BRUTAL: Female Student Whipped Into Coma?

• Iponri High School where a student was beaten to coma

A Chemistry teacher at Iponri Estate Senior High School, Surulere, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, identified as Mr. Sebastine, has reportedly beaten a female student to stupor.

The victim, who is in SS 1, Abigail Chidinma Enyenwa, passed out after she was allegedly whipped by the teacher for insubordination.

The incident, P.M NEWS reliably gathered, happened on Tuesday during school hours.

Sebastine was subsequently arrested at the school premises the following day by policemen from Iponri Police Station for interrogation over the matter.

It was gathered that Abigail incurred the wrath of her teacher when she allegedly behaved rudely and acted contrary to his instructions during class session on the fateful day.

The Chemistry teacher was said to have asked all students whose parents were not present during the school’s open-day to stand on their feet, an instruction which Abigail allegedly ignored.

She reportedly disregarded, the teacher’s instruction and sat down while others stood up.

This infuriated the teacher and he called her out, gave her some strokes of the cane for her action.

It was reliably gathered from our source that Abigail passed-out in the process and commotion ensued afterwards.

She regained consciousness minutes later when some packs of sachet water were poured on her by her classmates and her frightened teacher who initially thought she was pretending.

The matter was said to have been reported at Iponri Police Station by the girl’s parents while Sebastine was arrested the following day.

Our correspondent further gathered that the school Principal, Mrs Anyah prevented the police from taking the teacher away when they arrived at the school to effect his arrest.

When P.M NEWS visited the school on Wednesday and Thursday, to get the teacher’s side of the story, he was not available for comments on the two occasions.

During our correspondent’s visit on Wednesday, the school principal was said to have gone for a meeting outside the school premises while the reporter was referred to the Vice Principal for comments.

She denied knowledge of the incident and referred our reporter back to the Principal’s office to wait for her.

On Thursday, the principal was around but denied that the incident happened in the school. “Well, as a civil servant, am not obliged to speak to the media. Besides, I don’t understand what you are talking about. No teacher beats a student to stupor here,” Mrs. Anyah said.

A student who does not want his name mentioned and who claimed to be Abigail’s friend, said,”I’m not in her class and wasn’t in school when it happened. But I heard the story. I asked her and she told me what happened.

“She said she stood up when the teacher asked them to do so but was putting her hands around her waist. She told me that she did not answer him when he asked why she’s not standing properly and the teacher in anger descended on her,” he told P.M.NEWS.

Another student who is Abigail’s classmate and was in class when the incident happened, said:”she behaved rudely to the teacher. She was behaving as if Mr Sebastine was her boyfriend while he was talking to her. He only gave her four strokes of the cane and she passed out.

“Initially he thought she was pretending but when she didn’t stand up, he became frightened and asked us to go and buy some packs of pure water which we poured on her. I guess she wasn’t feeling alright that day or something was wrong with her.

“Mr Sebastine cannot beat somebody to stupor. He’s not that wicked. Besides, we do receive more than six strokes of the cane from him and we never fainted for once,” he said.

When asked if it was true that the teacher has been suspended, he said:”he was in school on Wednesday before the police came to arrest him. They came with an arrest warrant but the principal prevented them from taking him away.

“I have not seen him afterwards but I guess he’s among the teachers who are currently undergoing training. I think that was why he was not in school today(Thursday),” he said.

Source: PM News

INTERVIEW: Everyday I Fall Deeper in Love With The Man I Married - Nse Ikpe Etim

Nollywood is a hub of great and beautiful talents, one of which is the lovely Nse Ikpe Etim.

Best actress for a lot of people, Nse has become everyone’s sweet heart…she has featured in several hit movies including Phone Swap, Journey to Self, Mr and Mrs, etc.

In her recent interview, Nse who walked down the aisle with the love of her life Clifford Sule, on Valentine’s day, opens up about her marriage, career and style…

Interview Excerpts:

Congratulations on your successful wedding. How has the marital journey being?

Thank you. When you embark on journeys with friends or partners it’s always a lot easier. We thank God, my husband and I are journeying very well.

Your traditional marriage a lot of attention from the media? How did you feel?

Well, I was simply focused on marrying the man that has my heart, so the media attention was an unexpected bonus. We’re however grateful for all the love that was shown to us and all the heart felt messages of support and kinship that we received from family, friends, fans and the media community.

At your wedding, you cried when you hugged your brother. Why?

I hadn’t seen my brother in a little while. He’s resident outside the continent, so it was a tearful reunion. I’d missed him so much and was very glad that he could attend my wedding and give me away.

Should we expect a white wedding soon?

Yes, that’s in the works. My husband and I are Catholic, and so a wedding in the church is of utmost importance. After the fanfare that followed the traditional ceremony, we wanted a breather. I’ll be sure to pass on the details as soon as they’re finalized

What do you miss the most about your days of being single?

I know this may sound cliché but I don’t miss anything. I’m happy with a man that loves me and whom I love in equal measure. What’s to miss?

What’s your definition of true love and happiness?

True love and happiness is waking up every morning and knowing today I’m not alone. It’s the safety or security you feel when you know someone out there has your back.

How many babies do you intend making?

If an entire football team is in God’s plans for me that’s how many *Laughs*

What’s the most romantic gesture you have gotten so far?

Every day I fall deeper in love with the man I married, so it would be near impossible to pick just one gesture. We make sure to show our love and affection for each other regularly and in different ways.

Do you have any regrets in life?

As long as you have life, there is hope and so no, I don’t harbor regrets. The scars of yesterday could turn out to be smiles tomorrow.

Source: Flytime TV

CONFED CUP: It's Not Ideye's Fault - Keshi

Brown Ideye hardly scores. He also hardly lays assists. And yet, his coach Stephen Keshi has backed the under-fire forward to come good once he sheds his anxiety.

The forward scored once at the African Nations Cup and only once more since then; a penalty conversion against Mexico in a 2-2 friendly draw.

DEADLY: Armed Robbers Raid Hotel Over Dollars?

