Sunday, 27 December 2015

Ibadan Christmas Fire: We Lost N1bn, Not N250m- Union

Mr Gbenga Fasoro, the Secretary of the traders’ union in the popular Ibadan plank market, Alaro, in Sango, where the December 25 fire incident occurred said traders didn’t lose N250m to the fire incident, but lost times four of with which has been approximated to N1bn.

Gbenga said the fire didn’t occur at the plank market but a nearby house but someone made it spread to the market when he threw a cooking gas cylinder into the plank market. Gbenga said he had come to visit the market for inspection when he heard a loud explosion and quickly went to his car to pick his fire extinguisher, but sadly the fire had gone beyond what that could control.

250 shops, generators, equipment and goods were all destroyed in the inferno.

Statue of Jesus promoted to army general

A beloved statue of Jesus looked likely to get an unsolicited promotion to general in the Guatemalan army — until the church and president stepped in, officials said Saturday.
The statue, known as Jesus de la Merced, is paraded through the streets of the capital ahead of Easter in centuries-old traditions brought in by former colonial power Spain.
The local parish priest in the neighborhood church where the statue is kept, Orlando Aguilar, said in a Christmas Eve mass that on January 3 the statue would be promoted to the rank of general in the Guatemalan army.
Many in the local media got rumors buzzing, and suggested that the honor was to be conferred ahead of the 300th anniversary of the blessing of the statue in 2017.
But the capital’s bishop was up-in-arms.
“Brothers and sisters, as I have said and repeated many times, nobody consulted me about ascending Jesus de la Merced to the rank of general in the army,” Archbishop Oscar Vian said on Twitter.
It’s not the first military promotion given to the statue.
During devastating cholera outbreaks in the 1800s, former president Rafael Carrera (1854-1865) gave the statue the rank of army colonel, and it was marched around Guatemala in an effort to combat cholera.
President Alejandro Maldonado said that he had not approved the promotion to general of the statue.
“As armed forces commander general, I have not sought to grant this symbolic rank to the religious symbol,” he said, stressing that he would never sign one unless Roman Catholic authorities had given their approval.

Wenger confident Arsenal will bounce back against Bournemouth

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal will quickly put their 4-0 Boxing Day defeat at Southampton behind them when they face Bournemouth on Monday.
The Gunners would have gone top of the Premier League with a win at St Mary’s, but a poor display saw them return to North London reeling.
Shane Long’s brace complemented an exceptional Cuco Martina half-volley and Jose Fonte’s header as Saints ended a six-match winless run in some style.
Wenger is confident of a positive response at the Emirates Stadium when Eddie Howe’s team visits.
“I believe what I say to my players is between my players and myself,” he said after the match.
“These players have fantastic spirit and they can show that in 48 hours.
“We are in a job where we have to respond. We want to respond from disappointments.
“Unfortunately, there’s no possible career without disappointment. Nobody, not even the best players in the world, can have that.
“It’s down to how you respond and I trust my players to respond in a very strong way on Monday.”
Surprise leaders Leicester do not face Manchester City until Tuesday, so Arsenal have another chace to top the table, but Wenger is not concerned about their position this week.
“I said before the game, whether we are one point behind or one point in front it is not too important,” he said. “It is the quality of our performance that counts and we were not good enough to win the game [against Southampton].
“We have just to look at that. On the other side, we can’t dwell too much because in 48 hours we play again. We are disappointed and frustrated, but there’s only one way to respond in 48 hours.”
The Gunners boss downplayed speculation linking Arsenal to new signings in January and was keen to underline the quality that will be at his disposal once injuries have cleared.
“That’s always the question you get,” Wenger said. “We have many players who are injured and will come back soon.
“Buy, buy, buy, buy is always the solution that people see. I think it’s true that we couldn’t score, but we conceded goals [against Southampton] and we have enough defenders.”

Kenyan policemen killed in ambush – Red Cross

Gunmen killed two Kenyan policemen and wounded two others on Sunday, the Red Cross said, the latest in a string of killings in the troubled far northeast of the country.
“Two police officers killed and two others injured in an ambush along Lafey-Elwak road, Mandera county,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Somali-led al-Shabaab have carried out a series of bombings and killings in Kenya, especially in Mandera district, which borders Somalia.
The Shabaab, East Africa’s long-time al-Qaeda branch, is headquartered in Somalia where it is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, which is protected by 22 000 African Union troops, including Kenyan soldiers.
But they have also staged attacks in Kenya, including the killing of at least 67 people at Nairobi’s Westgate Mall in 2013 and the massacre of 148 people at a university in Garissa in April.
Earlier this week, Kenyan police warned of the risk of fresh attacks by Shabaab insurgents, claiming they had split into rival factions inside Kenya, with some shifting allegiance from al-Qaeda to Islamic State.
Those now loyal to ISIS operate in the Mandera region, while the al-Qaeda force is based in the southeastern Boni Forest district, police said.
The attack on Sunday is in a similar area to an ambush last Monday, when Shabaab gunmen opened fire on a bus, killing two people at Elwak.
On Saturday, police said a suspected Shabaab fighter was killed nearby when a homemade roadside bomb he was planting exploded.

Fire razes Baboko market in llorin

A midnight inferno on Sunday consumed goods worth millions of naira at Baboko market in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 20 shops were completely razed by the inferno which lasted several hours.
NAN gathered that some shop owners left huge sums of money in their shops when the incident occurred.
Sources said that the inferno was triggered by a spark from an electric cable in one of the shops when electricity was restored.
Some night guards at the market were said to have noticed smoke billowing from one of the affected shops and drew the attention of leadership of the market to it
They alerted fire fighters who came to the scene and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops.
The chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Council, Alhaji Tajudeen Zulu-Oloje, visited the scene of the incident on Sunday.
He said that he received a distress call from one of the market officials around 2.00 am Sunday on the fire outbreak.
He said the local council would do its best to reconstruct the burnt shops and assist affected traders.
Zulu-Oloje commended men of the state fire service for the quick response.
Efforts to speak to the Special Adviser on Emergency and Relief to State Governor Alhaji Duro Mohammed, on the incident proved futile.

