Igbos will vote for Jonathan, says Ohaneze chieftain

The Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Anambra Chapter, Dr Chris Eluemunoh, today said the group would vote for President GoodLuck Jonathan in February presidential election.
Eluemunoh said this in an interview with Ashiwaju,org at Nkwella-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra.
He said Igbo people would vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the exercise because the All Progressive Congress (APC) had no agenda for the South East.
He called on the people of the state to obtain voter cards to exercise their civic rights, adding, “the card is the weapon at the voter’s disposal in choosing a leader.

Boko Haram not Islamic group –Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has said that the Boko Haram sect has no doctrine that resembles that of true Muslims.
Abubakar, who is the President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, made the clarification at the formal opening of the annual Islamic Vacation Course, organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Southern Zone, which was held at Kilometer 53, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Sultan said, “We have said it times without number that any act that breeds violence like the one being exhibited by Boko-Haram has no basis in Islam.
“As you are aware, our religion, Islam stands for peace as its name denotes. So let us remain peaceful always, so that we may live a peaceful life here and be accommodated in the home of peace in the life to come.”

2015: Obasanjo’s Gambit: The agenda for Interim Government

This story examines former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest dance steps, a break-dance of twists and turns with one suspected objective: the actualisation of a self-serving agenda that is at variance with the projection of a united Nigeria. Yet, a more perceptive incumbent President would have pulled all the stops to successfully rein-in Obasanjo.
Instead, aides and confidants, who are far, very far, from being adroit at statecraft, continue to mislead President Goodluck Jonathan, as part of a turf battle that is raging inside Aso Rock Presidential Villa. Interestingly, the perceived shoddiness of the Presidency, a Presidency foisted on Nigerians by Obasanjo and which he ought to be working to adequately address, is being allowed to flounder because of self-conceited considerations by political leaders who ought to work at nation-building. Said to be desperately working for a stalemate immediately after February’s presidential election, some political leaders in Nigeria, as this report will show, are going for broke.

Shocker: Nigerian University where students defecate in the open

Widespread anomie prevalent in Nigeria, occasioned by a virtual dilapidation of the societal ethical and moral framework, has literally squelched  any social appetite for  comparative sociological analysis of any segment of the Nigerian society and a corresponding segment of any foreign country even if that country is Somalia .
Any such  study invariably ends as an exercise in rendition of  woes,  lamentations  and pity. Our country once mighty have fallen  and is falling.  The decay is systemic and deep-seated and widespread .

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES: Anambra Breaks into New Day as Phyno Brings Cultural Festival to Glorious End

For many residents of Awka, the forcefully emerging capital city of Anambra State, this year’s Christmas will go down in history as the Open Sesame for a glorious future. 

Following the resolve of the Willie Obiano administration to lead the state to a bright new day, a special festival tagged the Anambra Heritage Festival was organised to shake up the social circuit in the state. 

Photo News President Goodluck Jonathan Paid A Visit On Former President Babangida

Babangida Receives Jonathan, Dasuki, Ali, Peter Obi and others in Minna Today

President Goodluck Jonathan and former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, have held closed-door talks in Minna Niger State.
Mr. Jonathan was accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed, a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, and a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ahmadu Ali.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Jonathan said he travelled to Minna to meet Mr. Babangida after , Dasukithe former leader’s return from his medical trip abroad.
The president said they spoke about issues of national concern such as the security challenges facing the country.

Buhari's Aspiration Dredge Up False Accusations Of Sectionalism In PTF– Waziri Adio

Popular ThisDay newspaper columnist, Waziri Adio  today -December 26 2014-  felt compelled to speak up and clear the air on false accusations that Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was ‘sectional’ in the widely-acclaimed impact of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) he chaired under the Sanni Abacha regime.
 In a series of,  tweets, 35 in total  Waziri made it clear that “the South got 70% in terms of amount located, and the North got 30%”.
The tweets are very enlightening.  :
In a few minutes,  I will start tweeting about the Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF) headed @ThisIsBuhari btw May '95 and May '99
2. There have been allegations that the PTF projects were lopsided in favour of the north, aimed at portraying @ThisIsBuhari as sectional.

