Family members of one Mr. Charles Amadin from Edo state and Ms. Oma Ada Usuogu from Okija in Anambra state are at logger head over marriage proposal by the duo.


Accordingly to a family member of the would be bride, Mr. Onu Usuogu in a protest carried out in Benin city told Journalists that giving the family tradition, their daughter being the first child (Ada) of the family will not be allowed to marriage Amadin because he is not a native of the town.

Consequently, they alleged that their daughter who was last seen since May 2nd, 2010 is believed to have been abducted by the said Amadin as the both now lives in an undisclosed location.
Soliciting members of the public to assist the family on the where-about of the said Charles Amadin, said: “by traditional, their daughter is not allowed to betroth in marriage to a non-native who is not from the same village with the maid.”

“We are deeply concerned that even as I speak with you, our daughter is nowhere to be found. But we are too well convinced that since 2010,she now lives with Amadin who has taken her far away from us with no reach by members of her family”, explained Mr. Usuogu.

They issued that the said Amadin is declared wanted by the family of the girl so as every modalities concerning the marriage be adhered to according to the dictate of the family tradition.

Contacted, family members of the said Charles Amadin had refuted claims by the maid’s family and are appealing that since the couples are truly in love, they should be allowed to get marriage and raised a happy family of their own.Newsnowmagazines..com

BY: MOTUNRAYO AZEEZ

Former African weather weight Champion Hakeem Ishola has expressed disapproval over poor promotion and running of professional boxing in the country.



Ishola who was at the corporate office of Pm news in Ikeja yesterday said boxing shouldn’t be left to die just like that reiterating that professionals should be given the opportunity to handle the game of professional boxing in the country.

“People who have tasted the gloves before or probably those who have the technical ability of the sports wisdom wise should handle boxing”

Ishola said amateurs that have nothing to offer to the sports should be shown the exit door adding that the reason why amateurs are killing the game is because they are people who had promoted just one fight in their entire life.

“Professionals should handle the administration of boxing so that past heroes in the sports will be given notable recognition for their contribution to the game during their fighting days”

“Legends such as Archie Moore who gave us his money time and brought us in the game should be immortalized because he gave his best for professional boxing development and even in his days as a boxer”

The former national champion also noted that another thing which is delaying the development of the sport in the country is selfishness.

“The solution to these problems is if the boxing board of control always promotes boxers regularly so that they will not be ring rusty because when you promote boxers, they will excel better than their opponents in the ring”

“Also Monies collected before a fight should be returned back to the board provided they provided the money and they didn’t till funds came elsewhere before they promote boxers”

Ishola further said that the current boxing situation in the country inspired the Oba Adeyele aalafin boxing club AB and C which he’s part of the pioneering member was formed.

“He claimed that if Former boxers are given the opportunity to give advice to those who are the handler’s of administration of professional boxing in the country, then professional boxing will be revived the way it used to be in the past. .com



BY: Sam Paul

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may begin another protracted strike after one year the call-off the return to classroom.



Aca­demic Staff Union of Universi­ties (ASUU) on Wednesday accused the Federal Government of reneg­ing on the agreement she reached with the lecturers before calling off of the strike.

Speaking during a press briefing yesterday for one-year remembrance of the killing of former ASUU leader, Professor Festus Iyayi by the convoy of Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada (retd), ASUU noted that one year after the agreement with the Federal Government, no government-owned university had received a dime from the N200 billion government said it had set aside for the revitalization of university education in the current year.

Chairman, Nnamdi Azikiwe University branch of ASUU, Comrade Dennis Aribidor, who briefed journalists alongside members of his executive and some senior members of the chapter lamented that the issues that prompted the strike were yet to be addressed in the universities and government had as usual, kept mum.

He said, “It seems Iyayi’s death opened the pandora box that suggests that ASUU’s relationship with government might seem irreconcilably hostile. While he fought for a just cause, ASUU is presently skeptical that he died in vain especially since the conten­tion over honouring the ASUU-FG 2009 agreement, which cut his life short, is still far-fetched. This position is based on some hard truths,” he noted. “No government-owned university (federal or state) has received funding to improve the teaching and learning conditions from the N200 billion earmarked for revitalizing of university education in 2014. No university (federal or state) has received money to pay arrears of earned allowances owed staff from 2009 – 2013 as agreed with government, apart from the 30 per cent released during the strike.”

Aribodor spoke further, “the most funda­mental problem bedeviling the educational system in Nigeria is that it is located within a philosophical and political economic system which emphasizes personal self-enrichment and individual aggrandizement instead of emphasizing knowledge acquisition geared towards public good and national develop­ment.”

“Nigerian educational system is character­ized by chronic underfunding, bad leader­ship, infrastructural decay, poor conditions of learning and service, promotion of mediocrity, shortage of personnel and entrenchment of orthodoxy, parochialism and chauvinism,” he stressed.

The ASUU boss insisted that ASUU would continue to reject “the ongoing systematic privatisation of education and selling off of public educational institutions. Education is a public good and should not be left in the hands of private individuals who are driven solely by profit motives.”

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Ow­erri Zone of ASUU, Professor Ike Odumegwu accused government of frustrating efforts by ASUU to ensure that the killers of Iyayi were brought to book, saying, “The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, took note of how Iyayi was killed, but nothing has been done. Our lawyers took the matter to court and it has been one adjournment after another.” .COM

BY; BOITI ATAYESE ADEYEMI

World football governing body Fifa, has confirmed that the 2014 Club World Cup will go on in Morocco as planned.
Fifa stated on its twitter account that the tournament would take place in Morocco and that preparations continue as planned.
The annual competition features champion clubs of each continent which are Real Madrid(Europe), San Lorenzo(South America), Western Sydney Wanderers(Asia), Auckland City(Oceania), Cruz Azul (Concacaf) and Entete Seitif (Africa). It also includes Moghreb Athletic; the champion of the host Morocco.
Morocco had earlier been stripped of hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations by CAF after their request for the postponement of the tourney citing the fear of Ebola Virus Disease was rejected and CAF expected to name a new host in 3days, Fifa has decided that the Club World Cup would go on in Morocco as earlier planned.NEWSNOWMAGAZINES..COM

By: Odidika Charles

For the first time, the Mavins crew, all in sparkling whites, performed together at the inauguration of the Akwa Ibom international stadium on Friday November 7.

This was disclosed by the Mavins first lady, Tiwa Savage.Talking about Doro Buchi their latest hit track, Mavins chairman says Doro Buchi is a boss that is bigger than a boss.

For the Mavins chairman who is always with his usual walking stick, even though he has two legs; stated that hardwork and consistency keeps him at the top.

Under the Akwa Ibom stadium well equipped with: covered sitting terrace, natural glasses, high tech flood light,bullet proof and vip,security cameras,36 emergency exists and lots of equipments that qualify it for a standard stadium, welcome music stars like the A wka Ibom music stars, as well as K-cee,and the limpopo master.

BY: EMMANUEL ADEBOLA

The spate of insurgency is getting out of hand and an estimated number not less than 12,000 people have been killed by the nefarious act of Boko Haram since 2009 when it embarked on bloodletting mission of the ordinary men and women in the North-eastern part of this country. Up till today, the Federal government led by People Democratic Party (PDP) has not be able to put an end to this blood thirsty Group or be able to fish out those who are responsible for bankrolling the nefarious activity of this group.



The mode of operation of Boko Haram in the North-Eastern part of the country obviously indicated that the war is not against the elites or those who are perceived to be responsible for decadence in our society but against the poor, less privileged and those who are struggling to make both ends meet.
Fmr President Obasanjo and President Jonathan
Fmr President Obasanjo and President Jonathan

A security consultant, Chigozie Ubani shed more light on Monday last week when he stated that the federal government would have crushed the Boko Haram insurgents within two weeks if the attacks being carried out by the sect had affected the elites in the country.