•The hotel raided by robbers
Unidentified gunmen on Monday struck at a popular hotel in Ajao Estate, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, and carted away millions of naira and dollars belonging to the management and lodgers in the hotel.
The robbers struck at May Hotel located at 22, Kaara Street, Ajao Estate at about 2.00 am with sophisticated weapons.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the operation lasted more than two hours and the victims were lodgers in the hotel who had just returned to the country as well as foreigners.
It was learnt that the robbers only stole money in the local and foreign currencies from the victims while their belongings were not touched.
What surprised the hotel management and residents was that the area was well protected with gates manned by guards round the clock.
According to an eyewitness account, the armed gang came from Inua Mohammed Street in Ajao Estate and broke the street gate locks.
They held the unarmed security guards and receptionists in the hotel at gunpoint and forced the receptionists on duty to lead them from room to room to rob the lodgers
“They did not shoot any bullet but seized the guards and the receptionists and ordered them to cooperate with them while the operation lasted,” said an eyewitness.
After the successful operation, the robbers locked the receptionists and guards in one of the rooms in the hotel and left.
The incident has caused suspicion that the robbery was the work of an insider in the hotel or the residents of the area.
When P.M.NEWS visited the hotel, the owner and the manager were not around.
A worker in the hotel told our reporter that they had gone to the State Police Command to see the commissioner over the incident.
Some of the workers who confirmed the incident said that they were still in shock over what happened and said the robbery might be the work of an insider who provided information to the attackers.
At Ajao Police Division, the DPO was not available to comment on the matter.
But a source at the station confirmed the incident and said the police have commenced investigation on the matter.
Source: PM News

EXPOSED: How French Police Dehumanized Nigerian Medical Practitioner?

Victim Narrates Her Ordeal
Many Nigerians outside the shores of their mother land have often returned with tales of dehumanizing treatments in foreign countries. While many believe racial discrimination is a major part of operations in the Western World, some people hold firm to the belief that it is only illegal immigrants and criminals that are treated poorly by law enforcement agents of such countries. A Nigerian being deported from Spain some years ago allegedly had all his limbs bound while his mouth too was gagged. He eventually died on the flight to Lagos. Almost on a daily basis, Nigerians are deported from different countries of the world, with some of them being subjected to inhumane conditions.
Contrary to the widely held belief that only offenders or drug suspects get humiliated at airports, a medical personnel recently narrated the ordeal she went through in Paris while on her way to Luxembourg, pursuant to which she said she intends to sue the Fench police at Charles de Gaulle Airport
” I  was in paris sometimes in March transiting to Luxembourg for a medical conference. My visa and everything was okay. I travelled from Abuja airport on Air France, the flight left around 11pm Nigerian Time, I got to the police border at exactly 6:45am. I was stopped and screened. Then the first question the guy asked was that am I a NIgerian and I said yes and he also said am I single, to which I said yes also”.
She disclosed that after the questions, the officer said “I am sorry, you have to follow me”. Speaking further, she said “I followed him to their aeropot office. Where I was asked to sit, they checked my VISA my two account details, and one of the policemen said what type of job do you do in Nigeria that makes you to earn this much?. So they gave me a paper to sign, which I refused to do, because it was in French and I demanded for an interpreter which they did not produce until after 6 hours of waiting. Without my consent they had cancelled my flight. I showed them that I have paid for my hotel €684 for five days, the conference fee €500. All these explanations turned on deaf ears as I was told that all I needed to do was sign and that they don’t understand English.
I was locked up in their cell because I refused to sign what I didn’t understand, was frisked and searched like a criminal.
I was with them for four days not having access to my luggage, my phones, my laptop, my Ipad, everything was seized from me. For the four days it was a living hell for me. I finally found somebdy that was ready to interpret the statement I was given to sign, though I wrote another statement in English and I signed that and gave them to use as my statement but they refused. When the person interpreted it for me, it says I was travelling to Luxembourg to meet frends and for prostitution never to come back to Nigeria.
I was really angry so I told them I was not interested in going for the conference again because I was being fed like a vegetarian, I didn’t have my bath for four days, couldn’t contact anybody, not even my parents. I told them  that I will love to go back to Nigeria and they refused, saying until they charge me to court, on Tuesday which was like 6 days away. Eventually when I could, I pulled a plug by using the phone in the aeropot cell where I was being held, I contacted my parents who were more than worried. Thank God the number was registered they called me back, contacted the Embassy of Nigeria in france and also the Ambassador of Nigeria in france. When the embassy got through to them, the French   police denied having me with them, the embassy believed them, but because my parents persisted and they got through to me and spoke to me, they would not have believed, I guess that angered the French police because they moved me from where I was to where I could gain no access to phones at all. But thank God people already knew about what was going on.
On Monday, a day preceding the Tuesday I couldn’t take it any longer. I did all the drama, I could and I started speaking in tongues. Despite the fact that it was snowing I was sweating, so they were confused and thought I was running mad soo they had to release me, saying they will take me to the hospital. I refused and told them I only wanted to go back home. Fortunately for me the embassy got through to them and I was released to come back home. But my passport was given to the pilot who handed it over to the Nigeria Immigration Service at Murtala Mohammed international airport. When they looked through they were confused because they couldn’t find any reason why they should have held me in the first instance. They released me and told me to thank God”.
On the effects of the detention, she said “I am just recovering frm that mental shock and I am ready to pursue this case, not for me or what they made me go through but because of people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t know anybody if such a thing should happen.
And I want to make them pay for treating me like a criminal. Am not a racist but ever since that incident has happened to me, I hate every French man I have met, even a French patient in the hospital I know it is not right but I can’t help but feel that way towards them”.
Source: Street Journal

SURPRISING: Tinubu’s Daughter Installed Traders’ Leader?

Daughter of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, officially succeeded her grandmother, the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, Thursday following her inauguration by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
Tinubu-Ojo, whose selection as the new President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, a post held by Tinubu’s mother who died on June 15, had generated controversy , was installed at a ceremony at the late Mogaji’s Ikeja house, which was attended by market leaders from the state.
Akiolu was represented by his white cap chiefs, led by Obanikoro of Lagos, Chief Soji Bembe.
After the traditional rites, Tinubu-Ojo explained that managing the elderly women “should not be a challenge. I have been working close with mama and I have picked one or two things from her and I believe God will give me the wisdom and the grace to discharge my duties accordingly”.
She said her vision was “to create the enabling environment for market men and women to operate without being molested; to have more organised markets and to give them (traders) a sense of belonging in a political situation in Nigeria”.
On how she would cope in her new position despite being the leader of the Lagos State Market Development Board, she said she only needed to reorder her priorities to devote more time to the jobs.
Source: ThisDay

SURPRISING: Tinubu’s Daughter Installed Traders’ Leader?

