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.