ASHIWAJU MEDIA: 2014-06-22

Saturday

FCT Minister Bans Use of Power Bikes

With the disclosure by security agents that one of the perpetrators of Wednesday’s bomb blast in Abuja rode on a power bike, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, has directed the FCT Police Commissioner to promptly arrest and prosecute any person illegally using power bikes and motorcycles in the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

What I Need Now Is Job- Says Abuja Blast Victim

GIVE ME A JOB, ABUJA BLAST VICTIM PLEADS WITH JONATHAN •PERPETRATORS WON’T GO UNPUNISHED — JONATHAN
A bed-ridden victim of Wednesday’s bomb attack at the EMAB Plaza, Wuse II Abuja, Solomon Tesso, on Friday cried out for a job from President Goodluck Jonathan during the president’s visit to the Maitama General Hospital to commiserate with survivors.
The victim, who spoke in pidgin English, told the president that he was caught by the blast as he struggled to make ends meet by selling GSM recharge cards, having left school years ago and unable to find a regular job.
He said he had not been able to sleep since he was brought to the hospital and was now agonizing over what lay ahead of him in his present condition.
“Na recharge card I dey sell for Banex Plaza. I no get job. See what I am going through; since yesterday I no fit sleep. I finish school since, no job. I can’t go and steal; na recharge card I de sell, Sir. If people can help me to start better business, to start my life again…”
The president, however, did not respond directly to his request but only said he was happy that the victim survived the attack.
“We are happy you are alive. Thank God you are alive,” Jonathan said.
The president had cut short his trip to the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of States and Governments in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, because of the bomb attack.
Before visiting the Maitama General Hospital, he had inspected the scene of the blast to see things for himself, after which he vowed that the perpetrators of the attack would be punished.
Accompanied by the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, and other top government officials, Jonathan arrived there at about 11.10 a.m. and was briefed on the incident by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
Speaking with reporters after the visits, Jonathan said the latest attack was regrettable and painful, observing that when some Nigerians were struggling and thinking about how to contribute to national development, some people were planning to kill them.
He described this era of bomb blasts and other forms of terrorism as the darkest phase of the nation’s history, but expressed the belief that Nigeria would overcome it.
Jonathan said: “It is quite regrettable and extremely painful that when some Nigerians are struggling, thinking about how to contribute to nation development, working very hard to take care of their families and train their children, others are busy planning to kill people, intimidate people, and destroy people’s property. It is regrettable. It is one of the darkest phases in the history of our nation; but surely we will get over it.”
The president appealed to Nigerians to bear with the security forces over their various initiatives to curtail the threat of terror.
He said, “I will use this opportunity to continue to plead with our citizens that under such situation, security operatives will come up with different options that sometimes will create some inconvenience for us. Instead of condemning them, let us bear (with them).
“We all bear some pains, from the highest to the least, because as a president, I may not go to everywhere I would have loved to go. These are some of the challenges I have to face. Even for our citizens, under such condition, we have reached some level of restrictions and some pains. Instead of shouting and insulting security operatives, let’s give them maximum cooperation; give them relevant information.”
Jonathan reiterated that terrorism is not peculiar to Nigeria, as all countries that face terror suffer the same thing. He said that citizens must therefore give maximum cooperation to the security forces in their effort to successfully deal with the situation.
Source: Tribune

A bed-ridden victim of Wednesday’s bomb attack at the EMAB Plaza, Wuse II Abuja, Solomon Tesso, on Friday cried out for a job from President Goodluck Jonathan during the president’s visit to the Maitama General Hospital to commiserate with survivors.

