₦airaland Forum

5. The fearless

4. The cheerful giver

3. The big guys

2. The street guys

1. The Church brothers

.

Although we are just a few weeks into the 2019, some people are still making resolutions to guide them through the New Year. For ex Big Brother Naija housemate, Teddy A, smoking is now going to be a thing of the past.

The ex-reality superstar took to his social media platform on Tuesday, January 15, to make the official announcement that he was quitting the smoking of cigarettes. In the tweet, where he suggested that he was now embracing the healthy lifestyle, he called on his followers to note his revelation as a reminder. He said: “And on this day i officially quit cigarettes. Let this be a reminder!"



https://www.legit.ng/1215519-ex-bbnaija-housemate-teddya-quits-smoking-big-announcement-twitter.html

Fifty five Muslim students at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International School Ogbomoso have been barred from entering the school premises over their use of Hijab. Premium Times reports the said the students were turned back at the school’s gate for wearing Hijab on their uniforms on Monday morning, January 14. A teacher who did not want to be named said the Muslim community in the school in 2011 made request to the governing council of the school to allow Muslim female students who wish to wear Hijab do so.

"Since 2011, several letters of appeal had been written to the GC while we wait endlessly without response to our simple request. Our Muslim girls over the period have been using beret (cap) instead of Hijab, contrary to the Islamic dictate, the teacher said “While our patience overtime as law-abiding citizens was premised on our belief that the management of the school will do the needful and give regard to the rule of law and provision of the Constitution guaranteeing the fundamental human right of everybody.

“Having waited endlessly since 2011, it was decided on the 4th of January, 2019 that our willing Muslim female children should commence the use of Hijab as the school resumes on 7/1/2019.” While reacting to the issue, the school’s principal, Ibrahim Animashaun, said the school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab.

He urged the parents to and the students to await the decision of the school board of governors on the issue. “The school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab. And the board is looking at their letter. So we are yet to communicate them. The status quo remains until the board approves their request," Animashaun said. “We spoke with the aggrieved parents that their letter is still with the board. LAUTECH International School board of governors is looking at their letter”.

www.legit.ng/1215319-lautech-secondary-school-reportedly-sends-55-students-home-wearing-hijab.html

Protesters in Zimbabwe on Monday barricaded the main roads into major cities to protest a fuel price hike announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

According to video footage from the Centre for Innovation & Technology, police fired teargas to disperse youths protesting outside the high court in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo.

In the southern city of Bulawayo, commuter bus drivers and touts blocked thoroughfares with burning tyres, tree branches, and blocks of stone.

Riot police tried to quell demonstrations in the western suburbs of Emakhandeni and Luveve, firing warning shots and tear gas but the protesters remained defiant.

Demonstrator Glen Ncube, 25, expressed anger at the president’s announcement on Saturday of a 150 per cent fuel price increase and the police actions.

“What kind of a man does this? Can Mnangagwa even be called a president? He’s making life hard for us and these police are trying to stop us as if they don’t know our pain,’’ Ncube said.

The government has vowed it “will not hesitate to take action” against protesters who threaten to destabilise the country and the military was deployed to assist police.

Report says Zimbabwe is going through its worst economic crisis in a decade.

The government announced an increase from 1.34 dollars for a litre of petrol to 3.31 dollars with diesel surging to 3.11 dollars per litre, igniting widespread discontent.

A three-day nationwide shutdown was called by workers’ trade unions in protest.

The action came shortly after junior doctors ended a 40-day strike demanding salaries in US dollars and better working conditions.

http://thenationonlineng.net/protesters-block-roads-over-fuel-price-hike-in-zimbabwe/

The United States has announced the designation of the Boko Haram terrorist group as an entity “of particular concern”.

The U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in a statement, designated Boko Haram alongside the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), al-Qa’ida and al-Shabab.

Pompeo also designated Saudi Arabia, Iran, Burma, North Korea, among “countries of particular concern”, while Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan were placed on “special watch list”.

“On November 28, 2018, I designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom.

“I also placed Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated ‘severe violations of religious freedom.

“Finally, I designated al-Nusra Front, al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qa’ida, al-Shabab, Boko Haram, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern,” Pompeo said.

The U.S. top diplomat regretted that in far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs.

Pompeo said: “The United States will not stand by as spectators in the face of such oppression.

“Protecting and promoting international religious freedom is a top foreign policy priority of the Trump Administration.

“In July, I hosted the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, which brought together some 85 like-minded governments and more than 400 civil society organisations to harness global attention and motivate forceful action to advance respect for the human right of religious freedom”.

According to him, safeguarding religious freedom is vital to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity.

“These designations are aimed at improving the lives of individuals and the broader success of their societies.

“I recognise that several designated countries are working to improve their respect for religious freedom; I welcome such initiatives and look forward to continuing the dialogue.

“The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organisations, and religious leaders to advance religious freedom around the world,” Pompeo said.

The Boko Haram terrorist activities have claimed thousands of people’s lives, and affected millions of families, leaving behind huge humanitarian crises, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“The humanitarian crisis in North East Nigeria that has spilled into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, is one of the most severe in the world today.

“In North East Nigeria, 10 years of conflict has left more than seven million people in dire need of help in the three worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

“About 1.8 million people are internally displaced. People need food, water, shelter and health services,” the UN agency said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/u-s-designates-boko-haram-isis-entities-particular-concern/

Aprosecution witness in the N6.3 billion fraud case against Sen. Jonah Jang, Mr. Habila Dung, has said that the former Plateau governor’s style of expending security funds was not peculiar to him.

“Jang’s way of handling security funds is not new; it is the same way his successor, Gov. Simon Lalong, is doing it,” Dung, former Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services, told the Plateau State High Court trying Jang, yesterday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Dung is the fourth prosecution witness in the case brought against Jang and Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the Plateau Government House.

The accused persons are being tried over the alleged fraud said to have been committed between Sept. 2010 and Oct. 2014.

They are facing 12 count charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering allegedly committed when Jang was the governor of the North-Central state.

