Rivers: Party of Blind Critics, Enemies of Progress – APC Calls PDP…READ WHY

•Defends Amaechi’s purchase of road analyser

Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to provide proof that the APC Government in the State inflated the cost of the Automated Road Analyser (ARAN) commissioned on July 18 by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Chibok girls: Why you should not negotiate with boko haram – Muslims give Sultan reasons.....

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar

The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has warned the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, against holding talks with the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, until he receives an official approval from the Federal Government. The apex body of Muslims in the country fears that the Sultan might be blackmailed by the government if he goes ahead to negotiate with the terrorist group, especially on the over 200 pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School abducted by the sect on April 14, without an official consent.
The council warned that the Islamic leader should not be hoodwinked into making such moves by those calling for his intervention in the insurgency by the sect.
Some Islamic elite, under the aegis of Concerned Muslim Professionals, had written to the Sultan earlier in July, asking him to lead the dialogue with the Boko Haram sect.

Ebola Virus: WHY the body of the first victim in Nigeria cremated.....

The body of the first victim of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, who died in Lagos on Friday, has been cremated.
Details of the cremation were not available at press time but Sunday Vanguard gathered that the eveny was witnessed by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, led by its Project Director, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, among others.

Ebola Virus – physicians at work

The decision to cremate the body of the victim, it was further gathered, may not be unconnected with the deadly nature of the Ebola Virus which is known to be easily transmissible from human to human during handling of corpses of victims.

Just before #OSUNDECIDES, crucial lessons to learn from #EkitiPoll…A MUST READ

*Jega: It is not true
*Lessons before Osun election
What was the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, thinking about when it set out to appoint monitors for last month’s governorship election in Ekiti State?

Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega

This question becomes very pertinent against the backdrop of the avowed determination of Professor Attahiru Jega, INEC’s Chairman, to consistently deliver free and fair elections to Nigeria. And whereas political pundits have attempted to analyse why and how Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the state governor, lost, INEC almost introduced muddle into the entire exercise. But for the seeming determination of majority of the voting public in the state – at least based on the result of the election as declared – any other result may have thrown the whole exercise into a kilter.

Nasarawa’s Impeachment: ‘Why I will appear before probe panel’ —Al-Makura speaks out.....

Tanko Al-makura

The Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Al-Makura, has said he will appear before the seven-man panel of enquiry set up by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Umaru Dikko, to investigate him. The state House of Assembly had asked the Chief Judge to set up the panel to probe into allegations of mismanagement against the governor as part of the process to impeach him.
A Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Adulhameed Kwarra, said this, in an interview with our correspondent, on Saturday.
Kwarra, the only person mandated by the governor to speak to the press, however, urged the panel to, “as a matter of transparency,” follow the dictates of the law as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.”
Meanwhile, Justice Dikko has said the embattled governor could either appear before the panel or send a representative to defend his “gross misconduct, financial impropriety and breach of oath of office” allegations.

EXPOSED!!! Don’t Call Boko Haram ‘Islamic militants’, Says Sultan....

Sultan Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III of Sokoto

Sultan of Sokoto and president-general, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar (III) has declared that life is sacred, thus anybody who bombs himself thinking he will go to heaven is delusional. The Sultan, who said this Friday when he hosted security chiefs during the breaking of the Ramadan fast in his palace in Sokoto, further explained: “For us, one single life lost means a lot to us because life is sacred.
On how best to address the insurgents, the Sultan said, “Don’t call Boko Haram ‘Islamic militants’. A criminal is a criminal. Do not link him with his religion. The people doing this insecurity are very small compared to the millions of Muslims that are not in any way connected to insurgency.”

Wenger - Statue of Thierry says it all.....

Thierry Henry and Arsene Wenger

Arsène Wenger says the statue of Thierry Henry outside Emirates Stadium underlines the enormous impact he has had on the club.
Arsenal will face their all-time leading goalscorer when they play New York Red Bulls on Saturday at a sold out Red Bull Arena.
Wenger was full of praise for his former charge ahead of the game - although he revealed he had to talk his French compatriot into becoming a striker.

He is a legend at the club, and if you ask every Arsenal fan ‘who is the [key] player of Arsenal?’ they will say Thierry Henry.
Arsène Wenger

Wenger confirms Arsenal are to sign Ospina....