EXCLUSIVE: 54 Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny starve as army deprives them food, care

While holidaying Nigerians make merry with drinks and food for Christmas, 54 Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram, have endured days without food since being transferred from Abuja, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

The soldiers, moved from Abuja to a holding cell in Lagos last Sunday, are held under conditions military sources have described as terrible and inhumane.

Medical Doctor Dies In Akure Fire

A fire on Christmas Day (Thursday) claimed the life of David Oguntuase, a medical doctor and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Universal Medical Clinic in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The fire, which happened at Oke Ibukun Street, off Araromi quarters in the capital city, had sent residents of the street into pandemonium. Nearby residents told SaharaReporters that the fire began around 12:30 a.m. when Dr. Oguntuase was apparently asleep at his medical facility, a specialist clinic for children. Our correspondent said he was unable to reach a fire official to speak about the cause of the fire.
The latest tragic incident came barely two weeks after a gas explosion in Akure led to the destruction of shops and other properties worth billions of naira.

2015:Patience Jonathan urges Nigerians to Vote for politicians that respect women

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Friday urged Nigerian women not to vote for any politician who would not carry the womenfolk along in his administration. Jonathan said this in her address at a civic reception organised in her honour by the Ohuhu clan, her maternal home in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia. She urged women to vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan. Continue...

“He has met the 35 per cent Affirmative Action for the appointment of women into political positions in the country.

“The President has done a lot to tackle the developmental needs of the nation, in spite of the challenges and opposition against his administration,’’ the First Lady said.

JONATHAN’S DECLARATION HAS OCCULT UNDERTONE – OKOTIE

The founder and presiding pastor of Household of God Church International Ministries, Pastor Chris Okotie has said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration for the 2015 presidential election on November 11, 2014 has occult significance.
Okotie, who wrote on his Facebook page on Friday, emphasised that the exact date the President made his declaration had a ritualistic undertone.
He said, “The implication of Dr. Jonathan’s declaration on that day (11-11-2014) has occult significance. When the number is repeated, it takes a greater ritualistic intensity.
“In this case, we have 11-11-11, because when you add the date 11-11-2014 as a year together, you arrive at 11 also. This is in consonance with occult numerology.

Top hit songs and music videos that ruled the airwave in 2014

In 2014 the Nigerian music scene witnessed a lot of groovy hit songs and stunning music videos that shaped both the fortune and terrain of the entertainment industry.
These inventive works won the heart of the fans, epitomize ingenuity and unveil showmanship  at its peak. We sang these songs endlessly, downloaded their videos on our phones, and danced to them whenever we hear them being played. As a special end of the year treat, we take a look at the top songs and music videos that ruled the airwaves in 2014.
hit1

Tsunami 10 years on:Cities rebuilt, but other scars remain

The before and after pictures say it all. And now, exactly 10 years on, it is almost unimaginable that Aceh was left devastated by a massive tsunami, triggered by an undersea earthquake so powerful it made the earth itself wobble on its axis. 

On the western tip of Indonesia, Aceh province was the closest landmass to the earthquake epicentre, and by far the worst affected. About 170,000 people died, hundreds of thousands more lost their houses and livelihood. Most man-made structures, some of them three miles inland from the 500-mile coastline, were completely destroyed.

Nigerian Military kills Hundreds Of Boko Haram

The Nigerian military has reportedly killed hundreds of Boko Haram members and recovered large cache of weapons.
PRNigeria reports that military confiscated the weapons in Maiduguri and Damboa in Borno state after an attack on the terrorists.
It was gathered that a large number of the terrorists died in a gun battle that ensued between troops and the sect members.
The sect’s improvised explosive device (IED) laden Hilux truck vehicle was also destroyed in the process.
The troops also reportedly captured a Hilux vehicle earlier stolen by the terrorists from the Borno State Ministry of Education, which they have repainted and mounted with an anti-aircraft gun.
Other weapons recovered by troops comprised a rocket propelled grenades and rifles. It was gathered that the sect members fell into an ambush laid for them by Nigerian military who, were on a mission to stop the terrorists from attacking the electricity engineers who were working to restore power to parts of Borno State.

