Military Fingers Atiku In Alleged Plot To Indict Armed Forces For Genocide

The Defence Headquarters has raised the alarm in which it fingered a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the suspected sponsor of a massive campaign of calumny to discredit and indict the the country's armed forces of committing genocide in North East Nigeria. Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade in a statement today though did not categorically mentioned Atiku's name but in a veiled reference said the military high command has "been alerted of a plot by some interest groups to embark on a renewed campaign aimed at attracting international  condemnation and  indictment of  the Nigerian military and its operations in the Northern part of the country. The campaign which is to rely heavily on doctored and falsified audio visual materials, some of which are already trending in the social media, is to be coordinated and funded by a prominent political leader whose state is presently under the State of  Emergency (a veiled reference to Atiku who bare 24 hours ago cautioned the military against using security matters to do public relations stunt for government)." Other parts of the statement read: "The details of the plan which is already being fine-tuned by a group of media practitioners,  is to be presented for the final ratification and funding by the political figure. The design is expected to forcefully whip up sentiments of genocide allegedly targeted against a particular religious group.  The planners of this multi-media crusade also hope to use it to gain some mileage in the drive to secure international attention as they have not achieved this sufficiently despite previous efforts. The programme which is also meant to reinforce the ongoing media campaign against the military was adopted as an alternative by those who are bent on politicizing the ongoing counter terrorists operations in the northern part of the country. "It will be recalled that a newspaper, apparently testing the waters, last week published some of the doctored pictures which the Defence Headquarters instantly repudiated, pointing out that they do not represent activities or operations of the Nigerian military. "This Headquarters wishes to reiterate its rejection of pictures and video footages from unverifiable sources claiming to reflect activities or so called  atrocities purportedly perpetrated by Nigerian security forces. They do not reflect or depict the true state of affairs or operations of Nigerian military or any of the security forces. The public is advised to watch out and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by these acts of infamy orchestrated by this desperate group. "Once again, it must be emphasized that the dastardly acts of terrorism are against all Nigerians and all peace loving people all over the world.  No amount of propaganda by apologists of terror group can justify the evil acts of terrorism by attempting to cast the Nigerian military and security forces in bad light."

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Boko Haram Kills Emir Of Gwoza In Deadly Attacks On 3 Borno Monarchs…2 Policemen,Others Shot Dead

 Three first class Emirs today came under heavy bombardment from Boko Haram insurgents while on their way to the burial of the late Emir of Gombe, Shehu Usman Abubakar. While the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta was shot dead on the spot, that of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Ibn Mamza and Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Ibn Askirama II, Emir of Askira escaped into nearby bush with bullet wounds. According a reliable source in Maiduguri, the three traditional rulers drove in the official vehicle of the Emir of Gwoza along with their convoy which also include police escort. They however came under attack by armed men who fired bullets sporadically on the convoy, targeting the three traditional rulers. An eyewitness and member of Gwoza Emirate, Alhaji Wali Ibrahim told BBC Hausa Service monitored in Maiduguri that the insurgents fired at the convoy from the bush, forcing the convoy to reverse. "It was when we got to a military checkpoint we realized the emirs were not with us," he explained. He said they later discovered the emir of Gwoza was dead after a search with the military troops. He also disclosed that the driver also died and two policemen were killed on the convoy. A statement by the Borno State Government today announced what it described as unfortunate murder of the Emir Alhaji Idrissa Timta. The statement signed by Secretary to the Borno State Government (SSG), Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda said the emir was killed around 9am local time by suspected Boko Haram insurgents around Tashan Alade on the way to Biu town, in the southern part of the state. "The late Emir was in company of the Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Askirama and Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza, all of whom drove in the same vehicle as they headed to Biu to pick the Emir of Biu so they could all drive in convoy to Gombe ‎State to attend the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe who is scheduled for burial in Gombe today (Friday). "The late Emir of Gwoza had visited his counterpart, the Emir of Uba ‎yesterday and passed the night in Uba ahead of their planned trip today. The two Emirs were this morning, joined by the Emir of Askira. The three drove in the same vehicle with the intention of going to Biu to be joined by their counterpart in Biu. Unfortunately as they were driving in convoy to Biu, they were ambushed by gun men around Tashan Alade, soon after passing Garkida. The gunmen came after the convoy,specifically targeted the vehicle conveying the three Emirs and opened fire. The Emir of Gwoza was unfortunately killed by the attackers while the Emirs of Askira and Uba escaped unhurt. A policeman in the convoy was shot by the attackers but he survived the attack," the statement said. The government said it was terribly shocked by the incident even as it prayed for the people of the emirate to have the fortitude to bear the trauma. Emir of Gwoza, Uba and Askira were early this year elevated to first class status. The emir of Gwoza had on February 18 during the visit of Gov Kashim Shettima to his palace, appealed to the government to tackle the security challenge, warming that the insurgents would soon overrun the area if urgent action was not taken. Meanwhile, the military has said that troops are currently on aggressive patrols along the entire route with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and keeping the area safe.  The military in a statement by Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade  while confirming the attack also said  23 members of an armed gang terrorizing the northeast Plateau State have also been arrested by troops in the area after raids. "Raids carried out by troops  of the Special Task Force operating in the north-central part of the country have led to the  arrest of 23 members of armed gangs terrorizing the region.  The suspects including a hard drugs supplier were apprehended during raids on camps and criminal hideouts located in Bukuru, Jos South and Barkin Ladi general areas.  All the suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation before they will be handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency," Olukolade stated. An official profile of the murdered Emir of Gwoza released today by the Borno state government reveals that he was 72 years old and served 33 years on the throne.  "Alh. Shehu Mustapha Idrisa Timta was born in 1942 to the family of the Late Chief of Gwoza Alh. Idrisa Timta. The Late Emir attended the Muslim Elementary School Gwoza in 1948 and Senior Primary School Bama between 1952 and 1960. He proceeded to the then Provincial Secondary School now Government College Maiduguri between 1960 to 1964. The Late Emir of Gwoza after working briefly as a teacher in Gwoza, he proceeded to the prestigious ABU, Zaria to study Sharia Law in 1968 and later HND in the same discipline in 1972. Alh. Shehu Mustapha Idrisa Timta has worked with the then North – East judiciary in various capacities as an inspector of Area Courts and rose to the rank of Principal Inspector of Area Courts before his appointment as the 3rd chief of Gwoza in October, 1981. The late Emir was elevated to a second class Emir in 1987 and due to his hard work and loyalty to Government, His Excellency the executive Governor of Borno State Hon. Kashim Shettima elevated him to the rank of a 1st class Emir     in January, 2014. The late Emir is survived by four wives, 28 children and many brothers and sisters. Among them are Alh. Haruna Idrisa Timta, the former Head of Service, Borno state Alh. Adamu Idrisa Timta, a Permanent Secretary with the Borno state Government, Alh. Yusuf Timta, Secretary Gwoza Local Govt, and Alh. Umar Timta of the DPR, Maiduguri. Among his children are Muhammad S. Timta, District Head of Hambagda, Isa S. Timta, Secretary of the Emirate Council, Lt. Abdulrazaq S. Timta of the Nigeria Army and Dr. Abubakar S. Timta. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace and an eternal rest in Aljanna Firdaus", the profile read.

