₦airaland Forum

Dele where did you get your facts from??

Security agencies are working on fresh clues that Boko Haram leaders may have been relocating to Nigeria from Mali.Some key operational bases of the sect, such as Kano, Bama, Potiskum, Damaturu and Maiduguri, are under watch because security agencies suspect that some Boko Haram (Western education is a sin) leaders are in hiding in these places. But, despite the ceasefire announced by a faction of the sect, the Federal Government has ordered the military and other security agencies to be on the alert.The Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN), said the government was waging a war against terrorism to avoid erosion of the nation’s democratic values. Security agencies are working on fresh clues that Boko Haram leaders are retreating back to Nigeria from Mali where foreign forces, including Nigeria’s, have routed Islamist pushing to take over power. Mali is believed to be stronghold of al-Qaeda, which is believed to be backing the insurgency in some part of Nigeria.A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are sucking that the ceasefire by a faction of Boko Haram might be a consequence of the devastating effects of France and the UN Intervention Mission forces in Mali. “There are intelligence reports indicating that some key leaders of the sect have retreated to Nigeria from Mali. That is why we have placed some of their operational bases under watch, despite the ceasefire. These bases are in Kano, Bama, Potiskum, Damaturu and Maiduguri, among other border towns.” Responding to a question, the source added: “The government is cautious on the declaration of ceasefire because it might be a ploy by the retreating Boko Haram leaders to regain the control of lost bases and unleash more devastating mayhem on the country. “We cannot afford to take things for granted or be carried away by the proclamation of a ceasefire.
http://www.informationng.com/2013/01/boko-haram-leaders-flee-hot-mali-to-nigeria.html

On January the 17th, 32-year-old Belgium MP Laurent Louis, considered one of the most controversial and demonized national political figures, delivered a powerful speech that is worth watching.

Transcript:

0:01 Thank you, Mr President.
0:03 Dear Ministers, dear Colleagues.
0:06 Belgium is indeed the land of surrealism.
0:08 This morning we learned in the media that the Belgian army is incapable
0:12 of fighting some extremist soldiers having radical Islamist beliefs
0:17 existing within its own ranks and who can not be dismissed
0:21 by lack of legal means. However, at the same time,
0:26 we decide to help France in its war against “Terror”
0:31 by providing logistical support for its operation in Mali.
0:36 What wouldn’t we do in order to fight against terrorism outside our borders?
0:42 I just hope we took care not to send for this anti-terrorist operation,
0:47 in Mali, these much talked about Belgian Islamists soldiers!
0:53 I seem to be joking, but what is going on in the world today does not make me laugh at all.
0:59 It doesn’t make me laugh, because without any doubt,
1:02 the leaders of our Western countries
1:04 are taking the peoples for imbeciles
1:07 with the help and support of the Media
1:09 which are nothing more today than an organ of propaganda of the ruling powers.
1:14 Around the world, military actions
1:19 and regime’s destabilization are becoming more and more frequent.
1:22 Preventive war has become the rule.
1:25 And today, in the name of democracy and the fight against terrorism,
1:29 our states grant themselves the right to violate the sovereignty of independent countries
1:34 and to overthrow legitimate leaders.
1:36 There has been Iraq and Afghanistan, the wars of the American lie.
1:41 Came later, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, where
1:44 thanks to your decisions, our country has been “first in line”
1:49 to participate in crimes against humanity, in each case to overthrow
1:54 progressive and moderated regimes
1:56 and to replace them by Islamist regimes,
2:00 and – isn’t it weird ? -
2:02 their 1st will was to impose Sharia law.
2:04 This is exactly what is currently happening in Syria
2:07 where Belgium is shamefully funding the arming of the Islamist rebels
2:12 who are trying to overthrow Bashar Al Assad.
2:15 Thus, in the midst of economic crisis,
2:18 as more and more Belgians can no longer house themselves,
2:21 feed, heat and cure themselves
2:23 – Yeah, I can hear what a filthy populist I am -
2:26 well, the Minister of Foreign Affairs decided
2:30 to offer the Syrian rebels 9 million euros!
2:33 Of course, they’ll try to make us believe that this money will
2:37 be used for humanitarian purposes … one more lie!
2:40 And as you can see, for months, our country is only participating
2:44 to put in place, Islamic regimes in North Africa and the Middle East.
2:49 So, when they come and pretend to go to war
2:52 in order to fight against terrorism in Mali, well… I feel like to laugh.
2:56 It’s false! Under the appearance of good actions,
2:58 we only intervene to defend financial interests
3:02 in a complete neo-colonialist mindset.
3:06 It’s a real nonsense
3:08 to go to help France in Mali in the name of the fight against islamic terrorism
3:13 when at the same time, we support in Syria
3:16 the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by Islamist rebels
3:19 who want to impose Sharia Law, as was done in Tunisia and in Libya
3:24 It is about time to stop lying to us and treating people like imbeciles
3:28 The time has come to tell the truth.
3:33 Arming the Islamist Rebels, as Westeners have, in the past
3:37 armed Bin Laden, that friend of the Americans before they turned against him,
3:42 well, the western countries are taking the opportunity
3:45 to place military bases in the newly conquered countries
3:49 while favoring domestic companies.
3:52 Everything is therefore strategic.
3:55 In Iraq, our American allies,
3:58 have put their hands on the country’s oil wealth.
4:01 In Afghanistan, it was its opium and drugs
4:05 always useful when it comes to make lots of money pretty quickly.
4:10 In Libya, in Tunisia, in Egypt, or then again in Syria,
4:15 the aim was and is still today
4:18 to overthrow moderate powers,
4:20 to replace them by Islamist powers who very quickly,
4:23 will become troublesome and that we will shamelessly attack
4:28 pretending once again,
4:30 to fight terrorism or protect Israel.
4:34 Thus, the next targets are already known.
4:37 Within a few months, I bet that
4:40 our eyes will turn to Algeria
4:42 and eventually to Iran.
4:46 To go to war, to free people from an outside aggressor, is noble
4:52 But go to war to defend the interests of the USA,
4:55 To go to war to defend the interests of big companies such as AREVA,
5:00 go to war to put our hands on gold mines,
5:03 has nothing noble at all and it reveals our countries to be attackers and thugs!
5:09 No one dares to speak, but I will not shut up!
5:12 and if my battle makes me look like an enemy of this system who flaunts
5:18 the Human Rights in the name of financial, geo-strategic
5:21 and neo-colonialist interests, so be it!
5:26 Flaunting and exposing this regime is a duty and makes me proud
5:31 And honestly, I apology for my low class speech, but
5:36 I Bleep you all, the so-called do-gooders,
5:38 both left and right wingers or from the centre
5:41 who are today licking the boots of our corrupted powers
5:45 and who will be pleased to ridicule me.
5:48 I Bleep you all, leaders who are playing with your bombs
5:51 as kids do in a playground!
5:53 I Bleep you, you who pretend to be democrat
5:56 while you are nothing more than low class criminals.
5:59 I don’t have much respect neither for the journalists
6:02 who have the audacity to label the opponents as mentally retarded
6:06 while basically, they know very well that these opponents are right.
6:12 Finally, I despise, at the highest point,
6:15 those who believe they are the kings of the world
6:17 and who are dictating their laws, because I AM on the side of truth,
6:21 the side of justice, the side of the innocent victims of looting at all cost.
6:28 And it is for this reason that I have decided to clearly oppose this resolution
6:34 that is sending our country to support France in its neo-colonialis operation.
6:38 Since the beginning of the French operation, the lie is organized.
6:43 We are told that France is only answering the call for help of a Malian president.
6:49 We almost forget that this president has no legitimacy
6:55 and that he was put in place to ensure the transition following the coup of March 2012.
7:01 Who supported this coup d’état? Who started it?
7:04 For who is this president of transition actually working?
7:07 This is the first lie!
7:10 The French president, François Hollande dares to pretend to wage this war
7:15 to fight against the jihadists who threaten (ohhhh do you realize!)
7:21 who threaten the French and European territory! But what an ugly lie!
7:24 By taking this official argument, while taking the opportunity
7:28 to frighten the population
7:30 increasing the terror allert level,
7:34 implementing the Vigipirate plan
7:36 our leaders and media are demonstrating an un-imaginable outrage!
7:43 How dare they use such a point while
7:46 France and Belgium have not hesitated to arm and support Jihadists in Libya
7:52 and that these same countries continue to support these jihadists in Syria.
7:58 This pretext hides strategic and economic purposes.
8:02 Our countries are no longer fearing inconsistency because everything is done to hide it.
8:07 But the inconsistency is well present.
8:10 It is not tomorrow that you’ll see a Malian citizen commit a act of terrorism in Europe.
8:15 No! Unless we’ll suddenly create one
8:19 so we can justify this military operation.
8:22 Haven’t we created september 11th, after all,
8:25 to justifiy the invasions, arbitrary arrest, torture
8:28 and massacre of innocent populations?
8:30 Thus, create a Malian terrorist is no big deal!
8:33 It must not be very complicated for our bloodthirsty leaders.
8:37 Another pretext used these recent months to justify military operations,
8:42 is the protection of human rights.
8:44 Ah! This pretext is still used today to justify the war in Mali.
8:49 But yes! We have to act, otherwise the evil Islamists
8:55 will impose Sharia law in Mali, stoning women and cutting the thugs’ hands off.
9:00 Oh! The intention is truly noble.
9:03 Noble and salutary for sure.
9:05 But then why is it, Good Lord, why is it that
9:09 our countries have contributed in Tunisia and Libya to the accession to power of Islamists
9:15 who have decided to apply this Sharia Law in these countries which were still
9:19 not so long ago, modern and progressive?
9:22 I invite you to ask the young Tunisians
9:25 who have launched the revolution in Tunisia,
9:28 if they are happy with their current situation? This is all hypocrisy.
9:33 The purpose of this war in Mali is very clear.
9:37 And since no one talks about it, I WILL.
9:39 The purpose is to fight against China
9:43 and allow our American ally to maintain its presence in Africa and the Middle East.
9:48 This is what guides these neo-colonialists operations.
9:51 And you will see, when the military operation will be over,
9:54 France will, of course, keep its military bases in Mali.
9:59 These bases will be a benefit to the Americans as well.
10:02 And at the same time, as has always been the case,
10:05 Western corporates will put their hands on juicy contracts
10:10 that will once again deprive re-colonized countries of their wealth and raw materials.
10:17 So let’s be clear,
10:20 the primary beneficiaries of this military operation,
10:22 will be the owners and shareholders of the French giant AREVA
10:27 who has been trying for years to obtain a uranium mine in Falea,
10:33 a town of 17,000 inhabitants located at 350 km from Bamako.
10:38 And I don’t know why, but my little finger is telling me
10:41 that it won’t take long before AREVA will eventually exploit that mine!
10:47 I don’t know, it’s an impression I have.
10:50 It is therefore out of question that I would take part to this mining colonialism,
10:54 that modern times colonialism.
10:56 And for those who doubt about my arguments,
10:59 I sincerely invite them
11:01 to learn about the wealth of Mali.
11:04 Mali is a major producer of gold, but recently it has been designated
11:08 – recently, eh….- as being a country that offers a world-class environment
11:13 for the exploitation of uranium. How strange!
11:16 One step closer to a war against Iran, it is obvious.
11:22 For all these reasons
11:25 and in order to not fall into the traps of lies they are tending us,
11:28 I’ve decided not to give my support to that intervention in Mali.
11:31 Therefore, I will vote against it.
11:32 And by doing so, I’m being consistent
11:35 since, I never supported in the past our criminal interventions in Libya
11:40 or in Syria, and so being the only MP in this country
11:44 to defend the non-interference and the fight against obscure interests.
11:49 I really think it is about time to put an end
11:51 to our participation to the UN or NATO and get out of the EU
11:55 if Europe, instead of providing peace
11:59 becomes a weapon of attack and destabilization of sovereign countries
12:04 submissive to financial rather than human interests
12:08 Finally, I can only urge our government
12:11 to remind the President Hollande
12:14 the obligations resulting from the Geneva Conventions
12:16 regarding the respect of prisoners of war.
12:19 Indeed, I was shocked to hear on television
12:22 from the mouth of the French President that his intention was to “destroy”
12:27 – I say “destroy” – Islamist terrorists.
12:31 So, I do not want the qualification to be used to name the opponents to the Malian regime
12:37 – it is always convenient today to talk about Islamic terrorists-
12:41 to be used to circumvent the obligations of any democratic state
12:47 in terms of respecting the rights of prisoners of war.
12:50 We expect such a respect from the Fatherland of Human Rights.
12:53 In conclusion, Let me emphasize
12:59 how lightly we decide to go to war
13:03 First, the government acts without any consent from the Parliament.
13:07 It appears that it has the right to.
13:08 It sends equipment, men to Mali
13:11 The Parliament subsequently reacts and when it responds, as today,
13:16 well, this institution happens to be composed of only 1/3 of its members.
13:21 Much less if we speak of the French speaking MP’s.
13:24 It is therefore a guilty lightness
13:28 which does not really surprises me,
13:30 coming from a Parliament of puppies,
13:32 submitted to the dictates of political parties. Thank you.
(Translation: Geraldine Feuillien)

THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Monday, disowned, the threat, last week, purportedly by the group, to tear apart Nigeria over the conviction of Henry Okah for terrorism in South Africa.

One Comrade Azizi, in a statement, last Wednesday, supposedly on behalf of MEND, said the group would collapse the country, adding that massive earthquake would be triggered with nuclear warheads to destroy oil wells, oil pipelines and refineries.


However, MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, in an electronic mail rebutting the claim said, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to advise Nigerians and the media to disregard the pathetic attempt at propaganda by a so-called Comrade Azizi and his statements, which are not authentic and statements emanating from MEND.”

His words, “As claimed by this Comrade Azizi, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) would like to clarify the following:”

Mr Henry Okah is NOT and has never been viewed as the leader or founder of MEND, but rather known as a sympathiser and supporter of our cause

Our fighters are freedom fighters who are fighting for justice, the emancipation of the Niger Delta and control of our God- given resources and not assassins, as stated by this so-called Comrade Azizi

Our struggle is NOT and has never been about the disintegration of Nigeria or a North and South fight as stated by this so-called Comrade Azizi

“With regards to the trial, judgement and sentencing of Henry Okah and other Niger- Delta indigenes, we will issue a full formal statement in due course stating our views and plans for the future,” the statement added.

He said, “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) would once again strongly urge Nigerians and the media to disregard any statement from this person.”

In a controversial statement with reference number, MEND/QTD/82MP/2013, dated January 23, entitled, “Conviction of our leader and founder, Mr. Henry Okah”, Comrade Azizi said, “ We witnessed ourselves firsthand the conviction of our dear leader yesterday the 21st of January 2013 by the South African Supreme Court on all the 13th count charges which as we all know has to do with ASO ROCK politic on a man simply because he refused to be bought over.”

“Before yesterday’s ruling, we had high regards for the South African judiciary but not now as we were wrong on our previous assessment nevertheless, people pays for mistakes committed by others so we the High Command of MEND have an advice for the South African people, which is TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT through your judiciary stay away with events that happened in Nigeria or else some South Africans will pay dearly for it.

“To the Nigerian military (The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta) don’t bother for now placing officers on alert, we will not bomb nor kill anybody for the time being, as we had communicated months back, we no long require IED or car bombs as we’ve gone pass that stage. Nigerians as a whole will feel our presence when we finally decide to carry out our targets which will not be restricted to the Niger Delta Region alone.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/henry-okah-mend-disowns-threat-to-crumble-nigeria/

This incident has been long expected, however, its has called attention to threats against the artist's life made in a street gang's videos and posted online in recent months.

"We're pulling up on you," a man who identified himself as a member of the Gangster Disciples warned in one of the videos. "Whatever city, whatever state, the pressure on."

Several videos purporting to be from Gangster Disciple members in several states -- including Georgia, North Carolina and Florida -- appeared on YouTube late last year demanding that Ross pay a fee to them for his use of the Star of David, which they claim as a gang symbol, and a reference to one of their founders in his music and marketing.
"You got to cut the check," one video said. "Tell your boss man he got to get that check, or all you in trouble."

"We need that cash right now," another said.

Ross, 37, whose albums include "Teflon Don" in 2010 and "Deeper Than Rap" a year earlier, told south Florida radio station 99 Jamz last month that he was not intimidated by the threats.

"Ain't never no checks getting cut," he said. "I don't play those games. I consider that extortion."

Despite the death threats and legal issues, his music is doing well. Ross is nominated for a best rap album Grammy for his latest release "God Forgives, I Don't."

William Roberts 37yrs AKA "Rick Ross" "Ricky Rozay" The death threats are not the only challenge his facing. A former drug lord and gang leader is suing in a Los Angeles court, accusing him of stealing his name and reputation. Rozay you have got alot in your hands!!!! Solve it fast...

FOR a very long time now I have stopped reading anything that is written by or about Barrister Godswill Akpabio the governor of Akwa Ibom State for the reason that I find most of those things sickening and I certainly wanted to avoid being provoked into making a response.