The Colombia international is on the verge of completing his move to the Gunners, though the manager says he will start behind Wojciech Szczesny in the pecking order

Arsene Wenger has confirmed goalkeeper David Ospina is set to join Arsenal but says that Wojciech Szczesny will start the season as first choice.

Maigari's tenure encouraged inappropriateness, says Onigbinde

   

The respected Nigeria football advocate has fingered the impeached NFF president for not waking up to his responsibilities while in office

As Nigerians continue to react to the impeachment of Aminu Maigari as president of the Nigeria Football Federation, former Fifa technical committee member Adegboye Onigbinde has revealed that Maigari’s tenure in office encouraged inaptness. The plot to impeach the former president of the NFF came to fruition on Thursday as eight (8) of the 13 board members of the Federation voted in favour of his impeachment in what seemed like a mini palace coup conducted at the Board Room of the secretariat in Abuja.
Onigbinde also said that even at the impeachment, it will not bring an end to the problems engulfing the country’s football governing body.

EXCLUSIVE: INEC Sacks 30 Staff Over Election-Related Offences

INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] has fired no fewer than 30 of its personnel accused of aiding electoral malpractices across the country during the 2011 general election, the electoral body has said.
Sixteen of the dismissed staff were punished for their alleged involvement in election-related offences in Anambra state, the South-East state which elections are usually tainted by rigging and thuggery.
Other states, whose elections led to the dismissal of INEC officials, are Imo (3), Edo (1), Zamfara (1), FCT (1), Delta (1), Oyo (2), Rivers (1), Lagos (1), and Osun (2).
A staff based at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja was also shown the door for allegedly colluding with politicians to perpetrate electoral fraud.
Besides, the Commission is prosecuting nine out of its 12 staff apprehended for committing various forms of electoral offences during the governorship elections in six states.
Two out of the 12 electoral offenders have been discharged and acquitted while one was convicted.
According to a letter to a civil society group, Say No Campaign, in response to a Freedom of Information request, INEC said those dismissed or whose appointments were terminated committed offences such as refusal to carry out lawful duties and misleading the Commission, misconduct,  disappearance with money meant for payment of allowances of ad-hoc staff, withholding ballot papers, manipulation of election results and possession of DDC machines.

PDP’s Omisore, LP’s Akinbade absent at Osun Governorship Election Debate....

Mr. Omisore had in early July accepted the challenge to debate Governor Rauf Aregbesola. But he did not turn up at Saturday’s radio debate.

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The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the August 9 governorship election in Osun state, Iyiola Omisore, on Saturday failed to show up at a radio debate organized for the three leading candidates in the election.
Also absent at the debate organized by the International Republican Institute [IRI] was the candidate of the Labour Party [LP] in the election, Fatai Akinbade.
The absence of other leading contenders in the election left the candidate of the All Progressives Congress [APC], Rauf Aregbesola, having all the time allotted for the “Manifesto Hour” programme to himself.
The LP candidate, Mr. Akinbade, sent his running mate to stand in for him but organisers disallowed him from participating, saying the rule was that candidates would not be represented by proxies.
The candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria [UPN], Ibrahim Adeoti, who was not invited to the debate, however walked into the studio towards the end of the programme, insisting to be allowed to participate. He was allowed time to speak.

SSS operatives storm firm conducting poll on Osun election, arrest officials.....

Operatives of the Department of State Services, alias SSS, on Friday descended on the corporate headquarters of a Lagos-based research and marketing firm, holding its staff hostage, ransacking its offices and premises and whisking away three of its personnel, witnesses and staff of the company have told PREMIUM TIMES.
TNS-RMS, based in the Ojodu area of Lagos, is a full service research agency founded in 1980. It offers market research and marketing services for organisations and multinationals in West and Central African sub-regions.
Our sources, who asked not to be named for fears they might be arrested, said the operatives arrived the company at about noon on Friday with a search warrant.
“They just came and said they have a warrant to search our offices and premises,” a witness said. “They did not say what offence we committed or what they were looking for. They remained on our premises till past 4 p.m. ransacking files and scrutinizing computers.