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13 Persons Roasted To Death In Sokoto Auto Crash…14 Others Wounded

 

 No fewer than 13 persons were on Thursday night burnt to death in an auto crash involving two passenger vehicles in Sokoto. The accident occurred in Tudun-Dukiya village, near Dogon Karfe, about 10 km to Illela town in Sokoto State. The crash which occurred at about 9.00pm local time also left 14 other persons injured. The deceased persons included women and children passengers. The accident, according to an eye witness, involved a Peugeot J-5 bus travelling from Jos, Plateau State to Illela and a Toyota Starlet car travelling from Illela to Sokoto. Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) in Sokoto State, Dr. Umar Gummi, said the two vehicles caught fire after a head-on collision. “Some of the passengers are seriously injured, with some having first degree burns,” he said. Gummi said some of the victims are receiving treatment at the Illela General hospital, while others have been referred to the Uthmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. “As for the deceased persons, they were burnt to ashes and it is too difficult to recognize them,” the FRSC official explained.

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JAMB Exposes Lagos Guber Aspirant Akinwunmi Ambode As Ondo State Indigene…Document Published

The heaps of lies piled up by a rumoured anointed governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Akinwunmi Ibidapo Ambode over his claim to Lagos as his state of origin have continued to fall apart as a form filled by the aspirant while applying for a Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB's direct entry admission into the University of Lagos in 1981 has further confirmed that he is indeed from Ondo state. A copy of the form mailed to iReports-ng.com today reveals that Ambode had in his application form number JAMB/DE.03 and registration number 646789 filled in his own handwriting that he is an indigene of Ondo state in the portion of the form which asks his state of origin. He indicated his contact address as 101 Lagos street, Ebute Metta and his date of birth as 14th June, 1963. He also filled University of Lagos as his first choice of school, University of Benin as second and Ahmadu Bello University as third choice with Accounting and Business Administration as his first and second choice of course of study respectively. This exposure as a liar is coming on the heels of a revelation by the Edu family of Epe in Lagos east that the aspirant is not a member of the family as he has claimed. The Baale Buraimo Edu family he claims to belong to in Epe had t issue a statement last week to disown him. The family, in a release signed by both Alhaji M. Oladeinde Edu and Alhaji T. A. Edu, also insisted that Ambode hailed from Ilaje in Ese Odo area of Ondo State and not from Epe as he claimed. According to the release, the family stated that the Baale Edu while alive had 22 wives and 38 children and challenged Ambode and his supporters to trace his side of the Edu family tree and name his mother among the 22 wives. According to them “We hereby bring it to the notice of all Lagosians that we have tried but could not trace where the said Akinwumi Ambode belongs in the family tree of Baale Buraimo Edu of Epe. “At this juncture, we can categorically state here that in actual fact, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was a son of Festus Akinwale Ambode, one of the teachers posted to Epe in the old Western Region; a native of Ilaje Ese Odo in the present day Ondo State. “As a school teacher, the elder Ambode was very familiar and friendly with several Epe indigenes. The older Ambode came to Epe through the waterways. He came with his wife, Christianah Oluleye Ambode (nee Oresanya), who though initially did not stay with him which made the older Ambode marry a second wife, an Epe daughter, popularly called ‘Iya Vice from Poka, Epe. “She was a food seller in Epe Grammar School. This development led to Akinwunmi Ambode’s mother who also hails from Ilaje Ese Odo in Ondo State to eventually relocate to Epe to stay with her husband,” the family said. According to Edu family,  at death, Ambode’s father’s corpse was taken back to Ilaje, Ondo State for burial in line with the dictates of tradition and royalty as he was a prince, adding that, “The royalty from the kingdom came with the full royal insignia and ferried his remains back to Ilaje land for interment. “With these facts stated above, it is a rude shock to the entire clan of the Edus in Epe that the said Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is laying claims to being a clan of the Edus. We reject this linkage, both paternal and maternal, or even marital,” the family said. Below is a copy of the JAMB form filled by Ambode confirming his true state of origin.

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Confab Chairman Idris Kutigi Loses Wife, Maryamu…Adjourns Till Monday

 Proceedings at the plenary session of the National Conference were mournfully adjourned on Wednesday following the news of the death of Maryamu, the wife of the Conference Chairman and retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, GCON. Maryamu, aged 70, died at the National Hospital in Abuja at about 2 am on Wednesday and has already been buried in line with Islamic rites. Deputy Chairman of the Conference and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who presided over a brief session of the conference said it was only proper that the Conference be adjourned to enable delegates participate in the burial. Delegates who readily and unanimously agreed to the proposal for adjournment expressed shock at the death and the fact that Conference Chairman could still preside over proceedings until the last day of sitting while the wife was in the hospital. The Deputy Chairman described the late Maryamu as a pillar of strength to the Conference Chairman and regretted that she had passed on at a time the retired Justice was handling a critical national assignment and needed her closeness and wise counsel. Akinyemi said it was in demonstration of his deep sense of patriotism and commitment to the affairs of the country that Justice Kutigi continued to preside over the Conference throughout the period the wife was lying ill in the hospital. Before the adjournment on Wednesday, delegates had earlier in the week agreed not to have plenary session on Thursday May 29 which has been declared a public holiday by the Federal Government in celebration of Democracy Day. It was agreed that proceedings at the plenary will resume on Monday June 2 with deliberation on more reports of committees and adoption of recommendations contained in the reports. Before the immediate adjournment of sitting on Wednesday, Conference had indicated its readiness to conduct debate on the report of the Committee on Public Finance and Revenue headed by Senator Adamu Aliero with Senator Azu Agboti as deputy chairman. Also slated for resolution on Wednesday were issues arising from previous committee reports that were put in “bracket” by the principal officers of the conference due to objections raised when they came under consideration. Such issues include the recommendation by the Committee on Land Tenure and National Boundaries that the Land Use Act be expunged from the constitution for easy amendment of the Act for the benefit of the people. Some of the delegates were opposed to the recommendation while others applauded it; a situation that forced the presiding officers of the Conference to put the issue in “bracket” and appoint some delegates from every section of the country to meet and resolve the impasse. Another of such issue placed in “bracket” by the presiding officers surfaced on Tuesday during deliberation on the report of the Committee on Religion that recommended the establishment of what it called Religious Equity Commission (RECOM). The committee stated that the commission would have the statutory mandate of advocacy, enforcement of constitutional religious rights such as freedom of religion, freedom to acquire land for religious purposes, among others. While some of the delegates said the National Human Rights Commission should be empowered to handle such issues, others believed the new commission would serve useful purposes. The committee envisaged the RECOM to serve as a platform that would bring individuals of the major religions in Nigeria to interact and crystalise ideas that would foster unity and tolerance; as well as monitor and investigate and expose cases of religious discrimination and violation. The body was also meant to monitor cases of religious extremism - both in ideology and practice - and formulate counter narratives that are balanced and tolerant to neutralise such extremism. It would have equally served as a watch dog and enforcer of religious rights of all persons, thereby creating confidence and trust in every Nigerian no matter their religious affiliations while also monitoring and investigating cases of hate speeches and utterances meant to incite religious tension and prosecute persons responsible. When arguments for and against could not be resolved before close of session on Tuesday, the presiding officers decided to put it in abeyance till the next sitting. Also put in abeyance was the recommendation by the Committee on Religion for the scrapping of the Pilgrims Welfare Board or its movement to the Foreign Affairs Ministry following the adoption of the recommendation for non-sponsorship of pilgrimages by government at any level. Some of the delegates were of the view that scrapping the welfare body would hinder preparation for pilgrimages while others believed retaining the board would be counter-productive since government’s non-involvement in pilgrimages had already been resolved and adopted.