The anti-graft agency is alleging that the defendants had conspired to defraud the state of the said amount (N6.3bn), via illegal acts, contrary to, and punishable under, sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011, as amended.

The former permanent secretary had, on Thursday, told the trial Judge, Justice Daniel Longji, that all withdrawals made by Pam were taken to Jang for disbursement to the 17-member State Security Council.

But, while being cross-examined yesterday by Jang’s counsel, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Dung said that the practice of withdrawing security funds from the state coffers by a cashier and delivering same to the Governor in his office, was not peculiar to Jang.

“The practice is still on-going, long after Jang left office in May 29, 2015. The current governor is doing the same. So, it is nothing new.

“I was the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, between Dec. 2014 and Sept. 6, 2015.

“Once there is a security challenge, the governor will ask me to raise a memo for a certain amount which will be withdrawn by the cashier and taken to the governor,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Ozekhome produced documents indicating withdrawals done between July 1 to Oct. 7, 2015 in eight different bank statements by Yusuf Pam and his successor, Erick Kangnan, to further confirm that such withdrawals were “a normal trend with both the Jang and Lalong administrations.

“Will I, therefore, be correct to say that during Gov Jang’s and Gov Lalong’s tenures, while you were the permanent secretary, and when Yusuf Pam and Erick Kangnan were cashiers, the same pattern was adopted?’’ Ozekhome asked, to which Dung answered, “yes sir, the pattern was the same.’’

“The same pattern used in withdrawing security funds tagged as `classified expenditures’ during Governor Jonah Jang is still the same pattern within the administration of Lalong,’’ Dung reaffirmed to the court.

The defence counsel asked the prosecution witness whether he had ever seen Pam (2nd accused), delivering any of the withdrawn funds to Jang in his office, to which he answered in the negative.

http://thenationonlineng.net/n6-3bn-fraud-prosecution-witness-says-jangs-security-expenditures-similar-lalongs/

Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria has just set another standard in the region in releasing timely and accurate air accident report in Sao Tome and Principe, its spokesman, Tunji Oketumbi has said.
Oketumbi said it was a fall out of effective collaboration and corporation the Bureau has garnered in the last 24 months with the aviation stakeholders and the endless work by the Bureau’s investigators.

He said , AIB, Commissioner/CEO, Engr Akin Olateru led his team to submit the final report of the accident involving Cavok Airlines CVK 7087 AN-74TK-100 Aircraft Registered Ur-CKC, which occurred at Sao Tome International Airport, Sao Tome on July 29, 2017.

The Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) had invited AIB Nigeria to conduct an investigation into this crash, which by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annexe 13 is the responsibility of the state of occurrence.

Oketumbi said this was very significant as for the first time in the history of Accident Investigation Bureau, accident investigation was handled by the Bureau on behalf of another state or a regional body.

The delegates, Oketumbi said visited the Nigerian Embassy and were received by the Charge De affaire, Mrs Faith. Ekwekwuo.She welcomed and appreciated the good job the Bureau did to have helped investigate the air accident and release of the final report. She also commended the Bureau for maintaining a good relationship with the Sao Tome authorities.

He said : ” The Bureau came into terms and executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Instituto Nacional De Aviaco Civil (National Civil Aviation Authority of Sao Tome &Principe) of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome. The agreement was in four parts – cooperation, capacity building, exchange of information on accident investigation and assistance in cases of any air accident within both countries.

” This was a bid to further strengthen a good relationship and effective collaboration towards achieving a common goal in the air accident investigation sector in Africa.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/aib-releases-first-international-aircraft-investigation-report-sao-tome/

Renovation of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin has reached 75 per cent completion and the job will be delivered January 2019, according to the site Engineer of the project, Femi James.

James, who works with Peculiar Ultimate Consult, the company handling the renovation, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Thursday.

He said the replacing the artificial grass with a natural grass as well the roofing and replacement of the seats, which he described as the major work, would commence within the next few days.

The site engineer said planting of the natural grass would start before weekend would be expected to finish before the end of next week.

James said the containers housing the new seats had been received, adding that the stadium was awaiting the commencement of work on them, soonest.

“Right now, we are approaching the finishing gradually, we have started replacing the artificial grass with the natural grass, and we should be through by next week with the grass.

“On the seats, we will start work on that section within the next two weeks. The seats are here with us. As for the roofing, we should be done with that by January also.

“In all, we have attained 75 per cent completion and should be completing the entire process by ending of January next year,” he said.

On what to expect upon completion, James said, “We are expecting a FIFA standard from the pitch, grass and roofing. We are other just roofing; we are also covering the sides.”

James further disclosed that the company was on the verge of signing a contract with the Edo Government on the renovation of the indoor sports hall, swimming pools and other facilities at the stadium.

He said the idea was to standardise facilities in the entire complex.

http://thenationonlineng.net/samuel-ogbemudia-stadium-renovation-almost-ready-site-engineer/

Amid the growing political tension in Akwa Ibom state, arising from the lingering battle between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) over who controls the state, Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP have stepped up moves to strengthen their support base and galvanize their people with the ongoing peace-building process in the party.

Akwa Ibom state has been in the “eye of political storm” in recent weeks following the crisis in the state House of Assembly which led to a face-off between the state government and the police authority and led to heated altercations between the PDP and APC in the state.

Apparently to aid this galvanization process and also help in dousing the palpable apprehension in the state, the PDP Integration and Harmonisation Committee, in a statement Wednesday, December 5 2018, announced the commencement of the second phase of interactions with aggrieved stakeholders and other members of the party who have concerns over diverse issues in the party, which include what they refer to as “poor reward mechanism”.

According to the statement in Uyo the state capital, signed by the Committee secretary, Barrister Goddy Umoh, who is also the legal adviser to the party in the state, this second phase will “entertain complaints from individuals who have sent private petitions to the Committee through its dedicated phone numbers, email and website.”

The Committee, headed by His Excellency, Engineer Patrick Ekpotu, former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state, was inaugurated by Governor Udom Emmanuel, in October and charged with the responsibility of bringing together every aggrieved parties in the recently concluded primary election exercise of the PDP in the state, with the aim of addressing their grouses, in order to present a united front in the coming 2019 governorship election.