Ebola: Lagos Govt. Confirms Death Of Suspected Liberian Carrier – Channels Television

Lagos Commisioners for Information (Lateef Ibirogba) and Health (Jide Idris) at a press conference

The Lagos State Government on Friday confirmed that the Liberian native, who was admitted in a private hospital in Lagos over a reported case of Ebola disease, passed away on Thursday night.
Addressing a Press Conference on the development at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, said that the ministry had started collaborating with all other agencies to treat the body and ensure that it is properly disposed.
He added that because the victim was a foreign national, certain diplomatic steps have to be taken, which includes contacting the Liberian Embassy and ensuring the sanitization of the hospital where the victim was hospitalized before his death.

Chelsea Signs Drogba On One-Year Contract....

Latest reports coming from the United Kingdom suggest that Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba, has returned to Chelsea, two years after leaving Stamford Bridge.
According to Metro.co.uk, the 36-year-old striker has signed a one-year contract with the Blues after leaving Galatasaray at the end of last season.
Prior to this news, it had been reported that Drogba’s return would involve a coaching role too, but the statement on the club’s website made no mention of this possibility.
Drogba spent eight years at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2012, famously signing off with the winning penalty in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich.

* Drogba in Galatasaray’s jersey
He scored 157 goals in 341 appearances, winning a total of ten major trophies during his first spell in West London.
Commenting on his return to Chelsea, the former Marseille of France player said: "It was an easy decision – I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again.  Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.
"My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career."Continue reading

I Don’t Think Omisore Will Win – PDP's Ekiti Gov-elect Fayose....

With the August 9th Osun governorship election coming soon, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are trying to gather all their top stakeholders in the region to help carry the momentum from Ekiti election to Osun.

Ekiti State Governor-elect Ayo Fayose
PDP had taken Ekiti from APC in the recently held gubernatorial election, where Ayo Fayose came out victorious over the current governor Kayode Fayemi.
However Fayose is not sure his Party’s candidate, Iyiola Omisore, can repeat the dance and get PDP the ticket.

Military Men Arrest Suspected Kaduna Bomber......

A bomber, who is allegedly connected with the Kaduna explosion, which targeted a former military ruler of Nigeria General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has been arrested.

Suspect being whisked away by the military men
According to a statement that was released on the Nigerian Military website, the suspected bomber was dressed as a woman, clad in a female garb and brazier, thereby deceiving everyone who comes around him. He was, however, arrested by the patrol team that came to the location of the explosion almost immediately.

Prominent Civil Rights Attorney Bamidele Aturu Buried Amid Tears And Tributes

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Bamidele Aturu's body lay-in-state before burial Sahara Reporters Media Human rights activist and lawyer, Bamidele Francis Aturu, was today buried in his country-home of Ogbagi Akoko, Ondo State as family members, friends and admirers wailed.  

Mr. Aturu’s remains were laid in state briefly at Ajatu High School in Ogbagi Akoko, with his professional colleagues, fans and family extolling his life and work. Two themes ran through the numerous tributes to the deceased: that he was a deeply principled lawyer and served as a conscientious man of the people.

Half of a Yellow Sun to hit Nigerian cinemas August 1

Nigerians will finally see the love theme movie set during the Nigerian civil war.

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Half of a Yellow Sun will finally hit the Nigerian cinemas on August 1, following the much awaited classification by the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, last week.
Rated “18″, the movie was previously scheduled to be released in Nigeria on April 25. But after a stormy time in the hands of NFVCB, it will now hit the cinemas on August 1, the organisers said.
“Following the certification by the National Film and Video Censors Board, the movie will be available in cinemas across Nigeria from the 1st of August 2014,” the producers said in a press statement released on Tuesday.

UPDATE: “Sheikh Zakzaky’s Son, 10 Others Killed In Nigerian troops, Shiite Muslims Clash”

Nigerian Shiite Muslims have accused Nigerian troops of killing 11 of their members and injuring 40 others in a clash between the group and soldiers in Zaria on Friday.
In a statement on Friday night, the group said among those gunned down were Mahmud, the son of the leader of the group, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, as well as a woman with a baby strapped to her back.
Ibrahim Musa, the editor of Al-Mizan, the weekly newspaper published by the group, said in a statement,

Breaking News: The Document Used To Impeach Maigari Finally Leaked

Document used in Maigari's impeachment 1

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Impeached president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari

There have been allegations and accusations of ‘financial impropriety’ and ‘financial recklessness’ by disgruntled members of the NFF executive, and it is no surprise that Aminu Maigari paid the price with his office. There were also allegations of victimization of certain board members by Maigari and his close confidantes on the board – Chris Green, Emeka Inyama, and Ahmed Fresh. So it wasn’t a surprise that none of the mentioned names signed the impeachment note, as presented by chairman of the NFF finance committee, Shehu Adamu.

