COURT STOPS JONATHAN FROM RELOCATING $500M OIL PROJECT FROM LAGOS TO BAYELSA

A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos has granted injunctions restraining President Goodluck Jonathan and other relevant government agencies from carrying out the order to relocate the $500 million oil project from LADOL Free Trade Zone(FTZ) in Lagos to Agga in Bayelsa State.
Also restrained in the judgment given by the Presiding Justice of the Court, J.T Tsoho on Tuesday May 12, 2015 are the National Assembly, the Federal Ministers of Transport and Justice/Attorney General of the Federation.
The court said they were being restrained from implementing the directive of President Jonathan that oil and gas-related cargoes must be discharged at Intels facilities in Onne, Warri and Calabar Ports.
According to Prof. Fidelis Oditah QC (Queens Counsel) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who filed the motion on behalf of LADOL, the injunctions ensure that all related agencies, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), must allow vessels and cargoes to proceed directly to any Port of choice, including oil and gas cargoes.
The Injunctions further prevent the passing of the amendments to the Oil and Gas Export Free Zones Act which sought, among other changes, to impose a foreign owned monopoly on the movement of oil and gas cargoes in Nigeria; Transfer control of 12 Free Zone’s in Nigeria currently under the NEPZA Act to the control of the Oil and Gas Free Zone, which is controlled by the same foreign owned monopoly company.

Omotola to trekkers: Silly youths trekking their future away

Delectable actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has criticised young Nigerians trekking to honour politicians in the country. She labelled them ‘silly youths trekking their future away’.
She expressed her displeasure with the actions of the youths, noting that they should trek to bring awareness to their suffering rather than to honour politicians.
“Silly youths trekking their futures way. You don’t trek to bring awareness to your suffering plights but trek to celebrate politicians?Smh!,” Omotola posted on her Twitter page.
In 2014, she was honoured by the government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR for her contributions to Nigerian cinema

SENATOR ZANNAH DIES AT 60

             
The re-elected All Progressives Congress Senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ahmed Zannah, is dead.
The 60 year-old ranking senator, who would have been inaugurated along with 108 others in the 8th Senate, died after a brief illness in a yet to be confirmed hospital within Nigeria.

Zannah is the fifth senator who had died in the 7th Senate.

Kaduna: As governor Yero faces debt owed before he was born el-Rufai laments

                                     Malam Nasir el-Rufa’i and Mukhtar Ramalan Yero
Beginning from late last year when he indicated his interest to run for the governorship election, Kaduna state governor-elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, has consistently harped on what he describes as the  level of indebtedness of the state government, to various financial institutions, from even across the shores of Nigeria.  El-Rufa’i has often said that the development would likely constitute a problem for the next governor.
In fact, in the course of his governorship campaigns, El-Rufa’i  said in an interview in December 2014 that, “from our estimates, every child born in Kaduna state has a debt of N15,000. If you have a child going to be born tomorrow, that child already has a debt burden of N15,000 and there are about eight million people in Kaduna state. So, you do the calculation.”
But having emerged the governor-elect and with his slogan, “Time to make Kaduna great again,” El-Rufa’i, has since pledged to reverse the “several years of  mismanagement of the state’s resources by successive administrations.” Receiving his certificate of return at the INEC headquarters in Kaduna on April 16, El-Rufa’i also raised the debt issue, lamenting that there may be constraints for his administration.

POLICE/VANDALS CLASH: IG ORDERS ARREST OF ASP • Four policemen, six rifles missing

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase, yesterday ordered the immediate arrest and detention of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who led the ill-fated operation against pipeline vandals on Thursdays at the Obadore area of Igando, Lagos, describing it as illegal.
The operation left four policemen dead, two battling to stay alive at the Igando General Hospital and six AK47 rifles missing. The vandals, who attacked with pump action rifles, went away with the corpses of the four policemen.
This was even as fresh facts emerged that the team was not really the IG’s team as the policemen claimed, but Anti- Vandalism Task Force, based in Lagos. Eleven members of the team embarked on the operation.
It was learnt that the vandals attacked the policemen after they threatened to arrest a female member of the gang following a disagreement over alleged N10 million bribe allegedly demanded by the cops.
The task force went to Igando Police Station, to book for the operation, posing as the IG’s Monitoring Unit from Abuja. According to a police source, Arase became angry when he was informed that the team impersonated his Monitoring Unit. After the bloody clash, Arase was said to have ordered a preliminary investigation, insisting he did not authorise any such operation.