Daughter of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, officially succeeded her grandmother, the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, Thursday following her inauguration by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
Tinubu-Ojo, whose selection as the new President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, a post held by Tinubu’s mother who died on June 15, had generated controversy , was installed at a ceremony at the late Mogaji’s Ikeja house, which was attended by market leaders from the state.
Akiolu was represented by his white cap chiefs, led by Obanikoro of Lagos, Chief Soji Bembe.
After the traditional rites, Tinubu-Ojo explained that managing the elderly women “should not be a challenge. I have been working close with mama and I have picked one or two things from her and I believe God will give me the wisdom and the grace to discharge my duties accordingly”.
She said her vision was “to create the enabling environment for market men and women to operate without being molested; to have more organised markets and to give them (traders) a sense of belonging in a political situation in Nigeria”.
On how she would cope in her new position despite being the leader of the Lagos State Market Development Board, she said she only needed to reorder her priorities to devote more time to the jobs.
Source: ThisDay

UNSPEAKABLE: I've Drug Addicts In My Cabinet - Governor Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima has shocked everyone present at the inauguration of the 10 man committee on drug abuse which held at the council chambers of the government house on Wednesday, when he declared that some of his cabinet members were drugs addicts. He had jokingly asked one of his Commissioners if he knew some of them.
The Governor who was reacting to the address by the state commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA who said that it was sad that drug abuse in Borno state had risen to an unprecedented level, cutting across ages, sexes and various socio-economic backgrounds.
Kashim Shettima, who corroborate the Commander’s position also said, most Boko Haram members arrested were found with tramol and psychotropic drugs, adding that, some of the boxes found in possession of the said members at various camps were not only weapons but drugs of different kinds.
It would be recalled that the 10 man committee inaugurated by the Governor was informed by his efforts to curb drug abuse in the state by complementing the efforts of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, in the fight against elicits drugs in Borno state.
While inaugurating the 10 man committee, governor Kashim Shettima said that apart from the second world war, nothing has consumed more human lives than drugs, affirming that drug abuse is worse than cancer and HIV/AIDS, as such the need to have a committee to control the menace in Borno state.
The Governor said people under the influence of drugs are very quick at committing heinous crimes such as rape, murder, robbery and sometimes even commit suicide, because drugs control them. He said drugs, like forbidden fruits, once tested are very difficult to be resisted at the long run.
Source: Daily Post

AT LAST: Cult Gang Smashed In Kwara State?

Ten armed robbery suspects were on Thursday paraded before journalists by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force at its headquarters in Ilorin, northcentral Nigeria, for their alleged involvement in various crimes within and outside the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Olufemi Fabode, during the briefing,  disclosed that three of the suspects, Adewumi Kayode, 36; Abiodun Abdulmalik Ojulari, 32; and Akeem Afolabi, 31, were responsible for the killing of a medical doctor working with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH, Dr. Ariyo Adewumi,  in April this year.

Suspects: Adewumi Kayode, Abiodun Abdulmalik Ojulari, and Akeem Afolabi, alleged to have Killed Dr. Ariyo.

He said: “The armed hoodlums also ransacked the home of their and made away with valuables such as a Honda Accord car with registration number AA 685 AU, two blackberry mobile phones, one Samsung galaxy handset, a plasma TV set, sound system, jewellery and other valuable items.
“On receiving the information, the scene of the crime was immediately visited by the police operatives and necessary preliminary investigative actions were taken, leading to the recovery of weapons used for the operation.”
Fabode further revealed the various crimes of snatching of cars at gun point, robbing homes, among others, were carried out by a gang of four robbers, with one of them called Seun presently at large.
Another suspect, Segun Abraham, according to the PPRO, was arrested with a locally made pistol and three live cartridges, following a tip off.

Another paraded suspect

Their arrest followed a raid carried out at Ariya Hotel in Ilorin, adding that the suspect was a member of the five-man armed robbery gang that attacked and robbed the former vice chairman of Offa Local Government Area,  Adeleke at his Offa residence in March during which the victim was dispossessed of his Toyota Camry car and other valuables.
Three other suspects, Fabode said, were arrested by military personnel at the scene of the attack on the suspended chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Prince Saheed Popoola.

Suspects that attacked Prince Saheed Popoola, former Ofa LG Chairman.

He also said detectives attached to the anti-cultist section of the state CID, Ilorin,  stormed the rendezvous of Eiye secret cult at Gaa-akanbi area, Ilorin where they arrested Aina Abayomi, Kabiru Kufo and Olagbinyan Oluwatobi with a locally made revolver pistol with five 9mm live ammunition.
He said: “Upon further interrogation, the suspects admitted and confessed to the police that on 14 June, 2013 and 17 June,2013 at about 2000hrs and 2030hrs respectively, they and their gang members now at large robbed at gun point some people around Tanke area of Ilorin, dispossessed their victims of their handsets, laptops and other valuables at gun point.

Suspected Cultists

“Investigation also revealed that the suspects are notorious members of Eiye Secret cult and that Aina Abayomi is a student of one of the tertiary institutions in Ilorin. He is the No.1 in the hierarchy of Eiye Secret Cult.”
The PPRO assured that the suspects would soon appear before the court to face the full wrath of the law.
Source: PM News

BLOODBATH: Gunmen On Rampage, Over 33 Dead?