Barrister Umoh revealed that the “Integration and Harmonisation Committee started interactions with stakeholders of the first sets of local government areas on October 26. In that first phase the Committee hosted and received complaints from people from eight local government areas, which included, Ikono, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Itu, Nsot Ibom, Nsit Atai, Mkpat Enin and Urue Offong/ Oruko.”

Different interests within the party in the local government areas that have met with the committee were said to have unburdened their grievances to the committee. Issues ranging from people who felt shortchanged by the system at the party primaries after working hard for the party or communities/wards that raised concerns over seeming neglect by successive governments in the state in the areas of either projects or political appointments were presented to the committee.

The committee, working closely with the governor on the Integration and Harmonisation process has assured that a “mechanism is in place with the full backing of the governor to address these concerns in order to assuage the apprehension of the people, because the spirit of setting up the committee is not only to help our party put its house in order, in this peculiar challenging period in the state, but essentially to heal wounds and encourage inclusiveness by integrating every interest for peace, progress and unity of our dear state.

“So far the response by the people has been very impressive. As should be expected in this kind of setting, we have been having explosive but very frank sessions with participants from different local government areas, as people are encouraged by the committee to air their views with sincere openness, aimed at a dispassionate resolution. The beautiful aspect of our often heated sessions is that sometimes people came with palpable apprehension, but often would live with smiles and genuine convivial embrace and handshake.”

Umoh disclosed that after attending to these individual complainants, the Committee, would then resume its interactions with the remaining local government as according the statement, “the objective is to achieve equity, fairness and justice in the party, which will ultimately lead to peace and harmony in the PDP family, and essentially more electoral success by the party in the state.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/aibom-2019-udom-pdp-move-strengthen-support-base/

Fatima Jakoet is South Africa's first Muslim woman to fly commercial airliners. In 2005, Fatima Jakoet made history by becoming South Africa's first Muslim woman to fly commercial airliners. She previously worked as a toxicologist and narcotics specialist at an airport, Beautiful News reports. Fatima soon developed a fascination with planes, especially Boeing 747. She then decided that she wanted to fly planes not only watch them land and take off.

A determined Fatima joined BAE Flight Training College in Australia where she passed all her courses with distinctions. She took to the skies as a qualified pilot in 2005. However, it wasn't always easy for her as a Muslim woman just a few years after the 9/11 attacks. Fatima explained:"It was very challenging being under a magnifying glass as a Muslim woman, to understand how other people view me and question my ability." Nevertheless, this pushed Fatima to work even harder. She has now established herself in the aviation industry.

https://www.legit.ng/1206926-meet-fatima-jakoet-1st-south-african-muslim-woman-fly-commercial-airliners.html

The founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, says Nigeria may be up for sale.

Bishop Oyedepo made the statement in reaction to a satirical piece by Professor Olatunji Dare that Nigeria is being rule by a clone of President Muhammadu Buhari - The cleric misinterpreted the satirical piece, adding that Nigeria may be about to be recolonised the second time Following a satire written by a columnist, Professor Olatunji Dare, about President Muhammadu Buhari's clone identified as Jubril from Sudan, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said Nigeria may be up for sale.

It was said that in the satirical piece published in the Nations Newspaper of Tuesday, November 27, Jubril stated that President Buhari had died in the United Kingdom while undergoing medical treatment, and that the entrenched cabal had procured his clone in Sudan to preside over the affairs of Nigeria.

Olatunji said that the representatives of the Jubril family showed up in Aso Rock and demanded a power-sharing arrangement at the federal level in perpetuity, plus 50% of Nigeria's oil revenue for ten years in the first instance. The columnist wrote: "I can report authoritatively that representatives of the Jubril family, having discovered the gigantic swindle, suddenly showed up in Abuja the other day and demanded to be compensated with a power-sharing arrangement at the federal level in perpetuity, plus 50 percent of Nigeria’s oil revenues for ten years in the first instance. Failing this, they warned, they would tell their story to the whole world." The cleric obviously was unaware that the piece was a satire and had reacted thus: "So far, to my knowledge, no official statement has refuted this claim, which simply implies Nigeria may truly be up for sale. "The questions is, As now suddenly become a population of fools? I believe it's time to come away from our slumber and salvage this nation from slavery. If this evil tide is not dealt with quickly, Nigeria may be about to be recolonised the second time, and this time by another African country. What a shame, and what a misfortune that would be, God forbid." Oyedepo, therefore, called on President Buhari to address the nation on the issue of being cloned, saying "but if the president wold not address the nation on a subject as sensitive as this, it must have been proved beyond any iota of doubt that maybe he is not our president." Satire is a genre of literature which employs the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule in order to expose and criticise people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Below is the full satirical piece by Professor Olatunji Dare that the cleric misinterpreted. "In journalistic reckoning, the case of Buhari’s Double has to be the top item. "Since 2017, so goes the tale reportedly originated by the fugitive leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nigeria has been ruled by a Buhari look-alike, Jubril al Sudan, a native of Sudan — or Niger, take your pick. Buhari had died in the UK in 2017, where he was undergoing medical treatment. Notwithstanding the fact that Queen Elizabeth had sent a message of condolence to the Nigerian government, the entrenched Cabal in Aso Rock had procured a Buhari double in Sudan, and pressed him into service as Nigeria’s president. "Despite occasional stumbles and apparent loss of memory, the transition had gone so smoothly that the only tell-tale sign of the infernal switch was a scar on Jubril’s left earlobe that was not a part of Buhari’s profile. "Kanu, or whoever began the tale, and those who have been peddling it, should update their material. "I can report authoritatively that representatives of the Jubril family, having discovered the gigantic swindle, suddenly showed up in Abuja the other day and demanded to be compensated with a power-sharing arrangement at the federal level in perpetuity, plus 50 percent of Nigeria’s oil revenues for ten years in the first instance. Failing this, they warned, they would tell their story to the whole world. "I can also reveal that the Nigerian authorities have entered into frantic negotiations with Jubril’s family to head off what is sure to earn a double entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s Dirtiest and Worst-kept Secret. The UK authorities are mediating. "Meanwhile, dependable sources tell me that Abuja is close to unraveling the true identity of the fake Jew parading himself on faked foreign soil as Nnamdi Kanu."

www.legit.ng/1207446-bishop-oyedepo-misinterprets-satire-jubril-sudan.html

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Northwest Coordinator of the Atiku /Obi 2019 presidential campaign has said that the people of Northwest would vote wisely for PDP devoid of sentiment.

