₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm that Nigeria’s democracy is heading for collapse in the hands of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former ruling party, therefore, called on its members and supporters to be on the alert and ready to defend votes in forthcoming elections, especially the November 21 and December 5 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states respectively.

The PDP gave this warning following its fallout in the Saturday’s Borno Central Senatorial bye-election.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Monday said the call had become imperative following the continuous violation of electoral rules and intimidation of opposition by the APC Federal Government, as manifested in the conduct of the Borno Central Senatorial bye-election.

According to Metuh, “We have repeatedly alerted Nigerians that our democracy is under threat in the hands of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government. Last Saturday’s Borno Central Senatorial Bye-election, where compromised electoral officials and security forces were brazenly used to intimidate the electorate and write votes for the APC has brought this to the fore.

“This barefaced rape on our democracy is completely unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue in the country.

“In the light of this, therefore, the national leadership of the PDP charges all our members and supporters across the country, especially in Kogi and Bayelsa states to be on the alert ahead of the November 21 and December 5 governorship elections and use every lawful means as citizens of Nigeria to protect their votes and ensure that no one, no matter the force or manipulation is allowed to subvert the will of the people.

As a party that nurtured and sustained democracy and the unity of the country for 16 years, during which we strengthened the safety net of ‘one man, one vote’, we insist that the sanctity of the ballot box and the overall electoral process must be upheld at all levels and at all times.

“While we reject the processes associated with the conduct and outcome of the Borno Central Senatorial bye-election, we wish to state in the strongest possible terms that the PDP will never, by an means whatsoever, allow a replay of such heinous manipulations in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states respectively.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/02/our-democracy-under-threat-in-the-hands-of-buhari-pdp/

Nigeria’s favourite barbeque, suya, could cause cancer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has indicated in its much-awaited report on the link between red meat and the disease. Although suya is not expressly mentioned in the report, it falls under the definition of processed meat.

In a report published by the BBC on Monday, processed meat is defined as meat that “has been modified to increase its shelf-life or alter its taste – such as by smoking, curing or adding salt or preservatives”. It also says high temperature cooking, such as on a barbeque, can create carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals.

Suya, which is processed red meat, is prepared by barbeque and seasoned with salt, pepper and groundnut powder. Kilishi, a drier version of suya, is also preserved with seasoning. Other forms of processed meat are bacon, sausages and ham. The WHO report said 50g of processed meat a day – less than two slices of bacon – increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%. Meanwhile, WHO also said red meat is “probably carcinogenic” but there was limited evidence, but stressed that meat also had health benefits.

The WHO has come to the conclusion on the advice of its International Agency for Research on Cancer, which assesses the best available scientific evidence. It has now placed processed meat in the same category as plutonium, but also alcohol as they definitely do cause cancer. However, this does not mean they are equally dangerous. A bacon sandwich is not as bad as smoking.

“For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed,” Kurt Straif from the WHO said. Estimates suggest 34,000 deaths from cancer every year could be down to diets high in processed meat.

That is in contrast to one million deaths from cancer caused by smoking and 600,000 attributed to alcohol each year. Red meat does have nutritional value too and is a major source of iron, zinc and vitamin B12. However, the WHO said there was limited evidence that 100g of red meat a day increased the risk of cancer by 17%. An eight ounce steak is 225g. The WHO said its findings were important for helping countries give balanced dietary advice.

Tim Key, a professor from the Cancer Research UK and the University of Oxford, said: “This decision doesn’t mean you need to stop eating any red and processed meat, but if you eat lots of it you may want to think about cutting down. “Eating a bacon bap every once in a while isn’t going to do much harm – having a healthy diet is all about moderation.” The industry body the Meat Advisory Panel said “avoiding red meat in the diet is not a protective strategy against cancer” and said the focus should be alcohol, smoking and body weight.

https://www.thecable.ng/suya-can-cause-cancer-report-indicates

Exactly eight years ago, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, and Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, now governor of the state, were best of friends. By “exactly eight years ago”, I truly mean October 26, 2007.

Just one day earlier, the supreme court had declared Amaechi governor of the state, saying he was the rightful candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) having won the party’s primary, rather than Celestine Omehia, whom the party fielded. At the time, Wike, as chairman of Obio-Akpor local government and national presi­dent of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), greatly supported Amaechi’s campaign.

They were buddies. So happy were they that after Omehia was booted out of office, Amaechi appointed Wike his chief of staff – a position that governors traditionally allot to their most trusted ally. Fast-forward eight years later and both men would not just see eye-to-eye. It was Amaechi who nominated Wike for ministerial appointment under the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. But after Amaechi fell out with Jonathan and left PDP, Wike chose to side with not his old boss but his new one. Although both men have been at daggers drawn ever since, it is only in 2015 that the real battles have been fought; and so far, it is Amaechi who is having the upper hand. 2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1 -0 As a minister in Jonathan’s cabinet and as a Rivers state governorship aspirant under the PDP ticket, Wike staunchly opposed the candidature of APC’s Muhammadu Buhari, whose campaign was spearheaded by Amaechi.