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Chibok Girls: Four More Abducted Students Escape From Boko Haram Captivity

Four out of the 223 schoolgirls abducted  by Boko Haram insurgents from Government Secondary School in Chibok have escaped from their captors enclave and reunited with their parents, Borno's Commissioner for Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo has told the presidential fact finding committee on Chibok attack when he made a presentation before the body.
Kubo who appeared ‎before the committee on Friday at the committee's seating in Maiduguri was quoted to have said the four girls were discovered after Governor Kashim Shettima directed the Ministry of Education to open data pages for families of all the girls which should include names and pictures of the girls, class and age as well the pictures of their parents.
It was during the data capturing and visits to parents that it was discovered that four girls who were among those declared missing had reunited with their parents but the parents failed to inform the school authority. The Commissioner was said to have been furious with the parents for keeping the government in the dark. The four girls are believed to be amongst those that escaped to the bush and lost direction during the attack and abduction.
The Commissioner told the committee that with the discovery of the four girls, a total of 219 girls were still missing. He informed the committee that after the April 14, 2014 attack on the school, the State Government had made series of announcements calling on parents whose daughters might have returned home after the attack to bring them back so the Government could take record to ascertain the number of missing girls. Many parents brought back their kids while others who escaped from captivity were also reunited with the school.
A total of 276 girls were initially said to have been abducted based on reports by the Borno State Police Commissioner and the State Director of DSS. Of this, 53 were found and 228 still declared missing. However, with the four girls found, the number of those missing stands at 219 and those found now 57

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Jos Bombings: One Suspect Arrested As Military Rebuffs US…Insists It Knows Where Abducted Girls Are Being Held…Confirms 12 Soldiers, 13 Policemen Killed In Yobe

The Nigerian military today said a suspect has been arrested in connection with the recent Jos, Plateau state bombings even as it rebuffed the United States which expressed doubts over the military's earlier claim that it has located where the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents are being held.
The US Department of states had said that the claim by the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff could not be verified. However, the military in an apparent reaction to the US jabs insisted that it is aware of the locations where the abducted Chibok secondary school girls are being held.
Defence Spokesperson, Major general Chris Olukolade who spoke at the regular briefing by the National Information Centre, which holds at the headquarters of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Abuja said “let everyone believe what the Chief of Defence Staff said and if you don’t believe, wait for developments but our interest is in the safety of these children and every effort will be put towards that and we expect cooperation from everyone. We remain with the position taken by the CDS. When we have any further comments or developments, the nation will be told.”
Speaking on the attack on recent attacks on Buni Yadi, Yobe State, Olukolade confirmed that 12 soldiers and 13 policemen were killed during the fighting but denied insinuations that the troops in Buni Yadi were abandoned by the military command during the hours of the incident.
“The logistics will have to be understood and it will not be proper just to conclude that there were no help or response. However, we will continue to respond based on logistics that is available and information that is made available as quickly as possible”, he said.
The military spokesperson responded to a question about reports that the terrorists have hoisted their flags in some communities in Borno State by simply reiterating the determination of the Nigerian military to continue to defend territorial integrity of the country.
“Nigerian armed forces will not allow any portion of this country to bear any strange flag. It is our duty and responsibility to defend the territorial integrity of this country. We will not allow any strange flag to fly anywhere”, he promised.
Olukolade disclosed that based on intelligence reports and information provided by Nigerians, a number of arrests have been made in different parts of Kaduna and Zamfara states and thus reducing terror activities tremendously in those parts.
“Troops have continued to raid different locations. A number of arrests has been made in Kachia and Zamfara”, he said while adding that in the course of the raids, some suspects died while exchanging gunfire with troops while arms and ammunitions were recovered in the process. He added that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the Jos bombing.

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Atiku Cautions Military Against Using Security Matters For PR Stunts

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to collectively protect the country’s democracy, which was attained after years of struggle to end military rule in Nigeria.
 In a Democracy Day message issued by his Media Office in Abuja, Atiku encouraged Nigerians to emulate the examples of statesmen and women like late MKO Abiola, Bola Ige, Kudirat Abiola and Gani Fawehinmi, whose lives were fully committed to democracy in Nigeria.

 As Nigeria commemorates the restoration of democracy in the country, Atiku said that the end of military rule in Nigeria brought about a new era of regular elections as well as the return of civil liberties, free press and an end to arbitrary arrests and torture, but said that Nigeria was gradually deviating from that path.

 “The responsibility for our country’s democracy lies with each and every one of us,” he said.  “We must participate actively in the process of governance, and ensure that the constitution and the rule of law are upheld at all times.”

 He described as pitiful, a situation where the government and the armed forces debate critical issues bordering on national security in public. “Relations between civil-military authorities should be managed with care and maturity to safeguard our democracy. Some of the issues being discussed in public are not matters for the market square,” Atiku emphasized. The former Vice President then urged Nigerians to contribute their quota to national security, by reporting any suspicious activity to the police.