Gunmen attacked three Plateau villages killing 33 people, residents have said.
The gunmen, suspected to be Fulani assailants, invaded Bolgan, Karkashi, and Magama villages in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State on Wednesday night killing the victims including secondary school students.
The Police in Plateau say they are yet to get the full details of the attack. The police spokesperson, Felicia Anselem, told PREMIUM TMES on phone that security personnel have been redeployed to the affected area.
Residents said many victims of the incidents were secondary school students who are writing the ongoing National Examination Council, NECO, examination for final year secondary school students.
A resident, Mark Lipdo, confirmed that over twenty four people were killed although the death toll may be more as others people are still reported missing.
According to Mr. Lipdo, the coordinator of Stephanus foundation, a Jos-based non-governmental organization, the attackers followed their victims on motorcycles blocking their escape before shooting them.
PREMIUM TIMES also learnt that several houses and vehicles were burnt down while
the three villages have been virtually deserted. A resident of Langtang, who pleaded not to be named, blamed security officials for not taking proactive action in curtailing the killings.
Residents who escaped said Bolgan Village has been completely burnt down with nine people confirmed killed there.
At Magama Village, most of the victims were children and the elderly. The father and brother of a cleric, Nandip Miri, of the COCIN church in Langtang, are believed to have died in the attack.
Reacting to this development, the senator representing Plateau South in the National Assembly, Victor Lar, appealed to the people to remain calm and report any suspicious movement to security agencies for necessary action.
Plateau has witnessed several ethno-religious attacks in different local governments leading to the death of hundreds of people.
Source: Premium Times

EFCC RELEASE: 14 Oil Thieves, Nabbed?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, 25 June, 2013 arraigned Abu Ali Jibia, Akume Surprise, Boglo Babatunde, Umar Mohammed, Nafiu Hussain, Ibrahim Yakubu, Calvin Ajike, Alhassan Oseni, Kenneth Osei, Korlee Uebari, Habourpoint Nigeria Limited, Chidodo Access Oil & Gas Limited and Millennium Jetty and Marine Services Limited before Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on a 5-count charge bordering on illegal oil bunkering.
When the charges were read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.
One of the charges read: "that you Abu Ali Jibia, Akume Surprise, Boglo Babatunde, Umar Mohammed, Nafiu Hussain, Ibrahim Yakubu, Calvin Ajike, Alhassan Oseni, Kenneth Osei, Korlee Uebari, Habourpoint Nigeria Limited, Chidodo Access Oil & Gas Limited and Millennium Jetty and Marine Services Limited on or about the 22nd day of May, 2013 at Liberty Jetty, Marina, Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria conspired to commit a felony to wit: carry out an act for which a license is required under the Petroleum Act without lawful authority or appropriate licence contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 77, Laws of the Federation 1990”.
The prosecuting counsel, A. B. C Ozioko asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand all the accused persons in prison custody with the exception of the 2nd accused who is the captain of the ship. Ozioko prayed the court to remand him in EFCC custody in order for him to lead investigators to the vessel.
Defence counsel, Nelson Ohaji, while opposing the prayer of the EFCC counsel, informed the court that all the defendants had filed applications for bail and pleaded that they be remanded in EFCC custody if their applications were not considered.
Justice Tsoho adjourned the case to June 28, 2013 for hearing on bail applications and ordered that all the accused persons be remanded in Ikoyi prison with the exception of the 2nd accused person who was ordered to be remanded in EFCC custody.

Captain Akume

Source: Sahara Reporters

BOKO HARAM: FG, We Will Help End The Crisis - Suspects

In its continued effort to speak to members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the country, the Presidential committee on dialogue may have gained mileage as some detained members of the dreaded sect in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital have agreed to collaborate with the security forces to put an end to the continued bloodletting.
During a visit of the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North to a detention site in Maiduguri on Tuesday, over 50 detained members of the dreaded sect said if they are given a second chance, they will assist authorities to end the crisis.
One of the detainees, Adam Konto who introduced himself to the chairman of the committee. Kabir Taminu Turaki as the Amir (commander) of the Bayan quarter, said he was speaking on behalf of the other detained members of the sect at the site and that they will never pick up arms against the nation again.
Konto said: “We pledge to assist the authorities if given a second chance while admitting to our crimes.”
He said: “Most of us were brainwashed and recruited into the sect and given dastardly acts to do without our full understanding of what we were doing.”
Another detainee who identified himself as Babagana Saje while also expressing his readiness to denounce the sect said the police should be praised for keeping them alive.
He said: “The police have been treating us fine. We have been allowed to take our bath and have been well fed.”
Turaki however promised the detainees that their cases would be looked into, insisting that “if you are sincere with this information we have gathered, we will bring you into the proposed amnesty agenda.
Source: Daily Post

OPINION: 10 Rules That Should Be Thrown Out Of A Modern Marriage?

Marriage is different than it used to be. Old rules no longer apply. Here are ten outdated marriage rules.
1. Once you are married you no longer have a life: This is not true. You can love and care for your husband and family but you don’t have to always be the dutiful wife tending to his every whim. You will resent the marriage if you stay this way. Take time for yourself.
2. Pouting gets your point across. Again, not true: Couples should get their point across to each other by expressing their true feelings, not pouting in a corner.
3. Sexual desires should not be discussed: Yes, the discussion may be awkward, but you don’t want to fall into a rut in the bedroom. Make sure that you are expressing what you want.
4. Seeing a marriage therapist can mean failure: Wrong. Seeing a counselor means that you are taking action. The sooner you start the therapy, the sooner you can be on the right track.
5. Husbands should make the money: More and more women are ditching the role of stay-at-home wife and going out to make money, sometimes more than their spouses.
6. Fighting means you are unhappy: Every couple needs to fight. If there is no fighting, something could be wrong. The key is learning how to “fight fair” and learning conflict resolution skills.
7. Marriage should revolve around the kids: Of course children need to be well taken care of but marriage should revolve around the couple. Take time for yourselves away from the kids once in a while to keep the romance alive.
8. Don’t talk about your profession with your spouse: Talking about your job with your significant other is a great way for you to get the stress of the day out. If you don’t, things could transfer down to your relationship.
9. Marriage is between two people: More and more couples are beginning to develop friendships with their exes and even new children of their ex. Be sure not to badmouth your ex in front of their children.
10. Divorce means that you are a failure: Hardly. Divorce simply means that your relationship just didn’t work. Some couples have serious problems that can’t be solved by therapy or talking about it.
Source: Healthy Black Woman

UNCOVERED: Boko Haram Leader Is From Niger Republic?