While presenting his welcome address Monday in Sokoto at the flag off, Tambuwal who described Atiku as a well incubated political icon and democrat noted that the country was yearning for him as he remains the best choice with the required credentials to lead.

“PDP will run an all-inclusive government with priority to the youths as well drives our economy to prosperity.

“If given Atiku the mandate, he will transform our agriculture, education, create job for our teeming youths and ensure respect for the rule of law in the principle of uplifting the tenets of separation of powers where independence would be encouraged for our national stability”, he explained.

While urging Nigerians to turn out enmasse and entrust their mandate in Atiku added that” Atiku is a leader who believes in our youths. So believe in who believes in you. Unlike the current president who will go out of the shores of this country and smear the good image of our country as well discourage our youths by name tagging them as ‘lazy,” he stressed.

Former Kaduna state governor and immediate past Caretaker Committee chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Muhammad Makarfi said he was optimistic of Atiku’s victory, noting that only God gives power and as such he has the form believe that PDP would form government.

Former Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido advised Nigerians to reconcile their individual state of survival with current realities in terms of security, poverty, socio-economic transformation which were at their lowest ebb as a result of bad governance.

In his remarks, former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Kabiru Turaki described the APC led government as unrealistic and woeful in its promise to Nigerians to make it better.

“We have heard a lot of rhetorics by the APC led regime and nothing has happened. Nigerians are fed up and need a messiah in PDP,” he stressed

Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku urged Nigerians to massively vote for PDP presidential candidate, adding that” we the PDP governors have resolved to mobilise our people to actively support the dream of our party by making it victorious,” he called.

Former Niger state governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu urged PDP members to ensure their votes go to Atiku whom he believes has what it takes to sail Nigeria through the murky waters of bad governance created by the ruling APC.

http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-tambuwal-sambo-others-assure-atiku-northwest-votes/

“I need justice for my son. I need justice for my son. My son cannot die like that”; Mrs. Erepade Patricia Nikade wept and cried in her home at Tinacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as she uttered these words. If anybody had told her that life would be snuffed out of her last child, Tariela Nikade, in such a brutal and gory manner, she would have dismissed it as a doomsday prophecy. But her vivacious young son, her confidant, friend and playmate was gruesomely murdered on November 23. Strangely, the 20-year-old Tariela was killed by a law enforcement agent, who ordinarily was supposed to protect his life. The trigger-happy policeman, in questionable circumstances, released the bullet that put paid to the dreams and aspirations of Tariela. The hot lead, which drilled a hole on the victim’s chest and came out of his back, shattered the hope of the undergraduate petroleum engineer. Tariela was a bright 300-level student of the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU). He was a handsome boy with the brains of his late father.

In fact, Tariela was a replica of his late father, Mr. Benson Nikade, who was also an electrical engineer. The resemblance was so much that his family simply referred to him as ‘Brother Bronson’s. He was, indeed, a chip off the old block. After the loss of her husband, Mrs. Nikade took solace in his last son. Each time she looked at his face, her physiognomical countenance beamed with smiles and reassurance that her late husband was still somehow alive. “I was attached to him. He was my last born. We played together and shared jokes. He simply reminded me of my late husband. Tariela was a very lovely boy. How can I ever cope without him? Among all my children, he was the closest to me. “Tariela was so humble that everybody on our street liked him. If I sent him for an errand and a neighbour saw him and sent him for another errand, he would first run a neighbour’s errand before completing mine”, the weeping mother said. Narrating how his son was killed by the policeman, she said: “We were together in the house discussing. He was forced to be at home because of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). “Towards evening on the fateful day, he said he would like to go the a barbers’ shop close to our house. His friend owns the shop. He always went there to learn how to cut hair. So, any time he was not home, he must surely be at the barbers’ shop.

He also said he wanted to go there and charge his phone because of lack of electricity. He went there. “After some time, somebody called me and told me that Tariela had been shot. I quickly rushed to the the place but on getting there, I was told that youths in the neighborhood had rushed him to a private hospital. “We started looking for the hospital and found it later. I cried when I saw my son. He could no longer talk. He had lost a lot of blood. He was later taken to another hospital, where he died. They tried their best to save his life”. The first son of the family, Anderson Nikade gave further insight on how his younger brother was killed. Anderson, who is a journalist with the Bayelsa Stateowned Niger Delta Television, described his late brother as a quiet, respectful and focused young man with many prospects. He said: “We hail from Agbere town in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State.The deceased, Tariela Nikade, was our last born. He was 20 years old. He was a quiet, respectful and focused young man with so much prospects, a 300-level student of Petroleum Engineering, Niger Delta University. Due to the ongoing ASUU Strike, he returned home to Tinacious Road, Edepie-Yenagoa, where he resides with our mother.

Our father passed on five years ago. “On that fateful day, Fridayz November 23, this year, he(Tariela Nikade) was at a soloon close to our house in Tinacious Road, Edepie, where he was undergoing training on how to cut hair. At about 7pm when four armed policemen arrived the front of the saloon in an unofficial private car to conduct their usual raid which has become the hallmark of Akenfa Divisional Police Station. “One of the policemen, now identified as Sergeant Timadi Emmanuel, ordered the 20- year-old- Tariela Nikade to raise his hands, which he did. He was pleading with the officer to show mercy, but the trigger-happy policeman opened fire on him at close range, shooting him in the chest with what is suspected to be an AK 47 riffle. “Sergeant Timadi walks up to the fatally wounded victim and asked him thrice, ‘where the bullet touch you?’ When he saw the boy in a pool of blood, he immediately attempted to sneak away from the scene when one of the witnesses asked him to pick up the injured boy. “The sergeant ordered the man, who witnessed the incident, to shut up, threatening to shoot him if he raised the alarm.