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PDP Will Rule Beyond 2019 – Anenih

Controversial Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has said that the ruling party is looking beyond 2015 and even 2019 in providing leadership for a democratic Nigeria.
Anenih, in a statement titled: “Nigeria is stronger than it has even been” issued in Abuja to commemorate 15 years of uninterrupted Fourth Republic Democracy, said the PDP-led Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan has been upholding the sanctity of unfettered democratic interaction and expression in the country since stepping in the saddle. He declared that despite the security challenges occasioned by the scourge of terrorism, Nigeria remains stronger than it has ever been.
The statement reads: “May 29, 2014 marks 15 years since Nigeria returned to democracy.  I congratulate all Nigerians on this important occasion, especially since our nation is now well into her longest running democratic dispensation since independence in 1960.
“This year’s Democracy Day falls within a period when, arising from the scourge of terrorism, some people question the strength of our democracy and unity. Without hesitation, I assure all Nigerians that, despite the challenges we are facing today, Nigeria is stronger than it has ever been.
“Let me express how grateful we, in the Peoples Democratic Party, are to our fellow compatriots that they have entrusted our great party with steering the ship of state since our nation’s return to democracy in 1999.  It has been a great privilege and a momentous undertaking.
“And though—as with all human endeavours—we have had differences with our fellow citizens on the other side of the political divide, our on-going democratic journey is proof that the PDP continues to faithfully discharge its foremost duty to our country, which is sustaining a stable, functional and democratic State.
“Indeed, in its 15 years at the helm of affairs of our great nation, the PDP has created an atmosphere that allows total freedom of expression, dissent and the greatest level of inclusive political participation ever recorded in our country.  A case in point is that never before has Nigeria seen the high number of women in senior elective and appointive positions as obtains today under the PDP’s leadership
“Moreover, it is to the credit of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led PDP government that this ambience of democratic freedom has encouraged the most combative opposition rhetoric ever experienced in Nigeria’s history.  President Jonathan has also demonstrated respect for the rule of law by his non-interference in judicial, legislative and electoral matters.
“Ironically, our liberal and exceptionally tolerant President has been vilified for promoting and protecting the very democratic freedoms that others are using unfairly against the government.
“Be that as it may, certain that we are on the side of what is right by upholding the sanctity of unfettered democratic interaction and expression in our country, the PDP is looking beyond 2015 and even 2019 when the Fourth Republic will be twenty years old.
“The reason for our confidence stems from the fact that the PDP has always been the party of the people, for the people and by the people.  Furthermore, our unequalled experience in successfully piloting the affairs of State is what ensured that, for the first time in the course of Nigeria’s history, under the PDP we witnessed the smooth transfer of power from one civilian president to another; and the successful constitutional succession politics after the unfortunate and untimely death of our dear President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in office.
“In addition, the PDP has been responsible for the strategic restructuring of a largely state-run economy to a free-market economy, thereby engendering greater human development, free enterprise and irreversible economic expansion.  It is important to note that pursuing policies that are necessary for inclusive economic growth has further guaranteed our political and democratic stability.
“Besides, the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for 2013, which showed an 89 percent increase in the estimated size of Nigeria’s economy, making it the top economy in Africa, has also seen our debt-to-GDP-ratio, shrink to 11 per cent.  In the past four years, Nigeria has remained the choice destination for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Africa.
“As has been widely noted, the success of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA) held recently in Abuja is an affirmation from the international community that Nigeria’s democracy is on a firm footing despite security challenges.
“Lest we forget, before the advent of the first PDP government in 1999, official statistics placed the number of telephone lines in Nigeria at just about 500,000. Today, the Nigerian Communications Commission reports that there are well over 120 million active telephone lines in Nigeria.  The benefits and the multiplier effects to our economy are phenomenal.
“I would like to point out that in the PDP we are continually strengthening the mechanism for internal democracy and would urge all other parties to also do the same.
“Finally, as we mark the anniversary of our return to Democracy, all Nigerians must stand together against the forces that seek to endanger our freedoms, unity and security.”

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Jonathan Declares Total War On Boko Haram…Mulls Amnesty For Insurgents

President Goodluck Jonathan today said he has ordered a full scale war on Boko Haram insurgents as he vowed to protect the nation's democracy, unity and stability. Mr Jonathan who declared this in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria's democracy day also mulled the possibility of dialoguing with the insurgents. According to him "I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability, by waging a total war against terrorism. The unity and stability of our country, and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable. I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil. I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal. "For our citizens who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace. My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society." The full text reads: 1.   I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country. 2.  Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” 3.  Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people. 4.  As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression. 5.  As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure. 6.  On my watch, we have witnessed high national economic growth rates, steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure including airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the efficient implementation of a roadmap for improved power supply, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production, as well as advances in education, sports, youth development, healthcare delivery, housing, water supply and other social services. 7.  In the oil and gas sector, our promotion of a sustainable local content policy, continues to guarantee equity and better opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and skilled personnel. 8. Significant increase in mobile telephone and national broadband penetration, making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy.  We have also developed strong financial markets and regulatory institutions. Our banks now have regional and global footprints. 9.  Nigeria has also gained recognition as the largest economy in Africa, the most preferred investment destination in the continent and in terms of returns on investment, the fourth in the world. We are pleased that the world has noticed, as global leaders converged in Abuja early this month for the World Economic Forum in Africa. 10.  The event not only witnessed a record attendance, it brought the prospect of an additional flow of investment into the Nigerian economy estimated at over $68 billion over the next few years. 11.  In foreign relations, our country has equally done well within this period, by establishing and strengthening strong partnerships with all ECOWAS countries and the rest of the world. This has helped to deepen Nigeria’s leadership role in multilateral institutions including the United Nations. 12.  Furthermore, under this administration, we have made consistent progress in improving the standard of elections in our country to ensure that they are ever more credible and truly representative of the people’s free choice. The National Conference we initiated to deliberate and make recommendations on the best ways of resolving our current political and socio-economic challenges is on-going. It is our expectation that its outcomes will help to further consolidate the gains we have made from democracy in the past 15 years, and place our dear nation even more firmly on the path to greatness. Dear Compatriots, 13.  It is a sad fact that as I address you today, all the gains of the past 15 years of democratic governance in our country are threatened by the presence of international terrorism on our shores. Our dear country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed on us. Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today. 14.  The despicable abduction of school girls from Chibok in Borno State has brought to the awareness of the entire world, the heartless brutality of these terrorists who want to instigate a descent into anarchy and balkanize our nation. 15.  In recent years, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of several of our compatriots, many have been  injured or maimed, whole villages and communities have been destroyed and the economy of some of our states  is in jeopardy. 16.  There can be no doubt that what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a manifestation of the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the Southern Russian city of Volgograd. Terrorist activities have brought war and pains to Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These agents of evil continue to brainwash and incite ignorant young men and women to attack the innocent. We cannot allow this to continue. 17.  I welcome the statements of solidarity from patriotic citizens and the global community in support of our efforts to stamp out terrorism. I applaud the understanding that in a democracy, such as we are building, people can have differences while sharing worthy values and standing together in opposition to the scourge of terrorism. Nigeria is the only country we have and we must all work to preserve it for present and future generations. 18.  Despite the challenges we face, we must commend our security forces. We must not forget their gallantry and successes in liberating nations and in peacekeeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone,  Congo, Sudan, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and many places in Africa and beyond. Our forces have paid the supreme price in several places at several times. 19.  Today, they face a different challenge, an unconventional war by terrorists. They are adjusting and are being equipped to tackle the new menace of terrorism. We must show confidence in their ability. I have no doubt that, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists. 20. It is now 45 days since the horrifying abduction of the college girls of Chibok. I share the deep pain and anxiety of their parents and guardians and I assure them once again that government will continue to do everything possible to bring our daughters home. 21.  I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability, by waging a total war against terrorism. The unity and stability of our country, and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable. I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil. 22.  I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal. 23.  For our citizens who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace. 24.    My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society. Dear Compatriots, 25. We must remain united to win the war against terrorism. Christians, Moslems, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy or clerics, the rich, the poor and Nigerians from all sections of the country must work together with our security agencies and armed forces to overcome the terrorists who now threaten all that we hold dear. 26.   The war against terror may be difficult, but the days of peace will come again. Terror is evil; nowhere in history has evil endured forever. The menace of Boko Haram will surely come to an end. I believe that because of your prayers, your courage, hardwork, faith and sacrifice, we will ultimately prevail over the terrorists and all other evil forces. 27.   We are a strong, resilient and courageous people.  We will continue to partner with the civilized world, to confront international terrorism and every other challenge that comes our way with patriotic zeal and determination. Fellow Nigerians, 28.  Yes, we have challenges but we will surely overcome. Nigeria is our country. Nigeria is blessed. We will all collectively protect, defend and develop this country for ourselves, and our children. 29.  Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 30.  Thank you and God bless Nigeria.  