Controversy grows over FRSC’s plan to enforce new number plates despite court rulings

FRSC plans to enforce the new number plates starting from August 1.

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A plan by the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to defy court orders and clampdown on motorists without its new number plates by August 1, has stirred a fresh controversy as the commission came under a new leadership this week.

The corps announced Tuesday that despite restraining orders from two federal courts in Abuja and Lagos, it was determined to press on with the controversial policy of ensuring all motorists buy its new car number plates and licence from August 1.

The FRSC, now under a new Corps Marshal appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday, said it is decision is based on a new ruling by a state court in Anambra.

The Anambra Court gave the corps the go-ahead in a decision July 15, despite an appeal against the previous decisions by the two federal court.

Bloody Omisore at It again, killed Tolu Adeosun – #EmaDiboFunApaniyan Remains of Late Tola Adeosun

Remains of Late Tola Adeosun

Sen. Iyiola Omisore moved his campaign train to Ilesa today, but earlier before his arrival, his gang of miscreants believed to be IBK boys were seen brandishing cutlasses and shooting sporadically and in the process Tolu Adeosun, a member of APC in ward 9 Ilesa East was shot death in front of his house around Osun Ankanra, in Irojo immediately he was identified by one of the miscreants as APC member.

Suspected Ebola patient dies in Lagos.....

Federal Health Ministry says all those who came in contact with the man have been quarantined.

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A Liberian man admitted to a hospital in Lagos on Tuesday after exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms has died.

The man identified as Patrick Sawyer, arrived Lagos last Sunday from Liberia and died on Thursday night at the First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos, said state officials.

However, during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the patient died on Friday morning.

Impeachment: Read the outcome of Jonathan’s meeting with Nasarawa lawmakers.....

Tanko Almakura

The Nasarawa State Chief Judge, Suleiman Dikko, has set up a seven-member panel to investigate the 16 count allegations levelled against Governor Tanko Almakura by the state House of Assembly. The appointment of the panel came a day after six of the lawmakers, led the Speaker, Musa Mohammed, met with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. Details of the meeting remain unclear. The Chief Judge inaugurated the probe panel Friday, a day after the meeting.

TERRORISM: Jonathan should review strategy.....

Boko Haram

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to review his strategy for tackling the menace of Boko Haram in the country. The lawyer said in a statement on Sunday that the emergency rule imposed in some parts of the country had not made any meaningful impact in the affected states.
He said, “Notwithstanding the imposition of emergency rule and the militarization of the North East region for over six months the reckless killings of unarmed people by the dreaded Boko Haram sect have become a regular phenomenon .

National Conference in disarray as North walks out of consensus building group

National Conference in plenary

A major crack that may truncate the ongoing national conference has emerged, with delegates from the Northern part of the country alleging betrayal, rejecting some decisions reached at plenary and walking out of the consensus-building arrangement instituted by leaders of geo-political zones, PREMIUM TIMES can report today.
The National Consensus Building Group, which had three members each from each of the six geopolitical zones, was formed to reduce bickering and rally members across regions to support popular recommendations of the Conference.
Documents obtained by this newspaper indicate that Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark; a former Minister of Finance, Olu Falae; a former Minister of Communications, Ike Nwachukwu; a former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, Chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi; and a former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, were the initial conveners of the forum.
The membership of the group was soon expanded, with the leaders of the zones nominating three delegates each from their zones to form what became the National Consensus Building Group, which has so far held a number of meetings at Mr. Dokpesi’s Daar Communications Complex, Asokoro, Abuja.
During the meetings of the group, a decision was taken to compile and tabulate all recommendations adopted by committees of the Conference into a single document for ease of reference and to serve as working document that could be used to build consensus.