Anita Joseph Keeps Mum On Marriage, Speaks On N*dity

Nollywood Actress Anita Joseph who is rumoured to have once been married with a child has said she won’t say a word on that but will keep quiet and let people say whatever thing they like about her. She said this while speaking to Spice. Hear her;

I do not know how people arrived at the conclusion that I have a failed marriage. Some also say that I was once married with a child, and they also claim that I left my husband in the South-East. I simply like to keep my life private.

On Nudity

I have never been comfortable acting nude in movies. I can never act nude in a movie, no matter how much I am offered. My womanhood, dignity and pride are at stake and I can’t compromise. Money is transient; it comes and goes. At the end of the day, it will varnish, but my nudity that has been exposed will still remain for public consumption.

Wenger laments as Southampton massacre Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that his title-chasing team had been punished for lacking sharpness after they crashed to a damaging 4-0 defeat at Southampton on Boxing Day.

Having beaten Premier League title rivals Manchester City 2-1 on their previous outing, Arsenal were looking for a victory that would have sent them to the top of the table.
But instead they slumped to their heaviest league defeat since March 2014 courtesy of a jaw-dropping Cuco Martina strike, a second-half Shane Long brace and a Jose Fonte header at St Mary’s.
“We lost too many challenges today. They were sharper than us,” Wenger told BT Sport.
“I think we were unlucky as well. Their first shot on goal went into the top corner from the right-back (Martina), the second goal came after a foul on (Laurent) Koscielny.
“It’s a disappointing result, but I have to say well done to Southampton. The referee let a lot go, but when you’re not dominant in challenges, that is the price you have to pay.”
The result kept Arsenal in second place in the table, two points below Leicester City and a point above Manchester City, ahead of Monday’s home game with Bournemouth.
“The title is down to consistency to fight in every single game and produce a performance,” Wenger said.
“Today was a very physical game and we didn’t play well enough.”
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman, whose side had not won in their five previous league games, said that his players had produced a “perfect performance”.
He added: “We showed fantastic belief in everybody and showed how good we are today if we play at our level.”

Kano imposes N150 per liter fine on diverted petroleum products

Marketers caught diverting petroleum products in Kano State will henceforth pay a fine of N150 per litre of the diverted product.
Alhaji Rabiu Bako, Chairman of The Task Force on Distribution of Petroleum Products in the state, said this during a news conference on Sunday in Kano.
Bako said the measure was to check the continued fuel shortages being experienced in the state.
Bako, who is also the Commissioner for Commerce in the state, said marketers had not heeded to earlier warnings to desist from sharp practices.
“The decision followed series of warnings by the Task Force to oil marketers in the state to desist from sharp practices and illegal increases in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),” he said.
He said any marketer found diverting petroleum products would be so sanctioned and also risk forfeiting such products.
Bako said that the warning was necessary in order to ensure that all products reached their designated filling stations across the state.
The chairman said the Task Force had confiscated eight drums and 50 Jerry cans of PMS and fined the petrol station involved N4.2 million since its inauguration.
The committee urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious character to the Task Force or law enforcement agencies nearest to them.
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje had last week inaugurated the 17-member task force as part of efforts to address the lingering fuel scarcity in the state.

Homosexuality will destroy marriage institution – Cleric

Rev. Fr Raymond Tyohemba, the Assistant Parish Priest of St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Akwanga, Nasarawa State, has condemned the practice of lesbianism and homosexuality, adding that the practices will destroy the marriage institution.
Tyohemba in a sermon on Sunday said , “God has instituted the institution of marriage so that a man and a woman would come together as husband and wife, but not the other way round.
“It is unfortunate that today, some groups of persons have chosen to violate what God has ordained and go about having sex with persons of the same sex with them.
“To the extent that some powerful nations in the world today have legalised same-sex marriage and other immoral behaviours just in the name of granting freedom to their citizens,” he said.
The Cleric described the granting of permission to citizens to practice same-sex marriage and individuals who on their own practiced it, as an ungodly act.
He advised people who indulged in these ungodly acts to desist from them and accept God in order to avoid His wrath.
He also attributed the alarming rate of social vices in the society to broken homes, saying that the family was the foundation of every society.
“ So, the devil introduced lesbianism and homosexual to destroy the institutions of marriage,’’ he said.
Tyohemba, therefore, called on parents, teachers and all stakeholders to rise up and ensure that the practice of same-sex relationship was completely eradicated.

Zaria Residents Applaud Army Over Action On Shiites, Calls For Their Ban

Residents of Zaria, Kaduna state on Saturday applauded the military action against the Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise known as Shi’ite. The feeling of the residents was made known by the spokesman of affected Zaria Communities, Idris Mohammed-Baba.

He said, “We are happy over military action against Shiite’s movement in Zaria because we have fresh air now blowing in our areas.”

Mohammed-Baba while addressing a news conference in Kaduna, also called on the Federal Government to urgently ban the Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky’s led Shiite movement in their communities.

But the sect on Saturday said the Nigerian Army’s claim that they killed hundreds of their members based on ‘rules of engagement’, was a mere ploy to cover up crime against the sect.

Ibrahim Musa, President of the Media Forum of the sect, said the claim by the Army was a cheap way of misleading the public over the maximum force adopted in killing the Shi’ite members in Zaria.

However, Mohammed-Baba said for over 20 years the Shi’ite sect had unleashed untold hardship on their host communities.

According to him, the Shiites had held people in Zaria and Sabon Gari Local Government areas of the state hostage with impunity and running a parallel government in the country.

He said: “My experience with Shiite followers is disastrous and terrible, at a point Shiite boys threatened to kill me. We are happy over military action against Shiite’s movement in Zaria because we have fresh air now blowing in our areas. Before now, we could not grant interview to the world about Shiite’s activities, but now we are sleeping with our two eyes closed. As a community, we wrote letters to the governments about ungodly activities of Shiites but no single action was taken.”