Sergeant Emmanuel thereafter took to his heels, and sped off in their car along with three other officers. They later dropped off one other young man whom they had earlier arrested in a grand plot to conceal their identity, before returning to their police base. “Critical minutes went by as residents of the area mobilised and struggled to secure a tricycle to take the victim to Gloryland Hospital, Yenagoa. The victim was later moved from Gloryland Hospital to Family Care Hospital, where he later died at about 9:30pm, having sustained serious damage to his lungs, ribs and other vital organs”. Anderson said his entire family was devastated, adding that his mother had yet to absorb the shock. “This is another reminder of the urgent need to re-organise the Nigerian police in order to forestall further extra-judicial killing, which is fast becoming common place in Bayelsa State, in the wake of growing security concerns, amidst the recent disbandment of the security outfit , Operation Doo Akpo”, he said. In fact, the killing caused outrage and protest in Yenagoa as residents and landlords in Akeinfa marched oncthe streets and demanded justice for Tariela. The protesters besieged the Akenfa Police Station, insisting that the policeman must be identified and prosecuted for the crime. Also, scores of students took to the streets to protest the gruesome murder. Some of the residents decried the unprofessional attitude of the conventional police, saying it was a far cry to the professional conduct of the withdrawn state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpor. A resident, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Nigerian Police in Bayelsa State has lost focus and direction.

Extra-judicial killing of innocent lives is now the order of the day. This is the height of irresponsibility and unprofessionalism”. A social commentator, John Idumange, called for thorough investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing. “The matter should be thoroughly investigated. We cannot keep quiet. For now, sorry is not enough. Kokorifa was killed and his killers have been served justice. This matter should be pursued to to its logical conclusion”, he said. The body language of the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, however, immediately gave an indication that the killer cop would not escape justice. In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, Mukan, identified the shooter as Sergeant Timadi Emmanuel. He said the policeman was immediately arrested, disarmed and was undergoing orderly room trial. He also commiserated with the family of the deceased for their loss. Following the outcome of the in-house trial, the policeman was dismissed from the force and detained for prosecution.

http://thenationonlineng.net/murder-20-year-old-graduate-shook-bayelsa/

Iyabo Ojo, a Nollywood filmmaker on Friday urged her fans not to be fooled by the make-belief friendship exhibited in the industry, saying it was all about gossip, envy, backstabbing and backbiting.

In a post on her Instagram page, she wrote: “We never truly support our own; we’re just friends when it suits.“How well we’re perfect deceiving our fans, that is why we are actors.

“Can I just hint y’all that we are just colleagues in some … competition that no one understands, unfortunately not only two can play the game but hundreds can play the role.
“Oh yes, we get along with some, yet we are mindful of our utterances because all they want to know is you, then we act for the Instagram where we seek validation for our not so real relationships.

“Problems starts when you refuse to let them into your business, you become a rival and a threat, they start rewriting the script and when they’re done destroying you, they move to the next gullible victim.’’

Ojo, who said the post was straight from the heart, said the motivational writers in the industry change the script every second to suit them.

“Don’t be fooled, watch, learn, get entertained and move on.“We are all acting; 20 years of entertainment, different roles, same game.

“Trust me when I say, the game is not for a learner; you gotta to be rooted. It’s unexplainable,’’ she said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/nollywood-gossip-envy-iyabo-ojo/

The national peace committee headed by former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has asked candidates and political parties in the country to ensure a peaceful general election in 2019 through their conducts while the exercise lasts. The committee also wants political parties and their candidates to sign a peace accord and act in such a way as to guarantees national peace and security.

Speaking on Thursday, November 30, Abubakar whose committee presented a draft copy of the 2018 peace accord to political parties and their presidential candidates in Abuja, lamented that some politicians are currently parading themselves in ways that threaten peaceful elections in 2019. Channels Television reports that Abubakar urged politicians in the country to scrutinise their conscience and act in the interest of the people they hope to lead. Bishop of Sokoto diocese, Mattew Kukah, who presented a draft copy of the peace accord, explained its content saying there was need for political parties to campaign without insults and inciting statements.

The report said some leaders of political parties made their contributions with some stressing that non-political organisations like the police and religious houses should avoid acts capable of instigating violence during the elections.

www.legit.ng/1206818-2019-political-parties-candidates-sign-peace-accord-abubakars-committee.html

A prosecution witness, Umar Muhammed, told an FCT High Court ,Maitama that he saw several wounds on the body of Bilyaminu, the deceased son of former PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bello Halliru. Muhammed, who was testifying in the culpable murder case against Maryam Sanda, accused of allegedly killing Bilyaminu, said: “I saw wounds on his lap and neck. He said that he also saw bite marks on Bilyaminu’s chest and on his right finger. “I saw Maryam and her mother at the police station but I do not know who inflicted the injuries on Bilyaminu,” he said.

Muhammed, said he got a call from Bilyaminu’s family member at 5 a.m. on November 19, 2017, informing him that Bilyaminu had died. He said that he drove other family members to the Maitama Police station and also to the Maitama General Hospital where the corpse of the deceased was retrieved from the morgue. “After he was confirmed dead, We took the corpse to the Central Mosque where I helped in preparing the remains for burial,” he said. When cross- examined by defendants counsel, Ms Regina Okotie- Eboh and Musa Hussein, Umar told the court that he was not aware that it’s only a relative or a professional that is allowed to prepare the remains for burial. Justice Yusuf Halilu after listening to his testimony adjourned the case until Dec. 3 for continuation of hearing.

It was reported that Sanda was docked alongside her brother, Aliyu Sanda; her mother, Maimuna Aliyu and one Sadiya, who were accused of assisting her to conceal the evidence by cleaning the blood of the deceased from the scene of the crime. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.


www.legit.ng/1206468-i-wounds-deceased-bilyaminus-body-prosecution-witness-tells-court.html

Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transportation, has said that the National Assembly’s refusal to allow government access to a $30bn foreign loan facility is responsible for delaying the complete overhaul of the country’s railway network. The minister of transportation made the claim when he appeared before the Senate joint committees on land transport and foreign and local debts, which is investigating the alleged abandonment of the eastern rail lines in the rail revitalisation projects across the country, This Day reports.