I founded FRSC, not Soyinka, –Salawu

                                  
                                                   Major Rasaki Salawu (retd.)
Major Rasaki Salawu (retd.) was the pioneer Director of Operations, Federal Road Safety Commission, an author and a columnist. He tells ASHIWAJU.ORG  that an accident he had as a child inspired the road safety initiative in him

What were the unique features of the time when you were young?

I am from a rural setting in Egbeda in Ibadan. Like any other youth in the environment where I grew up, I longed for education and a good future. My intention was to be a mechanical engineer. My father was among the elite in the community at the time. He had a corn mill and transport businesses and he was popular.

Different tactics Nigerian banks use in defrauding customers

                           
Francis Agadaga still remembers events of that fateful evening. He could have been a widower by now. On September 12, 2014, he rushed to an Automated Teller Machine point in his neighbourhood at Igando, a Lagos suburb, to pick some cash with which to take his ailing wife, Sandra, to the hospital. It was a tough period for the family. The N7, 850 left in his bank account would go a long way in dousing the situation if he could get access to the fund. After inserting his card into one of the ATMs and requesting to withdraw N7, 000, what followed almost left the father of two in tears.

“It was on a Sunday afternoon and we had just returned from church when my wife started feeling feverish,” he began. “Her temperature became so high that we needed to quickly rush her to a hospital. I didn’t have any money on me at the time and so I hurried to the nearest ATM point to withdraw the little money I had in the account.

“However, to my utmost shock, I got a debit alert but did not get any money from the machine. I was so confused and tensed because I had never experienced such before and the kind of situation on ground then was a matter of life and death,” he said.

JOHN FASHANU IS A CONMAN –ABIGAIL, ESTRANGED WIFE ■ Says he conned her into marriage and business

Last week, Saturday Sun ran an interview by ex-international, John Fashanu in which he painted gory experience with his estranged wife, Abigail Onyekwelu.
In her swift reaction, Abigail in this inter¬view in Abu¬ja, gave a blow-by-blow account of how she met Fashanu and how he conned her into marriage and business.
In this explosive interview, Abigail coun¬tered all the allegations levelled against her by the ex-international that she is violent and loves money, dismissing Fashanu as a fraud and habitual liar. Excerpts:
Your estranged husband said you tried to stab him. Is it true?
It is ridiculous. I didn’t do that.
But he has a live stab. Did he stab him¬self?
I don’t know how he came about it. I don’t know whether he faked it or something. I, too, was surprised when I saw that thing. He had one encounter with my son and I three years ago when I caught him sleeping with my maid. I told him that ‘by the time I come back from church, let it be that you have moved from this house. And if I see you here, I will call the police.’ So, when I went to church with my son and we came back, he had packed every¬thing, including my trinket box and some other things. Immediately, we went to his uncom¬pleted building where he moved to.

WHY OBAMA SHOULD VISIT ABUJA IN JULY

Former United States’ Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson has implored President Barrack Obama to prioritise repairing relations with Nigeria by stopping over in Abuja when he visits East Africa in July.
Carson, who served in the first cabinet of Obama, said the visit will help to sooth the frayed relationship between the two countries. He also suggested that the US President formally invite Nigeria’s President-elect to the White House to iron issues out.
According to Carson who was a former ambassador to Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, Nigeria is the sixth largest democracy in the world and that “the success of the elections has also raised Nigeria’s political profile”.
Nigeria, he noted, is also the most important country in Africa and it would be unfair to ignore the successes the country has achieved in spite of its many challenges.
President Obama is slated to visit Kenya, a longstanding economic, democratic and security partner, and Ethiopia, an important security partner whose democratic and human rights performance has been strongly criticized in the international community.
Carson said, “It would be deeply troubling for many Nigerians to see Africa’s largest democracy snubbed at this important moment in its history.”

PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE: BUHARI TO REVOKE JONATHAN’S CONTRACTS TO OPC, EX-MILITANTS

Anyone who thinks that the administration of the incoming president, General Mohammadu Buhari would tolerate the surveillance of oil pipelines and waterways by private individuals or groups should better think again as there are now plans to discard the practice and revert to the use of conventional security agencies.
Saturday Vanguard’s investigations during the week indicated that already some highly placed persons in Buhari’s camp with military and security backgrounds have begun to fashion out ways that would facilitate the process.
It was gathered that the man behind the process was a Director in the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Organisation.
His briefs included to liaise with experts in the sector and other people with rich legal background to work out the template for the new surveillance policy.
When this is completed, the incoming administration, we gathered, would further equip the Nigerian Armed Forces, especially the Army and Navy, as well as the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and hand them over the job of protecting the oil pipelines and other installations both onshore and offshore.