Muslim youths protect Christians during Xmas service in Kaduna

More than 200 Muslim youth volunteers are part of those protecting Christians during church services to celebrate this year’s Christmas in Kaduna, says Pastor Yohanna Buru.

Buru, a cleric of Christ Evangelical Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna South, disclosed this in an interview with pressmen in Kaduna.

He confirmed that over 200 Muslims were at his church to help protect the faithful from any attack during the church service.

According to him, the feat is the first of its kind after the series of crises that rocked the state in recent past.

Synagogue: TB Joshua flies families of South African victims to Lagos

Nigerian preacher TB Joshua has invited to Lagos the bereaved families of the South African victims of a fatal church building collapse for a trip of “spiritual and emotional support”, a spokesman said Tuesday.
A guesthouse for foreign followers of the pastor and televangelist Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly known as TB Joshua, collapsed on September 12 killing 116 people — including 81 South Africans.
Remains of 74 of the South African victims were repatriated home two months later and 11 more remained behind awaiting DNA identification.
“The healing process is continuous but it was very important that the families be part of the year-end candlelight service — it’s spiritual and emotional support,” the church’s spokesman in South Africa Kirsten Nematandani told AFP.

Incendiary comments by politicians: APC urges Jonathan to lead by example

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to show leadership by example instead of engaging in mere rhetoric, saying talk becomes cheap the moment words lose their meaning
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said President Jonathan’s exhortations at a Christmas service in Abuja on Thursday would have carried weight if the President had acted in such a way that his compatriots would not doubt his sincerity.
It wondered how the President could admonish others to avoid sowing the seeds of discord and hatred through their utterances when that is exactly the stock in trade of his political associates, supporters and spokespersons.

Funke Akindele survives cruel fate in Sababi

Although fate may defeat the efforts of virtue to avert misfortune, it cannot deprive us of the power to endure it with equanimity’

Funke Akindele’s production outfit, Scene One Production in conjunction with Adekaz Production Ltd presents a new Yoruba  movie titled ‘Sababi Eda’(Fate), fully subtitled in English.

Sababi Eda depicts the life of a single mother (Funke Akindele), and her struggle with fate.    She used to be a tomboy in  the village before she got engaged and relocated  to the city.

However fate played a fast one on her in her journey of life and she could not avoid it.  Her fiancée eloped with another woman, leaving her to cater for their only son.

My wife is no flirt —Ekeinde, Omotola’s husband

Let me start first by saying that I am humbled by the popularity of this column, only six weeks after it made its debut. I am told, and this has been verified by random Google search, that this column has been culled and appropriated by practically every social media platform including leading bloggers all over the world.
One of such bloggers called me, to say she has been eagerly awaiting my column every Sunday, and updates on my blog, EkereteUdoh.com, so she would be the first to post my stories. I must say that I am flattered.
Last week, I published on this page, excerpts of an interview that Omotola Jalade Ekeinde granted my New York-based newspaper, The Diasporan Star, in December 2009, and also on my blog. The interview, though done some years ago, was still relevant. (the kind of interviews that have no time-limit or currency). The story has become a hit on social media and some other newspapers here. The popular blogger, BellaNaija, culled the story, and a day after, Omotola, through the same BellaNaija, denied ever granting the interview to Sunday Vanguard. She, however, did not deny that the said interview did take place and that some other excerpts of the same interview were published in The Diaspora Star, which she had read when it was first published.

My political lessons — Kenny Saint Best

Gospel artiste, Kenny Saint Best, who recently lost out in the All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly primary elections to Folajimi Lai Mohammed has declared that she has learnt a lot in her new found romance with politics.