OPEN SECRET: Read what Obasanjo is planning to do, comes 2015 gen. elections…A MUST READ

The decision of former president Olusegun Obasanjo not to support his estranged godson for a second term bid in 2015 has never been hidden. The relationship between the duo still remains frosty and the former president has vowed not to campaign for Jonathan.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said

But what is he going to do in 2015 if he’s not going to campaign for Jonathan whom mostly have see as the choice candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? According to report, Obasanjo is going to play a double card both within the ruling PDP and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to findings, the plan by Obasanjo would be to back Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido to challenge the president at the primaries, and, if that fails, he is said to have perfected plans to support the presidential aspiration of Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso under the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

At Last, APC Finally Decides On How To Choose Its Presidential Candidate As Party Leaders Move to Save Gov. Nyako.....

Chief John Oyegun

National chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun, has said the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 general election would emerge from an open contest where all interested aspirants, irrespective of geopolitical zone, will compete in a free and fair atmosphere. Speaking with newsmen, he also explained why APC decided to challenge the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election in court. This was as the party convened a stakeholders’ meeting at the weekend in an effort to prevent the impeachment of Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako. The meeting held yesterday at the Government House, Yola, was attended by prominent APC members from the state and it deliberated on ways to save Nyako’s job and the integrity of the party in the state. Some of the stakeholders at the meeting were former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, AIG Nuhu Ribadu; Nyako; APC North-east zonal vice chairman, Mr. David BBM Lawal; APC state chairperson, Honourable Binta Masi Garba; Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s representative, Alhaji Abdulrazak Namdas; commissioners and special advisers; local government chairmen, and some development area administrators.

Revealed: Why Jonathan Will Regret Releasing B’Haram Detainees......

President Goodluck Jonathan

Renowned preacher and General Overseer of Shiloh Word Chapel (aka Faith Nations), Prophet Ikechukwu Samuel, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan against releasing members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in exchange for the over 200 abducted female students of Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, saying “it would be a costly and regrettable mistake.” According to him, doing so would worsen the security challenges in the North East and the entire nation and cast a great slur on government’s reputation. Speaking with journalists in Abuja ahead of the forthcoming third anniversary of the church,
the prophet called on members of the Boko Haram sect to have a change of heart and stop bloodshed to avoid the wrath of God.

Borno in Hell!!! Four weeks of chaos and horror......

Maiduguri-Market

In just four weeks, between May and June, 2014, 562 persons were systematically killed by Boko Haram sect – mind you, there were many more unrecorded deaths. The killings are outlined in the statement of some concerned leaders of ethnic nationalities of Borno South Senatorial District, made up of Dr. Pogu Bitrus (of Chibok), Rev. Ibrahim Dauwa (of Gwoza) and Rev. James Yaga, JP (of Gwoza).
These are the facts, according to them, during the four-week period: *In Ataggara, Southern Senatorial Zone of Borno State, Boko Haram attacked and were repelled by the community. Community leaders went to Pulka, where a military formation exists, to report the attack and were assured that a unit would be drafted to the town to protect the people.
The following day some people appeared in Nigeria Army issue in nine armoured personnel carriers bearing the colours and insignia of the Nigerian Army. They announced to the villagers that they had come to assess the security situation. When the people gathered to hear them, the men that came in armoured personnel carriers, and in Army uniform, opened fire and killed over two hundred and fifty men, women and children.

2015 Election Conspiracy Exposed: How Desperate Politicians Flooded The South With Northern Migrant Voters – Arrested Suspects Open Up Conspiracies surrounding 2015 general elections

Top flight security reports arising from arrests of northerners in the southern region have revealed a plot by one of the leading opposition parties to flood the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones with northern migrant voters ahead of the 2015 presidential polls. The plot, already under implementation, has led to movement of thousands of northerners to all states of the South-South and South-East, as well as part of the South-West. The movement reportedly started mid last year and had gone undetected until the Boko Haram insurgency necessitated closer security checks across the country. These details were gathered from closely-guarded security reports compiled by security officials who investigated the 486 northerners arrested while travelling in a convoy of 33 buses to Abia State last month. It will be recalled that several hundreds of northerners were intercepted in Rivers and Bayelsa states early in the year but were released following outcry over alleged profiling of northerners in the South. Previous arrests and investigation were focused on Boko Haram links until recently when some of the arrested northerners opened up on their mission to the region.