DOKPESI PREDICTS DIFFICULT TIMES FOR JOURNALISTS

Media Mogul, and owner of Raypower FM, African Independent Television (AIT), and DaarSat , High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, has predicted hard times for Nigerian journalists in the years ahead.
Dokpesi, who made the prediction, yesterday at his ‘Kpaduma’ top Hill residence in Abuja, at a meeting between a group of media professionals under the aegis of South- South Pen Pushers (SSPP) and Dokpesi, expressed fear that there are signs that journalists may be subjected to difficult working condition except practitioners work in tandem to defend the values of the profession.
While calling for a formidable media collaboration of the South, Dokpesi said journalists in the discharge of their official duties must be resolute, determined and united as any injustice to one journalist amounts to injustice to all journalists.

Babangida berates Mu’azu for holding on as PDP chair

                                                                Babangida and Mu'azu

Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State yesterday, took a swipe at the Adamu Muazu- led National Working Committee NWC of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for holding on to power after leading the party to a ‘’disastrous defeat,’’ in the last general elections in the country, saying that the best and most civilised thing was to throw in the towel.
Aliyu who spoke at the commissioning of the multi -billion Naira Shiroro Bridge linking Niger and Kaduna States, however said that the loss suffered by the party at presidential level and in most states coupled with the massive defection of some members to the All Progressives Congress, APC, were not enough reasons for him to dump the party.
Also, his Jigawa State counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who spoke on the occasion said that he would not leave the PDP which he was a foundation member for tenants saying that defection was not the answer to such defeat in a democracy.
However, Governor Aliyu said, ‘‘how could you lead a party to disastrous outing in an election and you are still in that place, take the blame for the defeat by quitting and if the PDP still wants you they will beg you to stay?’’

N9bn for Buhari’s ministers, lawmakers outrageous –Nigerians

A cross section of Nigerians have condemned the planned payment of about N9bn as perks to ministers and lawmakers who will assume office in the government of President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
The newspaper on May 9, 2015, in an investigative report, said lawmakers to constitute the 8th National Assembly and ministers to be appointed by Buhari would receive N9bn as perks on assumption of office.

The perks include housing, furniture and motor vehicle allowances, among others.

For instance, the housing allowance for the lawmakers is 200 per cent of their annual salaries; furniture is 300 per cent and motor vehicle loan is 400 per cent.

The report, which has been read about 40,000 times on www.punchng.com as of Friday, generated mixed reactions from the public, many of who demanded pay cut for political office holders in the country.

We get many complaints against Obasanjo Foundation –UK commission

The United Kingdom Charity Commission says it has received many complaints about the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation in London concerning allegations of financial misconduct and conflicts of interest.

The UKCC’s spokesperson, Sarah Hitchings, told our correspondent in an email that the commission had also started a broad investigation into the matters because the foundation had violated its regulatory standards.

She said, “We have received complaints about this charity and issues including alleged conflicts of interest and alleged financial misconduct.

“We currently have an open case in relation to this charity and have been in contact with the trustees.

“We have recently become aware of further information about potential wrong-doing at the charity which is of regulatory concern to the commission and we are currently considering this new information. We cannot comment further while our case is live.”

I’m happy to remarry again, says Oshiomhole

It was glitz and glamour as Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, exchanged marital vows with his heartthrob, former Miss Iara Fortes, from Cape Verde.
The Governor and his bride had signed the dotted lines at a private marriage registry attended only by family members and a few friends at his Iyamho residence after which top dignitaries in the country, were led by the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to the wedding reception held at the People’s White Hall in the Governor’s country home.

N172bn fraud cases against ex-govs turned senators

Investigation by Saturday PUNCH has shown that over N172bn fraud cases are against some senators-elect who were formerly governors.

Over 15 ex-governors won senate seats in the March 28 election with many of them having cases of corruption ranging from misappropriation of public funds to money laundering hanging over their necks.

Some ex-governors have been in the senate before the last elections while a fresh set of former governors will be joining them when the new legislature is inaugurated on June 6, 2015 by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

The list of the ex-governors elected as senators, who allegedly have fraud cases against them, whether old or new, include Bukola Saraki, Theodore Orji, Adamu Aliero, Sam Egwu, Joshua Dariye, Danjuma Goje and Abdullahi Adamu.