“The experience is that of inner strength. I got stronger because this was a new terrain, unlike entertainment that you have gotten so used to and you take everything for granted. I also got humbled. In entertainment, you have ego but in politics you dare not bring up that ego or you will be messed up” she told Potpourri

What growing up in the slum taught me — Ruth Kadiri

Ruth Kadiri is one of the fast rising actresses cum scriptwriters you would love to meet some day. Soft-spoken, easy-going and highly articulate Ruth has built for herself a name that may get the likes of Geneiveve and Omotola going green with envy in no distant future. The Edo State born actress who debuted as an actress in “Sincerity”, a movie that she also wrote, in recent times, has upped the ante. She opened up on her relationship, lessons she has learnt as an actress, childhood experiences and other interesting revelations.
What lessons have you learned as an actress?
Ruth-Kadiri-1I have learned to be patient. I have also learned to understand that our destinies are different. More so, I have realized that not everybody would appreciate your style, or understand where you are coming from .All you need as an actor is to be focused. It’s easy to get distracted, or follow the trend. But if you have a style and you are able to stick to it, as long as  you know that you are doing the right thing, you will surely get to your promised land.
Who is that director you can’t wait to work with?

Many awards for Bob Manuel-Udokwu

Veteran Nollywood actor and Governor Obaino of Anambra’s Senior Special Assistant on Movie/Entertainment industry, Bob Manuel Udokwu may have lost his intent to represent his people of Idemili North Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly in the 2015 elections but he still has good fortunes coming his way. Just days ago the gangling actor bagged the Karifest award for Best of Nollywood Actors, to add to his collection of awards this year.

Speaking to Potpourri, the anchor for Gulder Ultimate Search reality TV show said that would be his third award this December alone. The two others received this December are Excellence/Man of Honour Award by National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu Old Boys Association and Award of Recognition as Outstanding Figure & Role Model for the Youths by Anambra State Students Association, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

There may be sequel to 30 Days in Atlanta —AY

Ace Comedian,  Ayo Makun also known as AY has revealed that his wave-making movie 30 Days In Atlanta cost him a lot financially. The movie which clinched the comedy movie of the year at the Best of Nollywood awards has been getting a lot of rave reviews.
In an exclusive chat with Potpourri, the entertainment entrepreneur said: “I am satisfied with how well 30 Days In Atlanta is doing. The people who have seen it are already asking for a sequel. Trust me, if the demands continue, we will go for it. I will be very honest  I only pictured and anticipated  it doing well. I only wished, but seeing it happen is a different ball game. I will say categorically that I didn’t know it will be this successful. It cost a lot of money and relationships to put the movie together. As a matter of fact, I am not good with mentioning figures. It cost a lot of money to put 30 days in Atlanta together”.

Seyi Hunter returns with Indecent Assault

Seyi Hunter is one budding actress who continues to reinvent her brand and walk the path less travelled. The sexy Industrial and labour relations graduate recently unveiled her new movie titled Indecent Assault.
Seyi-Hunter-Pix-2On the motive behind becoming a movie producer, she disclosed that she likes the fact that a story can be taken from nothing into something people can learn from. “This is my first movie as a producer. I think I am going to go into movie production fully. I like the fact that you have to take something from nothing and create something people can learn from” she said
“Indecent Assault is a story about sex, betrayal, greed and hate. It’s a story that paints beautifully the picture of how far human beings can go to meet their self-centered desires” she added

Jaywon, Sound Sultan, others for Music Africa Beach Splash

Eleko beach in Lagos will play host to Music Africa Beach Splash on the 21st of December 2014 at the Chaka Beach Resorts. In the spirit of the yuletide, Oritsefemi, Jaywon, Sound Sultan, Patoraking, Ketchup, Young Greyc and a host of others will add colour to the event.
Speaking on the purpose of the event, Phillip Trimnell, Managing Director of Music Africa said: ”The Music Africa  Beach Splash is a colourful concert that will feature some of the best music stars in Nigeria who have performed and created impact in the Nigerian music industry till date.”
Lolo1 and Ogbolor are the comperes for the day, while  DJ humility and DJ Bobbi will be on the wheels of steel. Senator and  Funny Bone are also billed to add humour to the event.