When I was first told that there was another of those write ups in THISDAY newspaper of Friday, January 18, 2013, I simply ignored it. Then again in Vanguard newspaper of Monday, January 21, 2013 my attention was drawn to what must be the same write up.

What alerted me and made me read this piece was the highlighted quote of what Governor Akpabio claimed was my response to him when he “over advised” me on a pending visit by the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Over advising somebody is an expression that I am not familiar with and honestly do not know what it means but I can say quite categorically that Barr. Godswill Akpabio was not one of the intellectuals in my cabinet.

He was, therefore, never, at any time made a member of any of my advisory committees. It is, therefore, quite difficult to figure out how he could have been in a position to advise me on an impending visit of the president.

These perceived inadequacies saw him moving from one ministry to another. In the time that he was in my cabinet, he had served in three different ministries. None of those ministries was the ministry of works.

It is not possible, therefore, for him to have been the one to fix the federal roads in my state and, with his own money for that matter. Furthermore I cannot think of any one policy drive in my government that can be attributed to Barr. Godswill Akpabio.

Besides, in the six years that he was my commissioner, the number of memos brought to Council by Barr. Godswill Akpabio can comfortably be counted with the fingers of one hand.

Vile and uncouth language

Be that as it may, the main point is that, even the worst of my detractors, some of whom he has chosen to surround himself with, cannot say that vile and uncouth language or behaviour is part of my character.

Barrister Godswill Akpabio has been reputed to be digitally brutal or is it brutally digital in his ability to mislead, to misinform and to misrepresent issues. Still I would have thought that there would be some respect for decency.

To accuse me of having behaved in such an uncivilized manner and having uttered such abusive words in reference to my president is, to say the least, quite despicable.

If he can allow this type of malicious misrepresentation to come out in print, I hate to think what must be going on in circumstances and situations where he knows I am not in a position to respond.

President Obasanjo will be the first to say that he and I have had some serious disagreements and I would not deny it. But it can never be said that I have been disrespectful to him.

I know better than that, and whatever I cannot say in front of a person I will not say behind that person’s back. It has always been my belief that it takes two to quarrel.

Within my right I have commented on some unsavory as well as some very good things that have happened in Akwa Ibom State but I have studiously refused to be drawn into a quarrel with Godswill Akpabio.

If the governor insists that he is quarrelling with me, he should look for a better reason than that, a long time ago, he had over advised me. What it seems like to me is that, the governor is troubled and he should ask himself why.

The governor says he is angry, but there is a world of difference between anger and blind fury. Even so anger remains one of the seven deadly sins and can never be superior to intellect as a driving force for good governance.

If the governor is angry, has he considered that the people may also be angry though for a different reason! The people are angry because in May 2009 the governor told them that he had built a dialysis centre in Uyo to which he donated 17 dialysis machines.

The people have since been searching and to date cannot find it. The people are angry because they remember that the first aircraft landed at Uyo airport in September 2009. During the tour of the facilities, Air Comdr. Idongesit Nkanga, the Chairman of the Airport Development Board, assured the audience that the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) building would be completed and fully operational by the end of that year.

Till today the building is still in construction even though the steel for its erection had arrived since January 2008, and the country is now crying out desperately for such a facility.

The people are angry and resentful because the free and compulsory education that the governor hurriedly declared has since died with its declaration and is now a mirage.

They are also angry and disappointed because in 2008 the governor promised them 10,000 housing units to be built in 2009. In 2009 the number had reduced to 2,000 units. In the same year, 2009, the governor announced that money had been appropriated for the development of housing estates.

In year 2010 the people were told that contracts had been awarded in the sum of N26.9bn to party stalwarts for the construction of those houses. The people are resentful because till today they are still homeless.

In September 2009, by a full page newspaper advert the governor told the people that his much vaunted flagship project, the Tropicana, would open and provide jobs for 5,000 people in the first quarter of 2010.

In case he has forgotten, Tropicana was to have a sky scrapper hotel of 25 storeys, the first in the country if not in Africa. It was to have a 10,000 seat auditorium in which the governor said he would stage world heavy weight boxing fights for Samuel Peters. Today all the people have is a cinema which the people are being told compares favourably with Silverbird in Lagos.

Today the people are unhappy because right now they would be watching the soccer matches of the African Cup of Nations on the giant screen at their favourite Ibom plaza. But they cannot because, in anger the government of Godswill Akpabio had closed down the people’s favourite leisure spot.

The people cannot forget that instead of an ICT park, all they have is an E-library that is yet to start to function; the specialist hospital that they were promised is yet to receive its first patient; the Certificate of Occupancy for Ibaka deep sea port has since been handed over to the Nigerian Ports Authority by the government of Godswill Akpabio; the Ibom Power Plant which was fully completed and commissioned in 2007 is yet to be put into use.

Your Excellency, you should know that the people too are angry. They have a thousand and one reasons to be angry, resentful and unhappy.

They are angry because they are tired of being deceived. They are so angry and resentful that in December 2009, at the Niger Delta rock concert, damning the consequences and throwing all caution to the wind, they pelted you with missiles in Uyo township stadium.

This anger was carried into the way the people voted in the elections of 2011, particularly the gubernatorial elections. The people have become even more angry since the announcement of the results of those elections.

My governor cannot forget that quite early in his first tenure, I had, as an elder statesman and one who had occupied that lofty position, written a letter cautioning him against careless talk and unguarded speech.

I had in that letter suggested that a statement by a high office holder, such as a governor is, can be treated in much the same way as the Catholic Pope speaking excathedra.

Pronouncements that are taken as articles of faith. Unfortunately, I must say that by your utterances and indeed your actions too, you have portrayed yourself as a confused young man with a large burden of inferiority complex.