He added, “Shiites killed many of our people who challenged their activities. We buried them and we could not talk to the world because of their threat. We were living like slaves in our own land which Shiite leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky came and met us.

“We residents of Gyallesu are calling on the Federal government to ban Shi’ite movement in our community and Kaduna state as a whole. Government should put a stop to their ungodly activities in our area.”

The group also made available documents dated 18th May, 2015 in which the Shiites declared some youths persona non grata.

But Musa, President of the Media Forum of the Islamic movement, debunked claims by the Army that the Movement had ‘militant wing.”

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi threatens the West in new spine-chilling message

In his first message to the public in the last 7 months, ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has warned Western countries and Israel to expect imminent attacks and also warned “crusaders” not to dare fight on his turf.

According to CNN, Israeli Military officials are not taking the video too seriously because they believe ISIS doesn't have much of a stronghold in the country plus the exact date of the video shoot is unclear. al-Baghdadi called on Saudi citizens to 'rise up against the apostate tyrants, and avenge their people in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen'.

''Jews ,soon you shall hear from us in Palestine,which will become your grave. The Jews thought we forgot Palestine and that they had distracted us from it,Not at allJews. We did not forget Palestine for a moment, with the help of Allah we will not forget it,The pioneers of the jihadist fighters will surround you on a day that you think is distant and we know is close. We are getting closer every day."

"Crusaders and Jews don't dare to come on the ground because they were defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said in the statement released through an Isil-run internet account.

'And soon, soon with God's permission, you will hear the footsteps of the mujahideen... We are getting closer to you day by day,'

''They announced lately a coalition... falsely called 'Islamic,' and announced its goal is to fight the caliphate,' said Baghdadi in the recording circulating among pro-IS Twitter users.

'If this coalition were Islamic, it would have announced victory and aid to the people of Syria,'

On Saturday, ISIS suffered a major blow after a US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel groups, backed by coalition planes, captured a dam from its fighters, cutting a main supply route of the militants.

No one has heard from the Terrorist leader in 7 months ever since a U.S coordinated attack had reportedly injured him and he is thought to constantly move between Isil's strongholds of Raqqa, northeastern Syria, and Mosul, in Iraq, in a bid to avoid airstrikes.

A woman who wasn't happy with her butt, worked out for everyday for 2 years and shares the results

This lady wasn't happy with her flat butt...and then worked out everyday for two years according to her! She's on instagram bragging about growing her booty naturally, through squats.

"We all start somewhere. Pancake flat Booty to actually having a booty! I built that with lots of #gluteworkout and #hardwork took me almost 2 years. Change doesn't happen overnight, keep working hard...it happens" she wrote.

Shoe Game Strong Since Birth! Check Out A Photo Of Young Emir Of Kano

According to Twitter user Shehu-Abdulqadir, that’s a photo of young Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. And we just have to admit his shoe game has been strong from birth. Have you noticed he rocks good shoes? We didn’t even know it was from birth o. We love the Emir!

I bled profusely, fainted as ‘suspected ritualist’ raped me—11 -yr-old girl

When Mrs Lawal sent her 11-year-old grand-daughter (names withheld) on an errand to deliver okro to a customer, she did not envisage that the girl would be ambushed not to talk of being raped.
The fate that befell the grand-daughter on November 29, 2015, at Pure Water Bus Stop along Lagos-Badagry Road, was better imagined than experienced; she was found lying on a culvert unconscious, with blood all over her body.
It was learned that victim was ambushed on her way to the next street when a 27-year-old bakery worker, identified as Sule, allegedly ambushed her, dragged her to an uncompleted building and raped her.
11-raped

It was alleged that Sule then abandoned the little girl there. She regained conscious and barely able to walk out of the uncompleted building when she collapsed on a culvert near Adebola International School, along palace road.
The suspect allegedly ran away after the rape, but police officers from Morogbo Divisional Police Headquarters apprehended him a week later.
Narrating her ordeal, the Primary 3 pupil said: ‘’After my grandma returned from the market that day, she sent me to her customer who sells cooked food at the other street. She asked me to supply her fresh okro which the customer had ordered for”.
‘’It was while I was on my way there that uncle Sule, who works in a bakery at Itoro area, called me. He said he wanted to buy okro for his wife. I told him the okro was not for sale, and that my mother’s friend had ordered for it. He said I should follow him, but I refused. All of a sudden, he grabbed me and dragged me to an uncompleted building. When I tried to shout, he used his hand to cover my mouth. As I tried to struggle, he tore my clothes and removed my pants. He also used his nails to injure my back as I attempted to escape, he over powered me and raped me.””
Mrs Lawal, the grandma, also gave her perspective of the incident. She stated: “After waiting for about 30 minutes for her to come back from the errand, I started looking for her because the place where she was supposed to take the okro to was the next street, less than 10 minutes’ walk. It was around 2pm that I asked her to go and give the okro to my customer who placed the order. After waiting for her to come, I started looking for her before an Okada man came to alert me that they had found my grand-daughter at about 2:30pm, and that she was lying unconscious on a culvert close to Adebola School. When I got there, onlookers had gathered at the scene. I was pained at what I saw; my little girl soaked in her own blood, her clothes torn. It was obvious she had been raped, as she was bleeding profusely, but because she was unconscious we didn’t know who was responsible. Immediately, I called my husband and he asked me to report the case to the police. When we got to Morogbo Police Station, they gave us police report and referred us to the General Hospital, Badagry.’’
She continued: “A doctor’s report from the hospital confirmed that my grand child was raped, as she had deep cuts and severe injuries inflicted on her virginal which caused the bleeding. The doctor stated that because of complications arising from the rape, her womb had been affected and that she needed urgent surgery. So they referred us to Igando General Hospital, along Iba -LASU road where they said they had the facility to handle her case.”’
Also speaking on the incident, Mr Lawal, the grandfather of the victim, said, “I was not at home when my wife called me that something terrible had happened. Immediately, I asked her to go the police station to report the case. I met her at Morogbo Divisional Police Station.
“From Badagry General Hospital, I had to charter a cab that took us to Igando General Hospital, but because of traffic, we did not get to Igando until around 11pm and, by 12 midnight, she was in the theater because of the serious nature of her case. She was on admission from that day till Sunday when she was discharged.
‘’All we want is for justice to be done. Sincerely, we don’t know the effect of this rape on this little girl. We don’t know if the rapist did it for ritual purposes. We want justice because we don’t know the outcome of this. Already, we have spent about N150, 000 on the treatment and surgery she underwent. Currently, the police at Panti are demanding money to continue the prosecution of the case. One of them asked for N20, 000.”
It was gathered that the case was transferred from Morogbo to Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, Panti, for further investigation and the girl’s torn clothes stained with blood are being used as exhibits.
It was gathered that the victim, who is the first child of her mother, has been living with her grandparents since she was six years old.