How Pastor Uses Ogboni Power To Perform Miracle

SHOCKING REVELATION OF A PASTOR
■ ‘Being Ogboni leader has made me a good disciple of Jesus Christ’
For many Christians, Ogboni soci¬ety is not only regarded as a secret cult but also treated as an abomi¬nation that must not be identified with. A senior member of the Christen¬dom however feels otherwise and in fact made a shocking revelation that will leave many gasping for breath.
For over four decades, 65-year-old Pas¬tor Solomon Oladimeji has been a shep¬herd in the vineyard. Apart from being the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Orisun-Ayo, with branches at Alapere, Ketu, and Odogunyan in Ikorodu area of Lagos, Prophet Oladimeji reveals that he is also a top member of the Ogboni fraternity. He be¬longs to Saala Ogboni Fellowship of Nigeria (SOFN) – within the fraternity – where he oc¬cupies the position of Oluwo and the third in command to the overall head of the fraternity.
“I am not ashamed to confess my mem¬bership of the fraternity. I’m proud to be Og¬boni member. In actual fact, being an Ogboni leader has made me not only a good disciple of Jesus Christ, but it has also gone a long way to make me a better citizen,” he proudly told Saturday Sun in an interview in which he talked about his relationship with Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, members of his congregation, Ogboni and the Scripture among a host of others. Apart from Oladimeji, another cler¬ic who has also founded several churches, Prophetess Eritosin and the paramount head of Saala Ogboni, Olamilekan Ifayemi also opened up on their relationship with Chris¬tendom. Below are excerpts:
When did you become a member of the Ogboni, and what were the cir¬cumstances that prompted you to be a member?
Although, my journey as shepherd for Je¬sus Christ’s flock is over 40 years, I became a member of theOgboni society over 20 years ago. Initially, I was initiated into the Aborigi¬ne Ogboni fraternity, that is the one they call Ogboni Ibile, but later I joined Saala Ogboni fraternity, and since I made that decision, I have no regret.
As a member of Ogboni fraternity, my life is having a meaning. I have prospered. My coast has been enlarged. Members of my congregation are increasing everyday. I also thank God that due to my diligence as a committed member, I have been able to rise to the enviable position of Oluwo within the Ogboni fraternity.
Are your members, that is mem¬bers of your church aware that you belong to Ogboni fraternity?
What is there to be hidden? I am not ashamed of my association with Ogboni So¬ciety, and I don’t hide it from members of my church. They all know that I’m a leader in the Ogboni group. When you even come to my house, I openly display my regalia as Ogboni chief. Let me quickly tell you this, by making my members know that I’m Ogboni mem¬ber, it makes me popular among them. They describe me as an open and honest person. For that, many of them have been voluntar¬ily coming to me pleading to be initiated as a member of Ogboni fraternity.
Some people would think that you use charms on them?
Why should I use charm on them or to charm them as some people will say? God forbid. I’m a child of light; darkness or any¬thing evil has no place in my life or church. Your member will like you, when they know that the power you are using to solve their problems is power from Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. I have never committed evil in my life and I will never do so till the day my Lord calls me home.
Are you saying that charm doesn’t exist?
No. I’m not saying so. Charms do exist, but it depends on how you use it. I used herbs and leaves combined with other items to pre¬pare soap, anointing oil for members and oth¬er people that are having spiritual problems.
It is unfortunate that today a lot of Chris¬tians are suffering out of ignorance. You see some saying it is what my pastor or what my prophet tells me I believe. I will never use any soap, cream, oil by just any minister of God, but only if those members know what those pastors are doing.
Some of these pastors and prophets come to people like me to acquire power to per¬form miracle and wonders. Some of them are even Ogboni members like me. But they are hypocrites. I will never deny somebody who is my benefactor, and that is why you see me wearing and displaying beads and other items being used by Ogboni fraternity. To me, what matters again is saving life, and it doesn’t matter where you get saved
whether it is in the house of babalawo or any juju priest. We are all calling on the name of the same God.
In my neighbourhood, both at Alapere and Odogunyan, many residents know me both as a cleric andOgboni leader. In fact, Baale of Odogunyan, that is the community leader, knows me as the Oluwo ofSaala Ogboni. I’m highly respected in the community. I joined the Ogboni fraternity because I like their ways of life. They are decent people. Contra¬ry to misconception some people have about Ogboni, that we are evil people. Far from it, rather I will say that Ogboni members are not only children of Light, but we are also mes¬sengers of the Most High God because, we don’t kill but only save lives.
But some people believe that Og¬boni is evil, and that it is an evil asso¬ciation condemned by the Bible.
Those who say so are ignorant. They have been brainwashed by our colonial masters. But thank God, we are now in a different era, and we can all be reading the Bible without relying or depending on what the imperialist swould want us to believe in order to suit their own purpose. Some will tell you that Ogboniis evil because they use juju, they still carry out sacrifices of various forms by shedding blood of animals, and birds. Some even out of ignorance say we eat human flesh. Rubbish. May Almighty God forgive our traducers.