He made this known recently while answering questions from journalists on Channels Daily sun Rise programme stressing that the insurgents are yet to be crushed because they have not “harassed the federal government” arguing that “if the three arms zone is attacked, Nigeria will crush Boko Haram within two weeks.

“Because that was what happened with Ebola. The moment the elite was challenged, it dawned on them that, even the president is a potential victim of Ebola and Nigeria rose to the occasion and we have taken Ebola out,’’ he added.

He, however, noted that though the federal government has tried to tackle the insurgency from different fronts, he maintained that “there are several dimensions to the insurgency and when you look at it well you will see that government is also adopting several means in attempting to these under control”, he said, adding that “the federal government has put all cards on the table” to bring the insurgency to an end.

He further noted the federal government’s offer of amnesty to the insurgents and an invite to the negotiation table “and now ceasefire, which was never adhered to” are signs that they have tried to bring the insurgency to an end.

He urged the federal troops to “pound Boko Haram, having offered all these and have failed, alleging that the group has “highly placed sponsors both within and outside the country.

“There are sponsors at every time; there are people who sponsor actions and there are those who strategise and command the foot soldiers”, insisting that “government has entered into an endless battle with the foot soldiers, who are the lowest strata of this struggle,’’ he explained.

He stated that “the most important part of all these are the political actors who bring the money and provide them with vital information” adding that “we are not engaging them the way they should be engaged and we won’t make headway if we should continue like this”.

He argued that for the insurgency to end, the Chief of Defence Staff should relocate to Adamawa State, Chief of Army Staff to Maiduguri and Chief of Air Staff should relocate to Yobe State, while the Inspector General of Police stay in Abuja, insisting that if that is done, the insurgents would be tackled.

The Federal Government of Nigeria had announced that it reached a ceasefire agreement with the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The announcement came at the end of a meeting between the Nigerian and Cameroonian armed forces where both sides decided on collaboration in communication, intelligence sharing, tactical partnerships and handling of internally displaced.

However, the leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau, denied claims that the group had reached a ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria, insisting that the group will not negotiate.

Recently the National Council of State in Nigeria has asked security agents to ‘add more venom’ to the fight against terrorism, stressing the need to end the attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group on villages and towns in the north-east.

The call was made by the National Council of State members on Tuesday last week after they were briefed of the security efforts of the agencies to end the over five years of terrorism that has claimed thousands of lives in the north-east.

The National Council of State is the highest policy making body in Nigeria and all past leaders are expected to attend the council meeting.

The Council of State meeting was held at the Presidential Villa and it was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In attendance were four former Heads of State – General Yakubu Gowon, Mr Shehu Shagari, Mr Ernest Shonekan and Mr Olusegun Obasanjo.

After a briefing by the National Security Adviser, the Council of State members observed that the government was doing everything possible to ensure that the schoolgirls abducted from their school’s dormitory by members of the Boko Haram sect in April were released safe and sound.

The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio explained and stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to securing the release of the girls.

The Council stressed the need for the security agents to add more venom to the fight against the Boko Haram sect that had continued to attack villages and towns in the north-east days after the Nigerian government said it had reached a ceasefire agreement with the Islamic sect.

Less than 24 hours after the ceasefire agreement was announced, the terrorist group attacked two towns in Borno. The leader of the group in a video released on Friday last week denied any ceasefire agreement, emphasising that the girls abducted from the school had been married off.

The council also reviewed the report by a committee set up to investigate reports of discriminations against persons that were infected but now free of the virus across the states and mandated the committee to beef up the recommendations of sanctions against anyone that is working against the unity of the country in any guise.

This country was more secured in 1999 before the PDP took over the mantle of leadership of Nigeria. The government should be reminded that the primary responsibility of any reasonable government is the security of its citizens and where this is lacked the government has failed woefully. .COM



BY: Ifedayo Akinwalere

Crafted in between the stony curves, the splendour of the Olumirin water fall always baffles tourists who visit Erin Ijesha in Osun state.
Approaching the water fall, you are welcome with sounds of water splashing from high miles and good scenes of rocky hills The waterfall paints a scene so perfect. it roars louder and louder.
The view at all the levels is wonderful and the freshness of the water is energizing. The fall is surrounded by towering mountains that gives you that sense of wildlife mixed with serenity as you behold the beauty nature has to offer.

The trees are very green and the scent of the environment is nothing compare to,its so magical,its a sight to behold, You have not seen paradise until you visit the fall.

It was truly an unforgettable moment. There are no wild animals to scare people as it is very safe for people to visit, the only animals there are monkeys as they are seen jumping from trees to trees. It has been an experience for a life time.

Olumirin Waterfalls is on the pedestal of one of the choicest tourist resorts in Africa.
Known for it’s famous seven waterfalls, the Olumirin Waterfalls located in Erin Ijesha is an experience not to be missed.

The cascading fall surrounded by towering mountains that gives you that sense of wildlife mixed with serenity as you behold the beauty nature has to offer.
For both tourist and locals, gaining access into the wonderful enclave cost 500 for adults and 300 for children.

Locals mostly youths in the community however are complaining of the fee charged by the new company managing the site.

Approaching the water fall, you are welcome with sounds of water splashing from high miles and good scenes of rocky hills.
Though still under construction to fit a world class tourist site, the water fall has about seven stages and with the first three major falls.
The second falls is the best place to swim. There are no rocks on the flour. It has a very wide space and very high.

The view at all the levels is wonderful and the freshness of the water is energizing. Even thou my trip to the falls end at the second stage, I doubt my strength would go further on the stony path.
The final and seventh level lies at the peak of the falls, it is also hosts a settlement where many of its inhabitants have lived for several years, my tour guide Baba Ayo Apate said.

According Baba Apate a tourist guild, "Olumirun waterfall was discovered by a hunter in the year 1140AD.
He said the water takes it source from EFON ALAYE in Ekiti State. "It is about one and a half kilometer from the town"

There are no wild animals to scare people as it is very safe for people to visit, the only animals there are monkeys as they are seen jumping from trees to trees.

Ayo Apata a guild tour who laments that development projects has been staled in the last years, he dreams of having a lift at spring to save tourist the stress of crawling on the rocky part.

He said developing the waterfall will not only be a source of revenue to the government, it will equally generate substantial employment, thus reducing the burden of unemployment in the State and the Country at large.

Through the water the slogan of the state was derived "the state of living spring" before it was changed to the "state of virtue", the seven living springs still rock its vistors in Erin Ijesha.newsnowmagazines..com



BY: MOMOH IKPEMOSI

As the Nigeria Premier league football comes to an End, Coach of Bayelsa United, Solomon Egbede has stated that his team would not get relegated.

He stated that the survival to escape relegation zone is between two sides, who are determines to give their all and escape being relegated.

In his words" We are a good team and we are more determined, focus and tactical to avoid relegated".

He also noted "The other team is also poised to escape being relegated likewise us, but we are more initiated and able to pull more strings together," he said. .com



By Sandra Nwokocha

Taraba State Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar yesterday said peace has begin to return to troubled part of the state, contrary to the immediate past Minister of State of Niger Delta.

Affairs, Architect Darius Ishaku comment that the state is in war.

The Acting Governor who spoke through his Special Assistant Media and Publicity Aaron Artimas in Lagos warned politicians against statements capable of leading the state into crisis, emphasising that ‎"Taraba is not in a state of war".

He said all politicians in the state have a duty to focus more on encouraging the people to live peacefully instead of lining behind religion and ethnic sentiments to advance personal and political interest.

He chided the former Minister who at a public function wrongfully misled that there could be an impending "Boko Haram takeover of Wukari if care is not taken".

The acting governor explained that peace has begun to return to few troubled areas in some part of the state.

Umar clarified that "Taraba has been generally free of the Boko Haram menace and it is completely impolitic or imprudent to imagine it for the State.

"It was never the wish of the three affected states to go through the nightmarish experience of this Problem and as such, the threat of Boko Haram should not be gleefully used as campaign material.