C’River LG constructs 26km road at N42m

The Boki Local Government Council of Cross River has embarked on the construction of a 26 kilometer earth road linking Boki East and Boki West.
Mr Abubakar Ewa, the Chairman of the council, disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Boki on Sunday.
He said that the council commenced the construction of the road to make the area more accessible and alleviate the suffering of the people.
“We are constructing the earth road so that people from Boki East will no longer traverse six local government areas before getting to the local government headquarters in Boki West,” he said.
According to him, the road which would cost N41.9 million is being built through direct labour.
He said that the communities through which the road passed had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the council that no compensation would be paid to them due to lack of funds.
Ewa said that the council now generated N2 million monthly because of effective tax collection, monitoring and control mechanism.
The chairman said that the council had the capacity to fund the project and would ensure its completion.
He appealed to the State Government to take over the road and asphalt it as soon as it was completed.
“This will make the road to last longer and make it serve the people all year round,” he said.

Photo: Boko Haram bomb experts arrested in Kaduna

Press statement from the Nigerian Army

Another catastrophe was averted in Kaduna State and other contiguous areas when troops of the Nigerian Army arrested 7 suspected Boko Haram terrorists bomb and Improvised Explosive making Devices (IEDs) specialists. The terrorists were arrested in Kaduna after painstaking surveillance and proactive intelligence operations over a period of time.

From all indications, the suspects were in Kaduna to conduct suicide bombings, kill and maim innocent citizens in the state and other surrounding areas during the Christmas period. Recall that recently in Maiduguri some of them were arrested while trying to detonate IEDs carried in food containers in public places.

The arrest of these suspects would no doubt assist in the fight against terrorism in the country, more so as the military have technically defeated the Boko Haram terrorists in the field, the terrorists have resorted to attacking soft targets through suicide bombings, IEDs and harassing attacks on isolated communities.

Therefore, the public is please requested to continue to be more vigilant and security conscious by reporting suspicious persons and their movements to security agencies. This request has become necessary because the terrorists have resorted to mingling with the public across the country after sensing the futility of their encounter with troops in the northeast.

Therefore, they adopt other methods of perpetuating violence in the society. Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman Acting Director Army Public Relations

How Many Women Can Wait For This? Hmm...

Benin prime minister unhurt after helicopter crash

Benin Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou emerged unscathed after a helicopter he was travelling in crash-landed in the country’s northwest, an official said Sunday.

The incident occurred on Saturday at a stadium in Djougou but there were no casualties.

“The prime minister was on board at the time of the crash-landing … happily he emerged safe and sound,” a source in the Beninese presidency said.

“My father is well. There are no victims of the helicopter crash in Djougou. Thank you for your messages,” added Zinsou’s daughter Marie-Cecile on Twitter.

An investigation has been opened into the circumstances leading to the incident, police said.

Zinsou, a former banker who holds both French and Beninese nationality, has said he will run as the ruling party’s candidate for a presidential election scheduled to in February. (AFP)

Photos: Nigerian Int'l students protest against CBN's ban of use of ATM cards abroad

Some Nigerian students studying abroad staged a peaceful protest in front of the Nigerian embassy yesterday over the Central Bank of Nigeria's ban on the use of Debit and credit cards outside Nigeria. CBN plans to stop the use of Nigerian debit and credit cards as from January 1st 2016..

I write with a heavy heart, on this Christmas day, as a result of what is going on under your leadership regarding the Biafra agitation and the leader of the IPOB (Indigenous people of Biafra), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. Let me first say that I, as an Igbo person, supported your election and campaign passionately for it on social media, but I am now on neutral grounds, because of the way you are handling the cry for Biafra though I will always support any good strides you are making for the people of Nigeria.