Leader of the Boko Haram sect Imam Abubakar Shekau hails from Niger Republic, according to the report of a Senate joint committee that investigated the deadly violence in Baga town of Borno State in April.
Shekau is widely believed to be from Shekau village of Yobe State, but the Senate committee in its report submitted yesterday said Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima told visiting senators that the man was actually from the neighbouring Republic of Niger.
The report, a copy obtained by Daily Trust, said senators were told that "although the Boko Haram sect members have some Chadians and Cameroonians within their midst about 80 per cent of them are of Kanuri tribe, adding that the leader of the sect Abubakar Shekau is a Kanuri from Niger Republic."
Shekau became leader of the group in 2009 following the death in police custody of erstwhile leader Mohammed Yusuf.
He is believed to have spearheaded the regrouping of the sect, which quickly graduated from conducting targeted drive-by shootings in Maiduguri to launching massive bomb assaults in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and other places in the North.
Although he has not been seen in public since July 2009, Shekau has released occasional internet videos in which he makes claims of responsibility of attacks and taunts the Federal Government.
'Exaggerated'
The Senate on April 23 mandated its committees on Defense and Army, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to investigate the Baga violence in which local leaders accused soldiers of killing 185 people and destroying more than 2,000 homes.
Military authorities had denied conducting indiscriminate killings, saying only 37 people died in a gun battle between soldiers from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Boko Haram fighters.
In its report, the Senate committee disputed the Baga death toll given by both sides but failed to provide a specific figure.
"The death toll of 185 was exaggerated but there may be more than 37 deaths. This is possible as there is no documentary evidence from either the natives or the military to ascertain figure quoted," the report said.
The report also tried to exonerate the military, saying the incident was caused by Boko Haram who pulled out an army officer from a bus and killed him on March 29, and also killed another soldier on April 16. It said MNJF troops sent 70 soldiers to repel the Boko Haram fighters in Baga on the night of April 16, resulting in a shootout that caused "some deaths."
But the report said the military carried out a hasty operation and this might have contributed to the level of destruction.
"The operation to flush out the Boko Haram members between 20:30HRS and 2100HRS on April 16, 2013 was carried out hastily. The MNJTF should have cordoned the area till day break and carry out house to house check; this would have reduced number of casualties and damages," the report said.
On the destruction of houses, the report also said the "quantum of destruction of houses, vehicles and motorbikes were exaggerated. There was actual physical count of 155 houses burnt as against the figure of 2000 given by Governor Shettima and 3,059 given by the district head."
Shettima, the report said, classified Boko Haram into three categories: "criminal elements that send text messages to individuals to extort money, political Boko Haram who sought to advance their political interstate and the real Boko Haram which are made up of moderates that are prepared to dialogue with government and the crazy religious elements who are die hard and are not ready for compromise."
In its recommendations, the 28-member Senate panel urged troops on internal security operations to adhere to the provisions of the Geneva Convention, Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement in order to minimise casualties.
The committee called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the armed forces to carry out urgent recruitment of soldiers and officers as insurgency has overstretched the military.
Senators are scheduled to consider the report this morning.
Source: Daily Trust

TRAGEDY: Man Lose Family Over Generator Fumes?

Why me? Oh God why me? That has been the lamentation of Mr. Celestine Onwuliri who lost five members of his family including his wife, Magdalen, on Democracy Day eve.
Onwuliri’s wife and four of his children including his first son died in their sleep on that fateful day after inhaling generator fumes. But the 48-year old contract worker of a new generation bank has yet to recover from the ugly incident.
The distraught Onwuliri continuously peered into the vast sky with his hands folded tightly across his chest when our correspondent met with him in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He once again muttered: “Why?” He shook his head in grief vehemently many times.
He was indeed lost in the hollowness of his thought. Everything that defined his existence appeared to have crumbled like a pack of cards. He sought reasons for his misfortune within his mind. Why will his world come crashing just when he thought he had everything under control?
He wondered why he had to bury his first son, Emmanuel, 13, his only daughter, Blessing, 9, and his four-year old twins, Mike and Mark on the same day. Besides the 35-year old wife he married 14 years ago is still lying in the mortuary waiting for her funeral.
Onwuliri sometimes blamed himself for not being around when the incident happened. He was in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, fending for his family when he was hit by the nasty blow. He rued his transfer from Yenagoa to Port Harcourt by the Guarantee Trust Bank where he worked on contractual basis as a technician.
“If not for the transfer, I would have been around my family and would have prevented the disaster. I don’t know whether I will be able to survive the disaster,” he cried.
“How do I survive without my wife of 14 years? He further recoiled recalling the last conversation he had with his late wife before the tragedy.
The enervated Onwuliri said, “On the 28th of May, the night preceding the morning that the incident occurred, I was discussing an issue with my wife on phone around 10pm, but due to unclear network, we said we should talk in the morning when perhaps the network should be better, I never knew that was the last discussion I was to have with my wife.
“On the following morning I called again around 6am as we agreed, and that has been my routine to call every morning since we are not together.
“Her phone rang up to five times but she did not pick. I then called my first son and his phone also rang severally he did not pick.
“I felt may be they were on morning devotion, so I decided to wait for some time before I could call again, but when l repeated, still nobody picked. I then knew that things were not normal, I decided to call my neighbors and asked them to go to my house and help me check what was wrong.
“My neighbors called me back to say they have knocked and checked but did not see or hear anybody. I then told them to slide the window and break the place to know what was wrong.
“I was still on phone with one of them when I heard a shout from my neighbors. It was then it became very clear to me that something serious and terrible has happened to my family especially when he said that l should come immediately to Yenagoa, but I never thought of generator fumes.”
It, however, became clear to him that generator fumes, that deadly carbon monoxide, was responsible for his misfortune. Members of his family inhaled the dangerous air that emanated from a room next to their bedroom.
The steaming generator was ignorantly kept in the room with all the doors and windows shut. The fumes circulated and stuffed all the rooms and became only the source of air for Onwuliri’s family members. The building belongs to the family.
The incident occurred at a time Yenagoa experienced a three-week power outage after thunderstorms destroyed a major transmission equipment.
Source: The Nation

UK VISA: We Are Targeting Only Few Nigerians - Dr Andrew Pocock

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocock, has cleared the air on the controversial £3,000 visa bonds for Nigerian visa applicants to the United Kingdom (UK).
Pocock, who met with the Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, on Tuesday, said the visa bond projects was not what was reported in most of the Nigerian media.
He added that the British government “has announced that it intends to undertake a very small scale trial of the use of financial bonds, as a way of tackling abuse in the immigration system – which occurs when some people overstay their visa terms.”
He said “the details of a pilot scheme are still being worked out,” adding that no final decision had been made.
According to Pocock, “if the pilot scheme were to go ahead in Nigeria, it would affect only a very small number of the highest risk visitors.
“The vast majority would not be required to pay a bond. Those paying bonds would receive the bond back if they abided by the terms of their visa.”
He maintained that the travel between two countries was a key part of strong cultural and business relationship, noting that “financial bonds would be focused on only a tiny minority of potential abusers. It would not be a £3,000 visa charge as some media reporting has alleged.”
The commissioner added that with over 180,000 Nigerians applying to visit the UK each year, about 70 per cent or around 125,000 of the figure were successful.
He assured that “as soon as more details of the policy is decided, we will inform the Nigerian government and public fully and officially, in the spirit of our long standing friendship.”
Source: Pointblank News

INTERESTING: Ojukwu’s Son Sue Family Demand N100 Million?