Six years ago you came into office with a determination to practice the well worn pull-him-down tactic by either repudiating or claiming the work of your predecessor.

Despite what success you may think you have gained in the media, to the extent of considering yourself as the messiah that has come to revive a failed state in Akwa Ibom, the fact remains that the people know the truth.

Permit me therefore to remind you of something that Albert Einstein had said which, at some time, you had quoted: that it is only a mad man that will keep repeating the same act and expect a different result.

If after six years, the technique that you had adopted at the beginning has failed you, wisdom would suggest that you consider a different course of action. I wish you well.

Arc (Obong) Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State

Jonathan To Talk About Boko Haram On CNN Today by 8pm with Christiane Amanpour. Christiane will asking President Goodluck Jonathan after Mali and Algeria can Nigeria get a grip on its Islamic militant group? What do you think....

Tunde Bakere is talking arrant nonsense! Jonathan humbled himself in d presence of God that is why he went on his knees for supplication!
Tunde Bakare is crying sour grapes cos d President did not come to his church.

I wonder if this Bakere talkative is a man of God or an agent of d Nothern Cabal coalition? This man is becoming annoying lately! We as Nigerians have tonnes of biting issues that require divine intervention,and this man is busy barking like a wild dog? As he is barking Nigerians continue to suffer and nothing changes!

The solution to Nigerias problems can only be solved if all Nigerians put all hands on deck and work as a united team! It cannot be solved by the worshippping of deities frm different factions of d political spectrum!These r mere mortals whose only interest for Nigerians r limited in scope and will fade as they die away! Ask Zik, Awo or D sarduana of Sokoto!

nothing wrong with that except for critics...Political Pastor...OBJ nearly dealt with him.

What a night....

Party Hard.....

Nice

he current president of the Actor's Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima had a birthday bash at the Chesney Hotel, Victoria Island.

A lot of celebrities took time out of their busy schedule to grace the occasion.

Amongst them were Ini Edo, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic, Stephanie Okereke Linus, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Desmond Elliot, Genevieve Nnaji, Monalisa Chinda, Uche Jombo, Mike Ezuruonye, Ramsey Noah, 2face Idibia, Klint De Drunk.

They don enter!!! Who send them.....

Hmmmmm, Berger are taking we Nigerians for a ride that's all i can say. What stops Berger from doing the little % left at night or if that's not possible which it is. Why can't they open the roads say till 9am because they ain't working at that time and traffic is usually on the high side in the mornings. 2. Open the roads again from 5pm because by this time traffic is also high and also we see that them Berger have closed for the day.... If this was in the South or East Berger in either wildest dreams will not try what they are doing now.... Its about time government reviews their contract because this shows that they are not capable of handling more that two jobs at a time like seriously..... Call the Chinese..

Elueme: Fashola shd be held responsible for making public the salaries of doctors without publishing that of his benefactors( judges). The security implications were raised before the governor but still went ahead. It's only in Nigeria that a government intentionally exposes her citizens to grave danger as in the case with Lagos state government.

If these is true!! he should be held accountable for all the actions taken on the doctors and pls can someone tell me what Human Right Commission is doing about dis ugly incidences...

obi4eze: Sorry sir, your topic reads "raises." Shouldn't it be "rises"?

Thanks and nice one..

Mali is the new frontier against Islamist groups which have made much of their links to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. Nigerians should be increasingly concerned about the threat posed by Islamist rebels, now armed with weapons from Libyan armouries emptied during the revolution there.

France is expected to more than triple its troop numbers in Mali as raids continue on Islamist insurgents following overnight air strikes on a small town that had been seized by the rebels.

Sources close to the French defence minister said the number of French troops deployed in the west African country would "gradually" reach 2,500. There are currently 800 French troops in Mali, with hundreds more on the way over the next few days.

France carried out a fifth day of air strikes in a vast desert area seized last year by an Islamist alliance, which combines al-Qaida's north African wing, AQIM, with Mali's home-grown Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mojwa) and Ansar Dine rebel groups.

In a news conference in the United Arab Emirates, the French president, Franç ois Hollande said France had three aims: to stop the rebel advances, to secure the capital, Bamako, and to help the Mali government regain control of the whole country.

He said France would take a lesser role "as soon as there is an African force, in coming days or weeks", adding that France did not intend to stay.

Hollande said: "France should only intervene in Africa in exceptional circumstances and for a limited time. That's what we will do." In response to questions about a return to France's controversial role in its former colonies, he said the Mali intervention, in an international legal framework with UN backing, had nothing to do with the practices of "a bygone era".

But he added that France's role was to ensure that "when we end our intervention, Mali is safe, has legitimate authorities, an electoral process and there are no more terrorists threatening its territory".

Commentators in France said this would imply a drawn-out presence in the poor west African country, which is in political disarray following a coup last year and the fall of the desert north to Islamist groups, who operate a drug trafficking and kidnap economy in northern Mali and other Sahelian countries.

Asked what France intended to do with the insurgents, Hollande said: "Destroy them. Take them captive, if possible."

West African defence chiefs were meeting in Bamako to approve plans to speed up the deployment of 3,300 regional troops, foreseen in a UN-backed intervention plan to be led by Africans. African troops are expected to begin to be deployed within a week. Troops from the Ecowas grouping of west African states are expected to bolster the dishevelled Malian army.

A convoy of 40 to 50 armed trucks carrying French troops crossed into Mali on Tuesday from Ivory Coast, where they were stationed.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

How come they(lagos doctors) have become the central focus of these evil perpetrators; have they been denying the public or commoners standard medical attention or could it be as a result of their new increased robust pay package?...something must be wrong here,can Someone lemme know what's going on there and its an unwholesome and unwelcome devopment which should be stopped immediately.

Faduyile further called for enforcement of stricter control on motor bike operators as these assailants are fond of unleashing terror through the use of motor bikes.