If you are talking about sacrifice, where did the Bible condemn sacrifice? Let our accusers point it out either in the old or the New Testament. Throughout my years at the seminary and the Bible school, I never come across such.
Then the sacrifice you are talking about, on several occasion especially in the Old Testa¬ment, sacrifices were carried out to atone for the sins of the Israelites.
It was also often carried out when the chil¬dren of Israel were looking for one favour or another.
But coming down to the New Testament, don’t mind those confusionists who say that Jesus Christ, my own Lord and Saviour con¬demns sacrifice, what a big lie. If you can still remember when Jesus Christ himself was born the day His parents Joseph and Mary were taking Him to the Synagogue, Joseph has to sacrifice doves, and pigeon. He took the birds to the church. You can read in the book of Matthew and Luke.
So, if the parents of Jesus, my Master, the Author and Finisher of my Faith were in¬volved in sacrifice, why would I say I want to distance myself from such?
Again, they accused us pastors of asking some people that have problems to go and bathe in a running stream, what is wrong with that, did such not happen in the Bible? Have we forgotten the story of Naman, the Syrian Army General who had leprosy and was look¬ing for a cure, how Prophet Elisha asked him to go bathe inside River Jordan, and Naman was healed after complying with the prophet’s instruction, and this is why I said some people are dying due to ignorance.
Sacrifice is biblically ordained. I sacrificed animals and birds to offer prayers to cure and heal people of their ailments.
When I pray for you and it is revealed to me that I should kill duck, cow or even goat to offer prayers for you, I will tell you to make available such animals for sacrifice, and the moment we do that, you receive your healing.
When I kill fowl, goat, duck or even cow for sacrifice to heal somebody, I have not in any way transgressed. I’m only doing the will of Jesus Christ, who is my personal Lord and Saviour. Whatever is outside the Bible, you will never see me doing it.
Even in the book of Revelation, the use of leaves and herbs was recommended for heal¬ing. And for those who describe Ogboni fra¬ternity as a cult, this is wrong. Ogboni is a society. We are transparent and honest people. Ogboni abhors evil. We are organized and dis¬ciplined. A cult is a group of people involved in secrecy, we are open to scrutiny. Let those who out of hearsay say evil about Ogboni be bold and come to our meeting and see wheth¬er it is true that we drink blood.
All those pastors saying rubbish about Og¬boni are doing so to attract membership.
You say you sacrifice animals, if that is what is needed for someone’s prayers to be answered, but the Bible says Jesus has done that by His death, are you not going against the Bible?
Far from it! Whatever I do as Ogboni Pastor is biblically ordained and inspired. If you read your New Testament very well, Apostle Paul who is regarded as one of the most dynamic evangelists of his era says that without shedding blood, that there is no redemption. Am I the one that put that in the Bible? Even when Jesus Christ was about to be dedicated, His parents, Joseph and Mary took pigeons and doves to the church which were slaughtered as a sacrifice.
You also read in several other places both in the Old and New Testament where blood sacrifice took place. You remember the case of Cain and Abel. I even read Bible before I carry out this killing of animals as sacrifice in order to save souls.
You said you belong to Cherubim and Seraphim sect, is the leadership of the church aware of your mem¬bership of Ogboni fraternity, and again are members of the Christian Association of Nigeria aware of your position in Ogboni?
I have never hidden my membership of the Ogboni group. The church leaders are aware, and nobody has raised any eyebrow. I’ve even used my membership of Ogboni to win more souls for Christ. As for CAN leaders both at Alapere, and in Odogunyan, I play prominent roles in the affairs of the association. I pay my dues as and when due. I also sacrifice my time and energy for evangelism. They respect me a lot.
There are also other pastors there who are fellow Ogboni members. But I won’t mention names here unless the situation warrants it. Just as I’m not ashamed of the gospel so also I’m not ashamed of being an Ogboni pastor.
Some pastors do come to us at Ogboni meetings seeking spiritual assistance for their church grow in terms of membership. At other times, they seek our help that their members will obey them or do whatever they ask them to do without questioning their authority. But it is a big shame that these pastors when they mount pulpits would be deceiving their members by be¬having and talking as if they are truly holy spirit-inspired. They should learn to give credit to whom it is due.
Let me be bold in saying this that it is unfortunate that the church is full of deceit today.
It is a big shame that many of these so-called men of God that claim that they rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do mira¬cles are liars. They are big liars.
