Haram, is the subject of this response. We are ashamed to state here that rather than coming up with plausible and efficacious solution[s] to the insecurity in the country, what the self-acclaimed elder statesman came up with was buck-passing, such odium and rancid outburst, to the extent of trying to accuse General Ibrahim Babangida on the Boko Haram menace. We view this misguided and senseless statement in very bad taste and we take very strong exceptions to his drooling and implied conclusion.

I ‘ll not work against Nigeria’s unity, stability

“For the purpose of putting the records straight, General Ibrahim Babangida, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, former President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and civil war hero, does not and will not have a hand in anything untoward against the unity and stability of the Nigerian State. Having seen it all in life, and now enjoying his retirement in Minna, Niger State, General Ibrahim Babangida has paid his dues by serving his fatherland to the best of his ability at various times in the history of the country.

“Having invested so much in the unity and stability of the country, to the extent of fighting in the civil war to keep the country together, it is out of place for anyone, least of all an old man of Edwin Clark’s nomenclature, to input directly or indirectly that the great IBB should prove his innocence on the Boko Haram menace.

“We want to believe that Chief Edwin Clark was quoted out of context, but if indeed he did say what was credited to him, we are forced to accept the conclusion that on account of his age, his senses have since departed him. He needs our empathies and not sympathies. We have since known Chief Edwin Clark to be a loose cannon in public discourse. He deserves our pity.

“We were expecting Chief Edwin Clark to use the opportunity of his forum to advance solutions to the insecurity situation in the country with particular reference to the Boko Haram crisis. General Ibrahim Babangida has offered several approaches and methodologies to addressing the precarious situation both in public and private, and had stated without equivocation that dialogue would serve as a better tool than this militant approach which is not yielding appropriate result.

“He had also stated that President Goodluck Jonathan should use some of the respected Muslim clerics in the North as middlemen to reach members of Boko Haram and appeal for calm and understanding, in the interest of the unity and stability of the system. Needless to state that Government is a huge institution with several options open to it. And the earlier we discard this old method of reactionary approach and adopt a proactive one, in handling sensitive situations such as the one under reference, the better it will be for the country.

“With ethnic mindset of a Chief Edwin Clark, we can understand why the country appears fixated and why there has not been nationally accepted approach to combating this Boko Haram menace. Anyone who sees the Boko Haram menace as strictly a Northern affair would be exhibiting crass ignorance about leadership in a multi-ethnic configuration like Nigeria.”

Babangida who reiterated the need for a collective responsibility in nipping in the bud the problem, said, “the earlier we began the patriotic process of viewing challenges as collective responsibility, the better it would be for getting solutions to the problem. When ethnic jingoists speak and reason in the manner that Chief Edwin Clark did, then we have a huge problem on our hands.

“Former President, General Ibrahim Babangida has no hand in the present challenges facing President Goodluck Jonathan, and the insecurity in the country. In fact, it is IBB’s belief that some of the problems were inherited by the present administration. IBB has since left the political turf for the younger generation of Nigerians. He has said repeatedly that he will no longer be an applicant in the political industry in Nigeria until Allah calls him home.

‘’Rather than crucify General IBB for nothing, Chief Edwin Clark should blame the corruption in the system and the several incompetence and inadequacies of the present system.

Instead of buck-passing and playing the blame game, we expect Edwin Clark to advise the government of the day to do more of consultation with former presidents, opinion moulders and leaders of thoughts across the country with the aim of getting lasting and integrated solutions to our problems.

Let it be noted that further implied statements and misplaced accusations from Chief Edwin Clark would be greeted with litigation. A word is enough for the aged.”

Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo has revealed why he switched from AC Milan to Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine on a season-long loan deal.

"Coming to the Ukraine is a great opportunity for me to earn a regular first-team place," he told BBC Sport after being frozen out in pre-season at Milan.

"I know Milan is a big club but I am not a player who is happy to sit down, collecting salary without playing football.

"I've considered a lot of things and I realised going elsewhere for regular football is greater than a life on the Milan bench."

"It was a dream to move to AC Milan but to be honest I never had the chance to show what I am capable of doing but that is life.

"I chose to come to Dynamo Kiev because of the opportunity to play in the Uefa Champions League and also to experience a new life.

"It was very important to consider my international career and I took this decision with that in mind."
Taiwo will play alongside compatriots Yusuf Ayila, Lukman Haruna and Brown Ideye at Dynamo.

"I know them [the Nigerians] from the national team set-up. I have been friends with Yusuf [Ayila] for several years. That makes it a lot easier to settle down.

All four players were part of the Nigerian squad that went to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Dynamo Kiev have equally announced the imminent signing Taiwo, subject to a medical to be held today.

The left-back only joined the Rossoneri last summer, on a free transfer from Marseille, but struggled to settle at the club and was shipped out to Premier League side Queens Park Rangers in January.

Linked with a number of destinations, Ukrainian outfit Dynamo have laid claim to agreeing a deal for the 27-year-old.

“The Ukrainian club confirm that the player is not expected before tonight to have the traditional medical, before signing with the club.

“A photo shoot will also follow to capture the event,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

Exact details of the agreement in place with Milan are not yet known, but it is understood that the Rossoneri will receive €500,000 for an initial 12-month loan of the player, with Dyname then having the option to purchase him for a further €2m.

Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev have taken Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo from AC Milan on a season-long loan.

Taiwo,according to a report on the BBC website failed to seal a move to the two English Premier League clubs,QPR and Reading,Portuguese side,Benfica and his former club,Marseille of France because of his wage demands.