According to him, “On Friday, January 11, the late Dr. Adamolekun was accosted in his car while in the traffic and the assailant shot him at close range. This young doctor however was not lucky as he died immediately from complications of the gunshot.

“Precisely, on Tuesday, January, 8, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon was shot at close range in his car at about 4:30 p.m. on his way from work at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH.

“The doctor was in traffic jam and was accosted to submit his property even when he had his car windows rolled up. His purported delay in responding got the robbers annoyed and he was shot at close range. The robber thereafter also crossed to the other side of the road and jumped on a waiting motorcycle and escaped.

The said doctor, seriously wounded, is still receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.”

Similarly, on the early hours of Monday January 14, Kuppa Medical Centre at Ajao Estate, Lagos was also touched by these dare-devils between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m.,

They unleashed terror on them and carted away many valuables of the patients, staff and the hospital.”

A welcome development for the people of Cross River and the entire Niger Delta region....

A Chinese firm, Sino Arab Energy, SAE, in partnership with a local firm, Osabo Refining and Petrochemical Industry Limited, have concluded plans to build a refinery in Akabuyo, Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Agreement s for the construction of the refinery which is expected to refine 107,000 barrel of crude per day have been signed by the partnering firms, and is valued at about $7.5billion.

Speaking on the project, Hon Etim Effiong Okon, who is a member of the management team of Osabo Refining, said the process for the procurement of requisite licenses to establish and operate the refinery had fully commenced, while Akwa Esuk Eyamba, the community where the refinery will be located had donated 500 hectares of land for the refinery.

Okon, who represents Akpabuyo constituency in the state House of Assembly, also said the project partners will engage in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil blocks in the future, to complement refining operations.

He further revealed that the partners will also engage in the development of independent power plant, and the production of natural gas and oil; and real estate within the Niger Delta region as well as the West African Continental shelf.

According to the lawmaker, the refinery is expected to be completed within five years, with the first phase slated to commence in 2014, while the feedstock for the refinery would come from the several Niger Delta basin oil wells.

“Other areas of activities include but not limited to gathering and the treatment of gas, establishment of industries and cogeneration,” he said.

Okon said the refinery would be built with stringent specification to meet international standard and its “product base will include Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, Kerosine, jet fuel, diesel,. Gasoline, automotive gas oil, AGOP, low pour fuel oil, LPFOP, High pour fuel oil, HPFO, boat fuel, motor oil, lubricants, liquefied petroleum gas, LPG.”

He said that over 10,000 jobs would be generated when the projects are completed and fully operational, adding that these will significantly improve the lives and socio-economic well being of not only people in Cross River State, but the entire Niger Delta region and beyond.

Security agents recorded another milestone when a key Boko Haram terrorist and Shura member, Mohammed Zangina, aka Mallam Abdullahi/Alhaji Musa, who was believed to have coordinated the bombing last April of THISDAY’s Abuja and Kaduna offices was arrested at noon yesterday at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

In a statement issued by the Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, he said Zangina was arrested in Maiduguri while trying to “plan several deadly attacks against civilians and security personnel any moment from today (yesterday).”
Zangina is the second Boko Haram leader to be arrested in last 24 hours, coming after the arrest of Hassan Pagi Bukur on Saturday at the Abuja residence of a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tijani Umar Kumalia, from Borno State

Although the JTF did not tie Zangina to the bombing of THISDAY’s Abuja and Kaduna offices, sources in the intelligence community said Zangina had masterminded the suicide bomb attacks on the media house which left two dead in Abuja (including the suicide bomber) and several injured.

THISDAY learnt that security operatives have been on his trail for several months and had at some point trailed him to his hideout in Jos, Plateau State, where his wife had claimed that he had died in an accident.
Speaking on his capture, the JTF said: “During the exchange of gunfire, he sustained life-threatening injuries but was caught and is undergoing interrogation at an undisclosed location.

“He is the Amir of North-central part of Nigeria and the coordinator of all the suicide attacks in Jos, Kaduna, Kano and Abuja. He had escaped several raids on his hideouts in Abuja, Jos, Zaria, Kaduna, and most recently in Potiskum. A bounty of N25 million was placed on him by JTF on November 23, 2012.”

Meanwhile, the arrest of a Bukur at the residence of Kumalia, in Abuja on Saturday has caused consternation in the capital city. Bukur was arrested alongside Kumalia's domestic security guard.

THISDAY learnt that the arrest came on the trail of intelligence reports pointing to the possible infiltration of Abuja by Boko Haram members, which has caused panic among the city’s residents, especially those who attended church services in Abuja yesterday.
Earlier in the week, security operatives along with officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had raided some spots and seized some motorcycles whose riders had no identifiable location.

Residents of Abuja, especially those living in Gwarinpa Estate, where Bukur was arrested, were thrown into panic mode when they saw some police and military helicopters hovering over the area. There was also unusually heavy presence of intelligence personnel in the area.

Security sources told THISDAY that part of the brief on Bukur was to receive stolen vehicles from top sect members, including one Babwo and Senior, who are also on the wanted list of security agencies.

The former lawmaker who was in the House between 2003 to 2007 has been telling operatives all he knows about Bukur and his security man, whom he claimed he employed from Sokoto State to guard his house.
A source further confirmed that Bukur had admitted to his role in the sect but added that Kumalia also bought vehicles from him.

Kumalia is, however, fighting to distance himself from the allegation. Although the former lawmaker is not being detained, he is being closely monitored and has been asked to report to the State Security Service (SSS) office regularly while he is under investigation to determine his relationship with the terrorist Islamic sect.