With Buhari polling a total of 15,424,921 votes ahead of Jonathan’s 12,853,162, not only did Nigeria have a new, Amaechi secured his first victory over his former ally-turned-enemy.

MINISTERIAL NOMINATION, 2 – 0 Life is full of ironies. Or how does one explain that the chief antagonist of a ministerial nominee is the same one who once became a minister on the recommendation of the current nominee? Amaechi nominated Wike to be minister when he was governor, but Wike has been the most vociferous opponent of Amaechi’s ministerial nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari. To Wike, Amaechi is too corrupt to be minister. Once, he branded his predecessor the most corrupt public office holder.

“If Buhari is sincere in his fight against corruption, let him probe the Amaechi’s government and he will discover that there cannot be a government official that is more corrupt than Amaechi,” he said through Opunabo Inko-Tariah, his special adviser on media and publicity, shortly before the president released the first list of nominees. Of course, Amaechi had unkind words of his own, once describing Wike as a man who would betray his mother for money. “Nyesom Wike loves and worships money; he can betray his mother for money – nothing more, nothing less,” he had said two days before the election that Wike ‘won’. At some point, it did seem Amaechi would not even be screened by the senate, much less emerge a minister. Time after time, his screening was postponed following allegations of corruption to the tune of N70bn by Rivers state senators.

Finally, on Thursday October 22, Amaechi was screened. Although George Sekibo, a PDP senator from Rivers, has warned that it is a thing to be screened and another to be confirmed minister, Amaechi, based on the reception he enjoyed at the screening, can count on his confirmation later this week. In any case, to have been screened alone is itself one more victory over his tormentor-in-chief. Two nil.

RIVERS GOVERNORSHIP TUSSLE This is not closed yet, but it is quite some drama. Wike must have thought he had pulled one victory over Amaechi, whose candidate, Dakuku Peterside, he outwit by 1,029,102 votes to 124,896. In Nigerian politics, victory at the polls is hardly the real victory; almost every election loser goes to court, and the winner never really emerges until the legal options have been exhausted. Now, after the first legal option, the election petition tribunal, it does seem Wike has a massive battle in his hands. The tribunal has nullified his victory at the polls, and ordered fresh elections within 90 days.

Jubilant Amaechi knows he has secured his third straight victory over Wike. But then, like it does happen in a game of football, even a three-nil deficit advantage can quickly be overturned. In doubt? Ask the Saudi ’89 Golden Eaglets, who were losing four nil to the Soviet Union as at the 61st minute, only to score four goals in 23 minutes before going on to win 5-3 on penalties. Perhaps Wike will recover in due course to show Amaechi that the servant can, at times, outshine the master. But, for now, it’s Amaechi 3 – 0 Wike.

https://www.thecable.ng/half-time-amaechi-3-0-wike

Wonderful photos of animals@ ogba zoo.

I have just been posted to kwara state, never a choice of mine but I feel it will be worth it, it will be nice if nairalander's interact b4 hand, my BlackBerry pin is 2AF82D91, we could make this a lasting experience, let's do this, stream A.

I have just been posted to kwara state, never a choice of mine but I feel it will be worth it, it will be nice if nairalander's interact b4 hand, my BlackBerry pin is 2AF82D91, we could make this a lasting experience, let's do this.

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has debunked speculations in some quarters that he is not happy with the list of ministerial nominees, stressing that he is happy with the proposed ministers as they provide him with the hope and belief that the country is on the right path.

Atiku, who made this assertion in Kano on Thursday through the Chairman of Atiku Loyalist Group, Alhaji Muhammadu Abdullahi Sugar, stressed that those nominated by President Muhammad Buhari are the true agents of change which the country requires.

He expressed optimism that the would-be Ministers will place the country above any interests in the course of the discharge of their duties.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/22/i-am-happy-with-ministerial-list-atiku/

I have come to terms with the fact that you need to know why you are on planet earth before you can consider making a mark on the universe.
Take it or leave it, we are special, unique and peculiar in our own way, it take faith to see, I will open our understanding to the integral keys in fulfilling destiny.

• IT TAKE’S GOD : no man can make a mark without God, be you anything, God made you, you can attest to this if you have ever hoped for anything, some things are not explainable, it is just believable, you know and I know, regardless of what people who thinks sleeping and getting up is a natural phenomenon.

• PURPOSE: like it or not you need to hold on to something, purpose is what keeps the fire burning, until you find yours you are lost in the world, a man without purpose has done nothing but existed, you can call yourself excess luggage, no one can call you that but you, also you can choose to find a purpose (passion) and live rather than exist.

• HAPPINESS: no matter how much you make, how successful you have become, without happiness you need to take a break, we all get to die someday, the only thing you never will regret is happiness. Success, money and fame comes at a price, never pay happiness as the price, you never will forgive yourself, trust me.

• FAMILY: the importance of family can never be over accentuated, family can make your stronger or useless it all depends on you, never build a family on financial bases, rather family can only thrive on happiness and nothing else, without family, nothing is enough, family remains the most valued possession of any being, create one that will live forever.