Chuka Umunna: The man who wanted to be British Prime Minister

                                                                    Chuka Umunna
Ben Osi Umunna had just returned from England with what everybody accepted as a rich resume as far as sports is concerned.
Aside being a businessman, he was linked with Crystal Palace FC in England where he was a director.
He lived in England for years, acquired experience in business and football management. He also married there.
It was, therefore, no surprise that many celebrated his appointment as chairman of Enugu Rangers FC in 1987.
Umunna transformed the management of the Flying Antelopes. He pulled all the strings to make the club a professional outfit, well run, although Rangers were still one of Nigeria’s top clubs then.
Rangers reigned in the 1970s and 80s and the most successful chairman of the club then, Jim Nwobodo, was so made popular by football that he later became governor of old Anambra State.
Umunna was heading in the same direction as chairman of Enugu Rangers. He was popular although I had issues with him. His passion for Enugu Rangers was such that he took criticisms very personal. In fact, you became his enemy if you were not supporting Rangers in all ramifications. He fumed over my reports or analysis anytime Rangers lost and even picked on me at a press conference. He was just a bad loser. But he brought class to the club and Rangers were on the rise again following his input.

ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE'S DAUGHTER ON WHY SHE MISSED HIS WEDDING

Winifred Oshiomhole is governor Oshimhole's daughter and she's older than the bride so when she was noticeably absent at her father's wedding, tongues began to wag. But explaining why she was absent, Winifred said;

"The information for the day was not properly circulated, I would say I was busy taking care of my life, work and my family and I must have missed out on the plan, I cannot say for the rest of my sisters but I am sure we were not properly informed. I wish the couple a great married life and I am sure she will make my father happy.."
Winifred also asked those criticising his father for taking a Cape Verdean Model, Lara, as wife should let him be.

JONATHAN MOVES PROPERTY FROM ASO ROCK, PLANS GLOBAL SHUTTLE

With just 13 days left of his tenure and the May 29 handover date beckoning, President Goodluck Jonathan and his family have practically packed out all their belongings from Aso Rock, the seat of government in Abuja.

A Presidency source told THISDAY that what Jonathan and his family still have in Aso Rock are few hand luggage that could be moved out in the morning of May 29.

THISDAY checks revealed that the out-going President has since moved on from his defeat in the Presidential election and has mapped out his post-presidency plans which includes playing the role of a global statesman by taking advantage of the huge boost in his ratings as a result of his conceding defeat by calling his opponent, Muhammadu Buhari before the final tally of the election results.

His post-presidency plan, the source said, would commence immediately after he hands over on May 29 to Muhammadu Buhari.

Obi Identifies With Former Colleague on Wedding Day

This Is one of the most criticized pictures from the Governor Adam Oshiomole of Edo stated, who recently wedded to his heartthrob, a Cape Vadean Model, formerly Miss Lara Forte now Mrs Lara Oshiomole.
Many people have singled this picture out, having the immediate past governor of Anambra state and Board chairman of Nigeria Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), . Chief Peter Obi who graced the wedding ceremony of his former colleague as governor of different states,but with their party  differences, many have taken to social media to fault the occasion.
Some alleged that the former governor seized the medium to relate with president elect General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), while some attributed it as a medium whereby the governor of Edo state would assuage the president elect to consider the former governor of Anambra state for a juicy political office.

Obiano’s visit to Buhari: of Shadows and Substance by Okechukwu Anarado

Since General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was announced the winner of the 28 March Presidential election by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, reactions in forms of comments and courtesy visits to the President-elect have been on the ascent. Indeed the spate of these reactions was pioneered by the early congratulatory call to Buhari from President Jonathan who, disregarding the wild delusory passions of majority of his mindless retinue, conceded electoral supremacy to the General. Following this, the President-elect has maintained a busy schedule playing host to various persons and groups who recognize the General’s bent on changing the course of events in Nigeria when his tenure takes effect on 29 May, 2015.

Stella Oduah’s security Attack Youths Over Land Dispute In Ogbaru

A local Vigilante attached to the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has been alleged to have shot a minor and wounded two others in a land struggle fiasco that eschewed between the vigilante team and youths of Ochuche  Umuodu,in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria.

Report has is that the former Minister of Aviation and Senator-Elect for Anambra North Senatorial zone purchased a parcel of land at Ochuche Umuodu where she plans to collect sand from River Niger for sand excavation business  and the village heads of the community had requested for their  land  rights  and other things in accordance with their custom, but she was alleged to have turned down some and yielded to some in her capacity as a national officer to the community.