"Perhaps, a stranger like Darius, will need to know that apart from Wukari, Ibbi, Gassol and Bali, the rest of the state has been generally peaceful in the last two years. Peace has returned to the mentioned local government except some sporadic incidents of violence usually influenced by criminal tendencies."

Umar said the successful distribution of permanent voters card in all Local Government Areas and the Peoples Democratic Party ward congresses throughout the state are evidence that peace has begin to the state.

"What more evidence of a peaceful state is better than this? Contrary to his own notion of insecurity, a Kaduna based Darius has freely move round the State for the first time understanding his State and selling his programs to the electorates," he added.

The acting governor wondered "if Architect Darius all alone had full knowledge of the crises in the Southern zone? Could he or his group had plotted or instigated the crises as a way of blackmailing the government to gain political currency or dividends from the blood and misery of the people? If

Indeed Architect Darius has solutions to the crises, must he wait until he becomes governor before offering his suggestions to the government? Is the fight in Wukari linked to his governorship? How

many more people does Architect Darius want killed before he volunteers this fantastic solution to the government?"

He said Architect Darius political outburst demonstrated "the poverty of purpose by the people who want to forcibly take over governance of Taraba State."

The acting governor however advised Architect Darius to move away from the toga of pressure group aspirant to a man who truly has an agenda for the state, saying, "So far, we have not heard, why he wants to govern the State beyond his well known image of a cabal anointed regional aspirant.‎ Taraba needs an impartial or dispassionate leader and not a man." .com

BY: AYODELE OLOYE

Former stars of the 'Challenge Cup' now known as the Federation Cup, are set to be honoured at this years finals.According to Lagos State Commissioner for sports; Waidi Enitan Oshodi, 13 former stars who have contributed immensely to the competition in the past, will be awarded by the state at the finals slated for the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Sunday 23rd of November 2014.



Oshodi stated that the likes of Aloysius Atuegbu, Ogidi Ibeabuchi, Ayo Ositelu and Sunday Dankoro are to be recognised post homousely while the likes of George Hassan, Yomi Peters, Peter Fregene, Pa Herbert Omokhaye, Kadiri Ikhana, Henry Ogboe, Festus Bolaji Okubule, Jonathan Nwaiwu and Peter Aneke are expected to be present at the finals for their awards.

This year’s finals pitches the defending champions; Enyimba Football Club against Dolphins Football Club in the male category while in the female category, defending champions; Rivers Angels will slug it out against Sunshine Queens..com



Enyimba Fc; Federation Cup defending champions



BY: Odidika Charles

06 Nov 2014 04:18 Print Email
IGP Suleiman Abba
IGP Suleiman Abba

Mr Akintoye Babalola who works in Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc. (nahco aviance) international airport Ikeja was allegedly beheaded by two security officers at boundary road Sasa Egbeda Lagos on September 15, 2014 on his departure from work by 2: am in the morning.

The victim who happens to be on afternoon duty ,which he closed by 1:40am and walked to his locale at boundary Sasa Egbeda and he was full of confidence that he was popular with the security officers in his locale, unknown to him that the officers on shift that day was not on duty.

He was stopped by two security officers who are called {OPC}they asked Mr. Akintoye the victim to tender his identity card for recognition which he could not produce as a result of his hurry out of his place of work, they remove his cloth, beat him mercilessly , beheaded him and placed his body on the airport fence close to his viccinity,When it was day break, people in his neighbourhood passed and recognized him ,three of his co- tenants,Mr Ade ,Mr Akin and Mrs. Abiola said that the man stays in their compound at no 17 Boundary road Sasa and was always coming home at the late hours due to the nature of his job and he is very popular among the security officers.

Mr Akintoye Babalola is single, dedicated Christian and very friendly in the neighbourhood.

The police are on the search for the security officers who killed Babalola and had promised the victims family of their arrest.

The victim, Mr Akintoye Babalola has been taken to his hometown in Igbora, Oyo state by his family members for burial on September 20 while the police are busy investigating the matter..com

BY: Nwachukwu Vivian Chikodi

Even the word of God was said that whoever that find a good wife find a good thing, but after fifteen years of marriage Mr. Patrick Samson regrets over his own marriage.



On March 22, 1999, the family of Mr. Patrick and Janet joined Mr. Samson and Miss Janet together as husband and wife. According to Mr. Samson, that was the happiest day in his life, because he thought that he finally married the woman whom he loved.

Mr Samson said it is still like a dream to him when he woke up one day and find out that the three of his children are not his own, according to him since he got married he never one day distrust his wife.

Mr Samson who stays at Adewale Street Mile 12, said that on August 30,2014 was like a dream to him when one Mr. Philip came to his house and broke the news to him that he is the father of his children. According to Mr. Samson he thought that it was a joke until he asked his wife who confirmed that it is true.

Mr Samson who thought that the best way to confirm the truth is to go for DNA test which was later confirmed to him that the children really belong to Mr. Philip.

Mr Samson who said he regret marrying his wife because his mother and father warned him about the marriage, he said it is good to heed parents’ advice because my parents warned me over this marriage but I did not listen, he stated.

The matter was later tabled before court of law for further investigation..com



BY: Morgan Sandra Chisom

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday denounce the deployment of men in black uniforms purportedly to manage traffic on roads in the State saying both the agency and the deployment constitute an illegality by the Federal Government.



Governor Fashola, who spoke in an interview with journalists at the Nigeria Police College Parade Ground, Ikeja venue of the 5th Year Anniversary of Uniformed Voluntary Clubs in Lagos State Public Schools, said the whole act amounted to a misuse of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment (SURE-P) programme funds.

The Governor noted that since the agencies authorized by law to manage traffic on the State’s and Federal roads - the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) - are fully on ground in the State, the deployment of some men and women in black uniforms on the same roads must be for purposes other than traffic management.

He expressed regrets that instead of re-investing the fund, which, according to him, was the savings on the subsidy following the expenditure of over N2 trillion, to empower Nigerians and improve their lives, it is now being dissipated on political organizations in wanton desperation to win elections adding that such misuse of the funds was a total departure from its purpose of improving the lives of Nigerians.

Governor Fashola told newsmen, “It is for Nigerians and Lagosians to now ask themselves honestly whether the Federal Government and the President have been honest with us, because they said this SURE- P money would be used to improve the life of Nigerians”.

On the activities of the men in black uniforms on Lagos and Federal roads, the Governor said, “I know that in the season of elections, you will see all sorts of misbehaviour. The reports were brought to me that they were men of FERMA, I think that is what they have done with SURE-P money”.

“They told us that the savings were going to be used to improve our lives, so you see how it is improving our lives, setting up an organization that has no law two or three months before elections; an organization that does nothing”, he said pointing out that SURE-P money should be going into the repair of Federal Highways in the State such as the Tin-Can Island - Apapa- Oshodi Expressway where, according to him, a container fell and crushed a car on Monday as a result of the dilapidated nature of the road.

Governor Fashola stated that SURE-P Funds are being dissipated to win elections instead of improving the lives of Nigerians

Alerting Lagosians that the black uniformed men may be on the roads to precipitate confusion, Governor Fashola declared, “This is a method that has been tried before in 2006 and the results it produced were roundly defeated; so if they go back to a method that does not work, we will not be provoked, we expect that at some point in time commonsense will prevail”.

“They have no right to manage traffic ; the only agencies empowered by law to manage traffic in Lagos is LASTMA and Federal Road Safety on Federal roads, and citizens should just resist them and refuse to cooperate with them”, the Governor said..com

BY: Ifedayo Akinwalere

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the commencement of the process of issuance of Permanent Voters Card in Lagos.
GOV FASHOLA
GOV FASHOLA



This is contained in the press release today from the office of the Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Governor Fashola stated that in order for our democracy to be truly representative, it must be participatory, which means that everybody who is 18 years old from today is eligible to vote in the next election.