‘More blood is being shed in Nigeria’, says Pope Francis

Pope Francis issued a strident call in his Christmas day message to safeguard children who are victims “under our very eyes” of violence and trafficking, while also demanding an end to “brutal persecution” worldwide.
Killings and hostage-takings from the Middle East to Nigeria and elsewhere must stop, he said in his annual Christmas “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) message.
Denouncing conflicts in Ukraine and Libya, and noting last week’s deadly attack against a school in Pakistan, the pontiff also lamented the thousands of victims of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
“Truly there are so many tears this Christmas,” he said.
Delivering his second Christmas blessing, the popular Argentine pontiff, visibly moved and departing from his text, noted “the children massacred by bombardments, including where the son of God was born” and their “powerless silence that cries under the sword.”
Denouncing “indifference”, he explicitly condemned abortion, deploring the children “killed before seeing the light”.

Police stop #BringBackOurGirls protest in Abuja

Policemen yesterday, disrupted,  the  protest organized by  #BringBackOurGirls, BBOG,  movement as they distributed  fliers to motorists to remind them of the plight of the 219 Chibok girls still in Boko Haram captivity.
The policemen numbering about 20 barricaded the Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja with their vehicles at the junction to the  Presidential Villa, a move that enraged some of the activists.

Internet banking to break Christmas day records

Christmas Day online shoppers were predicted to set a new spending record splashing out an estimated £636m on Thursday.

Shoppers were expected to make 142 million visits to retail sites – a 25 per cent increase over last year.

Sky News reported that research by Experian and online retailing trade association IMRG found Britons would spend around £441,000 a minute.

“The ease of shopping online via connected devices raises the prospect of a very large amount of shopping activity on Christmas Day itself,” said Experian general manager of consumer insight Giles Longhurst.

Dominic Trigg, managing director for Europe of digital advertising technology company Rocket Fuel, said, “Shopping online on Christmas Day is now a normal part of UK consumers’ holiday experiences every year.

“It is clear that UK consumers now see shopping from the comfort of their own home, following Christmas Day dinner, as much of a tradition as a turkey and ham dinner.”

Nigeria needs N56tn for housing —Mortgage banker

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Brent Mortgage Bank, Mr. Kola Abdul, says a sum of N56tn is required to close the housing funding gap in the country.
He also stressed the need for mortgage houses to contribute meaningfully to economy growth, by tackling the increasing challenges facing the housing sector.
Abdul said, “At an average of N3.5m per unit excluding cost of land, Nigeria requires about N56tn to remedy the housing deficit gap. The amount is 12 times the size of the country’s 2014 budget of N4.69tn.
“This means if every spending other than housing finance is put on hold, it will take Nigeria over 12 years to bridge the housing deficit. It would even take much longer time if the population growth is considered.”
He added, “Housing deficit in Lagos State is estimated at about 2.4 million units for a population of about 17 million that accounts for about 12 per cent of the country’s population and growth rate of eight per cent. “Lagos State has the highest out of the 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria for a population of over 160 million”

Naira trades below CBN band at Christmas

The Central Bank of Nigeria says the post-devaluation band for the naira is “appropriately priced”, but black market hawkers are trading it at around three to five per cent below its floor in the run-up to Christmas.

Despite an eight per cent devaluation of the target band and efforts last week to crack down on currency speculation by squeezing liquidity, the naira remained at record lows on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Confusion over Jonathan’s campaign committee

There is confusion in the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party over when the party will inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Committee.

The committee, which is headed by a former National Chairman of the party, Ahmadu Ali, was made known during the inauguration of the party’s National Campaign Council, headed by its National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on December 11.

Heaven Can Wait By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo

I believe in heaven. And I bet you do.

Heaven is located somewhere across the bridge of life. It is a place devoid of the iniquities of this life. In heaven, tranquility abounds. It is a treasure trove where God keeps the best of everything.

All our pursuits in life can be divided into two: the pursuit of heaven and the pursuit of happiness.

Correct Me If I am Right
Heaven is the only place where happiness is guaranteed. But for some reason, we are determined to pursue happiness here on earth when it has been proven that such is an impossible goal.