President Muhammadu Buhari replaced the immediate past Head of Service, Danlade Kifasi with Winifred Oyo-Ita.

Kifasi was asked to proceed on terminal leave yesterday with immediate effect. It is unclear when Oyo-Ita will be resuming as she is currently the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Cross River state.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the President visited Cross-River state to commission the 260km highway project.

She is a 51-year-old trained chartered accountant.

Details later.

http://www.oshodi.tv/2015/10/buhari-replaces-danladi-kifasi-with.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

APC + PDP = corruption, they are all after self interest, Buhari has been a disappointment thus far... I hope Nigerians will realize soon enough.

Members of the Association of African Traditional Religion of Nigeria, AATREN, have noted that the gods require sacrifices if President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State are to enjoy a peaceful tenure.

They made this known after thronging the Divination Centre at Iroko-Awe, Eti -Osa local government council of Lagos State to offer special prayers for the nation and Lagos State in particular.

The AATREN President, Chief Ifasegun Elegushi, who presided over the special prayer session, noted that it has been the usual practice of the association during its monthly meetings to ask the oracle (Ifa), what it has in stock for the rulers both at the local, state and federal levels.

According to him, “after such consultations made through one of the deities, Odus, Ifa Oturugbon, it was revealed that sacrifices should be offered to the gods for a peaceful tenure of our President, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

“Ifa further instructs us to make sacrifices for the peace, progress and protection of the nation and for Lagos State in particular.”

Elegushi also appealed for more recognition of his members by the government, adding that despite non-recognition and assistance from the government, the traditionalists cannot but act and play their role as law abiding citizens to ensure that peace and tranquility reign supreme wherever they reside.

“We believe as traditionalists to always do our bit and ensure that peace reigns supreme in and around where we reside. We have prayed as the oracle commanded, so that our leaders succeed and their tenure peaceful. It is when they have peaceful governance that we also can operate with ease,” he stated.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/17/buhari-ambode-must-sacrifice-to-oracles-to-enjoy-peaceful-tenure-aatren/

wonderful...

A civil society organization, the Network for Justice, yesterday alleged that the postponement of the ministerial screening by the Senate is a political mischief designed to delay the trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Executive Director of the group, Dr. Abdullahi Bala Gaduwama, who made this remark in a statement issued in Kano, claimed that the postponement of the exercise was meant to shield Saraki from appearing at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for the continuation of his trial next week.

He demanded the immediate resumption of the exercise and warned the Senate against joking with the future of the country.

“It is on record that the 7th Senate outrageously passed 40 bills in 40 minutes simply because it served their interest to do so and the 8th Senate is now telling us that they cannot complete the screening of 16 ministerial nominees whose names were released two weeks ago by the President,” Gaduwama stated.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/17/senate-ministerial-screening-postponed-to-delay-sarakis-cct-trial-group/

Ondo State governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olusegun Mimiko has described the former ruling party as the ‘grand father of democracy in Nigeria.’

He gave this attribute while speaking at the 67th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja.

Mimiko, who doubles as Chairman PDP Governors’ Forum, attributed the party’s defeat during the general election to complacency.

Said Mimiko, “It isn’t possible for any party to be in power for 16 years and not have challenges. Our greatest challenge was our complacency.”

The Ondo State governor, however, raised concerns over what he termed the deliberate plan by the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to rubbish the achievements of its immediate predecessor.

He further noted that the greatest achievements of the PDP was the sustenance of representative government in the country.

He stated, “For me, the greatest achievements of PDP is the liberalisation of the democratic space in Nigeria. So, PDP can beat its chest and call itself the grand father of democracy in Nigeria.

“The APC should handle its mandate with caution and fear of God. The selective application of justice won’t advance the cause of democracy.”

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/16/pdp-is-the-grandfather-of-democracy-in-nigeria-mimiko/

The political class yesterday lost one of its most controversial and flamboyant figures, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa State.

Chief Alamieyeseigha who is credited with bringing former President Goodluck Jonathan to the limelight died at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) at about 4.30pm after reportedly developing health complications.

Jonathan was his deputy between May 29,1999 and December 9,2005 when he was impeached for corruption. Jonathan went on to replace him as governor before becoming vice president in 2007 and president in 2010.

Alamieyeseigha would have turned 63 on November 16.

‘Governor General of the Ijaw Kingdom’, as he was fondly called on account of his popularity among the Ijaw of Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Ondo States, was said to have returned to Nigeria from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) only a few days ago midway into his medical checkup following reports that the United Kingdom had requested for his extradition to face corruption related charges.

Sources said yesterday that he may have died of High Blood Pressure (HBP).

But other sources attributed his death to a kidney-related ailment.

But the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Esueme Dan-Kikili, said the former governor died of cardiac arrest. He added that he reportedly slipped into coma two days ago and was placed on life support.

His wife, Margaret, who was by his side when he died, was said to have collapsed.

Alamieyeseigha’s death came exactly a year after the loss of his son, Oyemifa, in Dubai and in a week newspapers were awash with stories about request for his extradition from the United Kingdom.