Ij Onuigbo
Some of the reasons I supported you are: 1. Your wife said during a pre-election interview that you promised to lead by listening to the concerns of the people and doing what the people want.
2. As a former soldier in the United States Army, I knew that the discipline you have as a retired general of Nigeria Army is what is needed to clean up the corruption that has long retarded the progress of Nigeria.
However, during your interview in the USA, I believe at the State Department after your election you were asked a question about how you would handle the Niger Delta on amnesty and women issues, your answer was that and I quote, "constituents that gave me 97 percent votes cannot, in all honesty, be treated equally with constituents that gave me 5 percent." Both videos of your wife promise of your leadership and your admission of prejudicial treatment of people who did not vote for you is there on Youtube for anyone and the whole world to see.
Mr. President, the problem with this whole situation is that with the way you are currently treating the IPOB matter means that your wife has lied about you wanting to lead by listening and leading according to the needs of the people. Moreover, I, as your initial supporter, was very bewildered and embarrassed when I saw that video where you admitted that you would lead by preferential treatment of those who voted you into office. Those who voted you into office are majorly from your region, the north, as well as the Southwestern region.
Igbos were the ones that only gave you 5 percent vote because they did not trust that you would lead with integrity. And guess what you are doing now! You are proving them right. You are showing that their fears were valid. Mr. President, leadership requires that you must be fair to all and sundry no matter how you feel about them. You cannot lead with a vindictive spirit to get back at those who didn't want you to win.
Just look at President Barak Obama for example. Barack Obama has and still suffer from a severe opposition of a great number of Americans who don't like him, but guess what, he still leads everyone with equal and fair treatment.
A leader that is temperamental enough to vilify a group of people because they did not vote for him is not yet a leader. A seasoned leader overcomes all negative emotions that tempts him to mistreat any section of people under his leadership. Otherwise, it is a dictatorship and not democracy. Also, remember that many Igbos and Yorubas, who did not want you to become the President, accused you of being a dictator, and I have to say that you are proving them right for holding Nnamdi Kanu hostage.
I must mention that I am not for or against Biafra. I am for peace and fairness for all. If it were within my power, I would lead my people, the Igbos, to focus on what they are good at and leave Politics to those who want it so bad. On the other hand, I have seen that my people are very unhappy in Nigeria and feel grossly marginalized. And since they have been bold enough to start a protest, they need to be heard and not ignored or shoved aside. They are human beings with feelings, values, and aspirations no matter how inconsequential anyone might see them.
So in that case, I support that there should be a referendum and due process to make a country of their own. Now there is a possibility that we may not get all the required vote to amend the Nigeria constitution; but in that case, we would have seen that due process was given and anyone that fights it would be called a trouble maker. Right now, the trouble maker is the leader that have imprisoned the leader of a group that wants to move on to a better world for themselves. YOU are the trouble maker, Mr. President! You can stop all this by releasing him and demanding for him to go through the right process.
I have written partially on this in the past and to your attention as well hoping that your social media crew would bring it to your attention, but I have not seen any meaningful or positive action taken towards this case. Some people have advised me that if the Igbos really want to secede, they would not have to go through you and others have educated me as well that all that is needed is for the IPOB to forward a motion for Referendum through the Nigeria National Assembly.
You might wonder why then am I writing to you if we knew what steps to take. I am writing to you because you are the President of a country in turmoil who has the power to quell the disaster that is brewing under you. The solution to put a stop to the agitation for Biafra is in your hands. All you have to do is take a leadership step by releasing Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and advising him and the group to begin the process of Referendum. If the motion holds, good, if the motion fails, then you have done your job as the President.
May I please remind you that the British, the Russians and the UN have wisely made suggestions for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu and for Nigeria to allow a Referendum to go through, but with all due respect, it all seems to have fallen on deaf ears. The only response I have seen from your office is a statement that NO GROUP WILL BE ALLOWED TO TEAR NIGERIA APART. Mr. President that is not a responsible statement in the midst of what is going on.
Nigeria has never really been one. There is a deeply ingrained spirit of tribalism in Nigeria that has infected the political and economic fabrics of the nation of which is one of the biggest reasons driving the Biafra agitation. Igbos feel totally marginalized and rightfully so. This situation is like a bad marriage where one partner is very unhappy and keeps wanting out of the relationship, and the other partner refuses to corporate because the relationship benefits them more.
Your energy will be better served fighting BokoHaram rather than fighting IPOB agitation that has a simple solution. And I must say that how you are handling this situation makes it look like all of a sudden Mr. Kanu has become more dangerous than BokoHaram that is still killing people actively in Nigeria when Mr. Kanu has not killed one person. When people protest for a cause, it is the responsibility of the leaders to address the issues surrounding that cause, not imprison the individuals. The cry for Biafra did not start today. It has been going on for ages that also led to the massacre of over one million Igbos around 1967. I am not a good student of history, so I will not pretend to go into it. But I am sure you know what I am talking about.
I implore you to please listen to right conscience and make the judgment that will bring positive resolution to this case and prevent lives from being wasted over a civil war. You have the power to do this by the simple step I have mentioned above. Once again, let me say it again. Release Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and instruct him and his group to go through the right channel through Nigeria National Assembly to put forward the motion for a referendum. Though you are old, you still have a young family that will live on after you. What legacy do you want to leave?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ij Onuigbo
Ex-US Army Captain

OMG! Ghastly Accident Along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway (Photos)

A twitter user has shared photos of a ghastly accident that occurred along Kaduna-Abuja expressway before Jere Junction. He posted a photo of the plate number and the remains of the car asking people to help identify the victims. This is so sad. Our prayers are with them.

Paris attacker Samy Amimour buried

Samy Amimour, one of the men that massacred 90 people at the Bataclan music venue in Paris, was buried north of the city, local officials said Sunday.
The 28-year-old was buried on Thursday in Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, where he grew up and his parents still live.
“There were very, very few people there,” said a source in the local town hall.
Amimour was previously a bus driver before spending around two years in Syria, according to family members who spoke to AFP in October, prior to the brutal attacks in Paris.
He was one of three attackers killed when police stormed the Bataclan music venue on November 13.
Three other jihadists blew themselves up outside the Stade de France stadium, and another exploded his suicide vest outside a bar not far from the Bataclan.
French law gives individuals the right to a burial either in their area of residence, the area they died, or where their family has a collective plot.

Saturday, 5 December 2015

Major Hemp Distributors In Abia Arrested (Photo)

A raid by narcotics agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has led to the discovery of 137kgs of cannabis and the arrest of two suspects in Abia State. The NDLEA commander in the state, Mr. Dele Akingbade, said the two suspects, 35-year-old Fidelis Ogbonna and 68-year-old Ududem Nwoke, were major hemp distributors in the state.

Akingbade said a cannabis warehouse run by Nwoke was discovered during the raid. It was there the NDLEA discovered nine bags of cannabis weighing 87kg.

When Ogbonna was arrested, a vehicle he used for the distribution was also impounded. 50kg of cannabis ready for distribution was reportedly recovered by the NDLEA agents in the process.