Amaechi noted that the federal government has no plan to exclude the southeast region from the rail project, noting that the region was already captured in the 2018 borrowing plans of the federal government. “The president insists on rule of law and the law passed by the National Assembly in terms of public procurement is very tedious and not easy to conclude; it takes a very long time. Similarly the law passed by the National Assembly on the Bureau for Public Procurement is very tedious,” Amaechi said.

The minister noted that limited funds had forced the federal government to adopt a systematic approach in the rail project execution. “We have met with both General Electric, GE and the consortium handling the project for nearly two years now and we are still on it even as the first firm as handed over to TRANSNET, meaning, Transport Network . Let me make it clear, the country does not have the resources to do railway in every village. It is not possible. $2.7 billion is N1 trillion,” Amaechi said. Meanwhile, the confirmation of Olanipekun Olukoyede as secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been suspended by the Senate. A member of the Senate committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes, Isa Misau had earlier accused the committee of preparing a report without the consent of others, Premium Times reports.

www.legit.ng/1206407-amaechi-nass-responsible-delay-execution-rail-projects.html

A 16-year old houseboy, Zakaria Chiahemba, has been arrested for allegedly killing his boss and stealing her belongings.

The incident occurred on October 3 at 25, Osazuwa Street, Oluku in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Police said the suspect allegedly killed his boss, 51-year-old Rejoice Odogwu, with an axe, cutlass and stick.

Zakaria allegedly escaped with the deceased’s money, phone and jewelry after committing the murder.

He was arrested at Wukari in Taraba State on November 23.

Speaking to reporters when he was paraded, Zakaria denied killing his boss.

He said his brother brought him from the village for the deceased, to help enrol him in school.

Zakaria claimed that the deceased was killed by some of her customers, who were angry that their phones were stolen at her shop.

Police Commissioner Babatunde Kokumo said the suspect would be arraigned after investigation.

http://thenationonlineng.net/houseboy-allegedly-kills-boss/

After serving two terms of eight years, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will today get a heroic welcome from his supporters as he moves to Ilesa, his home town.

After handing over power and the inauguration of the new administration, headed by Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, at the Osogbo Township Stadium today, the former governor will move to Ilesa via Osunjela, about 10 kilometres from Osogbo, the state capital.

Aregbesola, who had vacated the Government House, the governor’s official residence, on November 19 to give Oyetola enough time for renovation, has said he would return to his father’s house at J69A Arogbo Street, Ifofin, Ilesa.

To lead over 5,000 of his supporters, the Oranmiyan Group has mandated its members in the 30 local government and 32 local council development areas (LCDAs) of the state to converge on Osunjela town to receive Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, before they proceed to Ilesa.

The paramount ruler of Ijesa land, the Owa Obokun, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, his chiefs and other traditional rulers in Ijesa communities, are expected to receive the former governor and his family.

Aregbesola and his family will be given a civic reception at Zenabab Hotel, Ilesa.

Addressing reporters, Oranmiyan Group’s spokesman Olajide Sadiq said: “We decided to give Aregbesola a warm welcome in recognition of his laudable achievements in many sectors of the economy.

“Our members are happy that Aregbesola completed his tenure with many achievements. Aregbesola is our mentor, principal, grand patron and the Oranmiyan symbol.

“We are happy because there are some people who died on the seat; they didn’t go back alive to their people. And we want to thank God again because Aregbesola is somebody who is very passionate about the development of the state.

“We want to celebrate a nationalist, philanthropist and the lover of development. He has done tremendously well in Osun in the last eight years and he has not disappointed us. We are proud of him.

“Aregbesola is an embodiment of ideas: his developmental projects cut across all nooks and crannies of the state. He did not centre his developmental projects to Ilesa, his home town. As matter of fact, the state has undergone positive changes under Aregbesola’s leadership.

“We want to use the occasion to showcase the affection of Oranmiyan people for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and thank God for making him successfully complete his tenure in office.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/change-guard-oyetola-takes-osun/

The Bayelsa State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were conspicuously absent Monday in a meeting between political parties in the state and the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan.

The stakeholders’ meeting, which was held at the police officers’ mess, Yenagoa following the commencement of campaigns for 2019 general elections, had in attendance chairmen of other smaller parties.

Mukan invited heads of all political parties in Bayelsa under the auspices of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to brainstorm on modalities and challenges to peaceful campaigns and free and fair elections in the state.

http://thenationonlineng.net/apc-pdp-boycott-cps-meeting-party-heads-bayelsa/

But the state chairmen of PDP and the APC, Moses Cleopas and Jothan Amos, were missing in the attendance without persons to represent them.

In their various contributions, some of the chairmen including the state Leader of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Edwin Tare, lamented the absence of the two major parties.

Tare said it was unfortunate that leaders of the two parties were habitually absent in stakeholders’ meeting involving political parties during an election period.

He said the deliberation would not achieve its purpose without the participation of the two major parties since according to him issues of violence and bearing arms primarily involved them.

But Mukan said the absence of the two major political parties had nothing to do with the progress of the meeting adding that the outcome of the deliberation applied to all the parties in the state.

He said all the parties were invited to the meeting but wondered why the PDP and the APC leaders neither attended the gathering nor sent representatives.

He noted that any party that acted contrary to the electoral guidelines or breached security would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He said: “We cannot hold a separate discussion with them. Everybody was invited but they didn’t send any representation that is why they are not here. Anybody who falls prey or err will be totally dealt with”.

Reading the Riot Act, Mukan warned parties against bringing arms to their campaign grounds under any guise.

Describing the police as an unbiased umpire, he said the force would ensure a level-playing field and security to all the parties.

The police boss appealed to party leaders to mount pressure on parents to rein in their children, who would want to act as thugs to politicians during campaigns.