‘’This obligation has become very important because of the reports emanating from INEC at a press briefing by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos that the number of voters in Lagos is now 4,800,000 (Four Million, Eight Hundred Thousand),’’ said Fashola.

Fashola added that the conclusion of voters registration exercise before the 2011 elections, the number of registered voters in Lagos as announced by INEC itself was 6,247,845 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Five).

This was an exercise conducted by INEC. This was an exercise where INEC boasted to Nigerian that it has secured an Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to ensure the credibility of the Voters Register.

‘’INEC must explain to us how…..voters disappeared from among 1,447,845 (One Million, Four Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Five) to leave Lagos with only 4,800,000 (Four Million, Eight Hundred Thousand) registered voters,’’Fashola added

INEC has itself attempted to ascribe the disappearance of 1,447,845 (One Million, Four Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Five) registered voters on its register in Lagos to what it calls “consolidation”; “Business Rule” and AFIS.

Lagosians demand to know what these terms mean, are they provided for in the Electoral Act?

Are they plans to disenfranchise Lagosians from exercising their rights to choose their own representatives?

Are they part of a plan to confer an undue-advantage in the next elections to any person or to frustrate the choice of Lagosians as we have seen in other states?

Fashola said that his Government will vigorously stand on the side of every eligible and previously registered voter to have their name back on the Voters Register compiled in 2011 unless INEC can show legitimate reasons why this should not be so.

For those residents who did not register at the last election, or who were not 18 years old at the time but who have now reached that age and who want to register, the first phase of this exercise which is to issue voters card from 7th-9th of November 2014 is not for you, because a Voter’s Card is only produced from a previously existing register.

For those who fall into the category of persons who have never registered or who were registered and cannot find their names, will have the opportunity to register for the first time, or to re-register in the second phase which is for continuous voters registration starting from 12th November to 17th November 2014.

After the issuance of Permanent Voters Card for those who registered at the last election or who voted, then INEC will start a process of continuous voters’ registration.

‘’So for now, for 3 days, from Friday the 7th day of November 2014 to Sunday the 9th day of 2014, I urge all residents, registered in Lagos to make time to go to their registration or voting centres to collect their Permanent Voters Card,’’ Fashola stated.

The governor urged employers of labour to be flexible and accommodating to allow workers to close early on Friday the 7th of November, 2014.

As for public servants, the governor declares Friday the 7th of November, 2014 shall be a work free day in order to enable workers carry out this civic duty and exercise their civic rights..com

BY: Ifedayo Akinwalere

West Ham United maintained their impressive start to the season when they beat champions Manchester City 2-1 at Upton Park on Saturday to consolidate their place in the top four of the Premier League.

Manager Sam Allardyce described it as "a famous win" after Hammers beat City for the first time in five years for their third successive victory.

The result was a blow for City who could be eight points behind leaders Chelsea if Jose Mourinho's men win at Manchester United on Sunday.
The Hammers went ahead in the 21st minute when Morgan Amalfitano was left unmarked at the far post and reacted quickest to a low, spinning cross from Enner Valencia to stab the ball in from close range with goalkeeper Joe Hart stranded.

They doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Diafra Sakho became the first West Ham player to score in six successive Premier League matches.

He rose to head powerfully at the goal, and although Hart scooped the ball clear, the goal decision review system proved it had crossed the line and the score stood.
But within two minutes City pulled one back with a superb individual strike from David Silva who jinked his way through the West Ham defence to curl home past Adrian.

City should have scored before then when Sergio Aguero hit the bar from close range after 61 minutes and Yaya Toure's follow-up was saved by Adrian. Toure hit the bar again a minute before Sakho put the Hammers 2-0 up.
Allardyce told BT Sport: "It wasn't a lucky victory by any stretch of the imagination today because our commitment and desire to play against the big boys and the present league champions was there for all to see.
"We knew we were going to have less possession than City today but we knew that we had to be effective with the possession we had and we were certainly that.
"After David Silva scored their outstanding goal, for me it was about the squad's determination and make sure (of) what is a famous victory for us."
City let a 2-0 lead slip for a 2-2 draw at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday but although Silva revived their hopes on Saturday, they themselves could not fight back from two goals down to save a point and ended up losing in the league for the first time since August 30.

Their coach Manuel Pellegrini said: "West Ham played very well, especially in the first half and they did not allow us to move the ball but we were very unlucky because we had a lot of chances."
The defeat left City on 17 points from nine matches, five points behind leaders Chelsea before their game on Sunday. West Ham remained fourth on 16 points from their opening nine games. .com

BY: BOITI ADEYEMI

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation led by Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has filed a Stay of Execution at the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division over the court’s ruling of Thursday, 23rd October setting aside the elections of 30th September, 2014, which brought the body to office.



NFF’s lawyers went to work immediately the ruling was made on Thursday and were able to file for the Stay of Execution on Friday. The court has now set Wednesday, 29th October, 2014 for hearing of the Stay of Execution.

On Thursday, there was serious apprehension across the nation that the country could be in for severe sanctions from world football –governing body, FIFA which had issued a stern warning earlier that they would not take kindly to any interference with the NFF’s electoral process.

A hitch –free election eventually took place in Warri on 30th September, 2014, following three months of debilitating crises, and FIFA, CAF, NFF sponsors, the National Assembly and other highly –placed institutions and individuals have recognized the Pinnick –led Board and extended their congratulations.

FIFA has also made it clear that any interference from any third parties in the NFF’s administrative process will lead to an automatic ban that would not be revisited until its 65th Congress scheduled for Zurich, Switzerland on 29th May, 2015.

Meanwhile, a member of the other Chris Giwa's faction, Yahaya Adama told newsmen that they had dissolved all the committees the Amaju Pinnick board set up and that they were also recalling Stephen Keshi as Eagles coach.

" The board nullifies all decisions taken by the Amaju Pinnick team that had usurped the NFF since September 30. All committees appointed by the said illegal NFF board are dissolved".

The Giwa-led faction also appointed four committees to assist in the running of the game till the end of the season. They include; Match Commissioners Committee headed by Adama Yahaya, the Referees Committee led by Suleiman Muazu, Disciplinary Committee led by Barr. Iyke Igbokwe and the Appeals Committee headed by Barr. Leye Adepoju. .com





BY: MUNSURU OGBOYE

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation led by Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has filed a Stay of Execution at the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division over the court’s ruling of Thursday, 23rd October setting aside the elections of 30th September, 2014, which brought the body to office.



NFF’s lawyers went to work immediately the ruling was made on Thursday and were able to file for the Stay of Execution on Friday. The court has now set Wednesday, 29th October, 2014 for hearing of the Stay of Execution.

On Thursday, there was serious apprehension across the nation that the country could be in for severe sanctions from world football –governing body, FIFA which had issued a stern warning earlier that they would not take kindly to any interference with the NFF’s electoral process.

A hitch –free election eventually took place in Warri on 30th September, 2014, following three months of debilitating crises, and FIFA, CAF, NFF sponsors, the National Assembly and other highly –placed institutions and individuals have recognized the Pinnick –led Board and extended their congratulations.

FIFA has also made it clear that any interference from any third parties in the NFF’s administrative process will lead to an automatic ban that would not be revisited until its 65th Congress scheduled for Zurich, Switzerland on 29th May, 2015.

Meanwhile, a member of the other Chris Giwa's faction, Yahaya Adama told newsmen that they had dissolved all the committees the Amaju Pinnick board set up and that they were also recalling Stephen Keshi as Eagles coach.

" The board nullifies all decisions taken by the Amaju Pinnick team that had usurped the NFF since September 30. All committees appointed by the said illegal NFF board are dissolved".

The Giwa-led faction also appointed four committees to assist in the running of the game till the end of the season. They include; Match Commissioners Committee headed by Adama Yahaya, the Referees Committee led by Suleiman Muazu, Disciplinary Committee led by Barr. Iyke Igbokwe and the Appeals Committee headed by Barr. Leye Adepoju. .COM





BY: MUNSURU OGBOYE

The Lagos State Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) demands thorough investigation into an alleged financial recklessness and misappropriation of local government in the state.