Also reported that efforts made by the former minister to reach out to the stakeholders and state her position on the landed properties, but were stalled on grounds of fair play and onslaught to ensure some youths of the villages are employed in the sand excavation business.

Hell let loosed when the youths suddenly woke up to turn down offers made to their elders, demanding for separate money from the team, not minding the absence of their principal.

Incidentally, Ochuche Umuodu happens to be the stronghold of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Senatorial Candidate, Chief Dubem Obaze, who according to report still command loyalty of the people in that community.

LOOMING CRISIS: REPS TO ADJOURN SINE DIE AS TAMBUWAL EXITS

The House of Representatives is headed for a constitutional crisis upon the imminent stepping down of its presiding officer, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, one sitting day before the House attains the minimum sitting requirements in a year. 
Tambuwal who was elected as governor of Sokoto State in the last governorship election, is expected to automatically step down as a member of the House, and in that regard as speaker, once he takes the oath of office as governor on May 29.
Sources in the House say that the House is expected to hold a valedictory session possibly on May 28 and subsequently adjourn sine die to await the proclamation of the next National Assembly by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who would also have taken office as president on May 29.
The adjournment on that date would mean that the House would have fallen short of actualising the constitutional provision of sitting for 181 days in a year as stipulated in section 63 of the Constitution which states thus: The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each sit for a period of not less than one hundred and eighty-one days in a year.
The House as at its last sitting day last Thursday, had sat for 174 days and if sitting holds for all six remaining days between next Tuesday and Thursday, May 28, the House would have attained 180 days, one day short of the constitutional provision requiring the Senate and the House of Representatives to each sit for 181 days in a year.

BLUES LEGEND BB KING DIES AT 89

Blues legend BB King has died in Las Vegas at the age of 89, his attorney said.
King, who inspired a generation of mainstream guitarists, died late on Thursday, triggering shockwaves across social media, with stars from the music world lining up to pay tribute.
The 15-time Grammy award winner was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and influenced a generation of rock guitarists from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan, having released more than fifty albums and sold millions of records worldwide.

Hell Let Loose As Njaba Youths Bury Member, Destroy Properties Over 50 Million Naira

 Okwudor, a sleepy and peaceful community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State was yesterday  thrown into mourning, as dozens of youths from the neighbouring community in Awo Ommamma, Oru East Local Government Area of the state attacked the community.
Similarly, several shops, vehicles and other properties worth millions of Naira were damaged or looted by the rampaging youths.
Investigations revealed that apart from the property destroyed, many people were reportedly injured.
Currently, the youths of Okwudor community were said to be regrouping for a reprisal attack, but for the timely intervention of the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness Eze Anayo Durueburuo, who prevailed on them to allow the security agents carry out investigations.
It was learnt that the mayhem broke out when the youths from Ubahaogwu Awo Omamma community were conveying the corpse of a youth of the community from the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu.
The youth was said to have died during surgical operation at the hospital and while the youths were conveying his corpse from the hospital, what was supposed to be a mournful but peaceful match home turned bloody when the youths approached Okwudor community.

PATIENCE JONATHAN HANDS OVER ALFPM PRESIDENCY

Dame Patience Jonathan, Friday, handed over her role as the President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), her successor, Jadiya Hamdi Mohamed, first lady of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Abuja.
The hand over ceremony took place at the Office of the First Lady Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Abuja, during the 8th AFLPM Summit of the mission which comprises of wives of Presidents of all African countries.
The tenure of Patience Jonathan which started when she was elected as the mission’s President at its seventh summit held in Abuja in July 2012 is supposed to have expired in July 2015 when a new president would have been elected.
However, Mrs. Jonathan summoned an emergency summit of the mission on Friday, where she handed over to her successor.
It will be recalled that the action of the president’s wife was earlier calculated by critics as a ploy to prevent the wife of the President-elect, Hajiha Aisha Buhari, from replacing her as President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM).

LUXEMBOURG’S PM MARRIES SAME-SEX PARTNER

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, made history on Friday as the first serving European Union leader, and second leader in the world, to marry a same-sex partner.
Bettel got married to his gay partner, Gauthier Destenay, on Friday in a private ceremony at the capital’s town hall. The couple is among the first to benefit after the country changed its laws to allow gay marriage last year.
The union comes after Iceland’s ex-PM Johanna Sigurdardottir married her same-sex partner in 2010 while in office.
In December 2013 Bettel formed came into power as Luxembourg’s first openly gay PM.
He defeated conservative PM Jean-Claude Juncker in 2013 after Juncker’s almost two decades in power.
Bettel announced that he and Destenay, an architect, would be getting married just months after lawmakers approved the amendment in June 2014.