Fidelis, a native of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, said he is married with three children. He explained that he could not go beyond primary school level in his education and it has forced him to rely on the proceeds of the cannabis business to fend for his family.

“My father died when I was a little child and I have suffered. A friend introduced me to the cannabis business. I use the proceeds to take care of my family. I also use my personal car to distribute it to avoid suspicion,” he said.

Nwoke also gave a similar confession. He said he had been sustaining his family with cannabis proceeds.

The suspect, a native of Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State told investigators that he has no formal education and is married with two children.

“Cannabis sale is my only source of livelihood,” he said.

Officials told Saturday Punch that his son, who had been assisting his father in the cannabis trade, is currently on the run.

According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the suspects will soon be charged to court for unlawful possession and trafficking of cannabis contrary to Section 11 sub-section C and D of the NDLEA Act.

He quoted the acting Chairman of the agency, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, as expressing optimism that the agency’s anti-drug strategies would continue to yield positive results in the country. “These arrests and seizures are products of painstaking surveillance and the public should look forward to a systematic dismantling of drug trafficking cartels in the days ahead,” Bode-George said.

Chidinma, Flavour go sensual on stage

When you think of Chidinma, the Kedike star, what comes to mind is that little naïve, reserved girl still waiting to break away from her mother’s tender grip.

Chidinma and Falvour go sensual

But the petite songstress is pushing beyond that boundary and showing that anything can happen when it comes to her brand.
At the recently held concert hosted by Phyno tagged Phynofest, the duo of Chidinma and Flavour took their “Chemistry” to another level. Before now they have been pictured in compromising positions and the idea of them dating has been denied severally.
During the concert held at Onitsha, they performed their duet Ololufe and shared a kiss after the performance.
This didn’t go well with some of Chidinma’s fans as they took to her Instagram page to express their disapproval.
One of them writes: “If you two are dating, let us know and stop forming church-girl.
Another adds: “Is this how you guys would be kissing whenever you perform Ololufe?”

Bayelsa Polls: 4 killed in Southern Ijaw as ex-militant, others open fire on LG

The governorship election in Bayelsa state has opened on a bloody note with four persons already gunned down. In Oporoma. headquarters of Southern Ijaw, some ex-militants as early as 6:00 am allegedly led thugs to open fire on the LG to disrupt the distribution of election materials.

The sporadic gunshots led to the death of four peoples as JTF tried to repel the rampaging armed thugs.

An eye witness confirmed that gunshots still rents the air as the JTF called for reinforcement.

Similar gunshots just coming from Brass says that PDP supporters are currently being attacked with guns and machetes.

The people are calling on security agencies to deploy more of their men to the area.

Also in Nembe Bassambri, reports of deadly attacks by thugs aided by the military and policemen is currently going on.

A member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Princess Ingo Iwowari was attacked and stripped of all her belongings,min lauding personal cash.

"The security operatives should as a matter of urgency deploy more of their men to the area" a resident pleaded.

EFCC begins probe of another N3bn arms deal under late Ex-NSA Azazi

General Andrew Owoye Azazi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited several arms dealers, a military chief and some other officials over an investigation of arms deals during the Jonathan administration.
According to reports, a N3 billion contract said to have been awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under the late General Andrew Owoye Azazi.
The arms dealers are being quizzed over the alleged inflation of N3billion contract for the supply of 20 units of K-38 patrol boats to the Nigerian Army by the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety (PICOMMS).
The agency is also understood to have made a breakthrough in tracking how some of the $2billion arms votes and extra-budgetary funds were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) based on orders from above.
Similarly, the commission has quizzed a former Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety (PICOMMS), Air Vice Marshal, Salihu Atawodi(rtd), for a N600m arms scam.
A top-level source familiar with the development said the arms dealers were invited “for interaction on the contracts given to them.” We noticed some discrepancies like the short supply of equipment, non-delivery and outright refusal to execute contracts.
“One of the areas we are looking into is how PICOMMS was allegedly mismanaged under AVM Atawodi. We have allegations of inflation of N3billion contract for the supply of 20 units of K-38 patrol boats to the Nigerian Army.
“There are issues about lack of due process in the award of the contract and non-delivery of the 20 units of K-38 patrol boats to the Nigerian Army. From records so far, the nation might have been short-changed to the tune of over N2billion out of the contract sum.
“In an instance, N620million was withdrawn from the contract sum, changed to dollars and shared by some officials of PICOMMS in one day. We will fish out the culprits.”
A top source in EFCC said: “Atawodi was arrested for alleged case of conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
“He allegedly abused his position as chairman of presidential implementation committee on marine safety to defraud the Nigerian government to the tune of over N600m through dubious contract to procure military boats.
“He awarded the contract to one Hypertech Nigeria Limited. The contractor was fully paid, but the boats were never supplied. The contract award process violated the Procurement Act.
“AVM Atawodi, who has been on the radar of the anti- graft agency since 2013, was quizzed for several hours on Wednesday after he responded to the invitation extended to him.”
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the grilling of Atawodi by the commission.
“He is assisting ongoing investigation,” he added.
About two years ago, a businessman blew the lid open on N3billion contract for the supply of six units of K-38 patrol boats to the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS).
The businessman alleged that one of the officials of PICOMSS converted N620million down payment for the contract into personal use.
The same PICOMSS was enmeshed in the theft of over 200m Euros.

Kogi Supplementary Poll: Accreditation ongoing

Accreditation of voters currently is going on smoothly across the 91 polling units where supplementary governorship poll is taking place in Kogi State.
When our reporters visited a number of polling units in Kabba and Okene, the process was hitch free as voters were seen conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
At the only polling unit in Yagba West where the supplementary poll is taking place, the card reader was working optimally.
However, reports from Kogi East suggests that the card readers are not generally effective.
However, INEC officers were instructed to use incidents form where the card readers fail.
Speaking with Vanguard this morning, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alh. Yahaya Bello expressed satisfaction with the organization of the election. He urged the people of the state to eschew violence.
Also, the chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance in the state, Hon. Simeon Ojonuba hailed the process and INEC’s near perfect organization.
He said the party decided to participate in the supplementary in solidarity with the rule of law.