Many of these pastors both within the orthodox and the Pentecostal fold are mem¬bers of Ogbonifraternity. They come to the Ogboni meetings seeking powers which are given to them. We also have many profes¬sionals including lawyers, doctors, engi¬neers, university lecturers, imams, Islamic and Christian leaders, and traditional rulers as our members. We don’t discriminate. Our mission here on earth is to save mankind.
Why do you think Ogboni has such powers that even pastors, as you say, seek power from it?
Ogboni members derive power from God. We call on the name of the supreme being which Yorubas called Olodumare. We call on Him and He answers our prayers an¬ytime we call upon him. We also get power through some deities like Ogun, god of iron, Sango, god of thunder and so on and so forth.
What matters most is to have purity of heart and mind. When your mind is pure, when you call on God, He will answer your prayer. If God is not with us, the power we use as Ogboni members will fail us.
Without God’s backing, there is nothing we can do. Ask those pastors or any other person that have been to our meetings if we ever call on any other name during our meeting than that of Supreme being,Olo¬dumare.
As the saying goes, the taste of the pud¬ding is in the eating, whosoever is in doubt about what we do or wants to know wheth¬er I lie that God is the source of our power should endeavour to come to our meeting. Saala Ogboni runs an open-doors policy. You are welcome into our midst any time.
You said Ogboni is not a secret cult; if so, why is it not holding its meetings openly as other religions?
It was in the days of the yore that Ogboni holds meetings in secret. Today everything about us is open. We hold our general meet¬ings on 1st Sunday of every month in broad daylight.
During the meeting, we welcome new members, then we exchange ideas on issues that will bring development to the soci¬ety. We also conduct vigils in the open like Christians and Muslims do. Just like their own, we hold such vigils in our headquar¬ters, local branches, but we conduct our fellowship in the open. We hold such vigils in the second Sunday of every month. As a reporter who is naturally inquisitive, you are invited either our night vigils or general meeting as doing so will enable you to have open mind while writing your report.
Christians believe in Christ, Mus¬lims believe in Mohammed, what does Ogboni believe in?
We believe 100 percent in Olodumare, the Supreme being, and it is from Him we derive our power to do all things. However, we also believe in lesser deities such as Ogun, Sango, Sonponna, and other deities which are believed to be mediums through which we can also call on the name of Olo¬dumare. Ogbonistrongly believes in the culture and traditions of our forefathers. You can call us traditionalists.
As Ogboni pastor, what spiritual advantage do you have that other pastors who are not Ogboni mem-bers don’t have?
The advantages I have are enormous. You know when you are doing something with purity of mind and purpose, God will answer your prayers. Being an Ogboni pastor, I have 100 percent direct access toOlodumare and when I call upon Him, He never disappoints, and that is why you see some people that call themselves pas¬tors, they can’t see any vision, they can’t cure anybody, and that is why they come to our members in the Ogboni fellowship to acquire powers to enable them perform miracles.
You don’t need to kneel down before me before I know who you are or your prob¬lems. The moment I pray for you or you send a prayer request from any part of the globe, I will know what your problems are and the way out. But how many of these pastors can lay claim to such? The moment you become a member you will be auto¬matically qualified to have or enjoy these powers.
As I said, Ogboni is not evil. We are not children of darkness, but that of light. If we are evil, why is our membership increasing with even both Islamic and Christian clerics seeking our assistance?
Pastors that are not Ogboni members will have problem of church growth that is talking about membership, that is why in some churches they don’t have up to 30 members, whereas in other ones you see a mammoth crowd.
For those who have large mem¬bers, do you think it is by their own power that they do it?
No. Several pastors come to us and we do what we call Aworo in Yoruba for them.
Aworo is a kind of charm that draws crowd to a place. We do it for pastors, and that is why you see many of them driving state of the art cars. For those pastors that don’t know their ways, you see them in penury, drinking garri and coconut most of the time.
What is your educational back¬ground?
What does educational background have to do with my work as a servant of the Most High? However to satisfy your curiosity, I had elementary education, and that was a period when standard six certificate was of high quality than secondary school certifi¬cate today.
I was into private business of buying and selling textiles and wood when God called me into His ministry. Initially I resisted be¬cause my business was flourishing, but later I succumbed to God’s call.
Then, if you are asking about my edu¬cational background, which school or semi¬nary did Moses, Joshua, Elisha and Elijah attend? And yet were they not great minis¬ters of God who performed wonders? Even my Personal Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, did He attend any school?
To be a minister of God is not an aca¬demic issue but everything depends on God who call you. If God does not call and you call yourself, your ministry will not prosper. You will be living from hand to mouth, but when it is God that called you to be a serv¬ant in His vineyard, you will prosper be¬yond your own wildest imagination.
Source: Sun