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what is love, dance step

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APC Condemns Attack On ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ Protesters, Calls Attack Orchestrated

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the attack by apparently-sponsored thugs against the 'bring back our girls' protesters who have hitherto conducted themselves in a civil and peaceful manner, calling the attack deplorable and definitely orchestrated to shift the focus from 'bring back our girls' to 'release our girls'. In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the attack on the protesters in Abuja has confirmed its worst fears that the federal government was embarking on a campaign to shift the responsibility from the government to the abductors, in line with President Goodluck Jonathan's admonition to the protesters to direct their protests at the abductors rather than to his government. The party wondered why the government would be pushing its responsibility to ensure the welfare and security of Nigerians to a band of terrorists. ''When we said this federal government has abdicated its responsibility to Nigerians, the government's apologists twisted that statement of fact to mean that we are insulting the President. Well, what does one make of a government that has now rented a crowd of delinquents to attack the 'bring back our girls' protesters and counter their message? ''Nigerians voted for Goodluck Jonathan as President, and not for the terrorist called Abubakar Shekau. It is therefore right for them to demand action to return the girls safely from their President, rather than from the anarchist, Shekau,'' it said. APC said the fact that the 'release our girls Boko Haram' hooligans who invaded the Unity Fountain gathering of the 'bring back our girls' protesters came in SURE-P buses and were not restrained by the police, even when letters have been written to the security agency alerting it to such attack, has shown that they enjoy some protection from the authorities and are being sponsored to harass the decent and focused protesters who have helped call global attention to the plight of the innocent girls. ''This obnoxious campaign to shift the responsibility for the safety and security of the girls from the government to the terrorists started with the sponsored protests to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja and has continued with the depressing attacks on a women-led group by a band of paid ruffians. ''Worst still, a government that so far has proven to be clueless and incompetent in ensuring the safe return of the girls has now resorted to wasting taxpayers money to rent a crowd of scallywags to assault innocent Nigerians, who are mostly women, and distort the image of the highly-responsible 'bring back our girls' protesters. ''While every group, no matter its sponsors and objectives, is free to exercise the constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of assembly and association, no group has a right to attack the other for whatever reason,'' the party said. It urged the government to focus its energy on how to bring back the girls safely, more than one-and-a-half months into their abduction, warning that the entire people of Nigeria as well as the international community will definitely frown at the government's new and odious tactics to muddle the waters. ''President Jonathan must immediately and publicly condemn the sponsored attack on the peaceful protesters and order the police to provide round-the-clock security for them, failing which it will be safe to assume that the attackers have his blessings,'' APC said. The party hailed the 'bring back our girls' protesters for their peaceful and civil conduct even in the face of incredible provocation that they have had to endure, and urge them to continue their protests in that spirit.

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US doubts Nigeria’s claim of sighting abducted schoogirls

The United States said on Tuesday it did not have independent information to confirm Nigeria’s claim to know the whereabouts of more than 200 kidnapped girls and questioned the wisdom of making public such information.
“We don’t have independent information from the United States to support these reports you referenced,” U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said when asked about Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh’s statement that the military knew where the abducted girls were.
“We, as a matter of policy and for the girls’ safety and wellbeing, would not discuss publicly this sort of information regardless.”

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Chibok Girls: ‘Condemn the animals, not govt.’ – Suswam

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state on Tuesday in Abuja said Nigerians must playing politics with the kidnap of over 200 school girls by Boko Haram slamic sect in Borno state.

He said Nigerians should stop condemning the government but rather condemn the perpetuators.

“People should not play politics with security matter in the way that I have seen people play politics with Chibok girls.

“Instead of condemning the animals that are perpetrating these acts, people are condemning the government,” he said.

Suswam also described the purported letters from Boko Haram warning of an impending attacks on schools in Benue as a ‘mischief’.

Suswam spoke to State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the letters emanated from mischief makers, though, the state government had taken proactive measures to forestall any occurrence, saying: “I think that letter was from some mischievous people.

“The way the letter was written showed it was from some mischievous elements and not from the quarters that it was purported to have come from,” he said.

He said that Nigerians should join hands with government to tackle the security challenges in the country and condemn the abduction of the girls, rather than cast aspersions at the president.

“If people are throwing bombs, kidnapping our children, instead of people to join hands with government, they are demonstrating against government.

“It has become job for the jobless who will gather everyday to condemn government instead of condemning the act itself.

“People are playing politics with this and it has the tendency and potential of consuming everybody not just President Jonathan or the PDP government.

“If this country goes down, it is not PDP alone that will go down,” he said.

Suswam said the country would emerge from the crises victorious, stronger and more united.

He quoted the late Tai Solarin as saying that “when there is vibration a lot of people confuse it to mean crisis. What we are experiencing in Nigeria is vibration.

“We will pass through it. Look at the history of developed countries. They passed through it,” he said.

On the security situation in Benue, Suswam said that it had relatively calmed down and there was relative peace on the clashes between Fulani pastoralists and farmers.

“It has substantially calmed down. We don’t have very serious issues. We have had incidents of where some of the herdsmen raped a woman but we are dealing with that.

“We have arrested them, we are dealing with that through the police and other law enforcement agencies. Outside that, the situation has substantially calmed down.”