The demand was contained in a press statement released by the secretary of the party, Moshood Oshunfurewa.

The party hinges their allegation on the recent report published by an online medium outlet, premium times.

According to Premium Times, a government audit has indicted 8 Local Council of squandering at least N224 million of public funds.

The Local Councils indicted by the 2012 Audit Report are Surulere, Agbado Oke-Odo, Coker-Aguda, Egbe-Idumu, Eredo, Iba, Ikosi-Isheri, and Lagos Island East. The report accused the Council officials of financial recklessness.

"The Audit Report reportedly also revealed that another set of eight Local Councils are jointly indebted to the tune of N788.3 million. These councils are Eti-Osa East, Lagos Mainland, Somolu, Ikoyi-Obalende, Iru-Victoria Island, Yaba, Agbado Oke-Odo and Eti-Osa.

"For instance, officials of Agbado Oke-Odo paid N11.5 million personal advance for staff since 2010 but failed to deduct the payments from the beneficiaries’ salaries. The officials also failed to remit statutory deductions from Contracts awarded to the tune of N40.9 million.

"It is instructive to stress that the local councils are not the only culprits at putting odious debt burden on the masses, the Lagos State Government has also massively plunged Lagos State to the tune of N160 billion.

"We hold that it is the anti-poor neo-liberal capitalist policy thrust, which promote self-serving agenda at the expense of development and interest of the working masses, together with bureaucratic running of government that provide fertile ground for these monumental frauds. This is one of the reasons we of the SPN has always called for allocations, budgets and projects to be placed under a democratic control of elected representatives of workers and communities."

The statement also read that the creation of local development council areas was also part of the political chicanery of the All Progressives Congress to create room for the political stooges in the party.

"This development has further confirmed our position that the creation of Local Development Council Areas (LCDAs) was not meant for development of these areas but to accommodate political stooges and hangers-on of the then ruling Alliance for Democracy (AD), now All Progressive Congress (APC)” the statement read

"We hold that the massive corruption in the Local Government Councils just like in the state and federal government largely contribute to the poor state of infrastructure or lack o f them in all the communities across Lagos State and the country.

Most of the roads in the communities in Lagos are in deplorable state, schools are dilapidated or ill-equipped, mass housing policy is non-existent, etc. Very little or nothing suggests the presence of these LGAs in terms of developmental projects while public officials do not only receive outrageously jumbo salaries and allowances but also continue to loot public funds with impunity.

"We are dead sure that if a thorough probe is carried out on all the Local Government Area Councils and the Lagos Council Development Area Councils, more damning and scaring corrupt practices will be revealed.

"We demand a probe panel to be comprised of elected representatives of workers and communities with the mandate to investigate Local Government finances and purported projects. We call on the working people and youths to ensure that all officials found culpable must be prosecuted.

"We hold that only a mass party of working people with socialist program as well as transparent and democratic management of human and natural resources planned to meet the needs of all and not the profit interest of a few is capable of sustainably moving the country forward economically, politically and socially."

BY: Alice Ajakaye

A youth political pressure group, Advocates for Collective Transformation (ACT) has described the endorsement of N 4000 online registration fee for NYSC mobilization by the House of Representative as a misrepresentation and betrayal of Nigerian youths.

ACT in a statement signed by its President, Tayo Fashogbon and National Secretary Isaac Ifetoluwa Ajayi describe the endorsement by House Committee on Youth Development Chairman, Hon Kamil Akinlabi despite public outcry against the fee as ‘evil endorsement of oppression’ of young people in the country.

The group said the action signals that youths cannot be assured of quality representation from its elected lawmakers.

The group added that young people in the country are at greater risk with leaders like Hon Akinlabi representing Nigerian youth interests at the legislative chamber.

"Hon. Akinlabi and his committee has swallowed the NYSC pill to extort fresh Nigerian graduates, we wonder how it taste in their mouths. If Nigerian youths cannot be assured of quality representation from its elected lawmakers, our future is at greater risk.

"Representative like Hon Akinlabi and his committee members has failed promising young Nigerians who deserve better representation at decision making process at all level of governance."

The group called on the Speaker Hon. Aminu Tanbuwal to immediately disband the committee on Youth for failing to protect the interest of Young Nigerians.

The group however insisted that it’s unfair, wicked and satanic to monetize any process of the NYSC scheme, saying there is no justification for the fee.

The youth group added that arguments that the fee charged is to provide technology at all NYSC offices across the country lacks merit, saying the NYSC has run for more than 40 years without charging any corps member for money and the scheme has not collapse.

It maintained that the government has not says its broke to fund the scheme noting that the scheme stills takes more than 70percent of money allotted to the Ministry of Youths.

"We also call for immediate suspension of this fraudulent extortion of helpless and jobless fresh graduates who are eager to serve their fathers land. We called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately stop the online fee and ensure all prospective corps members who have been defrauded in this process are refund back their parent's hard earn money." .COM



BY: ALICE AJAKAYE

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama expressed his astonishment that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) decided to replace coach Stephen Keshi barely a month before the side's final two African Nations Cup qualifiers.

The choice to install Shaibu Amodu came only hours after Keshi led Nigeria to a 3-1 win against Sudan to perk up their campaign to reach Morocco.

Nigeria captain Enyeama told BBC Sport that it’s a big shock that things have taken this turn, particularly with two big games coming up next month.

“It's rather a pity. We just wish coach Keshi a very good life, success in his career and greatness in the future”

"But the authority [the NFF] who took this decision they know exactly what they are doing, they call the shots.

"As a manager you get hired and you get fired. We all saw it coming [with the results and reaction of the fans], but we are going to work with the new man in charge.

Keshi, who was without a contract for the recent Cup of Nations qualifiers, had enjoyed past success with the team.

During his time in charge he led Nigeria to their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1994 when they won the trophy in South Africa last year.

He became only the second man to lift the trophy as a player and as a coach after Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary.

His success continued in Brazil when Nigeria made into the second round of the World Cup, before losing 2-0 to France.

But Keshi has paid the price for the country's disappointing home defeat by Congo, an away draw with South Africa and shock defeat to Sudan in qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Amodu has been appointed caretaker manager following Keshi's departure and Enyeama is sure that the 56-year-old, who returns to the helm for a fifth time will give his all.

"I have worked with him before [between 2008 and 2010] and I'd like to wish him all the very best," Enyeama added.

"I know him very well from the last time. I know he shares the same passion and determination like the players to win our next two crucial matches.

He added that players knew what was expected of them to make it to Morocco because they have two cup finals against Congo and South Africa.



Amodu, Salisu Yusuf, Aloysius Agu and Gbenga Ogunbote will be in charge for next month's final two qualifiers -- away at Congo and home to South Africa -- but will then be replaced by an overseas coach, the NFF have confirmed.

Nigeria occupies third place in Group A with four points. South Africa on top with eight points, just one above Congo, while Sudan at the bottom on three points. .COM



By: Ifedayo Akinwalere

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN on Thursday led Lagosians to commemorate the 2014 World Food Day, where the State also empowered 3,149 small scale farmers, youths, women and the vulnerable through its Agricultural Value Chain Empowerment programme.



The beneficiaries include 73 egg producers, 754 people who got 50 crates of eggs for marketing, 250 poultry farmers who got 40 bags layers mash, 30 people provided with 1,000 kg of maize, 60 kg cat fish for 296 fish marketers, 152 others who got outboard engines and 152 who received bundle nets, 295 people went home with 10 bags of pig feed each, 40 who had 10 bags of sheep and goat feed, 305 who received Personal Protective Equipment and 48 butchers who got meat processing accessories .