Before Saturday’s arrest, security agents had established that almost all the vehicles used for suicide bombings, including the Isuzu Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) used to bomb THISDAY office in Abuja by the terrorists, were stolen.

olu4life: While we are on the subject of end of
year lists, this one should be really
important. There are certain people who have made it their business to ensure that we hear the sound of their voices in the New Year. We are sending this list up to Heaven as a prayer request – we want to hear them no more in 2013.

1. Osaze Peter Odemwingie: What is it about grown men that makes them lose all sense of… sense once they sign into Twitter? Osaze does it all – rant, whine, moan, and make a grand fool of himself as we have seen on full display over the past few weeks just because the national team made a wise decision to call him bluff. To make matters worse, he can’t even string a correct English sentence together. Just go away, Peter. (Read ‘Osaze lacks respect… We can’t continue to baby-sit him’ – Joseph Yobo HERE]

2. Doyin Okupe: What purpose exactly, does this elephant in the room, serve in the government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan? We all know already that he is ineffective, making statements that rile even members of the President’s own party. And even though I evidently see that he enjoys the role of a lowly attack dog much too much, it still doesn’t make it right that this administration has inflicted this torture upon us. If you must get an attack dog, at least get ones who
thinks before he talks, Aso Rock please.

3. Kola Boof: Predictably, all hell will be let loose once her Google Alert informs her of this rare mention of her name in the media. Rare, but not for want of trying. From picking fights with Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji (and then calling her “my sister” five minutes after) to claiming that she “deep throats” actor Djimon Honsou (who of course ran as far away from her as any sane man would), the once-upon-a-time author Kola Boof has been a machine of Twitter scandals and transparent attention-seeking.
Unfortunately, she is not even nearly interesting enough.

4. Jim Iyke: This man certainly is in front of the list of those whose feet are permanently in their mouths, and it is mission successful: Iyke has in the past few months irrevocably de-mystified himself on social media. It is almost impossible to have followed his Twitter and Facebook rants – against real and perceived enemies, bloggers, baby mamas, haters from Abuja and those who accuse him of being an incurable gigolo – and still take him seriously. Then, to make matters worse, in the only one serious movie he did this year – Last Flight to Abuja – he also messed up. Jim, stop talking to the public. Lock yourself in a room and focus on giving yourself a good talking to. This is now an emergency. [Read 'Be my guest baaaaaaaaaastard' - Blogger writes Jim Iyke a friendly letter' HERE]

5. Donald Trump: Between all those moronic tweets he ends up deleting, the public put-down by his friend Barbara Walters, and reports that his children have let him away from his computer slowly, yeah you kind of have to feel sorry for Donald Trump. He has asked for Obama’s birth certificate, and been ridiculed for it, asked for his university degrees, suggested the United States elections were rigged, and had multiple nervous breakdowns in the full glare of the world over the past year. Is he having ANY sex at all?! ‘Cause you see, that can be a problem…

6. Dokubo Asari: Only in a country like Nigeria will a clown like Dokubo even be taken seriously, but here we are. The “former” militant who now sits on a Federal Government board now has a clear modus – when you get hungry, criticise Jonathan… and wait for manna to drop. He has said so many wildly contradictory things this year, and switched his position so very many times, I am surprised how he is able to even catch his breath. Someone, drown him in the creeks, please.

7. Labaran Maku: For thanking Goodluck Jonathan for bringing Facebook in Nigeria, this man just needs to go. Yes, I know he said this like 100 years ago, but I don’t care. He has not made any sense since then until now. He has to go. Enough is enough.

8. Femi Fani-Kayode: Bless his heart, you just have to wonder why Fani-Kayode is yet to kick off a successful career as a spy novelist. Seriously, anyone who can “reveal” the existence of blood sucking demons in the ministry of aviation, believe publicly in the existence of the Illuminati and try (and try and try again) to convince us that Barack Obama just might be the anti-Christ should be a literary legend. Very unfortunately, Fani-Kayode is damn serious about all these things he says. If I were a family member, seriously, I’d be very worried. Pray for him. [Read 'Femi Fani-Kayode asks: Can Obama be trusted?' HERE]

9. Marilyn Ogar: If you don’t know her… Well you should. The spokesperson of the State Security Service is that angry, scary woman who comes on television frequently and says the very first thing that comes to her head. It could be “The SSS employs crazy-looking women who don’t have any sense of occasion and actually make us frightened if these are the kinds of people that work in the nation’s intelligence networks” and she will certainly say it. Just like that. No pausing to think. It would be funny, if her position wasn’t actually so important. Seriously don’t her bosses know just how BAD she is on TV?!

10. Charly Boy actually came out in public and said he has a female “person” inside of him called Linda. A grandfather said this! In PUBLIC! The end.

These list is a joke. Am very sorry to say it but its more or less a work of a clown... Your facts ain't are poor and not just enough.. Can someone please make up a valid list is base on reasonable facts, events, & etc.. I wanna see the top ten in Nigeria that need to shut-up not just some personal losers opinion.......

Reliable sources said the vessel which berthed on January 5 originated from Tilbury in England and that the importers were based at Alaba International Market.

Customs confirm report

Confirming this to Vanguard, Public Relations Officer of Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Chris Osunkwo, said that NESREA had written to the Command informing them that they have intelligence report that a vessel which is erroneously called M.V. Mavia, was coming into the country with two container loads of e-waste.

Osunkwo said that the NESREA officials in the letter said that the vessel should not be allowed to discharge, adding that the inspection would be done onboard the vessel before it is sent back to it’s country of origin. The numbers of the containers are ECMU 9894590 and ECMU 9870858.

Also contacted, Assistant General Manager in charge of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ileya Musa, told Vanguard that the management of Tin-Can Island Port was aware of the development, adding that the vessel has since been isolated while the relevant agencies were on ground awaiting the inspection of the vessel.

On where the ship came from, Musa said he did not know but promised to get back to our reporter. He never did at press time.