The alleged extradition request sparked tension in the state with many groups and individuals condemning it.

News of his death hit Bayelsa like a thunderbolt yesterday.

Many residents, including Governor Seriake Dickson, expressed shock and disbelief over Alamieyeseigha’s demise.

Dickson, who was counting on the former governor’s popularity to secure a second term in the December election in the state, was particularly devastated.

Alamieyeseigha was a formidable pillar of support for the governor and was being positioned to lead his reelection campaign.

Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso Markson, described Alamieyeseigha’s death as a personal loss to him, the government and people of the state.

He described the deceased as a strong pillar of support to the government.

He stressed that his demise was a very painful and monumental loss to the entire Ijaw nation, which the deceased stood firm for in all its ramifications.

He commiserated with the widow, Margaret, his immediate family, and the people of the state, noting that the Ijaw nation has lost a rare gem.

He said a more detailed reaction will be coming from the Bayelsa State Government in due course.

A PDP chieftain, Mr. Miriki Ebikibina described the death at a time the party was trying to build on the achievements of Dickson’s restoration government as tragic, painful.

He said: “late Alamieyeseigha was a truly proud Ijaw man who stood for the truth, defended the rights of his people and the downtrodden. He was fearless, down to earth and accommodating”.

Following his impeachment in December 2005,Alamieyeseigha was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge of corruption to which he pleaded guilty and was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison on each count on July 26,2007.

He said that had he been much younger during the trial he would not have pleaded guilty and would have fought to the very end.

Since the sentences were to run concurrently and the penalty counted from the date of his arrest and he was released soon afterwards.

However, government confiscated many of his arrests including four high brow properties in London. The houses were sold.

The United Kingdom had wanted to put him on trial for allegedly jumping bail after his arrest in London in September 2005.

He had been arrested for money laundering.

The London Metropolitan Police found about one million pounds cash in his London residence, one million and eight hundred thousand pounds to his accounts in the UK, besides a real estate estimated at ten million pounds.

Alamieyeseigha is also believed to have stashed money in the United States.

The US Justice Department said in June 2012 that it had executed an asset forfeiture order $401,931 in a Massachusetts brokerage fund believed to be owned by him and a Maryland house estimated at $400,000.

President Goodluck Jonathan granted Alamieyeseigha state pardon on March 12, 2013.

The decision was roundly condemned by many Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike.

Jonathan who called Alamieyeseigha his benefactor said he had no regret for his action.

http://thenationonlineng.net/bayelsa-mourns-as-dsp-alamieyeseigha-dies-at-62/

The Chairman of the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal, Tobi Ebioewe, on Friday proclaimed curses on people he said attempted to compromise members of his panel, and prayed that those who accepted such bribes “die untimely”.

Mr. Ebioewe nullified the election of Buruji Kashamu as the senator representing Ogun East.
He also delivered judgement on 11 other cases at the Magistrate Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun.

Mr. Ebioewe said he was confident his panel members did not accept bribes, but decreed that anyone who received, face the wrath of God, and should not live to enjoy such illicit benefits.

“Anybody who has collected money to influence the judgment, may the judgement of God come upon him. I invoke the judgement of God upon the person,” the judge declared.

Mr. Ebioewe invoked the same punishment upon himself if he took bribes.
“People who make business and money are here, there are professional gamblers, nobody has given me any money. Our conscience is clear.

So if you have collected money on behalf of the tribunal, you better return it. God is overall judge, hell for bribe giver and bribe takers,” the chairman emphasised.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/191290-election-tribunal-chairman-proclaims-death-upon-bribe-takers.html

Pro 28:17 A murderer haunted by guilt is doomed--there's no helping him.

Thirteen days to her wedding and 29th birthday, a corps member, Miss Omolola Abogunrin, has been murdered by unknown criminals.

She was murdered in a sultry afternoon in the compound of an agriculture research institute located in Apata area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday.

The late Miss Abogunrin was said to have been raped and strangled beside a stream within the expansive premises of the National Cereal Research Institute, Moor Plantation, Ibadan at about 1:30 pm.

Police are still on the trail of the murderers.

The deceased was looking forward to her wedding which was scheduled for October 17, the day she would have been 29 years old.

A close source disclosed that the couple-to-be held their family introduction four months ago, paving the way for proper marriage ceremony.

The wedding was to hold at a Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadan where both lovers live.

It was learnt that sympathizers confirmed rape and strangulation through the semen found on her private part and nail wounds around her neck respectively on discovering her corpse.

Residents said the deceased was returning from church when she was waylaid by the unknown criminals in a bush path within the institute’s farmland. She was said to be on her way to her lover’s house to spend some time with a plan to return home afterwards.

Her lover, Olusola Babalola, has since been arrested and detained by the police.

Omolola graduated from the Polytechnic, Ibadan.

She was completing her one year compulsory national service in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as at the time of her death.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said Omolola’s corpse has since been deposited at the morgue of state hospital, Adeoyo.