We dream of heaven when we face the travails of life on earth. We remember heaven when we lose someone we love. We embrace heaven when we face our own mortality.

How Nigerian Army Presents Unverified “Lt. Col” To Refute Petition Against Military Hierarchy

Officers of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army today presented a lieutenant colonel without a name tag to the media, claiming that the officer was the one named by SaharaReporters in a devastating petition that revealed why Nigerian troops had been unable to win the war against Boko Haram.
Speaking to the press, Colonel Sani Usman, the spokesperson for the 7th Division, stated that “Lieutenant Colonel” Wende had denied authorship of the petition, which accused top military commanders of siphoning off budgets meant for the war against terrorism.
SaharaReporters had reported that the colonel and his family had come under intense pressure to renounce the petition he sent to President Goodluck Jonathan and copied to the President of the Nigerian Senate, David Mark.
Since our publication of the petition, Nigerian military authorities have scrambled to discredit the leak by claiming that Colonel Wende had not written the letter. Military brass also went as far as claiming that the petition was written by Boko Haram militants and their supporters.
However, the attempt to blame Boko Haram for the petition was not persuasive as the document outlined strategies for defeating the insurgent Islamist group.

Tonye Princewill Responds To Rivers State Gov’t Wants Specifics About Sale of Government Properties

When we received the news that the Hon Commissioner of Finance had responded to news reports on the secrecy surrounding the sale of Rivers state assets to friends and cronies, we anticipated that finally we would have a meaningful engagement and that a debate on the issues was imminent. We quickly sought to see what details and substance he would provide. We were not expecting him to be totally open, because we knew he knew little about what was going on. However what we didn't expect was an empty and verbose monologue.
Claims about a malicious publication, yet no redress sought from publishers, personal attacks on the Prince, bogus allegations and references to unnamed projects of questionable intent with no clear objectives, yet governments are the ones who should set objectives and deliver on them. Plenty waffle, little substance and in the end we are still where we are. Without answers. Little or no detail. All from a government of eight years.

Opposition Mounts Against Yar’adua Cabal Operative Tanimu Yakubu’s Membership Of Buhari’s Think-tank | TheCable

Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, former chief economic adviser to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, is facing serious opposition over his imminent membership of the policy think-tank of Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Former Economic Adviser to late Nigerian President Umaru yar'adua, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi
Since TheCable reported that the economics graduate of Wagner College, New York, US, was tipped to head the economic policy directorate of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, the former head of state and senior APC chieftains have been inundated with calls by concerned Nigerians who kicked against Kurfi’s membership. An APC official who spoke with TheCable said it is going to send the wrong signals if Kurfi plays any major role in the Buhari team. “I am aware that many well-meaning Nigerians have been expressing worries over Yakubu. Buhari has not told any of us categorically that Yakubu is his choice to head the team. He is already aware of the possible repercussion,” the official said. The head of the policy think-tank is expected to end up holding a major position in government if Buhari wins the presidential election next year.

Watch Video of Osinbajo campaigns in BRT bus, says Nigeria needs Buhari

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 presidential election, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said the country needed a man of integrity, such as the APC’s flag bearer, Maj. Gen. Muhamadu Buhari, to end corruption in the country.

Wike accuses Gov Amaechi of funding Buhari’s campaign Wtih Rivers Fund To Tune Of N30bn

A former Minister of State for Education and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, of spending N30bn to fund the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress.

Wike explained that the development had made it impossible for the state government to pay workers’ salaries, adding that the governor was using state resources to fund the APC with the hope that he would be picked as the running mate to the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

The PDP governorship candidate pointed out that Amaechi was being deceived by the leadership of the APC to continue to fund the party, adding that the APC leadership had never been interested in selecting the governor as Buhari’s running mate.