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Chris Brown denied entry into Australia - his concert cancelled

The Australian government is serious about not allowing Chris Brown into their country. Earlier this year, they threatened to deny him work Visa over his 2009 domestic violence conviction & yesterday, it was officially announced that the Australian leg of Chris' 'One Hell of a Night' tour has been canceled. See a message from Chris Brown's promoter posted on Ticketek Austrialian.

Chris Brown's December 2015 tour in both Australia and New Zealand will not take place.

The shows scheduled at Perth Arena on 9 December, Rod Laver Arena on 12 December, Allphones Arena on 14 December and Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 16 December are cancelled.

Mr Brown and the promoters both remain positive that the tour will take place in the near future.

Mr Brown wishes to express his deepest gratitude to the fans for their support and looks forward to a successful tour in the near future.

Make Tinubu A Course To Study, Senator Tells UK University

After the University of Wolverhampton named former Lagos State Governor and APC Chieftain Bola Ahmed Tinubu the patron for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership in its institution, the senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has urged the UK University to go ahead and make Tinubu a course of study at the institution. He says he is very sure that the students will gain from Tinubu as a course and will make them better individuals in life. Below is what the Senator said.He is over sure!

“I suggest that the centre should consider the option of studying his (Tinubu’s) methodologies of leadership with the ultimate goal of developing a curriculum on it. This, I believe, would prove immensely beneficial to future generations that would pass through the four walls of this institution.”

“I commend the university for carefully identifying and selecting the person of Asiwaju Tinubu, our leader, as the patron of the CAEL.

“Having had the awesome privilege of going through the curriculum of the centre and its mission, I make bold to say that the choice of Tinubu is perfect, being a colossus that has excelled in nurturing global leadership and entrepreneurship.

“For Africa to achieve its full potential, it must seek to forge ‘Africa-centric’ alliances with institutions like yours.

“Therefore, I urge the leadership and members of faculty of the centre to take full advantage of the depth and wealth of experience, which Asiwaju brings on board as the patron of the centre.”

U.S. advises Rwandan president to step down after tenure expiration in 2017

She told reporters on Wednesday that “President Kagame has an opportunity to set an example for a region in which leaders seem too tempted to view themselves as indispensable to their own countries’ trajectories.
“We really do expect President Kagame to follow through on the commitments that he has made many times in the past to allow the next generation of leaders to come forward.
“We expect Kagame to step down at the end of his term in 2017.’’
In November, Rwandan Senate approved a draft constitution to allow Kagame, who had been in power since 2000, to seek a third term in office, clearing the path for a nationwide referendum expected to face much opposition.
Power said the U.S. was aware of the “parliamentary maneuverings” but noted that “Kagame himself has not said what his intentions are regarding a possible third term in office.’’
While addressing a newsmen on her plans as president of the UN Security Council for the month of December, she said the 15-nation council was discussing a possible visit to Rwanda’s neighbour Burundi in December, where there had been months of bloodshed.
Kagame, 58, who ruled Rwanda since 1994, is the latest long-serving ruler in Africa to attempt to extend his hold on power.
Similar moves had sparked violence and instability in Burkina Faso and Congo Republic.

Cameroon army kills 100 Boko Haram militants, frees 900 hostages

Cameroon’s army has killed at least 100 Boko Haram militants and freed 900 hostages in a Nigeria border operation, according to the army’s defency ministry.
“In the course of this operation, at least 100 members of Boko Haram were killed. Nine hundred hostages detained by Boko Haram were freed,” said army spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck.
Cameroon has been a target for attacks since it became part of an 8,700 strong regional task force aimed at defeating Boko Haram with troops from Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin, Reuters reports.
On Tuesday night suspected Boko Haram militants detonated two suicide bombs in north Cameroon, where suicide bombings are becoming almost daily occurences.
“There was a double suicide attack last night in Waza in the far north of Cameroon with a toll of six dead, including the three kamikazees [attackers],” Michel Oumarou, deputy prefect for Waza, said, though one source told the agency the death toll was likely higher.
Security forces killed a third suicide bomber before she was able to carry out an attack, they added.
The attackers are believed to have come from Nigeria to attack the border town. Boko Haram militants in Nigeria have begun using teenage suicide bombers and planting landmines, senior military official Col. Jacob Kodji told AP.
The extremist group has expanded its attacks into Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and two Cameroonian soliders were killed on Monday by a landmine planted in the northern Cameroonian village of Gangse, he added.

7 PROMINENT WOMEN THAT D’BANJ HAS BEEN LINKED WITH

So, the ‘unconfirmed‘ report out there now is that D’banj is getting married on the 12th of December to an undisclosed lady.
The ‘koko master‘ himself has remain silent and has consequently refused to deny the report nor disclose the identity of this ‘favored woman‘, but all we can confirm at PAPERTALK NIGERIA is this fact, that just two weeks ago, D’banj has been quoted online as saying that he is well overdue for marriage at the age of 35 and it was his plan to be married by 35. Was this supposed to be a hint? Or a sense of ‘De’javu‘?
The singer, who just released the tracklist for his upcoming visual EP, An Epic Journey, was specifically quoted as saying:
“While growing up, there were some goals I set for myself and at 35; I have accomplished most of them. Sadly, I have not accomplished the primary goals. The main one is marriage. By now, I thought I would have been married. I had always thought I would have a child before the age of 30. That fantasy did not become a reality because I wanted to strengthen my brand. I wanted to be sure that I was on the right path career-wise because as a kid, you need to crawl before you can walk and eventually run. I wanted to be sure I surpass all boundaries and reach a certain stage where I can easily balance my work and family. That is the main reason why I am not married.”
Now, leaving it at that, we at PAPERTALK NIGERIA decided to look back to the many opportunities Dbanj has had to seal the deal with some pretty outstanding and very successful women in the past. Could any of these women be the anointed one? These women are women many guys will kill for… some literally.
So, let’s kick off..
Ini Edo

Once upon a long, long time ago, before many of the blogs were out, there was a running rumor in the Nigerian celebrity circle that Dbanj and Ini Edo had a thing going on. Of course it was never really confirmed by either party, but what we knew then is that they hung out quite a bit, and were seen together often.
Word is Dbanj even did a song inspired by her… albeit not the most positive of message tho. *A cookie for you if you guess the song*

Genevieve Nnaji

From one Nollywood actress to another. This one started from the video shoot of Dbanj’s Fall In Love video, and was probably the most prominent and most promising of all Dbanj’s relationships.
By all standards it was a match made in Nigerian celebrity heaven. The hottest music star at the time, and the hottest available Nollywood actress. The two looked great together.