For many Christians, Ogboni society is not only regarded as a secret cult but also treated as an abomination that must not be identified with. A senior member of the Christendom however feels otherwise and in fact made a shocking revelation that will leave many gasping for breath.
For over four decades, 65-year-old Pas¬tor Solomon Oladimeji has been a shepherd in the vineyard. Apart from being the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Orisun-Ayo, with branches at

IT’S ABUJA CONSPIRACY AGAINST ME –OKOROCHA

N20m controversy: Charly Boy disgraces Okorocha at Oputa’s burial

A requiem mass organised for the late Socrates of the Supreme Court, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa at his country home in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State was disrupted yesterday, when the first son of the former erudite judge, Charles Oputa, a.k.a Charley Boy prevented Governor Rochas Okorocha from paying tribute to his father.Eye witnesses said that the mass which was conducted by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rt Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oguta, went on smoothly until Okorocha was permitted by the Bishop to pay his tribute to

JONATHAN EXPLAINS SILENCE ON CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS’ ABDUCTION

President Goodluck Jonathan said he had so far been silent on efforts being made to rescue the 219 students who were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, over two months ago because he did not want to compromise investigation.
He also said for Nigeria to defeat the violent Boko Haram sect, the country must first overcome what he called political, religious and ethnic cleavages.

Again Tiwa Savage Hitted Argument Herald At MMA Airport

TIWA LOSES COOL AT AIRPORT
Delectable artiste and rave of the moment, Tiwa Savage is a no-nonsense lady who doesn’t seem to spare anybody who angers her.
At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport last Monday, Saturday Beats watched how Tiwa descended on a member of staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company who she said was “rude” to her.
The Eminado crooner, looking chic in her black and white ensemble, was seen arguing and quarrelling with the NAHCO staff and her action drew a little crowd.
The NAHCO lady was unfazed by Tiwa’s fame and didn’t allow her to intimidate her as she told the people around that she wasn’t rude to Tiwa.
“I was not rude to her. I only told her to go and board since she had checked in her luggage. I wonder how that could mean that I was rude to her,” Saturday Beats overheard the NAHCO staff saying.
Not giving the lady another look, Tiwa eventually entered the boarding gate alongside her colleagues.
Tiwa and some other Nigerian artistes, Saturday Beats gathered, were on their way to Mauritius on board an Emirate flight.
Recall that it was reported few months ago that the singer had an encounter with a policeman and she allegedly removed his beret from his head.
Source: Punch

Delectable artiste and rave of the moment, Tiwa Savage is a no-nonsense lady who doesn’t seem to spare anybody who angers her.
At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport last Monday, Saturday Beats watched how Tiwa descended on a member of staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company who she said was “rude” to her.

Friday

Anambra DSS Parrades 10 Kidnap Suspects Link With Former Commissioner's Kidnap

By Ajayi Bamidele

The Anambra State Command of the State Security Service has arrested a ten man suspected kidnap syndicate in connection with various notorious activities including kidnap of the state former commissioner for science and technology, Mr. Chike Okoli.

B/Haram Insurgents Attack on Nigeria Would Soon Be a thing of the Past—Sambo

Vice President Namadi Sambo on Thursday described the Abuja blast that claimed 21 lives as a cowardly and unjust act that would be defeated soon.
Sambo said this when he paid an on-the-spot assessment to the EMAB Plaza scene of the blast.
President Goodluck Jonathan had been away to Equatorial Guinea where he was attending the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Summit of Heads of State and Government in Malabo.