He explained that her lover, Mr. Babalola, was arrested and detained as part of police investigation on the broad-day murder.

Ajisebutu also disclosed that the case has since been transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the command, stressing that the command would do everything to bring Omolola’s killers to book.

http://thenationonlineng.net/corps-member-raped-murdered-two-weeks-to-wedding/

An unnamed micro finance bank located in the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, as well as the offices of Arik and Air Peace Airlines in Imo State, were Friday, reportedly raided by suspected armed robbers, PUNCH reports.

Reports claim that over N20m and other valuables were carted away in the robbery operation that allegedly lasted just a few minutes.

An eye witness, whose name was not mentioned, alleged that the armed robbers, who besieged the airport in two unmarked vehicles, overpowered the security men attached to the bank.

According to the undisclosed source, the noise of banging of doors and windows by the robbers coupled with their gunshots scared people away from the scene.

In the same vein, an employee of Arik, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said their offices were broken into, while company and personal valuables of the workers were stolen.

He said, “We are still in shock how the robbers could have been able to operate freely without being challenged, with the number of security men at the Airport.

“This calls for serious concern because if the Airport cannot be safe, where else can be?” the Arik employee asked.

The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the incident, said it was a case of burglary.

According to him, “We got the report that some hoodlums broke into a Micro Finance Bank at the airport, but we did not get any report that they removed cash and no one was killed or wounded.

“Already investigation is ongoing and the two security men attached to the bank are currently being interrogated,” Enwerem noted.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/09/robbers-raid-airport-allegedly-escape-with-n20m-in-imo/

Members of the House of representatives, Thursday revisited the Abuja, Lagos Close Circuit Television Cameras CCTVs contract allegedly awarded to ZTE Communications for over N76billion.
The development was fueled by the constant bombings by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North Easter part of the country and most especially, the recent Kuje/Nyanya blasts.
It would be recalled that the contract, which was reportedly awarded at the cost of $470 million (N76 billion then) by the late Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s government had been a subject of litigation, as an Abuja-based lawyer, Olugbenga Adeyemi, had in the past gone to court, seeking an order to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the failed contract.

Following his petition, the court granted leave for Adeyemi to apply for the judicial review of mandamus compelling the 1st respondent, EFCC, to investigate and prosecute those involved in the contract.

Worried by the escalating rate of attacks in the country, two lawmakers in the Adekoya Adeseun Abdul-Majid and Rep Abiodun Faleke jointly presented a motion tagged: ‘for the Reactivation/Installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in Abuja, State Capitals and Major Cities and Investigation of the Failure of ZTE Corporation to Complete the Contract of Installing the Cameras in Abuja and Lagos”.

Abdul-Majid in the motion expressed concern about the dormant state of the CCTV Cameras installed in Abuja by ZTE Corporation after it procured a contract in 2010 to do same in Lagos with both costing a whopping $470million (US Dollars).

He said: “By the contractual terms, Nigeria was required to make a down payment of 15percent, amounting to about $70.5million, while the Chinese EXIM Bank was to provide the remaining 85percent amounting to $399.5million which Nigeria was required to repay on a three percent interest rate within ten years at prevailing exchange rate”.

He regretted the failure of ZTE Corporation, a Chinese firm to complete the contract which would have gone a long way in containing security challenges in the country, Abdu-Majid expressed further worries that each loan secured from the Chinese Government is always tied to specific contracts for that project having to be awarded to Chinese companies thereby repatriating certain percentage of the sum loaned, including interest; thereby creating employment for the Chinese and short-changing local Nigerian companies in the process.

House Majority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila in his submission argued that the subject matter was something that came up on the floor of the House in the 7th Assembly and was debated with resolutions passed, but nothing seemed to be done.

He said: “We had documents and paragraphs with damning revelations at that time. When it relates to the security and welfare of this country, it’s our concern, and we have to start asking real questions. A contract has been signed, who signed the contract. Who was the person responsible for the signing? At that time, they couldn’t say, and they were passing the bulk”.

“There are many issues in this motion that we need to take very seriously. Had these things been in place, what happened in Abuja a few days ago would have been prevented or solved. I don’t know whether or not this is an area that should be left to private companies or the federal government. But security is solely the responsibility of government”, Gbajabiamila said.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/08/terrorism-lawmakers-revisit-probe-of-n76bn-cctv-contract-for-abuja-lagos/

Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke for the first time at the eighth senate on Thursday. And she address‎ed Bukola Saraki as “distinguished senate president” — a sign of new things after the bitter disagreement over the refusal of Saraki to toe party line in the election of senate leadership.

Tinubu’s ‎had remained quiet since the emergence of Saraki as senate president in June, and the defeat of Ahmed Lawan whom the APC hierarchy supported.

Tinubu, who was making a contribution to the debate‎ on the legislative agenda of the upper chamber, urged her colleagues to steer away from making mistakes the senate under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made. “‎This is the first time Nigerians will vote against a ruling party to birth a new government. And looking at the agenda so far, I’m in the position to allow this new government to take root,” she said.