He also said the state government was at the verge of signing a deal with Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to end the six months primary school teachers strike in the state.

“It is an unfortunate situation. I never believed that schools will be closed for six months, but that has happened.

“The fact of the matter is that the state cannot afford to pay what they are asking for. The money is simply not there,’’ he said.

He, however, assured that by the end of the month or early June the primary school teachers would go back the schools.

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China sentences 55 in mass trial at Xinjiang stadium

Security forces standing behind the accused wearing orange vests on trucks during a mass sentencing in Ili prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang region

Authorities in China’s mainly Muslim Xinjiang mounted a mass sentencing in a stadium for 55 people on offences including terrorism, state media said Wednesday, as they press a crackdown on escalating violence.

About 7,000 people and Communist Party officials in Ili prefecture attended the “mass gathering for public sentencing, public arrests and public criminal detention, punishing a group of violent terrorist criminals in accordance with the law”, said an online report by the official news agency Xinhua.

Judicial officials at the stadium issued punishments for crimes including murder, separatism and organising, leading or participating in a terrorist group, harbouring criminals and rape.

Three were sentenced to death for using hatchets and other weapons to murder a family of four last year “using extremely cruel methods”, the report said.

At the stadium, police also announced the formal arrests of 38 suspects and detained another 27.

Photos showed armed officers guarding the premises, and the accused crammed into backs of lorries wearing orange vests and bent forward as helmeted security forces stood over them.

The event was intended to demonstrate authorities’ “resolute determination crack down on the ‘three forces’ of violent terrorism”, Ili’s deputy party chief was cited as saying, referring to separatism, extremism and terrorism.

China used mass trials in the 1980s and 90s to try to combat the rise in crime driven by the social upheavals that accompanied the country’s dramatic Reform and Opening economic overhaul, but the practice later faded.

Beijing at the weekend vowed a year-long crackdown on terrorism following a string of attacks blamed on militants from Xinjiang, home to the mainly Muslim Uighur minority, with violence in recent months increasingly targeting civilians and spreading elsewhere in China.

Last week five suspects killed 39 people and wounded more than 90 at a market in the regional capital Urumqi.

On April 30, the final day of a visit by President Xi Jinping to the region, attackers killed one person and wounded 79 at an Urumqi railway station.

In March knifemen killed 29 people and wounded 143 at a railway station in the southwestern city of Kunming, an incident dubbed “China’s 9/11″ by state media.

Beijing says it faces a violent separatist movement driven by religious extremism and backed by overseas terrorist organisations.

But experts question how organised the groups in Xinjiang are, while rights groups point to cultural repression of Uighurs and economic favouritism towards an influx of the ethnic majority Han into the resource-rich region.

Dilshat Rexit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress, said in a statement: “The judiciary has become a means of assisting China’s crackdown against Uighurs.

“China’s provocations will spur even more despairing Uighurs to fiercer resistance.”

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Nigeria doctors issue strike warning

Dr. Jubril Abdullahi

Nigeria health sector is set for fresh crisis as the National Association of Resident Doctors(NARD) on Tuesday indicated its intention to begin a three-day warning strike.

The warning strike is expected to commence on 2 June but can be averted if the Federal Government takes concrete steps to resolve issues affecting the association.

Dr. Jibril Abdullahi, NARD National President, who revealed this in Abuja after a meeting by the association listed some of the issues in contention to include the issue of residency training and re-integration of its members into IPPIS.

He said other issues were payment of three-month salary arrears owed doctors in Federal Medical Centre Owerri.

Abdullahi said failure to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and eroding of the recent relativity restored by the latter after a distortion of over 20 years.

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Lagos to abolish charges on telecom operators

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday expressed its readiness to abolish arbitrary charges on telecommunication operators in the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje, at the just-concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Eight Annual Business Law Conference in Lagos.
Mabadeje said this at the conference themed “Exemplary Governance: Enhancing Economic Development in Nigeria”.
He said that the state government had already partnered with the Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to develop a viable model to achieve the target.
“This model is an agreement between all telecom stakeholders and the Lagos state government to harmonise telecom infrastructure, taxes and administration,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the model would aid the development of broadband in the telecom industry.
“We went further to reduce the taxes on ground, in order to get cheaper and quality services from Operators.
“This will also eradicate poverty through the development of infrastructure. This in turn will grow our economy”.
He, however, urged telecommunication operators to work together as a team for smooth policy enhancement.

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2015 Lagos Gov Race: Ambode’s Origin Takes New Turn

The indigeneship of Akinwumi Ambode, a former Accountant General of Lagos and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken a new turn. Edu Morohunfayo Olakunle, a member of the Edu family in Epe, in an exclusive interview with P.M.NEWS in Lagos, western Nigeria, on Monday said Ambode is not from Epe as he claims. The controversy comes only a week after the king of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Eleko Of Eko, endorsed Ambode as the next governor of Lagos. The Mogaji of the Edu family had said in an interview with P.M.NEWS that allegations that Ambode is not an Edu indigene are false. The Edu family had also in a release signed by both Alhaji M. Oladeinde Edu and Alhaji T. A. Edu, and made available to some journalists on Friday stated that Ambode was an Ilaje man from Ondo State and not from Lagos State as he claims. But Adekunle, who visited P.M.NEWS office on Monday, said he decided to speak up to clear his family name. He said the Mogagi of Edu family lied. “Ambode is not from the Edu family. I am a bona fide member of the family and I know he is not and has never been from our family. Mogaji knows this and we are not happy with what he is doing,” he said. “We have a palace in Epe and Mogaji cannot say there that Abomde is from our family,” he said.

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2015 Election: ‘God Has Spoken Through Jonathan

The statement by President Goodluck Jonathan at the 2014 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja on Sunday that, “after Today, the next Democracy Day will witness a new government,” has been described as a divine message from God. Reacting to the President’s statement, the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, Otunba Henry Oladele Ajomale said, “God has spoken through President Goodluck Jonathan to personally announce the vision that APC will take over the centre in 2015. “He did not only assure us that the 2015 general elections will hold, but also gave a revelation that Nigeria will witness a new government next year. Can’t you see that God is great?” The Lagos APC boss further pointed out that the same president told the congregation at the church that the country would continue to move forward in spite of some of the setbacks we are witnessing now, saying that the imminent change that would bring APC into power would ensure rapid progress of the country. Otunba Ajomale also used the opportunity to assure party members in the state that no governorship aspirant has been endorsed by the party leadership, adding that Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, was purely exppressing his personal opinion when he said Akinwumi Anbode should succeed Fashola in 2015. “As far as APC is concerned, every aspirant is on the same level playing ground, nobody has been endorsed because it’s too early to do that. When the time comes, they would face the party’s electoral conditions,” he said.

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Otedola: Another Good Man Is Gone!