The late Biafran leader died in November 2011.
The legal tussle within the family of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu shows no sign of abating with Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu suing the family for N100 million for refusing to allow him perform the funeral rites of the Biafran war lord.
Debe, a former police officer, is urging the Federal High Court, Lagos, to stop the family’s “serial and sustained threats to maim or kill him.”
The Igbo leader died in November 2011 and was buried four days later.
Mr. Debe said that the refusal to allow him perform the dust-to-dust funeral rites of the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu is ‘illegal and lawful” and amounts to a violation of his rights.
“The discrimination against the applicant in performing the dust-to-dust funeral rites in honour of his deceased father during his burial obsequies…. being his first and eldest son, and the consequent loss of self esteem and good standing before his immediate family, peers and the whole world,” Mr. Debe said in his court papers.
He added that the family’s exclusion exposed him to “public derision, great distress, mental torture, psychological disorientation, public odium, ridicule, and obloquy.”
Joined in the suit are Ojukwu Transport Limited; Joseph Ojukwu; Emmanuel Ojukwu; Lotanna Ojukwu; and Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Others are Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Junior); Patricia Ojukwu; Margaret Mogbo (nee Ojukwu); Inspector General of Police; Ibrahim Muktar, former Anambra State Commissioner of Police; and Mike Okoli, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anambra State.
Mr. Debe, who is also a lawyer, is representing himself in the suit.
In his response, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Junior) insisted that Mr. Debe is not the son of his late father.
“The applicant, to the best of my knowledge, as well as to the Ojukwu family, is not and has never been a grand-child of the late Sir L.P.O Ojukwu.
“The applicant is not the son or the first son of my father, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“The last Will and Testament of my late father, dated the 9th day of July 2005, duly certified by the Probate Registry Enugu, did not include the name of the claimant in the list of his eight children.
“I was listed as No. 2 and the eldest male child. He (late Ikemba Nnewi) specifically named me as his ‘first son’,” Mr. Emeka said.
Mr. Emeka referred to a paragraph in the will of the late leader where he listed his eight children with a preceding statement which read: “the following and no others….”
“The issue of the applicant (Mr. Debe) being a son of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and therefore entitled to perform any of the traditional rites he alleges as being denied, is the subject of Suit No. LD/1528/2012 between him and some respondents,” Mr. Emeka stated in his response.
“The applicant was not prevented from performing the traditional funeral rites for a man he claims to be his father.
“Nnewi community has its customs and these are respected by all indigenes of Nnewi community. A son cannot be prevented from doing what the custom permits him to do,” he added.
Justice Okon Abang has fixed October 7 for the hearing of the case.
Source: Premium Times

LAGOS STATE: Robbers Attacked Residents After Writing Letter?

Residents of New Oko Oba were shocked to receive a letter last Friday from armed robbers advising them to prepare for their visit.
True to their words, the robbers struck early on Wednesday morning 26 June, 2013, at Church Street, off Olaniyi Street, New Oko-Oba Lagos five days after the letter was sent.
In the letter sent, the robbers allegedly threatened the residents to prepare for their visit as they were not only coming for money, but also gold and blood.
The residents alerted the police and the Community Development Association (CDA) were summoned for an emergency meeting by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Adeyemi Adebowale who assured them of adequate security protection in the area.
One of the victims, Comrade Okikiola Junaid, said the robbers broke into their apartment around 2 a.m. through the front door when they were asleep and held every one in the house hostage for close to one hour.
“The robbers came around 2 a.m. when we were asleep and started to rob us. They collected all our phones, money and anything they could lay their hands on,’’ he said.
He said that after the robbers left for another residence, he ran to his friend, a Mobile Police officer who gave him his phone to call Supol Adeyemi Adebowale at Area ‘G’ Police Command, Ogba, who promised to call the police at New Oko Oba for assistance which was not forthcoming.
The incident has been reported at Oko Oba Police Station by victims of the robbery attack.
All attempts to reach Mr. Akintade proved abortive as he did not pick his calls due to ill health.
A resident who craved for anonymity said the only way the residents of New Oko Oba can witness peace is for them to have a Divisional Police Officer who will always listen to their complaints and act promptly.
“We need a DPO that we can come to with our problems and he will listen to us. Not the one who will tell us to go and lodge our complaints at the counter,’’ said the source.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, could not confirm the matter as she was in a meeting.
Source: PM News

OPINION: Did Akala, Ladoja Fail Oyo People?

National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday in Ibadan berated the two former governors of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala for poor governance and predicted their new found political friendship doomed to fail.
Tinubu, spoke at the commissioning of a flyover at Mokola, one of three projects executed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the state capital tagged ‘Legacy Projects’ to mark his two years in office. The Mokola Bridge is described as ‘Transformation Bridge,’ while the other two projects are: Ultra Modern Garage, Podo and the Ultra Modern Neighbourhood Business Complex at South Camp, Challenge.
Drawing contrasts between the past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regimes in the state in which the two ex-governors served and the ACN administration, the former Lagos State helmsman commended Ajimobi for the life-transforming projects. He blamed the two for alleged lack of vision, saying: “They were enemies of progress.
“When we were campaigning, we asked the people not to be frustrated. We told them not to be disillusioned, that help was on the way, help is here now. I read recently that some of them are collaborating. The old enemies, who chased themselves out of office with cudgels, cutlasses and guns.
They said they wanted to collaborate again. They failed before and they will fail again. They were down before, they will be down again. Whatever evil they continue to put together, they will continue to fall like a pack of cards.“We helped them before, let their conscience tell them, I Bola Ahmed Tinubu did what I had to do to protect the character, principle and content of our democracy for him. What did he do? He is a dog who went back to his vomit.
You will see genuine commitment to transformation, you will see change in education, health and you will see empowerment. He urged the people of the state to keep supporting the governor and the ruling party for greater transformation and better living standards.
In his speech, Governor Ajimobi said: “In the past, political office holders failed in their responsibilities. The responsibility of a governor or office holder is herculean and should be given to a serious minded person. We are standing on the threshold of history. We have been able to show the world that this administration is an intelligent one.
“We have built another bridge 35 years after the first bridge was built by the military. This is why I congratulate us for being here today. I congratulate our leaders who chose us to be here today.”
Source: Sun News

OPINION: Should FG Grant Repentant Boko Haram Members Amnesty?