“I see us resisting things that did not work in the seventh senate‎. And since they didn’t work in the seventh senate why are we resisting them. “Thank God they said they want to consider the national conference report, but it went through a lot of criticisms and scrutiny. We as the APC then t‎hought was a mere distraction. If we are going to do a new constitution we should be given room to do that. “I think this senate has an agenda, and that’s to give the people what they want.

Let us go back to our constituencies‎, and look at the needs of the common man. Coming here if we have to make laws to that effect we should be given the room to do so.”

https://www.thecable.ng/remi-tinubu-finally-speaks-8th-senate-exactly-say

The Borno State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the killing of three persons after a failed attack by four suspected suicide bombers in Gubio, Borno State.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Aderemi Opadokun, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Opadokun said, “There was an explosion in Gubio about 85 kilometre to Maiduguri at about 0550 hours (5.50am) on Wednesday when four suspected suicide bombers in military uniform infiltrated Gubio town in Gubio Local Government Area.

“Two of the suspected bombers were said to have detonated Improvised Explosive Devised strapped on their bodies near two empty mosques.”

The commissioner further said the suspected bombers in the process, killed themselves and three locals.

Speaking further, he said, “Two suicide bombers were killed by troops while they were trying to reach a military location in Sabongari Damboa,” adding that, “Security agents have visited the scenes and normalcy has been restored.”

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/08/suicide-bombers-kill-themselves-three-others-in-failed-borno-attacks/

Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state, has described the ongoing trial of Diezani Allison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, as the beginning of the discovery of alleged atrocities committed by the past administration. Oshiomhole, who has been very critical of the government of former president, Goodluck Jonathan, said until the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, he was only in “government and not in power”.

He was speaking with journalists at the presidential villa in Abuja after a meeting with Buhari on Tuesday. “I’m the happiest person because I’ve been in government for seven years without being in power. I couldn’t call a commissioner of police and talk as a security officer. I was haunted by all manners of persons,” he said. “You kill the snake in Edo, they will put the snake on life support and start harassing you.

All those venoms are dead and buried and I am excited not just for personal benefit, but for the changes.” On Diezani’s trial he said: “I don’t think anybody should be surprised because the most favourable commentator on the Nigerian condition, both the economy, the polity and society, everybody agrees that our economy was badly managed over the past several years. “I have not seen one commentator that disagrees.

Even when they talk about rebasing, and so what? Have you rebased the level of poverty? Have you rebased prosperity? Have you rebased unemployment? Have you rebased homelessness? Have you rebased hunger? “So, I have not seen anyone that says Nigerian people are doing better.

I was only a spokesman of the National Economic Council. But in this country, when you speak out, all the arrows would be fashioned to attack. “One of the things I learnt in life at the age of 17 when I got into the leadership of labour, is that the truth does not require supporters club. It can stand on its feet any day. You can hit it. You can kick it. You can bomb it, but you can’t destroy it.

“The truth is that a lot of money was stolen and what you are seeing is just a tip of the iceberg because when you imagine what accrued to Nigeria consistently from $140 (per barrel) averaging $108 over a long period of time and yet your treasury is empty and you were running a budget deficit. “You were devoting 85 per cent of your budget for four consecutive years on recurrent; you were borrowing and you drew the entire pensions fund.”

https://www.thecable.ng/oshiomhole-diezanis-trial-tip-iceberg

Ahead of the Bayelsa governorship election, some protesters, on Tuesday barricaded the entrance of the All Progressives Congress, APC, secretariat in Yenagoa.

The party supporters are demanding that the APC State chairman, Tiwe Oruminighe, should emerge as the running mate to Chief Timipre Sylva.

They hold the view that Tiwe is the best person for the job and that he had made lots of sacrifice for the party.

The protesters tore posters and banners in front of the secretariat and it took the intervention of security personnel to calm them down.

The APC is yet to announce Sylva’s running mate in the December 5, governorship election, a development which has raised anxiety among party faithful.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/06/protest-in-bayelsa-apc-secretariat-over-sylvas-running-mate/

Founder of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has lambasted students in the country “for selling themselves cheap”.

Bakare took the stand at the first National Students’ Summit organised by the Campus Life Project, the National Association of Nigerian Students and the Reach Out Integrated in Lagos on Saturday.

Bakare spoke on ‘Campus Life Decay: What Went Wrong?’

The outspoken man of God, who doubles as Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, blamed the students’ union for endorsing the third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Bakare said, “We need to talk about the catastrophic quality of governance in the student unions with due respect to the few exceptions; we need to talk about how the corruption, aggrandisement, violence, incompetence and cluelessness among Nigerian politicians have become the characteristics of politics and leadership among students on campuses.

“We need to talk about the shameful endorsement of Obasanjo’s third-term agenda in 2005 by the National Association of Nigerian Students then led by Kenneth Hembe.

“We also need to talk about how student union leaders in different universities would scramble to share largesse from Nigerian politicians rather than speak truth to power.

Before you talk about the profligate spending of politicians in your state capital or Abuja, you need to talk about how student leaders budget millions of naira for phantom phone calls.”