They had an on/off relationship between 2009 and 2012, and then another rekindling of flames in 2014.
Dbanj’s song Fall In Love all of a sudden sounded better with Genevieve Nnaji in the video.

Nadia Buari

And yet another Nollywood actress yea? The Dbanj and Nadia Buari links in 2010-2011 were never very strong as both denied ever being involved with each other, but all rumors come from somewhere right? Yeah, We’re guessing there was something but it might have been more casual than anything.
But we still think Dbanj missed an opportunity here. Nadia is now a proud mother of twins.

Jennifer Obayuwana

Of all the links Dbanj has had, Jennifer Obayuwana is probably the most legit. Jennifer Obayuwana is the daughter of multi-millionaire Polo boss, John Obayuwana, and she is an Executive director in her father’s company and also doubles as a director at CAT construction.
So when you talk about successful women? She’s right at the top. Remember one time when Dbanj said he’s in love with someone but no one knew who she was? Yea… We’re pretty sure he was referring to her.
Word is they dated for over two years.

Kenya Moore

Everyone raised an eyebrow when word came out that Dbanj was hooking up with former Miss USA, and Reality TV star of the show, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kenya Moore.
Kenya Moore had mentioned on the show that she was dating an African Prince, but she didn’t reveal who this prince was. Then she started showing up around the scene with Dbanj, and the rumors started flying, and she kinda confirmed that they were dating.
But then, it turned out to be a big publicity stunt. But still, it was a good look for Dbanj… and Kenya for that matter.

Bonang Matheba

This is one of the more recent ones. The South African TV personality complimented Dbanj very well, and for the first time we saw quite a bit of PDA from Dbanj and Bonang. Plenty plenty love love pictures, and even some on stage kissing.
The two were seen everywhere together – Parties, Awards Shows, Travelling, Hanging out etc. It was even suggested at some point that the two were engaged, but that was never confirmed.

But as recently as just a month ago, it was reported that the two broke up, and he also pronounced his love for another woman; One we’ll get to next. Weird turn of events.

Adama Indimi

Adama is the latest of Dbanj’s boos, and from what some have said she has been around for a while too; On and Off. It could be that he was dating Adama, and Bonang. Who knows?
Adama is the daughter of Oil Billionaire, Mohamed Indimi, and from what we heard is very much in love with Dbanj. She had shared pictures of the two of them together on instagram, and is not shy about her love for him.
Dbanj wasn’y shy about calling her the love of his life either. Now whether or not Bonang or Indimi came first in the picture is anyone’s guess, but from what we gather, Indimi is suppose to be the right one for D’banj, but could she be the anointed woman?
That’s the $100 Million question on the lips of everyone but close associates of D’banj has sworn that it’s not Adanmi Indimi.
So who is the mysterious lady? We all wait till the 12th of December, if it ever happens.

LASU reverses increased acceptance fee to N10, 000

‎The Lagos State University (LASU) has reversed the increased acceptance fee for the newly admitted students from N20,000 to N10,000. Mr Adeyemi Onikoro, President, Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU)‎, confirmed development to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos. Onikoro‎ said that the university’s authority had updated the website for the new students to pay N10, 000 as against N20, 000.
“From our investigation, the new students ‎have started paying the N10, 000 as revised,’’ he said. LASU ‎authorities had in November increased the acceptance fee for the newly admitted students from N10, 000 to N20, 000 and indigeneship fee from N1,000 to N5, 000. However, LASUSU had demanded a ‎reversal of the fee with immediate effect to prevent students’ unrest. ‎
Onikoro said while the acceptance fee was reverted, the indigeneship fee had yet to be reversed from N5, 000, to N1, 000. He said the students union was still negotiating with the university management on the reversal of the indigeneship fee to prevent uprising from the Lagos State ‎indigenes.
“The implication of a refusal by the management ‎not to reverse the indigeneship fee, is that the Lagos State indigenes will be paying more than the non-indigenes in their state owned university,’’ he said. According to Onikoro, the indigeneship fee‎ must also be reversed so that it will not escalate into community rancour.
“This is not an issue affecting only the students union alone but the National Association of Lagos Indigenes Students (NALIS) and ‎the Lagos State traditional rulers will also seek redress,’’ he said. Onikoro lauded the management’s effort to reverse the acceptance fee, and urged it to do the needful by reversing the indigeneship fee also.

Emirates unveils new Airbus A380 with 615 seats after ripping out first class to pack in more passengers

Already the world’s largest passenger plane, the new two-class Airbus A380 built for Emirates will hold the most seats ever, with 557 in economy (centre) and 58 in business (top left). Despite more seats being crammed on board, economy passengers will not lose any legroom as first class has been scrapped and there are fewer flat-bed seats in business. The Dubai-based airline said economy will still be spacious and comfortable, and guests will enjoy one of the widest in-flight entertainment screens, at 13.3inches wide. See more photos after the cut…
In addition to more space, those in business class will be able to belly up to an on-board lounge for canapes and drinks. The airline has taken delivery of two of the redesigned A380s and will debut them on the airline’s new Dubai to Copenhagen route.