Efforts to get to the area where the vessel was anchored proved abortive but a source at the TICT told Vanguard that the crew of the vessel had told them that the containers were in transit, adding that the final destination was the United Kingdom.

However, a senior Customs officer who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity , explained that the claim might just be a way of avoiding detention by officials of the Nigerian government.

It would be recalled that NESREA had on several occasions detained some vessels that had brought in e-waste into the country.

Some vessels detained before now were MV Maersk Nashville and M.V. Gumel.
Head of NESREA at the port, Mrs. Miranda Amachree, told Vanguard when M.V Gumel was detained that they got intelligence report from their counterparts in Antwerp, Belgium, that the vessel was bringing used fridges, television sets, compressor pots and batteries.

Amachree explained that the report from Antwerp was a result of the agreement entered into by Nigeria and European countries to do away with CFC, which were brought in by the vessel.

Notorious for his role as a Militant commander in the Niger Delta who led his army of well armed youths against the Nigerian state and made even more famous recently for his volte face in supporting his benefactor, Goodluck Jonathan, Mujahid Asari Dokubo has taking his tantrums to a whole new level by denouncing his Nigerian citizenship.According to him, “In protest against the inability of Nigeria to grant IJAW REPUBLIC, I have relocated my corporate investments to Benin Republic. Benin is my adopted homeland today”.

The Benikrukru community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State has assured that the leadership tussle in the area would not disrupt the operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), a subsidiary of the United States oil giant.

Chairman of the community, Mr. Jeffrey Ojogun, stated this in a statement after receiving a vote of confidence passed on him and his executive by the people of the area.

Ojogun, whose tenure will expire in October this year, stated that there was no security threat to the operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited in the area.

He urged the United States oil giant to disregard the rumour of planned disruption of its operations in the area.

“As for Chevron operations, we will make sure that its facilities are well protected, we are going to ensure that there is no pipeline vandalism, no oil theft. It has not happened before and the people and Chevron know this quite well,” he said.

“We are telling members of the public in general and Chevron in particular that there is no security threat in Benikrukru community and that there is no cause for alarm. We are peace loving people of the state and the country and ours is to ensure the promotion of the peace and security agenda of the Delta State Government.”

He expressed his appreciation to the people of the community for the confidence passed on him and his executive.

“I am very grateful to the confidence all of you have reposed in my executives at this emergency meeting. We should put the purported dissolution behind us and forge ahead as one people; those who carried out this action are trying to cause disunity in our community and this is unacceptable to us. They are advised to thread the path of peace and promote the peace and security of our dynamic Governor Uduaghan.”

“I am still the Chairman of Benikrukru community. As far as the people are with me, I still remain the chairman. As far as the community is still with me I have full confidence. This leadership has been in place for the past two years and two months. I have made sure that there is peace in Benikrukru community,” he explained.

This is 9ija not the western world.. Haba which (ija police get ur time for all this procedures.... Show him the money and its well.......

Edo State governor, Aams Oshiomhole has approved the immediate retirement of the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, Mr. H. A. Ikhelowa for alleged dereliction of duty.

The Governor also ordered the immediate sealing of the Museum in the state capital and arrest of the Manager over illegal operation and non-maintenance of the ground.

The approval for the retirement of the Permanent Secretary is contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.

According to the letter dated January 4, “the Governor also approved the immediate suspension of Mr. Nicholas Osemwengie, Acting General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board and the Director-in-charge of Street Lights in the Edo State Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, Engineer Ejemai Martins.”

According to the letter, “their cases have been referred to the Edo State Civil Service Commission for further action.”

The Government’s action is not unconnected with an inspection of the Governor round Benin City, the state capital, Friday where he saw heaps of refuse in parts of the city and people displaying wares on the walkways and roads.

During his inspection of the Museum ground, the Governor expressed dissatisfaction with the heaps of refuse left by fun-seekers at the place.

He said the manager of the Museum sublet the place for business without the government’s authority. Oshiomhole also ordered the arrest of a woman found cooking on a sensitive equipment connected to the water fountain at the Musuem.

During his inspection of the Oba Market road, Governor Oshiomhole ordered the instant seizure of wares displayed on the walkways and the road by traders and directed the immediate evacuation of dirt which littered the road.

Speaking with reporters, the Governor said: “we are back to work in the New Year and I am happy that the contractor are back to work. Most of them will return fully to work after the New Year holidays.

“I am satisfied with the quality of work and people are excited that the work is going on. You have noticed the job they are doing at the airport road and the challenge of the underground drainage and that is extremely important. Once the drainage is completed, flood from the adjoining streets will now drain into the primary drain which will now drain it into the river. That means the issue of flooding in this area will be a thing of the past. We are remodelling the road and creating bus stops. We will do more in the second term than we did in the first term”, he assured.

The Nigerian Navy (NN) will today hand over a 15-man Russian crew of the arrested Merchant Vessel (MV) Myre Seadiver to the Nigeria Police for prosecution.

The vessel, which was intercepted on October 19 at the Lagos Roadstead, was said to have contained AK47 rifles with 3, 643 ammunition and 22 Benelli MR1 20 Barrel rifles with 4, 955 ammunition.

A statement from the Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Lt. Commander Jerry Omodara, said the handing over would be done at the harbour of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos.

He said: “The ship was arrested for illegal entry into Nigerian waters, non-declaration of cargo and carrying of arms.

“Part of our activities in the Lagos area is to ensure we create a conducive maritime atmosphere to promote legitimate maritime business. Anytime we see something that infringes on that mandate, we try to avert it.

“The vessel belongs to Moran Group, Moscow and hoisted a Dutch Island flag.

“We discovered that it came into our waters without notification and found it had weapons, which is an infringement on the laws of this country.”

huh!!! You are beautiful like a diamond in the sky, beautiful house..