Addressing them, he said: “You are the major players and we have to talk to ourselves and see how far we can go. You are all aware that the campaign has started. We have rules guiding every competition most especially our elections. The electoral laws are very clear. The INEC guidelines are there to guide us. Security agents are here to ensure a level-playing ground.

“So, there is a need for us to come together and see how we will have a successful election in 2019. We are assuring you of security for every participant. Our own is to ensure that there is security for you. Feel free and exercise your franchise. A lot of activities are involved in campaigns.

“What you have to do is to inform us within 72 hours when you are going for your campaigns or avail us with the timetable if your itinerary to make it easier for us. This is to stop thugs from hijacking your rallies. We are unbiased umpire.

“Help us appeal to the parents and guidance of the boys who usually hijack the campaigns. They should counsel their children because the law will not spare anybody. The law will be harsh on anybody who breaches electoral process. We will enforce it.

“During your campaign, we don’t want to see anybody carrying any arms to any rallies. On no account should you bring arms because if that is done you know the repercussion. So, warn your members and take this message back to them”.

Earlier a special messages was receive from the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, former governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko, Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Delta state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa directed to Goodluck Jonathan as he clocked 61 on November 20. The former president also got a surprise birthday party hosted by family and friends at his Abuja residence. The ceremony was filled with his family members and close pals including former first lady, Patient Jonathan, who posed with him in the trending birthday photos. The photos from the vibrant ceremony have been making waves online as several scores of Nigerians felicitate with the man who many have described as true democratic leader of our time.


Read more: https://www.legit.ng/1205050-photos-goodluck-jonathans-61st-birthday.html

The Benue State government has dismissed allegations by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, that the residents were responsible for the killing of two Catholic priest and 17 worshipers at Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area.

Amaechi made the comment when he appeared last Sunday on a Channels Television programme, Hard Copy.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and ICT, Chief Tahav Agerzua, described the comment as a deliberate strategy by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to change the true narrative on the killings.

The statement recalled that APC’s National Chairman Adams Oshiomole had also made a similar claim.

It said: “Unfortunately for both APC stalwarts, investigations and interviews conducted by reputable media organisations revealed, without any doubts, that the killers are Fulani herdsmen militia out on a conquest and occupation agenda of the Benue Valley and other territories in Nigeria.

“Two of these organisations, Al-Jazeera and Television Continental (TVC), aired their findings on their stations on May 7 and August 20.

“These investigations and testimonies of the victims and witnesses debunk Mr Amaechi’s statements regarding the murder of the Mbalom 19 as not only false but also reckless, mindless and a shameful dance on the graves of the victims.

“Curiously, this is not the first time that a Minister of the Federal Government had made mockery of Benue people with inflammatory statements bordering on herdsmen attacks and killings in the state.

“Amaechi, after stating categorically that the Mbalom 19 were killed by their own people, failed to provide any evidence to back his claim but rather went on to allege that some of the suspects arrested in connection with the killings were working with Governor Samuel Ortom.

“It is, therefore, clear that the objective of the minister is to smear the governor’s reputation.

“Amaechi apparently forgot that one of those accused of complicity in the Mbalom murder was recently released from detention without arraignment and any proof to link Governor Ortom with the murders.

“However, whoever murdered the priests and the other worshippers as well as carried out any other killings in Benue State and anywhere in Nigeria, it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to fish out and bring them to book.

“That the agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria have shirked their responsibility and rather embarked on a deliberate effort to change the narrative indicates that they are accomplices.

“More so that Fulani leaders, including Garus Gololo, claimed responsibility for the Benue attacks and killings, citing justification for rustled cattle; yet, none of them has been arrested and prosecuted.

“Amaechi’s unguarded comments on the unfortunate incident in Mbalom bring to mind earlier statements by the Minister of Defence and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who described the herdsmen invasion and killing of Benue people as a ‘mere communal clash’.

“We wonder why those occupying sensitive positions in the current Federal Government have chosen to play games with the lives of Nigerians. How committed and sincere are such persons in their advice to the President, if they can’t hide their biases on issues affecting ordinary people?

“We expect Amaechi to publicly prove his allegation on the Mbalom killings or retract his comments and tender a public apology to families of the victims as well as the government and people of Benue State.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/govt-faults-ameachis-comments-benue-killings/

Southeast governors zone have agreed to hold a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday, November 21. Issues such as the second Niger bridge, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the non-representation of the region in Nigeria's security apparatus are top items in the agenda of the said meeting, Vanguard reports.

According to the governors, 50% of the contract sum should be released while the remaining 50 per cent should be secured in a bond to ensure that the above-mentioned projects will be completed. The director general of the south east governors forum, Professor Simon Ortuanya revealed this to journalist in his briefing on Monday. Ortuanya disclosed that the meeting came as result of the governors’ initial interaction on the pressing needs of the geopolitical zone which entailed the second Niger bridge.

He said: “We are happy with the Federal Government which has finally awarded the second Niger bridge as we earlier said. The main contract was signed in August 2018 for N206 billion. The commencement for work on the bridge was with effect from September 2018. “This is the first time the actual work on the second Niger bridge would commence. The Federal Government has released about N7 billion for this work, which for us does not represent up to 10 per cent of the total sum. "So, we want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to increase the money that they have released to the contractor. Fortunately, the contractor is Julius Berger and it’s a reputable company but we are urging the government to release at least 50 per cent of the contract sum so that we can have significant work on the second Nigeria bridge. “We also feel that the contract period of 42 months is too long and we are urging the Federal Government to review the contract period so that they can bring it down to two years. There are several reasons for this. “We are also asking that the balance of the 50 per cent should be secured by the Federal Government bond.

“Another major item on the agenda is the Akanu Ibiam International airport and we want to ask the federal government to use this opportunity of meeting with our governors and bring back the contractors that have abandoned work because we still know that the tarmac is still bumpy, the building that has damaged has not been repaired and we urged the federal government to please do the needful urgently. “The contractor that abandoned the tarmac should come back and resume work to ensure that the cargo section of the airport is made functional because we know that the cargo section is still not functional.”

www.legit.ng/1204905-southeast-governors-meet-buhari-2nd-niger-bridge-enugu-airport.html

Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor, Uche Nwosu, has described the threat handed on aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to withdraw their Court actions or face sanctions by the National Working Committee of the party as an act of arm twisting and unacceptable.