Senate Moves Against Tinubu Wife

SENATE MOVES AGAINST SENATOR TINUBU
•To face disciplinary panel
Senate yesterday, moved to investigate its Vice Chairman of the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Oluremi Tinubu over disparaging comments against the upper legislative chamber and its leadership.Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) raised a motion under Order 43 (Privileges) of the Senate Standing Orders (2011, as amended) and drew the attention of the chamber to some newspaper reports by Senator Tinubu where she reportedly bemoaned “the rot” in the Senate.
In another interview, she allegedly said the Senate leadership pandered to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led executive arm of government.
Said Ndoma-Egba: “I would have brought this matter on the first day of our resumption but for respect for the memory of our departed colleague, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.
“Today, therefore, is my earliest opportunity to raise it and that is why I have raised this matter of privilege. There’s a story carried in Thisday of June 5, 2014 attributed to a distinguished colleague of ours, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the headline is this: ‘Activities in the Senate are depressing’ and I will read with your kind permission, parts of the story.
“Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central Senatorial District took a swipe at the leadership of the Senate, accusing it of poor performance. Tinubu, at a media parley, to mark her third anniversary in the Senate said activities in the the upper legislative chamber were depressing because its leadership has failed to address a lot of pressing national issues for partisan reasons.
“She accused the Senate leadership of pandering to the wishes of the executive arm of government, which is led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).” I will just stop here.
“There’s another story in the Daily Trust of Monday, June 9, 2014, again attributed to Senator Oluremi Tinubu: “Why I may not return to the Senate in 2015” and with your kind permission, may I just read a little of it. “Wife of the former Lagos State governor, Oluremi Tinubu said she may not return to the Senate next year if the rot in the upper chamber persists. Mrs. Tinubu said she was depressed with the various activities that go on in the Senate.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, as I said before, I’m a Senator first and foremost and by the grace of my colleagues, a member of the leadership of the Senate and to the best of my knowledge, Senator Tinubu has never raised any concern with me or with the leadership on the activities of the Senate.
“I think it is most unkind, it is most uncharitable for a distinguished Senator, who has the opportunity of raising concerns with her colleagues, not doing so and going straight to the media to play to the gallery.
“So, I object very, very seriously to the comments made by Senator Tinubu and I want to submit that my privilege, as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been breached by the said Senator.”
He later laid the newspapers before the Senate as evidence.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions chaired by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.
“This matter is referred to the committee so that they can have Senator Tinubu present her own side of the story and if possible, invite the newspapers, which published the stories,” Ekweremadu said.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report to the Senate for consideration.
Source: Sun

Senate yesterday, moved to investigate its Vice Chairman of the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Oluremi Tinubu over disparaging comments against the upper legislative chamber and its leadership.Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) raised a motion under Order 43 (Privileges) of the Senate Standing Orders (2011, as amended) and drew the attention of the chamber to some newspaper reports by Senator Tinubu where she reportedly bemoaned “the rot” in the Senate.

Controversy Trials Lagos Explosion •Police Anti-Bomb Experts Visit Site

CONTROVERSY TRAILS LAGOS EXPLOSION •POLICE ANTI-BOMB EXPERTS VISIT SITE
CONTROVERSY has continued to trail the Wednesday night explosion at a farm tank along Creek Road in Apapa area of Lagos State as experts from the Anti-bomb unit of the Nigeria Police, on Thursday visited the scene of the explosion
National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency , Nigerian Army and the National Emergency Management Agency also visited the scene but none of these agencies has been able to ascertain the cause of the explosion
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the two tankers that were involved in the explosion had already been loaded with petroleum product, and that they both had minor fire incidents, before the real explosion occurred.
There were insinuations that the spark of fire from one of the loaded tankers might have led to the full blown explosion, that rocked the entire Apapa community
Security men at the scene also did not rule out the fact that the burnt vehicle might have been wired primarily for the purpose of bombing the tank farm thus creating a big explosion
There was heavy traffic gridlock around Creek Road as policemen, who were investigating the cause of the explosion, cordoned off a large part of the road, making free flow of vehicles impossible
A worker in the area, who identified himself as Fortune called for a thorough investigation into the occupants, and particulars of the Toyota Sienna vehicle, that reportedly ignited the explosion
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the management of the tank farm, in its explanations to the security agencies, still claimed that nobody could ascertain the cause of the explosion.
According to the company, two minor incidents from the loaded tankers occurred, but they claimed that the incidents were thoroughly dealt with before they escalated
Meanwhile the image maker in charge of the state police command, Ngozi Braide, insisted that the explosion had, as of Thursday evening, had not been confirmed to be a bomb explosion
Braide said that “police have commenced investigations into the incidents, while bomb experts visited the scene today and investigations have started. I cannot tell you what the cause is until, when we conclude our investigations.”
She added, “I may not be able to tell you the number of people that died but I will be coming up with a statement later. We have commenced investigation. In cases like this you just do not go and be making statements up and down. After the investigation, we will come up with what transpired and make it known to the press.”
Ibrahim Farinloye, the spokesperson of NEMA, South-West, also claimed that “nobody can ascertain the cause of the incident for now but we have handed over the investigations to the police.
Source: Tribune