Jonathan’s Senator, Rep, others dump PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suffered another major big shock as the senator and House of Representatives member representing President Goodluck Jonathan’s home constituency at the current National Assembly, Senator Clever Marcus Ikisikpo and Hon Nadu Karibo defected to the APC.

Others who left the PDP include Hon Azibola Omekwe, reprensenting Ogbia Constituency 1; Hon Fini Angaye , Kolokuma/Opukuma constituency 2 of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, former Ogbia local government chairman, Hon Innocent Kaku and a chieftain of the party, Nadari Banigo.Addressing journalists at the APC national secretariat , Abuja, leader of the defectors and senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Clever Ikisikpo, said they believe that Bayelsa State would be better represented under the APC platform.He said, “We express our readiness today to work with the APC at the local, state and national levels. We are convinced that APC best represents the future for Ogbia, for Bayelsa and for Nigeria. Together, we hereby join the movement for change in Nigeria,” he said.

Governor Oshiomole Weds Cape Verdean Model At Etsako Registry Today

The Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshimole has finally put off the rob of widowhood, by tying a notch with his cape Verdean damsel Lara Forte.
The wedding solemnization took place at the wedding registry of Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state, having people from all works of life present to witness the executive wedding ceremony of a seating governor of a state in Nigeria.
The reception though had scores of well wishers, in attendance where , security operatives had to restrict the movement of people into and out of the Local government headquarters.

50 PER CENT OF BENINOISE CAME FROM NIGERIA, SAYS YAYI

President of Benin Republic Boni Yayi said yesterday that 55 per cent of the population of his country came from Nigeria.
He described Republic of Benin as the 37th state of Nigeria.
Yayi spoke yesterday after a closed door meeting between him and the President elect, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Defence House, Abuja.
He explained that Nigeria and Republic of Benin are not only close neigbours, but have cultural and traditional affinity, assuring that “Benin Republic will always be on Nigeria’s side”.
The Beninoise leader expressed confidence in the ability of Buhari to take up the challenge facing Nigeria and West African sub region, including the problem of Boko Haram, peace enforcement and other issues.

Ojukwu never imagined I’d go to war – Gowon

A former military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, says the leader of the defunct Biafra, the late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, underestimated him by thinking that he (Gowon) would never go to war.Gowon, who led Nigerian forces to defeat Ojukwu’s army during the Nigerian civil war from 1967-1970, said this at the Diamond Jubilee Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday.

The former head of state said he was known to be a ‘Born Again’ Christian and Ojukwu, who was the then premier of the Eastern Region, thought his region could secede from Nigeria without consequences because he thought Gowon would not want to go to war.

SEE THREE NIGERIANS CAUGHT WITH $20M FAKE CURRENCY IN U.A.E SHARJAH.

Many Nigerians reside in the United Arab Emirates but some of the biggest news in the Arab nation right now is that of the busting of a money-doubling gang of three Nigerians in Sharjah. The raid was carried out by Sharjah Police and their headquarters explained the modus operandi of the suspects.

A senior police officer in Sharjah says the gang used fake currency to convince people that they can double their money and make them wealthy beyond belief. During the raid, Sharjah Police recovered $20 million in fake currency with the arrest of three Africans. According to Colonel Ibrahim Al Ajill, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), many unsuspecting residents fell prey to the well-orchestrated scam and many of them had visited the police to complain about illegal activities carried out in an apartment in the Al Nahda area.

I HAVEN’T GOT USEFUL TIPS FROM JONATHAN – BUHARI

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has accused the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan government of not giving him “tips” on how to kick-start his administration on May 29.
He spoke on Thursday when a committee from the Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, presented a five-point policy document to him at the Buhari Support Organisation office in Abuja.
Hours before the event which held behind closed doors, the All Progressives Congress, insisted that the Federal Government was not cooperating with the transition committee set up by the President-elect.
“Buhari regretted that the outgoing government that is supposed to give him tips on how to take off has done nothing so far,” Garba Shehu, the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, told journalists after the presentation by the committee.
Shehu added that the President-elect “thanked the Obasanjo initiative for the gesture, assuring the committee that his incoming administration will be needing advice as time goes on.”
Areas covered by committee in the document include the economy, security, power, education and infrastructure.