Other items distributed are agrochemicals, vegetable seed, 50kg bag of fertilizer to 242 farmers involved in vegetable production, another set for agrochemicals for farmers in horticulture, cassava cuttings, knapsack sprayer, agro chemicals and two bags of fertilizer each to 118 farmers involved in cassava production, while 85 kg of rice seed, agro chemicals and fertilizers were distributed to 43 rice production farmers and another 56 farmers involved in coconut processing got one coconut de-shelling machine each, one de-husking machine and one grinding machine.

The Governor, who spoke at the Johnson Agiri Agricultural Complex, Oko Oba Agege added that farmers and parents should never disconnect their children from their businesses or vocations because they could help with the sustenance.

He stressed that in Europe, the children of the farmers still helped their parents at the farms and that in the Nigerian context, no Nigerian father or mother should be ashamed to bring their children to work on the farms.

He noted that the irony of human civilization is that every day, somewhere at sometime, somebody is going hungry and begging for food just as someone is looking for a shelter to lay his head.

He added that many fail to realize that all of the best fabrics that people wear come from the earth which is cotton, adding that all of the cornflakes and different kinds of flakes that people are eating is a by product of corn and that the time has come to connect all of such processes together.

Reiterating his advice while presenting the inputs, agricultural produce and processing machines to some of the beneficiaries that they should use the items well and pay tax when they start making profit, the Governor noted that the State Government was able to provide the empowerment items from the tax paid by the residents.

He noted that with the reported dwindling returns from the federation account, it would have been impossible to carry out the empowerment without the taxes being paid by the residents of the State.

Speaking on the Deed of Sublease presented to the allotees of Agric farmland, Fashola said several farmers with success stories could not make headways in terms of financial facilities from banks because most of the properties they have do not have titles.

He said that has however become a thing of the past for about 217 allotees of agriculture lands within government settlements who are getting sub lease titles which could serve as collaterals for them.

The Lagos Governor also said with the handing over of the title documents to the over 200 lucky allotees, the State Government has embarked on a great journey which signals the beginning of the end of poverty among the people.

He stressed that in line with the policy focus of the present administration on devoting attention to the areas of Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing, the State has just commissioned a Power Academy to train young trainees who will graduate next March.

He added that what is noteworthy about the students at the Power Academy is that they will be certificated by a leading brand name, Siemens which also provides opportunity to the graduates to be employable anywhere in the world.

Fashola said Wednesday was also commemorated as a Horn Free Day in Lagos which is all about everyone agreeing to embark on a journey to reduce stress and anger among the residents and increase the lifespan.

Governor Fashola added that also on Wednesday, the State Government provided another new 200 homes to qualified citizens at the 8th Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LAGOS Homs) Draw.

He maintained that the empowerment programme of the State Government is not about sloganeering but about empowering people and giving them skills as the beneficiaries are real, saying by Friday morning, 3,149 people will leave their respective homes and tell their dependants with confidence that they are going to work and earn a living.

He said the state is also promoting linkage for some of the items it has distributed, saying as the fish farmers are increasing fish output, some people are working out how to get kiln to process the fish.

He emphasized that from the farms in Epe, makers of noodles are already connecting with cassava makers just as it has linked pepper soup sellers with catfish sellers in the state.

The Governor reiterated that the empowerment programme is an initiative of the ruling party in the State, All Progressives Congress (APC), charging residents that if they want more they should sustain the provision with their choices at the next polls.

He said the APC does not measure wealth by the number of billionaires or private jet owners it has produced but by the number of vulnerable people who are earning their decent living.

Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal said the goal of the 2014 event is to share prosperity and this informed the decision on Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment.

He informed that the Ministry has also pursued the Agricultural sector policy through the facilitation of programmes and projects like Agric Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric YES), Rice for Jobs, Agric YES Shongai Model and several programmes that have remarkable impact on food security, job creation, poverty reduction as well as well being of the farmers and fisher folks in the state.

The event also featured the presentation of a giant trophy to the winner of the Agric Quiz competition, Ikeja Senior Grammar School, Ikeja represented by Masters Adewunmi Olalekan and Oluyode Olalekan by the Governor.

Prominent among those who graced the event were former civilian Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, members of the State Executive Council including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Idiat Adebule, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Sola Oworu, Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ben Akabueze, traditional rulers like the Alara of Ilara, Oba Akeem Adesanya, Olu of Agege, Oba Kamila Isiba and the Ojora of Ijoraland, Oba Abdulfatai Aremu Aromire, the beneficiaries and several other guests..com



BY: HAKEEM BELLO

Media have been urged to provide women with fair, accurate and balanced information to enable effective participation of women in politics.



Head of News and current affairs, African Independent Television Ifeoma Oti made this call during a press briefing held at Ogba, Lagos.

Ifeoma said media was a powerful force for change and it exercised its greatest influence in politics during election, political campaigns; from fund raising to press announcements, stage events and major speeches as well as appearances on news stories and interviews.

She said “of hundreds of thousands of activities merits coverage. In other words, the media that determine what news is, “however what is hard news for one editor may be news at all to another. Again in the age of competition, media owners are more concerned about profit and ratings than found political information. He plays the piper; calls the tune. Editorial judgment is sometimes determined by owners".

She added that politics was a male dominated institution into which only a few women dared to venture." The odds are often against women who have to deal with cultural domestic issues. Many do not have the financial capability to meet the demands of seeking elections. Those who desire to contest contend themselves with assurances and promises of support from party members without making any effort to engage the media. Many are concerned about how they may be viewed by the media and how to handle the new media attention.

In her remarks, a politician and a lecturer at the Lagos state university Mrs Adeyinka Olarinmoye said, if women issues were taken seriously in the media editorials and issues pertaining to affirmative actions and social campaigns were given adequate attention, then it could help improve women chances at the polls.

" Advertorial space is been commercialised effectively barring the women from the electronic media, except for the paid for slots, sponsored by Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria ( TAN) on the airspace , promoting the Goodluck Jonathan government achievement in which women inclusion in his government, there are no such individual women aspirant whose campaign has gone on air..com

BY: ALICE AJAKAYE

n October 16, 2014 around 2: pm, a police man saved a young man from a mob action after he was caught with human part in Ogun state in Atan market.IG SULEIMAN ABBA

It was gathered that the suspect was a commercial bus driver at Atan market, he and his colleagues were said to be in the habit of taking enhancements drugs because of the strenuous nature of their job. The deceased, who the police learnt was a passenger. A resident who witness the incident explained that the suspect seemed to be mentally retarded as his explanation of how he came about the human part was not coherent.

Another source, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed to that people suspected the content of the bag he was carrying and he was confronted; he said that someone asked him to dispose the body.

A sane person would have at least tried to defend himself, it was also noticed that most of what he was saying was not making any sense, at this point people attempted to beat him up, suspecting that he was trying to deceive them by pretending to be a mad man, but the police intervened to save the situation. He is now at the Maroko police station. After investigation, it was discovered that the suspect and his colleagues were in kidnapping business and they were all arrested.
.com


BY: PAUL BLESSING

ENERGY MONTH 2014: FASHOLA COMMISSIONS STATE’S ENERGY ACADEMY, INDUCTS FIRST BATCH OF STUDENTS …Says initiative connects the curriculum with the needs of the society in terms of value chain in the power sector
15 Oct 2014 03:12 Print Email

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola , SAN on Tuesday formally commissioned the Lagos Energy Academy and inducted the first batch of its Students.

The Governor who inspected the facilities at the Academy located at the State Electricity Board, Works Yard Road, GRA, Ikeja after the unveiling said this first key step will herald the training of many batches of power engineers and artisans who will provide the necessary human capital for lighting Lagos and Nigeria.


According to him, the Lagos Energy Academy will provide training for young people to become technicians and electrical engineers and provide training in generation, transmission and distribution.

Fashola explained that inside the Academy, there are modules on the sub-station that people see outside which has been simulated as well as transformers and all sorts of learning equipments and tools.

“We believe that over the years, there is a possibility to produce as many as 200,000 graduates who would have Siemens certification to be able to work anywhere. We are also partnering with a meter manufacturing company who is training them on how to diagnose faults with meters, the old analogue meters, the digital meters, the card meters, so that they are able to render service in terms of power generation transmission and distribution and all of the challenges,” he said.