Co-ordinator of the presidential amnesty transformation programme, Mr. Allen Onyema, has urged the Federal Government to give repentant members of Boko Haram sect a second chance by granting them amnesty.
Onyema, who partly blamed northern leaders and elite for the immense poverty in the region, also called for compensation for victims of the Boko Haram menace whether through attacks of the sect or military incursion.
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, the lawyer, who leads the Federation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria, FEHN, urged members of the sect to come out, renounce violence, and accept the amnesty being offered by the government.
Noting that majority of northerners are peaceful and want peace, he regretted the violent turn things had taken in the region.
Source: Vanguard

INTERESTING: Oil Discovered In Lagos?

Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, is on the verge of joining the country’s oil-producing states with the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in the coastal state.
Yesterday, Afren Plc and its partner, Lekoil Limited, announced significant oil discovery offshore Dahomey Basin in Lagos, according to the London Stock Exchange.

SURPRISING: Jonathan Scrap Research Institutes, Commercialize National Theatre?

As part of the implementation of the white paper on the Steve Orosanye committee on the rationalisation of agencies and parasta-tals, Federal Government, yesterday, resolved to scrap some research institutes.
Others would be realigned to make them meet their goals.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, disclosed this at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting yesterday.
He added that at the end of deliberations on the white paper, the council also decided that the existing river basins in the country and some national monuments such as the National Theatre would be commercialised.
According to Maku, the decision to realign some of the research institutes, especially those under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is to ensure that they have noticeable impact on the scientific development of the country, adding that some would be alligned to universities.
He said a committee was empaneled, headed by Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of National Planning, to come up with details on the institutes that would be affected and report within two weeks.
On the river basins and the National Theatre, Maku said the essence was to make them more viable while still being relevant to the nation.
He said: “We believe that research that is disconnected from the industry does not produce results, so we believe research centres must concentrate on new ideas.”
Source: Vanguard

NGF SAGA: The Jonathan's Dinner

For the first time since the election that caused a division in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, almost all the 36 state governors converged on the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday for a mid-term dinner organised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The two main antagonists in the NGF crisis Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who won the May 24 election of the forum and Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who leads a faction of the group- attended the event.
Although Jang and members of his faction were already seated before the arrival of the President which signalled the commencement of the dinner, Amaechi and his loyalists arrived at the same time shortly after the event had started.
A mild drama however played out when Amaechi, who cancelled a meeting of the NGF earlier scheduled for 8pm on Wednesday, joined the table where Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and others were already seated.
In the process of exchanging pleasantries, Amaechi was heard pointing to Akpabio and saying, “No, you can never be a democrat.”
Some governors in the Amaechi faction were initially seated among journalists at the back of the hall before they were ushered in to the front where seats were reserved for them.
The other governors in attendance were those of Niger, Lagos, Nasarawa, Imo, Edo, Adamawa, Zamfara, Ogun, Kano, Ekiti and Jigawa.
Others were the governors of Sokoto, Cross River, Bauchi, Abia, Plateau, Kogi, Ebonyi , Ondo, Delta, Anambra and Kaduna states.
The acting governor of Taraba State and the deputy governors of Bayelsa, Kwara, Katsina, Benue and Gombe States were also in attendance.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwwal, was however absent at the dinner attended by the President of the Senate, David Mark; and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The dinner was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Before the cancellation of the NGF meeting, some of the Pro-Amaechi governors had converged on the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, where they took the final decision to attend the dinner.
In a brief chat with journalists before they moved to the Villa, Amaechi said “We have shifted the meeting to honour the invitation sent to us for dinner by the President. We would have loved to meet, but we have to honour the President’s invitation.
Source: Punch

WARNING: Northwest, Southwest, Prepare For Flood

Individuals living in north western and south western states should prepare for above normal floods this raining season, the National Emergency Management Agency has said.
NEMA on Wednesday urged residents of areas vulnerable to floods in the states to relocate.
The Deputy Director, Planning Research and Forecasting, NEMA, Mr. Alhassan Nuhu, said this in Abuja during a meeting with the Regional Director, International Rescue Committee, Mrs. Nicky Smith.
While commenting on regions that should be prepared for heavier floods this year, Nuhu said, “More emphasis is being given to the north western and some south western states. But the prediction generally shows that we are going to have something similar to 2012 in most of the states except for these few areas where we are expecting something above normal.”
According to director, the agency has contacted the state governments on the fate of communities at risk of excessive flooding.
He said, “We have, in collaboration with our critical stakeholders, conducted a flood vulnerability mapping of 15 states in Nigeria, giving emphasis to states that are likely to be flooded. And we are also going forward to have the mapping for the whole country.
“We have distributed this map to all the states that we have concluded, showing them the highly vulnerable areas that must, as a matter of necessity, be relocated. And those who are in low key vulnerable areas also were given relevant recommendations.”
Source: Punch

REVEALED: Danbaba Sunta Not Brain Dead?

Bedridden Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai on Tuesday spoke with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President, Namadi Sambo just as he received his colleague, Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam and his wife, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam in New York, where he’s currently receiving treatment.
NAN reported that the embattled Governor was happy in New York, as he spoke with top Nigerian leaders and interacted with Governor Suswam and his wife.
It was also reported that the Governor who was described by Suswam as gaining more weight, on sighting his guest and wife Yemisi Suswam, immediately stood up for a quick hand shake and exchange of pleasantries.
It was gathered that the duo later went into jokes and spoke at length about the happenings in the country.
Within the period, Suntai was with his visitors, the Governor also had telephone conversations with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President, Namadi Sambo who called in.
According to Suswam, “When he saw me, he greeted me, he smiled. You know, we have a name we call ourselves. I call him, Malam Suntai, he calls me Alhaji Suswam, when I called him Malam Suntan he burst into laughter.
“He was quite excited seeing me because the last time I saw him, was when he was in Germany. At that point, he was still in the Intensive Care Unit ,ICU, that was some few months back.
“We shook hands, he stood up, we cracked jokes, we discussed generally, like I said, I made a phone call to the vice president who spoke with him.
“I was quite excited that I met him in very good condition. We held discussions about the country, about his health and my interactions with him shows he has recovered substantially and we are just waiting for him to actually get back to Nigeria and resume work.
“For someone whose condition was quite critical from a plane crash, it is a miracle, because people hardly survive plane crashes.
“That he survived and that he had recovered thus far is the mercy of God. I think he is taking it easy too and I’m thanking God for what God has done to him.”
Suntai is currently at the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, where he is recuperating from the injury he suffered after his aircraft crashed in Adamawa state, while attempting to land in October, 2012.
Source: NAN

DISTURBING: Nigeria, World leader In Number Of Children With HIV?