Bishop Ezeokafor Lauds Road Safety, Fetes Journalists .. Seeks diversification of Nigerian economy

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese His Lordship Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor has lauded the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Anambra Command for their work ethics and for mapping out numerous programmes which geared towards reducing road crashes on the highways to the barest minimum

Bishop Ezeokafor who gave the commendation at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka when the men of FRSC called on him, urged Ndi Anambra to obey all road rules and regulations noting that one life lost could not be replaced

He decried the lackadaisical attitude of some private and commercial bus drivers who often constitute nuisance on road with their reckless driving and over-speeding noting that if all road rules would be applied by the drivers just like their counterpart in developed countries the rate of road accident in the country would be reduce drastically.

A Christmas Message from the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano

 

Ndi Anambra, we are once again in that special period of the year when Christians from all over the world come to a momentary break to mark the greatest act of love known to mankind – the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All over the world, Christmas is seen as a season of love and profound affection as well as a season of remembrance and nostalgia. It is a time when love and kindness rule the hearts of many Christians.

For Nigerians, this year’s Christmas should serve as the clarion call to heal our country with love. The outgoing year presented a huge challenge to Nigeria on many fronts. While the nation reeled from the shockwaves of avoidable bloodbath caused by terrorists in the North, Nigerians suddenly woke up to the horrifying nightmare of the dreaded Ebola epidemic. At some point in the year, our prospects as a nation were bleak as Nigerians waited for a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. It is instructive to recall that at that critical moment, Nigerians from all faiths and regions were united in love against this new and common enemy.

I’ve Received Threats For Criticizing Buhari — Sheik Gumi

A prominent Nigerian Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, said Tuesday he has been threatened for not supporting Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Kaduna-based cleric raised the alarm on Tuesday in a Facebook post titled, “PDP v APC: It’s Not about Religion.”
He said his children have also been receiving calls from persons who use unknown telephone numbers to threaten them.
'People like me who had all along been critical about the government can longer speak or express personal opinion if it is not in support of Gen. Buhari,” said Shiekh Gumi.
“Just this morning around 2.30a.m., my three male children individually got threatening phone calls from a private number. People can vote for whoever they choose whether a Christian or a Muslim.”
The cleric had in a separate Facebook post in October called on Mr. Buhari not to contest the 2015 presidential election for fear of crisis.

President Jonathan To Buy New Executive Jet

President Goodluck Jonathan wants to ride yet another new aircraft, and he has asked the National Assembly to approve the purchase.  The request is part of the 2015 budget presented to the National Assembly in Abuja last week by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. 

It will be the fourth such purchase since he took office in 2010.

To make the acquisition of the gleaming new toy fit for the electoral stomp an attractive proposition, the presidency will trade in one of the planes currently in the presidential fleet.  But the purchase will still gulp N400 million as deposit to the manufacturer.  

Towards combating the insurgency in the country, the appropriation bill contains a N1,308,400,600 proposal to be spent on NICEP II security elements phase II by the NSA; N2,093,861,553 for maritime border security solutions (Falcon Eye); N2,093,861,553 for North-East border security solutions  and N850 million for the DSS to buy more firearms and ammunition for all the service formations.

Gunmen Open Fire On Taraba Wedding, 13 Killed

A security source in Taraba State has confirmed that about 13 persons were killed and over 30 injured in an attack by unknown gunmen on a village during a wedding rite.
The source said the incident occurred on Monday night in Nafirde, in Gassol local government area of the state.
The gunmen opened fire as the marital rites were in progress.

President Jonathan Ranks Fourth Among 9 Richest African Presidents

Robert Mugabe

Country: Zimbabwe

Years in Power: 26

He is a part of a very wealthy family. His net worth is around $10 million.

Withdrawal of 18 PhDs not a witch hunt –LASU VC

The authorities of the Lagos State University, Ojo, have said that the withdrawal of 18 PhD certificates from some of their graduates is not for witch-hunt.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. John Obafunwa, stated this while speaking to journalists in Lagos.

He spoke against the backdrop of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ claim that the certificate withdrawal was to embarrass the LASU-ASUU Chairman, Dr. Adekunle Idris.

The ASUU Lagos Zonal Chairman, Dr. Nasir Adesola, had accused the VC of orchestrating the withdrawal following Idris’ role in the call for the reversal of tuition in the school.