The former vice presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change stated that unlike when there was one major fellowship – the Lagos Varsity Christian Union — when he was a student, the many campus fellowships and churches today “are as powerless and helpless against the ills of the campus society as are the churches and mosques on the city streets.”

He said, “What I find disheartening, however, is the hijacking of student unionism by political godfathers with the aid of their student conspirators who go on to extend the bad governance records of their godfathers within student union circles and beyond, including rigging student union elections, deploying violence, and making themselves perpetual or never-graduating students in order to continue to feast on the perks of office much like their sit-tight political godfathers.”

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/04/bakare-blasts-nigerian-students-for-endorsing-obasanjos-third-term-agenda/

One Abiose Ajayi Yemisi, wife of an alleged senior pastor with the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, has disclosed the way and manner her husband of 17 years, one Pastor Tunde Tolulope Ajayi, has turned her into a punching bag.

Yemisi, who was not able to contend with battery which has allegedly turned her into a fleshy tissue, was said to have ran to the Violence Against Women agency in Lagos, soliciting for help to determine her next line of action.

In a telephone chat with a Violence Against Women activist, Onyegbule Ify, Yemisi made it clear that she had taken in all the maltreatment for the 17 years she had been married to her husband but couldn’t take it anymore after one of her three children died at the Casso, Alagbado, Lagos State and the man just would not give her peace.

Yemisi said that she had to endure the brutality of her husband for 17 years but can not take it anymore.

However, she has reportedly moved out of her matrimonial home, following the death of her child and constant brutality and torture.

Ify made this known through a recent Facebook post on behalf of the victim.

The agency, however, has reportedly said no judgement can be passed on the issue until the husband tells his own side of the story.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/02/mfm-pastor-beats-wife-to-stupor-in-lagos/

Four more witnesses for Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, on Thursday told the State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that the April 11 governorship election was peaceful

The witnesses, who were from different local government areas of the state, also declared that there were no cases of multiple thumb printing and ballot snatching in their respective polling units.

The witnesses added that they were duly accredited by their polling unit officials and also waited for their votes to be counted before they left the venue.

The witnesses included Mr Obubeleye Briggs, a lawyer, who voted at polling unit 1 in Ward 13 of Akukutoru Local Government Area, and Rev. Canon Nwankwo, who voted at polling Unit 7, Ward 12 in Ikwere Local Government.

Others are Mrs Nkpang Igonikon, a public health worker, who voted at polling Unit 6, Ward 5 of Akukutoru Local Government Area, and Peter Michael, voted at unit 12 Ward 9 of Andoni Local Government.

Briggs said that the election process was hitch-free and that after the whole process, the winner was later declared in his polling unit.

Also, Rev. Canon Nwankwo, from the Anglican Church, said that the entire voting process in his unit was transparent and credible.

Mrs Nkpang Igonikon, a health worker, said that she voted in her polling unit without any form of violence.

Mr Peter Michael, a community leader, told the tribunal that the election went well in his polling unit and that the tribunal should disregard “the lies of the APC witnesses”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the cross-examination by the APC Counsel, Mr Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN), all the witnesses told the tribunal that they did both manual and card reader accreditation.

NAN also reports that Wike has so far presented 11 witnesses from seven local government areas to prove that the election was free and fair.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/rivers-gov-polls-4-more-witnesses-confirm-wike-won-april-election/

The number of Nigerians who died in last Thursday’s stampede at the Jamarat (symbolic stoning of the devil) in Mina, Saudi Arabia, has risen to 64 with 71 others sustaining injuries while 244 are still missing.

Spokesman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Mallam Uba Mana, told newsmen yesterday in Makkah that the commission was doing all within its powers to locate the whereabouts of those still missing.

“We have 64 Nigerians dead from the stampede, 71 injured and 244 still missing. Out of those that died, 48 are from the state Pilgrims Welfare Boards and 12 from tour operators. The 226 missing are from state pilgrims boards and 18 from tour operators.

“We have set up various committees to track those missing and we are not limiting the search to Makkah, Mina or Madinah but the whole of Saudi Arabia as helicopters were used to airlift victims to the nearest hospitals with several hospitals used,” Mana said.

He said the missing pilgrims are from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Ekiti, FCT, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Kwara States.
Others are from Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

While noting that some of the dead pilgrims had been buried in Makkah, he added that if the family of any of the victims intended to have the body of their loved ones sent back to Nigeria, it would be at the expense of the family.

He said: “The commission will do all that is humanly possible to assist families of the dead get befitting burials for their loved ones but if they intend to have the body sent home, I don’t think the Saudi authorities will pick the bills.”

He however said the commission would not rush to declare the missing pilgrims dead as several committees had been constituted to search for them by combing the whole of Saudi Arabia.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/244-nigerians-missing-64-dead-71-injured/113070.html

boujaye:
what about Buhari probing amaechi for political looting of state treasury

pari passu...

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has called President Muhammadu Buhari to probe Governor Nyesom Wike over some alleged political murders in the state.