CONTROVERSY has continued to trail the Wednesday night explosion at a farm tank along Creek Road in Apapa area of Lagos State as experts from the Anti-bomb unit of the Nigeria Police, on Thursday visited the scene of the explosion

Ekiti Poll: APC Overrules Fayemi's Position

EKITI POLL: APC OVERRULES FAYEMI, GOES TO COURT •PARTY IS PLANNING MAYHEM —PDP
DESPITE the acceptance of defeat by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti State governorship election, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the opposition party, on Thursday declared that the election was skewed in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has resolved to challenge it in court.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who read the party’s communique at the end of the inaugural meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC), said that processes leading to the election were against his party.
According to Alhaji Mohammed, “in order to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Ekiti, especially the militarization of the process, the harassment and intimidation of citizens, especially those in opposition, my party has decided to challenge in court some of these constitutional breaches”.
He added that the party,”will also encourage our leaders and supporters, who were arrested, harassed and intimidated to seek the enforcement of their constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights that were recklessly abridged by the security agencies”.
Speaking further, he said, “Our decision to act is not only to ensure that these irresponsible and unconstitutional acts are not repeated in subsequent elections, especially that in Osun in August and next year’s general elections, but also because we have always said that evil thrives when good men do nothing!”.
The last governorship election in Ekiti State, it will be recalled, was won by Mr. Ayodele Fayose of PDP and the party’s candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi, openly congratulated the PDP candidate.
The party however said that, “We are very proud of Gov. Fayemi for his conduct and comportment before, during and after the election, and we hail him as a true democrat in the true spirit of the APC’s belief that election is never a do or die affair, and that Nigerians must always be free to elect those to govern them”.
To this end, the party said that, it decided to challenge the outcome of the election because, “election is a process, and whatever happens on the voting day is only an integral part of that process. What happens before, during and after the voting day complete the process”.
The party noted that, “If, therefore, we view the just-concluded election in Ekiti as a process, then we can confidently say that while the events of the voting day itself may have led many to believe that the election was free and fair, the same cannot be said of the events before, during and after the election.
“We therefore believe that we owe it a duty to the continuous improvement of our electoral system and indeed the sustainability of our democracy to X-ray this election within the context that we have outlined above and draw the necessary lessons”, the party stated.
On incidents before election day, “We believe that the events leading to the D-Day in Ekiti negate the principles of a free, fair and credible election. From the militarization of the election to the police attack on our supporters, arrest and detention of our leaders across the state and the use of huge funds to induce voters, the federal authorities skewed everything in favour of the PDP.
“At a press conference addressed by our Chairman on June 20th, we warned that our democracy was in clear and present danger from anti-democratic forces who are bent on winning elections, at all cost. Today, we restate that warning and call for a reversal of the incidents that made sure a level playing ground was not provided for all the candidates at the just concluded election in Ekiti.
“While voting on Election Day may not have been characterized by the usual brigandage and violence, we submit that the entire process was everything but free and fair. If an integral part of the process was badly tainted as we have clearly and fully demonstrated above, then the entire process cannot but be tainted. Voting in Ekiti may have been free of the usual violence or manipulation at the collation centres, but the entire electoral process in the state was neither free, fair nor credible”, the party maintained.
APC is planning mayhem —PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday descended heavily on the national leadership of the APC for not accepting the processes and outcome of the last Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election which was won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Ayodele Fayose,alleging that the opposition was planning mayhem in the state so as to discredit the out come of the poll .
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja last night by its National l Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said the position of the APC national leadership over an election widely accepted as one of the freest, fairest and most credible elections in Nigeria, and in which their candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi had also conceded defeat, demonstrates their ‘preference for anarchy and blind homage to nihilism and destruction of the democratic order”.
According to the PDP,“the APC has once again confirmed that it is nothing but a chaotic organisation, totally averse to democracy and orderliness. It has shown that it is a party of desperate, frustrated and violent individuals promoting a Janjaweed ideology.
“This is a party that is fully aware that it was trounced in all the local governments of the state and even lost in the polling units and wards of its campaign Director-General and that of its Deputy National Chairman, yet it is bent at fomenting trouble to disrupt the peace in Ekiti state apparently out of frustration that it did not get the chance to rig the polls”,the statement added.
It pointed out that “We restate our commendations to security agencies for the roles they played in maintaining law and order and providing level playing ground for all parties before, during and after the election”.
“However we wish to alert of an orchestrated plot by the APC to now use the instruments of wild allegations and spurious claims to set the stage to unleash mayhem on Ekiti state using imported armed thugs. We therefore urge Nigerians to note this and hold the APC responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State,” the party said.
Source: Tribune