According to the Governor, the State Government’s initiative is significant because it connects the curriculum of the Academy with the needs of the society.

“This really now is connecting our curriculum to the needs of our society, the biggest needs of this society today is power and as the Discos are taking position, they are going to need men and women, boys and girls who will provide the manpower, the knowledge and this is where we have decided to invest, to connect these young people to jobs that are waiting to be taken so that they do not continue to complain about unemployment.

“So, we have taken them from all levels, from vocational centres, technical colleges and through our schools systems to give them a chance to start out a new career in power sector in Lagos”, he explained.

Speaking on the Mainland Independent Power Project, the Governor said it is the sixth IPP that the State is completing and now going through the pre-commissioning testing, adding that when it is commissioned, hopefully before the end of this month, it would now power LASUTH, the High Court, the Lagos State Police Command and all of the public institutions around Ikeja.

He explained that what is behind the IPP is the sample of the solar installations that are going to be installed in all the public schools in Lagos State, adding that government already has contracts for 172 of them in partnership with DFID for which it has to provided counterpart funding .

“Very soon you would see this installed in all our schools in Lagos, so we are taking the schools off regular generators, carbon energy. All public schools and you would see the solar panels on top of them, that is where the energy is going to come from and it would also have charging points for students who need to charge their IPADS. So this is a foundation for moving our schools finally to electronic and e-learning because there would be regular and uninterrupted power,” he added.

Speaking on opportunities available for people from other states, the Governor said there is always room to take on people from other states subject to them complying with the prequalification tests.

“You can’t just walk in here. You have to satisfy basic literacy competence and knowledge and quantitative test to get people in. At the first application we had about 200 people, only about 90 passed at a time but I don’t have final details of how many finally qualified, but it is very serious business because the certificate you would be getting is a global certificate from a brand like Siemens”, he explained.

Prominent among those who received the Governor at the commissioning ceremony were the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engineer Taofik Tijani and his Rural Development Counterpart, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi and top staffers of the State Electricity Board including the General Manager, Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi..com

The fact that Ebola virus disease is travelling around the world is no longer news with US, UK, Spain among others having their own share, Germany has gotten hers when a United Nations medical worker infected with Ebola died at a hospital in Germany.



Doctors at the hospital in Leipzig said the man, 56, originally from Sudan, died despite receiving experimental drugs to treat the virus. The US and UK are among countries to have introduced scanning at airports.

According to a unit of Sierra Leone's international peacekeeping force on standby for deployment in Somalia has been placed in quarantine after one member was confirmed with Ebola

A Spanish nurse remains in critical condition after becoming the first person to contract the disease outside of Africa last week, although doctors say there are signs of improvement

UN Ebola mission leader Tony Banbury has called for massive support from governments worldwide.

The outbreak has killed more than 4,000 people since March - mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria..com



BY: IFEDAYO AKINWALERE

27 year-old man was crushed to death by a moving car at Sango area of Ogun state on Friday October 10.According to an eye witness, the car was on its way from Lagos to Abeokuta.



‘When the driver was about to come down from the bridge it lost control and swerved from its lane to the other lane, tumbled and crushed the moving motorcycle and the rider. The rider was injured but later died shortly after arrival at hospital’, a source stated.The identities of the driver and the victims were still hazy at the time of filling this story..com



BY: Ogundele Alani Gafar

Could it be the quest for God, money or what can an able body of this kind be looking for when he dressed up like a man in the temple of Almighty and reported straight to the temple of God with fake identity?

The parish priest and the entire faithful of St. Gregory's Parish Ikpayongo of Benue State were surprised, when they found out that the young man whom they had received as a Catholic seminarian turned out to be an impostor.

The allegedly fake seminarian, Mr. Patrick Aondoaver Iortyer arrived the parish at the same time the faithful had brought home their son, Father Japhet Asaki for a reception after his priestly ordination at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral Makurdi by his Grace Augustine Kasujja.

He had told some of the parish officials on his arrival that he was a friend to the new priest and the unsuspecting officials believed and attended to him as a seminarian.

One of the parish officials who narrated how the scene unfolded to the press noted that Mr. Iortyer couched his gimmicks so cleverly that no one entertained any doubts about his true identity during the reception.

However, a cloud of suspicion started hovering over his claims when he could not communicate freely with the seminarians at the parish house, but continually remained cold.



“He was also looking dirty. He was interacting more with the ladies at the parish. None of the seminarians knew him and he also maintained his aloofness throughout the day,” the source stated.

The peak of the drama came on Sunday, “when the new priest was about to start his first mass-and the fake seminarian quickly put on his soutane and attempted to join the priests at the altar. It was at this point that some of the seminarians interrupted him and demanded for his identity card, which he lied he had forgotten.

At this stage, the parish priest was alerted and he was quickly taken to the parish house for further interrogation, with the MOD men guarding him as the rest returned for the start of the mass,” one of the seminarians said.

Shortly after the mass, Father Asaki, who the impostor claimed he knew, was invited to identify him but he put a disclaimer on his person.

With the crowd now swelling, it dawned on the fake seminarian that his tricks refused to work out. The bag he was carrying was withdrawn from him, condoms and fake identity cards were found in it.

As if that was not enough proof, the self-proclaimed seminarian, who at this point was speaking like a frightened war prisoner told the crowd that he was a seminarian with the orthodox congregation, but while the crowd was yet to absorb what he said, he again said that he was a Franciscan Seminarian, at this point the crowd became furious and impatient with him. He was threatened. It was at this point that he confessed that he was an impostor.

The Parish Priest, of St. Gregory's Parish Ikpayongo, Father Donatus Ugema later handed Mr. Iortyer over to the police for further interrogation and appropriate action.

But Patrick’s gimmicks are far from being new, last year, one Jude Chinnonso, an ex-seminarian deceived the Parish Priest and the entire faithful of St. Theresa's Parish , Nguru in Ngor, Okpala local government area of Delta State into believing that he was ordained a Catholic deacon in Rome by Pope Francis. The unsuspecting parishioners gave him a rousing welcome before he was later found out in Lagos while attempting to play the same tricks on another parish priest.

In the same vein, last year, on July 19, 2013 another fake priest was nabbed while attempting to celebrate requiem mass at the burial of the late Dechier Byuan, in Konshisha local government area of Benue State. The fake priest, called Father Dan without a clear surname, had been parading himself as a priest for long time.

The faithful must be vigilant when receiving people claiming to be priests or seminarians especially now that the security of the country is unsteady and there are legions of terrorists disguising as priests to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.

However,this should not be a surprise to real believer,the word of GOD, which is truth, declares that the enemy is in HIS house and thus HIS judgment is there, as is on the rest of the world. Things are not what they appear to be.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." - 2 Thess 2:3-12 (HE whose coming is the second coming of The Lord JESUS CHRIST as The conquering King of Kings to finally destroy all the works of the enemy / devil in the house of GOD and in the world)

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." - Rev 16:13-14

"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. " - Rev 13:14

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." -Mat 24:24. GOD has given definite commands for HIS own to depart from there. These are the days of great tribulation. (Matt 24:15, Mark 13:14, Rev 18:4)

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." - 2 Corin 11:14-15

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BY: EMMANUEL ENENCHE JAMES

A lifeless body of a mad woman who was suspected to have been used for ritual was dumped at the frontage of Iya Mubarak’s shop at 1 Desalu Street, Agege in Lagos around 3:00am August 12, 2014.



An old man, a book binder, who repairs damaged bible in the house where the shop is located said that when he came out around 6:00am on that fateful day, he saw something that was wrapped and covered and he decided to find out the content, just to get there and saw the mad woman that he also known in the area. He made an attempt to wake her and it turned out to be a lifeless body.
GOV. FASHOLA
GOV. FASHOLA

Onyeka, one of the residents said that the mad woman used to stay around Agege railway station and always used a big nylon to cover body.