Chairman of the party, Dr Davies Ikanya, in a statement made available in Port Harcourt, urged President Buhari to look into the murders associated with the 2015 polls, as well as alleged intimidation of the party’s witnesses at the governorship election petition tribunal, Abuja.

Reacting however, Governor Nysome Wike described the allegations as outlandish and spurious and urged APC and Ikanya to stop what he said was a show of shame.

He said the resort by Rivers APC to the use of fabricated tales and indecent commentaries, aimed at distracting his administration, was an unfortunate demonstration of total disrespect to the government and people of Rivers State.

Making reference to a petition said to have been sent to the president and security agencies over some 97 murder cases, Ikanya said it captured the threat and present insecurity in the state.

He accused the governor of having a lukewarm attitude to the situation, adding that it was a cause for concern that security agencies have not investigated or prosecuted anyone over the violence which he alleged characterised the March 28/April 11 elections in the state.

The Rivers APC chairman recalled that former Governor Rotimi Amaechi had constituted the Professor Chidi Odinkalu Commission of Inquiry into the heinous crimes committed before, during and after the elections.

He added that, “However, on assumption of office, Wike procured a court judgment barring the constituted Chidi Odinkalu Commission of Inquiry.

“This action by Chief Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) denied the people justice.”

Reacting, Governor Wike said, Ikanya, by using a recycled press statement, had proved “that he is the mouthpiece of a desperate clan that viciously damaged Rivers State, but are only comfortable using propaganda to divert attention from their unfortunate and disastrous reign.”

Wike added that, “It was under the failed Rivers State APC administration that known cultists were released from detention for political reasons, a few days to the general election. Nigerians heard the Rivers State PDP raise alarm when the failed former governor took that action.

“Mr Ikanya cannot continue to rehash same lies all over again. They were at the tribunal, tendered the same concocted photographs which were rejected.”

“They failed to call any witnesses to prove that their members suffered any violence and they had no case other than the tales by four misguided gossips who pretended to be soldiers and policemen.

“The game is up for the Rivers State APC. These lies are no longer effective and it is time that Mr Ikanya sought another means of livelihood. Displaced politicians like Ikanya and his sponsors must accept this fact.”

http://tribuneonlineng.com/rivers-apc-urges-buhari-probe-wike-over-political-murders

really...

Budding singer, Jeffrey Ufedo Akor weekend emerged winner of the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 8, smiling home with star prize of N5million, a brand new, fully loaded SUV and a recording contract worth millions of Naira. It has been a completely exciting season with weeks of hard-work and dedication.

It started with auditions in several cities in West Africa, and translated into eight weeks of fun, tension and scintillating performances for the 16 contestants that made it into the Academy.

For the six finalists that made it to the finals (Ada, Arewa, Anderson, Deinde, Jeff, and Pearl), things will never be the same again as they have indeed gone through a beneficial and life-altering eight weeks in the Academy.

Grand Finale nights like this have birthed the likes of Iyanya, Mike, Chidinma, Monica, Ayoola, Olawale and Geoffrey. And with only one of these six to join the league of extraordinary superstars, the question on everyone’s mind was, who will it be?

But before it got to that, the show kicked off on a promising note as the six finalists stepped onto the stage in their monochrome outfits and delivered a melodious, yet emotional group song titled ‘Pray For Me’ by Dare Art Alade.

The rest of the night turned out to be an exciting journey with great entertainment lined up in form of collabos. Yes, the six finalists had been paired up with some A-list artistes to produce amazing remixed versions of their songs, and so each team stepped on stage and brought nothing but pure joy as they sang, danced and glowed.

First to perform were Jeff and energetic Yemi Alade doing ‘K.I.S.S.I.N.G’ remix. Followed by Pearl and Chidinma who gracefully performed ‘Kedike’ remix. Deinde and Iyanya got everyone dancing with ‘Mr Oreo’ remix. Anderson and Praiz with their vocal dexterities delivered ‘Rich and Famous’ remix. While Arewa and 9ice paired up for the remix of the evergreen ‘Gongo Aso’.

Ada and Sound Sultan closed this round of entertainment with their creative rendition of ‘MotherLand’ remix. Amazingly, these collaborations are now available as caller ring back tunes. It was then time to get down to the business of the day. The moment of truth as many calls it, often characterized by a pin-drop silence.

With the audience eyes wide open, gasping heartbeats and trembling feet, the hosts of the show –Joseph Benjamin and Bolanle Olukanni took turns to announce the winner and runners-up of season eight. Ada Tosanwumi, third runner-up. She went home with a cash prize of two million naira while Anderson Amos emerged second runner-up.

He walked away with two million naira and a brand new saloon car. Pearl Awa-Agwu, first runner-up. She earned three million naira and a brand new saloon car.

With scores of spectacular performances and several millions of votes; the winner of MTN Project Fame Season eight is Jeffrey Ufedo Akor. He carted away five million naira, a brand new, fully loaded SUV and a recording contract worth millions of Naira. The sixth and fifth positions will also be rewarded with five hundred thousand naira and one million naira respectively.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/how-jeff-won-2015-mtn-project-fame/