A particular dictionary simply defines philanthropy as charitable giving to human causes on a large scale. Philanthropy must be more than just a charitable donation; it is an effort undertaken by an individual or organization based on an altruistic desire to improve human welfare. Wealthy individuals sometimes establish foundations to facilitate their philanthropic efforts. In Nigeria, we have never really fallen short of wealthy individuals with philanthropic inclinations. The late Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony and the late Chief MKO Abiola are names that readily come to mind in this regards. Perhaps, one living example is the Ibadan-based Chief Mufutau Olanihun, whose philanthropic gestures were so unbelievable that his people nicknamed him ‘Olowo ti n fowo sanu’ (literarily meaning the wealthy man who displays mercy with his money). People may have internal or external reasons for behaving charitably. One external incentive by some people to give is to curry recognition. In our clime, people with political ambition often veer into philanthropic ventures as an end to a means. People, whose moral values are more internalised, do not need the promise of present or future recognition to be motivated to give. Real philanthropists are buoyed by their deep or inner satisfaction of impacting on the lives of their beneficiaries. Others venture into philanthropic activities because of their horrid experience with poverty. The late Chief MKO Abiola belongs to this class. He was humbled by his poor background and was, therefore, determined to help as many poor people he could to get out of the shackles of poverty which he regarded as, perhaps, the greatest enemy of mankind. For others, especially philanthropists who never experienced poverty, sheer compassion is their main motivation. They are influenced mainly by the love for mankind and the desire to give back to the society. Sir Michael Otedola, who recently passed on at the age of 88, belongs to this class. A man whose philanthropy is legendary just as his devotion to serving humanity and God was un-wavering, touched and impacted on many lives before he bid the world farewell on the 5th of May, 2014. Though born into a Muslim family at the modest Odoragushin community of Epe Area in 1926, Sir Otedola refused to be carried away by his success later in life. With his humble beginning always in his consciousness, he had since 1985, committed his resources to the Michael Otedola University Scholarship Awards Foundation for indigent students of Epe Division in particular and Lagos State in general. Since inception, over three hundred indigent students have benefited from the scheme to become Lawyers, Engineers and Doctors etc. They have now become useful to themselves and the society. Most of them would readily tell people that Sir Otedola was the angel that God sent to them to give meaning to their lives. Just think about many prospective professionals who are now wasting away in different parts of the country because they couldn’t fulfil their dreams as a result of poverty, then you will appreciate an individual who commits his resources to the training of other peoples’ children. Sir Otedola’s decision to establish the scholarship awards foundation was borne out of his determination to give back to the society that offered him the platform or springboard to achieve his goals in life. He left his native Epe very early in life for Lagos city centre in pursuit of education and due to his brilliance, he won a scholarship to study Journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London and graduated in 1958. This was a remarkable turning point in Otedola’s life and might have reinforced his commitment to help other indigent students attain their lofty dreams. After his destined stint as the 2nd elected executive Governor of Lagos State between 1992 and 1993, the quintessential, unassuming Otedola quietly reverted to his private life and business, becoming even more committed to his philanthropic works. He continued to donate generously to community development projects and to various religious causes. When the challenges of ageing came calling, this illustrious benefactor was still able to ensure the sustainability of the Sir Michael Otedola University Scholarship Awards Foundation. In 2008, his billionaire businessman son, Femi Otedola, instituted a N200 million scholarship scheme as intervention in the educational sector, expected to grow over time to include infrastructure improvements and the provision of learning aids to schools in the Epe area, thereby bringing a wider impact. That year, two innovations were introduced to the scheme; the physically challenged students from the catchment area began to enjoy special advantage, and students from the Colleges of Education were incorporated into the scheme. With this gesture, Femi Otedola, like his father, has demonstrated himself to also be a very generous man whose heart is continuously flowing with abundant milk of human kindness. This, perhaps, reinforces the fact that kindness runs in the veins of the Otedolas. The lesson that we need to draw from the commitment of Sir Otedola and his like to the cause of the downtrodden is that whatever man does in life lives after him. Though Sir Otedola is no more, he will be remembered forever by the lives that he touched. He could have closed his eyes to the plight of the poor but he did not because he had a divine understanding of the true purpose of life. The true purpose of life, according to Martin Luther King, is not in the number of mansions one has but in the number of lives one is able to touch. It is this respect that one could actually say that Sir Michael Otedola came, saw and conquered. Adieu Sir Michael Otedola, the good man of Epe.

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Boko Haram kills 20 in another village raid

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen stormed a Christian village in northeastern Nigeria, killing 20 residents, a government spokesman said Monday. The heavily armed gunmen stormed Waga village in Adamawa state on Sunday and opened fire, Ahmed Soji said. “The gunmen believed to be Boko Haram insurgents in trucks and on motorcycles attacked the village where they killed 20 people and burnt several houses,” Soji said. “The whereabouts of several other people are still unknown but it is assumed they fled into the bush to escape the attack and are yet to return,” he said. A second attack by the marauding gunmen on nearby Gublak village was repelled by soldiers in the area, Soji said without saying if there were casualties in the shootout. Adamawa state, which is one of three states under emergency law along with Borno and Yobe, has seen a string of deadly Boko Haram attacks. In February, the group killed 34 people and burnt scores of homes in coordinated bombing and shooting attacks on Michika, Kirchiga and Shuwa towns near the border with Borno state. At least 24 people were killed on Sunday when Boko Haram gunmen raided Kumuta village in Borno State, where the Islamists have stepped up deadly attacks on villages in recent months. According to residents, dozens of motorcycle-riding gunmen stormed the village after sunrise as locals were heading to the weekly market, opening fire on residents. The militants, who have claimed the abduction of more than 200 girls from their school in Chibok, Borno state six weeks ago, have recently intensified their attacks in the state’s countryside, raiding villages where they kill residents, loot food supplies and set fire to homes.

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Nigerian Super Fraudster Wanted In America By FBI Over $770,000 Internet Love Scam