Before the tuition reversal to N25,000, the typical undergraduate student of the institution paid between N150,000, and N350,000 depending on his course of study.

But dismissing the ASUU allegation, Obafunwa said his leadership was only interested in cleansing the rot in the university.

How to treat a naked woman: Another rejoinder

On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, Jibril Sado wrote a rejoinder to an article published in The PUNCH, titled, How to treat a naked woman. The write-up was a response to an earlier one written on November 27, 2014.
Adelakun who took her inspiration from some women and men in faraway Kenya that “protested a culture that strips a woman naked– to enhance her dignity and protect the sanctity of their society” had in the write-up surrendered to all values that are antithetical to Africa, elevated even the strange modern culture that is hunting the West and condemned African culture as a myth that never existed.

Abia varsity reduces tuition

The Abia State University on Tuesday confirmed a 20 per cent reduction in its school fees, beginning from 2014/2015 academic session.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that an increase in the tuition in 2012/2013 session had put the university authority and the students on war path.

Mr Udo Nwokocha, the Dean of Student Affairs of the university, told NAN on telephone that the reduction cut across all the faculties.

The fees, which was raised in 2012, had forced the students to stage peaceful demonstrations.

The students had considered the hike in the tuition as government’s attempt to deny them of their right to education.

Jonathan condones corruption, says Osinbajo

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said that one of the fundamental problems bedeviling the nation is the failure of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government to tackle corruption.

Osinbajo stated this during a Twitter chat tagged #AskProfOsinbajo on Monday.

He said it was saddening that under Jonathan’s government, “there is no consequence for corruption.”

He added, “One of the fundamental problems is that there is no consequence for corruption. I think that what everyone will agree to about a Buhari government is that it will not tolerate corruption.

“If the number one citizen has a clear and uncompromising anti-corruption stand then the anti-corruption policy will work. If the number one and number two citizens have a strong stance on anti-corruption then our policy can succeed.”

Read Bitter Truths About The Economy The Jonathan Govt. Does Not Want Nigerians To Know

As is well known, available figures, statistics and ratings show that the Nigerian economy has consistently maintained an unprecedented growth rate of 6-7 per cent under the Jonathan administration. They also show that the Nigerian economy is now the leading economy in Africa and the 26th largest in the world, with a gross domestic product of over $500 billion per annum.
Statistical indicators are like a woman’s bikini, they hide or mask the most important details, while revealing what, to a casual observer, seem like a whole lot. Take for example real economic growth rate: a measure of how much the economy grew, in real terms. Real growth rate is essentially a quantitativemeasure. While it measures the total goods and services produced in a given year, it does not say anything about how the quality of life has changed, and whether or not available resources were used transparently and beneficially.

How Sea Pirates Killed Three Soldiers In Bayelsa

Some sea pirates on Monday launched a deadly attack against military personnel attached to the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) code named Operation Pulo Shield, killing three.
The incident took place along the waterways and creeks of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Our source said the JTF military personnel were on escort duty for cargo belonging to the Brass terminal owned by NAOC when the gunmen opened fire on them.
The source, which sought anonymity, said the military personnel were ambushed by deadly pirates.
“It is suspected that the gunmen either hijacked the gunboat [and] later killed the soldiers and threw their dead bodies into the water, or they shot and pushed them into the water before stealing the gunboat," he said.

Those Benefitting From Corrupt System Holding Jonathan Hostage –Ishola-Williams

How would you react to the latest ranking of Nige­ria as the 39th most corrupt nation in the world by the Transparency International (TI), considering the fact that you were once the Nigeria chapter chairman of TI?
As far as I’m concerned, nothing has changed about Nigeria regarding corrup­tion. It is sad that the situation is getting worse. The latest ranking by TI is an indict­ment on the leadership. Our leaders need to do more to fight corruption.
As it is today in Nigeria, war against corruption is dead. The situation is getting worse, and the leadership has not shown enough will to tackle corruption. Nothing has changed.
But the Presidency has come out to say that Jona­than’s administration is in­deed winning war against corruption, how do you see this development against your own position?