HOW WE DEFEATED JONATHAN – TINUBU

 ALL Progressives Congress, APC, leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, attributed the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last presidential election to a commonsense revolution anchored on a rebellion against the excesses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He spoke at a book launch in Lagos where Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka extolled him, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as the drivers of the uprising, which he said, was fast-tracked by President Jonathan’s mishandling of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF crisis.
The public presentation of the book “Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years”, was witnessed by a cross section of the political class and civil society including governors, former governors, senators among others.
Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, who was chairman of the occasion, said the book only offered a glimpse into the vision that stimulated the infrastructure and developments during the Amaechi years in Rivers State.
Amaechi on his part gave a peep into his political challenges, noting how even when he got Tinubu angry before the APC convention, both men set aside their issues for the common goal of achieving victory in the elections that were yet to be held at that time.

Indegenes of Ezinano Community Call For Lawrence Chinwuba's Sack

Hundreds of Indegenes of Ezinano Community, of Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State Nigeria  have called for immediate sack of the state commissioner  for Housing and Urban Development Lawrence Chiwunba for allegedly involving in illegal acquisition of  landed properties  and diverting state owned properties into private use.

The mammoth crowd thronged the state secretariat, Awka, with placards carrying different inscriptions like; Sack Lawrence Chinwuba Now, Law Is Death, Here if Your Coffin, Thief, Converting Our Heritance To Private Use, Chinwuba Must Leave Awka For Us, and host of others, noted with strong equivocation that the state commissioner should be sack in the interest peace in the state capital.

The protesters, who are in their advance  ages 40 and above barricade the entrance of the   state secretariat bearing white coffin, with the commissioner for housing picture on it and traditional quotes to exorcise non indegene in their community.

Our enemies are after us, says Azikiwe university VC

By Tony Okafor in Awka.

The Vice- Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State , Professor Joseph Ahaneku on Wednesday accused those who contested the position of vice- chancellorship of the institution with him about a year ago of trying to pull him down.
He said “ bad losers and those facing disciplinary actions were behind students' protest that erupted in the university on Tuesday.”
The Vice-Chancellor spoke through the Director of communications of the University, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu.

The president of the Student Union Government of the university, Noble Eyisi, had on Tuesday called out some students of the university to protest the hike in post-Unified Matriculation Examination Test from N1,000 to N2,000
The students also condemned N7,500 paid by the candidates for biometric data
In a letter to the Vice-Chancellor before the Tuesday protest, the students accused the management of the university of being corrupt for so doing..

AMAECHI: BUHARI’S VICTORY SAVED ME

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said he would have been hounded out of the country by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government, had the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost the election.
Amaechi spoke at the public presentation of the compilation of his administration’s achievements in Lagos. The book “Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years” is edited by Dr Chidi Amuta and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi.
Amaechi said he knew that he would be in trouble if change did not happen in Nigeria and was prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen.
“I knew I was going to be in trouble. Anything that would cause that change not to take place, I was ready to make that sacrifice. The federal government sent out a signal that if they won nobody should let me out of Nigeria from any airport. One day Asiwaju got angry with me. He was very angry. I went to his house with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and knelt down, saying ‘please let’s not disagree, let’s win first and then we can disagree’.”
“I lost my passport in Ghana and went to the High Commission. They gave me a certificate but the Ambassador was given a query for doing so. I later applied for a passport and they gave me green, not red. Now they have given it to me – two weeks ago,” Amaechi said.

CONDUCT BUREAU ORDERS PRESIDENT JONATHAN, MINISTERS, OTHERS TO DECLARE ASSETS

The Code of Conduct Bureau has made Assets Declaration Forms available to President Goodluck Jonathan, ministers and political office holders.
Also, all newly-elected governors, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly members have been directed to obtain assets declaration forms.
It, however, said after the submission of the forms, its officers will move round nationwide to verify the claims of political office holders.
According to a notice by the Secretary to the bureau, Mr. Kolade Omoyola, the filling of assets declaration forms is in line with the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution.

OIL MARKETERS COURT APC LEADERS OVER N200BN SUBSIDY PAYMENT

Fuel marketers have reached out to some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to influence the President- elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, to pay the outstanding N200 billion on subsidy, interest and foreign exchange differentials, New Telegraph has learnt.
A source said yesterday that they had decided to woo the APC leaders in the face of the seeming reluctance of the outgoing Jonathan administration to settle the Federal Government’s indebtedness to fuel marketers as a way of ending the crippling nationwide product shortage.
The courting of the APC came on day the importer said they could not guarantee that the ongoing fuel scarcity would end before the expiration of this government on May 29. The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), which stated this at a joint press conference in Lagos, alleged that the “insensitive approach” of the outgoing government to sufferings caused by the ongoing scarcity was likely to make the incoming government to inherit the crisis.