 A 26 year old serial internet fraudster, Olaniyi Victor Makinde who is top on the wanted list of the United States of America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI has been arrested in Akure, the Ondo state capital by Nigeria’s anti-graft police, EFCC. A source in FBI had hinted iReports-ng that Makinde who is also known as Olaniyi Jones and Andrea Bradley was wanted by the San Francisco Division of the FBI. According to the source, the US government viewed the activities of Makinde seriously and as such had to send three FBI agents including a supervisory special agent and two special agents, to Nigeria last quarter to meet with their Nigerian counterparts over the arrest of the fraudster. The fraudster was eventually arrested on September 6 last year. iReports-ng learnt that the FBI agents were also joined by another official of the US consulate Lagos to obtain statements from Makinde when he was eventually arrested by EFCC operatives ahead of their request for his extradition to the US to face trial with some of his American accomplices in the serial fraud. The Nigerian authorities were said to have reached an agreement with the FBI agents to prosecute Makinde in Nigeria before considering handing him over to the US government. He was said to have been arraigned before a high court judge in Akure on November 26 last year over a $620,225.04 fraud and later remanded at a prison custody in the state capital. It was however drama galore on Tuesday, January 11, when the 26-year old internet fraudster already in custody at the Olokuta medium prison, Akure , was docked again by EFCC, over a fresh $150,000 scam. The fraudster, Olaniyi Victor Makinde, a fresh graduate of the University of Ado Ekiti , was docked at an Akure High Court presided by Justice A.O Adebusuyi on a 14 count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing. In his first arraignment before Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi of the same Court, nine count charges were preferred against him also bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence. He allegedly obtained a total of $620,225.04 from two Americans: Marilou Sibbaluca and John Massoni in a marriage scam. However, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him. Trouble started for Makinde when investigations revealed that he had been defrauding several foreigners, especially Americans in marriage scam and related offences, through the internet. He was also accused of masterminding serious hacking practices against an American online pay roll services company, Intuit, in California . When the latest 14 count charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty to them. The defence counsel, Mr. A.A. Adetunji, thereafter made an oral application for bail which was successful. The judge granted the accused bail in the sum of N20million with two sureties in like sum who must swear to an affidavit of means of livelihood and with landed property in Akure. He also granted the prosecution’s prayer for the accelerated hearing of the case. The Judge added that during the trial he would not entertain any frivolous application meant to delay the trial and he threatened to revoke the bail granted the accused if there was any delay. He therefore adjourned the case to February 21 -25 for trial. The accused person has not been granted bail on the initial charges preferred against him. Justice Adebusuyi reserved ruling on the bail application till January 18 Makinde finished with second class honours in Economics from UNAD. He started his 419 heist early 2009 while he was still an undergraduate. He and other members of his gang who are now at large went to a dating site on the internet and started chatting with some American ladies and men who fell prey to their 419 scheme. Depending on the sex of his victim, Makinde sometimes presented himself as an American woman looking for a husband and to make assurance doubly sure, he would download a beautiful picture of an American lady from the internet and sent it to the victim as his picture. If the victim is a woman he would do the exact opposite. This way, Makinde had been fleecing his victims until the game was up for him. In some instances, he had presented himself as someone from a wealthy home and introduced a phony business to the victims and invited them to be his partners. Sometimes, he presented himself as an indigent lady needing help and support. With these kinds of stories, many people fell victim and lost thousands of dollars to the syndicate. But the long arm of the law caught up with him mid last year when some of the victims petitioned the EFCC through the FBI. The operatives were said to have swung to action immediately and within a short time, he was traced to Akure where he resides. He was caught with different incriminating documents and several fake identity cards bearing foreign names which he was using to defraud people. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime but added that he was not the only person involved and that the ring leader had traveled to Holland . He admitted that he collected only N2.5million from the proceeds of the crime. He also added that his parents and siblings did not know that he was a fraudster.

Olaniyi Makinde Victor (right), with his lawyer, A.A. Adetunji (left)

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Bitcoin Rallies As Allegations Of Trading Irregularities Swirl

It’s been a torrid few days for bitcoin, the now globally known cryptocurrency. A price rally kicked off that has, over the past week, pushed the value of bitcoin up by around 25 percent. Trading near the $580 mark, bitcoin is still down around 50 percent from its record, late-2013 highs, but the life that it’s showing could once again bolster consumer interest in the stuff. Interestingly, bitcoin transaction trading volume isn’t up. In fact, daily bitcoin transactions have settled into a consistent range of between 50,000 and 75,000 per day, according to Coinbase. While transaction volume is flat, total traded bitcoin is up sharply on major exchanges. So, we’re seeing about the same number of transactions, with each trading event involving more bitcoin. Here’s the one-month chart (Via BitcoinAverage) of volume — bitcoins bought and sold, not the numerical tally of total transactions — from major exchanges (Coinbase is excluded):



And, from the same source, a one-month price chart. See if you can spot the line-up:



The rally itself comes at a soul-searching moment for the bitcoin. A recently published investigation called the ‘Willy Report’ alleges that bot accounts on the Mt.Gox exchange led to massive price inflation last November, the month that saw bitcoin reach its all-time record highs. Here’s he key excerpt from the report, detailing how the supposed bot ‘Willy’ executed massive transactions: So basically, each time, (1) an account was created, (2) the account spent some very exact amount of USD to market-buy coins ($2,500,000 was most common), (3) a new account was created very shortly after. Repeat. In total, a staggering ~$112 million was spent to buy close to 270,000 BTC – the bulk of which was bought in November. So if you were wondering how Bitcoin suddenly appreciated in value by a factor of 10 within the span of one month, well, this may be why. Not Chinese investors, not the Silkroad bust – these events may have contributed, but they may not have been main reason. But more on that later. There has been pushback since, with some arguing that Chinese bitcoin markets were in fact the leading driver of the past price spike. Other criticism has centered on the idea that one or two trading accounts could not have influenced so large a global market. As bitcoin’s price has yo-yoed, I’ve kept a closer eye on bitcoin transaction volume than its current dollar conversion price. If the bitcoin network is growing — the key metric of expanding adoption, in my view — transaction volume should rise. That would imply greater implied potential utility per coin, thus increasing their value. Which usage metric do we care more about? Transaction volume, or total bitcoin traded? Both, really, but I think that rising raw transaction volume itself would point to more pedestrian usage of bitcoin — not everyone is going to buy or sell several bitcoin at once, and, as bitcoin fans are trying to tie the cryptocurrency into normal life, we should expect to see rising numbers of small purchases if they are succeeding. Whatever the case, rising bitcoin sales and a rally mean that big dollars are buying into the cyrptocurrency.

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SHOLA ALLYSON performing life at Embrace 7

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Quotes

"A bird can never change its feather just because of bAd weather"

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I Can Never Spend Money On A Man-Ghanaian Actress Vivian Jill Lawrence

Beyonce can buy an island for her man,
Jay-Z in any part of the world but not
Vivian Jill Lawrence, a Ghanaian actress,
who sees that as an impossible thing for
her, she is not ready to play lover guy and
spend on any man.
Vivian claims that she is caring because
she can buy food and drink at least for a
guy, the money she is making belongs to
her and her son, and not a lover man,
when she is tired of any of her men, she
would joyfully send messages to them
through her Facebook or WhatsApp.
Sometimes, these men believe that she is
not serious and they see her slam the
door behind them when it gets out of
hand, her friends tell her she is a crazy
woman when she wants to break up but,
the fact she is trying to project is she
doesn't want to be killed by a man before
her time.
Vivian agrees that she would get married
when the time comes but she would not
be put under any unnecessary pressure to
do that, some of her fans have called her a
lesbian but she doesn't care what anyone
have to say about her.

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