The APC NWC had threatened to invoke sanctions on all members of the party who took the party to Court over the fall out of the just concluded primaries, unless they withdraw the suits

But Nwosu who is the winner of the October 6 APC governorship primary in Imo State, insisted that the threat of sanction will not stop him from pursuing his case to a logical conclusion and reclaiming his mandate.

He stated that before approaching the Court over his stolen mandate as the authentic APC governorship candidate in Imo state, he had first of all made concerted efforts to have the leadership of the party resolve the crisis using internal mechanism to no avail.

He disclosed that he had written several letters to the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole with the hope of bringing him to intervene and resolve the matter at the early stage but was rebuffed.

Nwosu recounted that when he discovered through credible intelligence that Ahmed Gulak was not coming to conduct governorship primary in Imo but was assigned to deliver a certain aspirant, he raised the alarm through a letter to the National Chairman but was painfully ignored.

According to him, “it is unfortunate that the National Chairman of our party is just waking up now after causing the trouble. He had all the time to have resolved the issue before now but refused to do so. In line with the constitution of the party, I had exhausted all avenues to have my matter resolved using internal mechanism but nobody came to my aid.

“I personally wrote three different letters to the National Chairman and I have the acknowledgment but he never responded to any of the letters. My first letter was to inform that Ahmed Gulak was not coming to conduct primary election in Imo, that he was coming to impose a certain aspirant but he snubbed me, the second was to complain about how Gulak absconded to Abuja to announce fake result still he didn’t respond and the last one was to tell him not to substitute my name as the winner of the governorship primary.

“All these letters were never considered by the National Chairman who went ahead to substitute my name, he had a lot of time to resolve the issue but he did nothing and now that I am in Court, I will pursue my matter to a logical conclusion and reclaim my stolen mandate, no amount of threat will make me abandon my mandate”.

Meanwhile in one of the letters made available to journalists, Nwosu had raised concern over the appointment of Ahmed Gulak as the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee for the State.

The said letter read in part, “I write to appeal to you Mr. Chairman to change the person of Gulak as Chairman of the committee because of his comment/boast that he is coming to Imo state to deliver his friend Senator Hope Uzodinma as APC gubernatorial candidate”.

Nwosu argued further that the letters were abundant evidence that he had followed due process in seeking redress before approaching the Court “as the last hope of the common man”.

http://thenationonlineng.net/imo-apc-ticket-i-wont-succumb-to-threat-nwosu/

Eminent Nigerians and ethnic national groups yesterday insisted on restructuring of the federation.

They expressed this opinion in Lagos at a programme ‘Handshake Across Nigeria’ summit organised by Nzuko Umunna in partnership with The Core Federalists .The theme of the sunmmit is ‘Nigeria Beyond Oil.’

Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu spoke on a similar note.

Prof. Soyinka, the keynote speaker, said: “We want the government to understand that they are part of the community and have been given a mission of carrying out the will of the people. When we talk about governance, we are talking about an instrument for the execution of the people’s policy. Insecurity has reached a certain level that even when we bring experts in, they wonder what exactly they have come to do. “One way of stopping the bloodbath is to reconfigure the nation. States must be given maximum control over their resources.

“Those insisting on restructuring do so because they know that there is something wrong with the state of Nigeria. Many times, Nigerians have come together to proffer solutions and the way forward for the country, but after spending so much time and effort, nothing ever comes out of it. The recommendations are left to gather dust. How much longer shall we continue like this?”

Ohaneze leader John Nwodo said “those campaigning against restructuring in Nigeria have painted an unfortunate and untrue picture that those of us in support of restructuring are doing so in order to deny the northern states who have not yet any proven oil reserves of the ability to survive. This is unfortunate. The new model we propose for Nigeria recognizes that revenue in the world today is promoted by two main sources namely, human capital development leveraging on technology to drive the critical sectors of the economy and agriculture.

“Nigeria beyond oil must contemplate the implementation of legislative independence to the federating units, sovereignty of mineral and oil resources to the federating units, a painstaking resolve to support all electoral processes and candidates that would bring about this change.”

Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo criticised President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for singing discordant tunes on restructuring.

http://thenationonlineng.net/soyinka-ohanaeze-afenifere-insist-restructuring/

The two main actors of Merlin are getting married, Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur Pendragon) are getting married

see picture below

Indications that Cristiano Ronaldo and girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez are set to move their relationship to the next level emerged on Saturday as they were sighted searching for ideal venue to formalise their wedding.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez became engaged last week, according to a report.

The pair were spotted visiting Church of Gran Madre di Dio in Turin, Italy as they began the search for a potential wedding venue for their upcoming nuptials.

The stunning brunette, 24, had her exquisite engagement ring on display as she strolled along with her husband-to-be, 33, after popping into the 19th century church, which features in the 1969 film The Italian Job.

Georgina scraped her long raven tresses away from her face and styled into a low, sleek ponytail, with a central parting.

The mother-of-one, who also helps to raise Ronaldo’s three other children, opted for a minimal make-up look, with just a heavy dusting of bronzer to give her a healthy glow.

She carried the metallic handle of a luxe pillar-box red tote in her hand, and accessorised with a delicate gold necklace, featuring a cross pendant.

Ronaldo looked equally stylish in a pair of Nike tracksuit bottoms, and a coordinating sports jacket, with the hood pulled up over his head.

The sports star strolled along in fresh-out-of-the-box white trainers, with a protective arm placed around Georgina’s shoulder.

On Thursday, Portugal’s best-selling newspaper Correio da Manha claimed the Spanish beauty had accepted and has begun trying on wedding dresses.

The pair have been living as man and wife in Italy and have a one-year-old daughter Alana Martina.

Georgina, who has backed the Juventus player amid claims he raped an American woman in Las Vegas in 2009, is helping raise the footballer’s other three children.

http://thenationonlineng.net/next-level-ronaldo-rodriguez-set-wed-italy/