Despite the acceptance of defeat by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti State governorship election, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the opposition party, on Thursday declared that the election was skewed in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has resolved to challenge it in court.

Former Speaker Bankole Set To Join Ogun Guber Race

BANKOLE TO JOIN OGUN GUBER RACE
ABEOKUTA—A strong indication has emerged that former Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole will soon declare interest in the 2015 governorship election in Ogun State.
Vanguard gathered that the former Speaker is being tipped by the Presidency to contest the governorship election under the People’s Democratic Party against incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in 2015.
It was gathered that, the move was calculated to tackle the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state in 2015 because both Amosun and Bankole hail from Ogun Central Senatorial district.
Addressing the PDP members in Ilaro during Ogun West Senatorial District stakeholders meeting, Bankole hinted that he may declare his governorship ambition at the next stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold in Abeokuta, Ogun central.
Bankole however, warned that it would be dangerous to assume that the party would win the governorship election in the state on a platter of gold.
He therefore urged members ot the PDP to go back to their wards and local governments and mobilise the people.
Source: Vanguard

A strong indication has emerged that former Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole will soon declare interest in the 2015 governorship election in Ogun State.
Vanguard gathered that the former Speaker is being tipped by the Presidency to contest the governorship election under the People’s Democratic Party against incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in 2015.

USA Delivers Military Equipment To Nigeria

In its avowed determination to give technical support to the Nigerian military, the United States of America yesterday confirmed the delivery of special military equipment to the Nigerian government as part of efforts to assist the country in the rescue operation of the over 200 school girls abducted from Chibok in Borno State over two months ago.

Fayemi's Concession Of Defeat Was A Fraud – FAYOSE

The Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose, on Thursday in Abuja, said that the concession of incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi to defeat was a propaganda stunt aimed at eliciting public sympathy.
Fayose told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that although Fayemi at the weekend conceded publicly and congratulated him, the governor had not picked calls from him since then....

Thursday

ANGER AS KUTIGI WALKS JOURNALISTS OUT OF CONFAB

THE chairman of the ongoing National Conference, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi (retd), attracted the anger of some delegates on Wednesday when he walked out journalists covering the conference.
His order infuriated many of the delegates who threatened to stage a walkout of the conference if journalists were not allowed to cover the proceedings.

MILITARY ISSUES RED ALERT, NO MORE LEAVE, PASS FOR OFFICERS

Military officers and men were placed on red alert yesterday — no thanks to the increasingly daring moves of the deadly Boko Haram sect.
Fears of likely infiltration or inducement of officers and men have made the military hierarchy to recall those on leave, The Nation learnt.
Besides, the military has placed restrictions on Facebook networking by officers and other ranks.
Military personnel have also been stopped from taking annual leave or travelling out of their official postings.

N’Korea Threatens War On US Over Movie

North Korea has promised “merciless” retaliation if a forthcoming Hollywood movie about killing Kim Jong-un is released, BBC reports.
A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in state media that the movie’s release would be an “act of war”.

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