Another trader in the area, Iya precious a food vendor at 4, Desalu Street, said she closed for the day at 1:00am on the fateful day and there was no corpse there.

Iya Mubarak whose shop front was used as a dumping ground for the corpse said she closed by 10:30 pm without the sign of corpse anywhere in the vicinity on the stated day.

One of the businessmen in the area, Sunday, a shoe dealer stated that when he was going home by 12:05am on the historic day he saw the mad woman alive lying by the railway side.

By 9am on August 12, after the cat has been let out of the bag, the scene was crowded and concerned people in the vicinity called the nearest local government which was Agege Local Government but the reply was that ten thousands Naira (N10, 000.00) should be paid before they could carry the corpse.

When the assistance of Lagos state Ambulance in Agege was sought, the officials required for a police report before they could remove the lifeless body.

Since the market men and women were unable to carry on with the business of the day, another person whose identity was not disclosed called somebody in the stated local government and it was stated that the person charged N7, 000.00 and when it was agreed upon, they brought ambulance around 1:00pm to evacuate the corpse from the area.

When the corpse was turned to be carried, the unusual was discovered, it was noticed that the two breasts and two eyes of the woman were discovered missing.

After the evacuation, the market sellers started displaying their wares and contributed five hundred naira (N500.00) each and they washed the spot and sprinkled salt all over the spot. .com

BY OMO JESU

Roy Keane has branded Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho 'a disgrace' for the manner in which he conducts himself on the touchline.


The Irishman, who is now assistant manager to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa, was left incensed by Mourinho during a recent Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.

With the final minutes being played out, Mourinho approached the Villa bench in an effort to shake hands with Lambert and his staff before the final whistle sounded. Keane considers that gesture to have been a mark of disrespect, with the Portuguese tactician pushing the boundaries of acceptability with his off-field antics.

He said at the launch of his new autobiography, "I don’t mind all that (mind games) but the game was still going on.

It’s disgraceful. I’ve seen him doing it to other managers, it is a disgrace. "You wouldn’t do that on a Sunday morning, you would get knocked out." Keane, who has spent time as a manager in his own right at Sunderland and Ipswich Town, has also revealed that he has learned not to get too settled in coaching posts, with a short-term approach being taken at Villa and with the Republic of Ireland national side.

He said, "At Villa now, I never look beyond the next week. People say you have a game in three weeks but, to me, it’s about getting through this week. "Have I reflected more, been a bit more harsh on myself in this book? Probably so. newsnowmagazines.blospot.com

BY: Kazeem Babatunde Adeyemi

A legal luminary, Mr Tunji Abayomi, on Monday stated that the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, was not constitutionally qualified to contest the Ekiti State governorship election.

Abayomi backed up his point by citing Section 182 of the 1999 Constitution, saying that “if you have been convicted, either for dishonesty or breach of code of conduct, ten years before you run for office, you are disqualified from running for office.

“He was actually disqualified by a legislative tribunal”, he dropped the hint while responding to journalists questions on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

The lawyer expressed shock at what transpired during the inaugural sitting of Ekiti State election petition tribunal in Ado Ekiti as the meeting was invaded by some thugs, who beat up a judge, Justice John Adeyeye. He said: “that’s probably the first time the judiciary in this country will appear to be threatened. It is due to lack of knowledge, because a court will deal with any case that is brought to it, even if it is stupid”.

He said there was no basis for the allegations that the judge presiding over the tribunal was an interested party in the case, maintaining that “the judge decided that he had jurisdiction”, insisting that “a court has the power to decide whether it has jurisdiction or it doesn’t by law”.

“When you are accusing a judge of interest, you have to be sure of it,” he warned.

“It is true in our country (Nigeria), the nation is going through a period of disorder in terms of corruption but it is also true that there are some judges who do their job fairly and to the best of their abilities.”

He however noted that there is a tendency to presume based on general thinking that if a judge takes a decision against you, especially in matters of political nature, it must be that the judge is biased.

He further noted that the “process of trying the governor-elect was going on by EFCC”, adding that “his intervention amounts to an impediment to due administration of justice because once he becomes governor, he has immunity from prosecution”.

He, however, noted that nobody took Mr Fayose’s “case up when it mattered. He was not convicted and was later presented as an ‘electable’ candidate by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the people exercised their organic sovereign right to constitute leadership over themselves by election”.

He maintained that “things are done properly only if they are done at the right time”, adding that “you should have done what you ought to do when you ought to”.

He said the EFCC should have instituted a case against Mr Fayose as soon as he made his intention to run for office, explaining further that “the whole process of presenting him as a candidate of the PDP was concluded before they went to court”.

He also blamed residents of the state for not going to the PDP and INEC to challenge the candidacy of Mr Fayose, insisting that “as at today, he can still be prosecuted because he is not yet a governor”.

ABAYOMI added that once he takes the oath of office, nobody can prosecute him; he will be covered by immunity clause. That is he is immune from judicial criminal process. .com





By: Ifedayo Akinwalere

No fewer than 1000 youth on Wednesday marched through the street of Lagos, from Unilag gate to Yaba in a peaceful rally on the platform known as ‘Advocate for Collective Transformation (ACT) to say NO to evil machination in the country.

Speaking at the rally the President of Advocate for Collective Transformation (ACT), Tayo Fashogbon urged the youths of Nigeria to present youthful, credible and capable candidate for 2015 general election.

Fashogbon said the youths are critical to the success of any electoral process because the youths constitute the highest number of votes, explaining that the National Youths service corp members that will be used for 2015 general election must be protected against violent attacks.

“we must not allow politicians to use us, we must not be used as political thugs rather we educate our people on the right candidates, the citizens are totally disheartened without necessary capacities and objective conditions to achieve their goals simply because the environment is not right", ACT president said.

He said Nigerian youths are the right persons that can build the future of other youths in the country. “If we let these elders continue to decide our future, they will give us the future they want and the one we envisage”.

"The youths must be enlighten on using their voting strength to position right leaders in government offices at all levels in Nigeria. We wants credible candidates and not money bags, we want leaders that will bring back quality education, create jobs and crush poverty because bad leaders are worst than ebola virus. Our future lies in voting.

“Nigerians particularly youths are faced with various challenges ranging from acute unemployment, poverty, defective educational standard, lack of social welfare and in most cases total abandonment and systematic exclusion from all the commanding height of governance in the affairs that border on Nigerian youth interest. These trends must not be watched to continue in the new independent year.” Fashogbon said.

However, the National PRO of ACT, Mr Sholafunmi Ayodiran, in an interview expressed that the reasons for the rally is to position right leader and make collective transformation. "The leaders we have now are only making transformation for themselves, their children, people and they keep recycling the same set of people in political arena but we are saying no because this is our country this transformation is suppose to be for both young and old this is why ACT is coming out to say no there should be collective transformation because we are all Nigerians".

Youth should ensure they register, select credible candidate and vote for intregrity not minding any political party the candidate is associated with, Mr Ayodiran advise.

Reacting to what ACT will do concerning 2015 general election," ACT is going to sensitise the youth because we know that they are the tools the politicians will use in other to make the vote they want and we want youth to come together and do the right thing, vote for the right leaders.

We don't want stomach infrastructural vote, we don't want people to collect money so they they can vote, we want them to vote their conscience. You don't need to collect money to vote for them, even if you do it is your money they are giving you back, so it doesn't mean you should collect money and vote, you can collect the money keep it and still vote for your conscience," the Mr Ayodiran reply..com

BY: ALICE AJAKAYE

Fear grip people around 12pm on October 10 as a bird fell from the sky and turn to an old woman at Cappa bus stop along Agege motor road Oshodi, Lagos state.
According to an eyewitness who wants his name off print stated that as the bird was coming from above it fell on an electric poll and was electrocuted; suddenly it fell and change to an old woman. .com

By: ADENIRAN ADEYINKA