JONATHAN ORDERS $500M OIL PROJECT MOVED FROM LAGOS

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that a $500 million oil and gas investment project be relocated from LADOL Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Lagos to Agga in Bayelsa State, The Nation learnt yesterday.
The project is a partnership between LADOL Integrated Logistics Enterprise and Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea.
The two companies are to build fabrication and integration yards for Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility for the use of local and foreign-owned oil companies.
The multi-million dollar project is in phases, and billed to be completed in the next five years.
The project is said to have reached an “advanced stage” before Jonathan issued a directive that it should be relocated.
The directive, contained in two letters dated April 27, was signed by Mr A.B Mohammed, a general manager with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Mohammed signed the letters on behalf of the NPA Managing Director, Sanusi Ado Bayero, who is believed to be a stakeholder in Intel, an oil and gas logistics firm in Rivers State– an allegation he has denied in newspaper advertorials.

BUHARI, GOWON, OTHER DIGNITARIES EXPECTED AS OSHIOMHOLE WEDS IN EDO

All roads lead to Iyamho community, Etsako West council area of Edo state and the political stronghold of former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, as he marries Miss Lara Forte.
The Ethiopian young lady, who is a former model and air hostess, is expected to be the center of focus as former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, ex-Presidents, Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and the President- elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari storm the state today to grace the historic ceremony.
Also, expected to arrive the state for the event are APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s national chairman, Chief John Oyegun, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, other top politicians, captains of industry, labour leaders, the clergy and activists, as well as associates of the governor.

AREGBESOLA EXPRESSES DISMAY OVER NONPAYMENT OF WORKERS SALARIES

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said he is pained by the inability of his administration to pay civil servants in the state for the past six months.

The governor said this in Ilesa on Thursday during the unveiling of the partnership of the Airtel Nigeria with RLG, which is partly owned by the state.
The governor told the gathering and his itinerant praise singers that he would not dance as he usually does because of the mood in the state. The governor, who was obviosuly carried away however joined the praise singers after that.
Aregbesola said, ” It is painful to me that we have not paid our workers but we are working to put this one behind us.
“Let them know that we are pained by this situation but those who created the problem will soon go away. We will not dance today.

BUHARI TO TAKE OVER PETROLEUM MINISTRY

Barring any last minute change in plans, the President- elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, will personally oversee the Ministry of Petroleum, as he is considering not appointing a minister to supervise the ministry.
Rather than having a Petroleum Minister, sources told New Telegraph that the former military head of state who once supervised the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the 1970s, will appoint a special adviser on power and energy, who will report to him.
It could not be immediately confirmed if the incoming president was also considering same option for the beleaguered power sector. If he sees through his plan, Buhari will be following in the footstep of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who directly supervised the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for about seven years.
He relinquished the position in January 2007 when, in a cabinet reshuffle, he elevated the then Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, to head the newly-created Ministry of Energy, formed from the merger of Ministry of Petroleum Resources as well as Ministry of Power and Steel. One of the sources said Buhari was considering the idea of not appointing a minister for the Ministry of Petroleum as part of efforts to clean the rot in the ministry.
The source said: ”This is part of the immediate plans General Buhari has mapped out to tackle the rot in the oil sector and it is likely to remain as long as the industry remains mysterious and shrouded in secrecy.”

23-Yea-Old Graduate Needs 6 Million Naira For Kidney Surgery In India

He needs six million naira to live. His name is Emmanuel Ikewe, a 23 years old from Ekwu-Oma in Ika
North-East Council Area of Delta State. Since his graduation from Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku in Business Administration, he has not known peace as a result of the debilitating illness that has held him down since 2013.
Ordinarily one would have expected the youth after his graduation from the polytechnic to have high hopes about life, but this has not been the case, as the young Ikewe has been battling with chronic kidney failures which has become a life threatening problem for the past two years.
Filled with tears, the young Ikewe who could barely speak due to his weakness only managed to mumble some words of appeal to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the state Governor-elect, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, corporate organizations and well meaning individuals within and outside the state to come to his aid and assist his family financially so that he could be flown to India for the needed surgery that will see him come back to life again.
The youth also appealed to members of the public not to let him die, but should come to his aid, saying he still has much he could contribute to the good of society. His cousin and current benefactor, Rev. Father Emmanuel Nwankwor, of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Umunede, Delta State, who spoke with sobriety to our reporter over the illness, said they have spent well over two million naira in trying to find a solution to the kidney problem, all to no avail.