Nigeria has the highest number of children contracting the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, in the world, the latest report by the United Nations has shown.

OPINION: 7 Things That Will Make A Man Refuse To Marry You

My male friends and I were talking the other day about marriage.  We don’t talk about it the way women do, fantasizing and getting all excited about our wedding day.  Instead, we talk about it like picking a career – you know you’re going to be stuck with it, it can be enjoyable, but you had better tread lightly or it could end up in disaster.
I thought I’d share with women a few things that my friends said we did NOT want in a wife.  Take it or leave it, but here’s what most of us really do dislike:
1) A high-maintenance woman.  It might be okay to be a little bit of a gold digger, but high maintenance means that nothing is ever good enough.  You buy her something that costs $1,000 dollars, she barely says thank you.  She might also be the kind of emotional black hole who is never satisfied or happy no matter what he says or does to make things better.  That’s draining for men, and flat out horrible.
2) A woman who is bad with kids.  A woman’s beauty is captured in her ability to nurture.  The woman who says “I hate kids” is seen as less of a woman in the eyes of a lot of men.  It also makes her look selfish.
3) A woman who doesn’t support you.  If a man is going through things, he wants to believe his woman has his back through thick and thin.  You want to feel beautiful, he wants to feel like a king.  If he’s ridiculed or his dreams aren’t supported, then he will probably gravitate toward the woman who helps boost his ego, listens to him and encourages him, just like his mother used to do.
4) A woman who emasculates you or doesn’t respect gender roles:  Feminism is nice, but  a lot of hardcore feminists are either gay or single.  You can have power in your household and still allow the man to be a man.  If you’re constantly ordering him around or not respecting his manhood, then he will feel that you don’t need him.  So, the strong, independent woman who “don’t need no man” may lose her man because he is convinced that she “don’t need him” just like she said.
5) Bad in the bedroom.  If you ask a man what time it is, he’s probably going to say, “It’s sexx o’clock.”  Men are physical creatures, and good loving can make a man do pretty much whatever you want.  But being frigid, disinterested, unenthusiastic or not concerned about his physical needs will make other women look that much more inviting.  He definitely won’t want to lock himself into a relationship with you, that’s for sure.  It would be miserable for him.
6) Doesn’t get along with your family.  No man wants to bring home a woman that his family hates; she becomes like a virus.  Smile, be nice, be helpful, try to get along with everyone if you can and that makes him envision you as a regular visitor to his family gatherings.  If you can’t do that, then find another man with a better family.
7) Really mean and overly moody/b_tchy.  Most of my friends hate women who don’t smile or are always mad about everything.  It sucks.  A smiling woman who listens to his problems, tells him that he’s special, has his back and drops it ferociously in the bedroom can get him hooked.  You want to be that woman.
Take it or leave it, this is what we said.  What you do with this information is entirely up to you.
Source: Healthy Black Woman

BIG PROJECT: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Reconstruction Swallow N160.7 Billion?

The reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will cost the Federal Government N160.7bn.
This figure was disclosed to our correspondent by the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in an exclusive interview in Abuja on Tuesday.
Okupe said the road would consist of three lanes on either side from Lagos up to the Sagamu interchange, and two lanes from there up to Ibadan.
He also said that there would be a flyover and inter-change at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to solve the traffic gridlock on that portion of the road.
Okupe said, “The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was awarded on Monday at a total cost of N160.7bn.
“The multi-lane road project, which will be handled by Julius Berger Construction Company and the RCC, will consist of three lanes on either side up to Sagamu junction, and two lanes up to Ibadan as well as a flyover and inter-change at the Redemption Camp to solve the perennial traffic gridlock on that portion of the road.”
He promised that the Federal Government would pay attention to the road, which he described as major.
Okupe also said the contractors had started mobilising to the site, adding that the government was determined to solve the crises on the road once and for all.
“Government is serious on infrastructure. You can see that major roads like the Kano-Maiduguri, Benin-Ore, Abuja-Lokoja, Owerri-Onitsha, Katsina-Daura and East-West roads and many others are being rehabilitated or reconstructed. The second Niger Bridge has been given out on concession and work is in steady progress,” the presidential aid said.
It will be recalled that the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, told journalists on Monday that the contract for the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had been awarded to Julius Berger and RCC.
He, however, did not disclose the cost of the project.
Like the minister, Okupe also did not disclose the duration of the project.
Source: Punch

OPINION: 2015 Elections May End Up Like NGF Poll - Amaechi

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Wednesday lamented the crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and then threw a bombshell: 2015 elections may end up like that of the NGF.
“Let me put it on record that the way things are going, 2015 elections will end in this manner where people will win democratic elections and those in power will not accept the results,” he said at a stakeholders’ symposium on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Abuja.
Amaechi, who won the May 24 NGF election in Abuja, wondered why some people would be backing Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who contested against him and lost.
Amaechi described Jang and his supporters as non-democrats and accused the Nigeria Bar Association of losing its voice by failing to condemn the actions taken by Jang and his supporters after the NGF poll.
President Goodluck Jonathan is the major supporter of the Jang faction of the NGF and Amaechi’s outburst appeared to the audience to be mostly directed at him (the President).
Amaechi, who said he had been trying to avoid the microphone because of too many problems in the country, told the gathering that since he had been made to mount the rostrum, he was ready to make “headlines.”
First, he blasted the NBA, then Jang and the “government that supports him”. Amaechi described himself as the authentic NGF chairman, saying that what Jang was leading was a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum.
The governor said, “The NBA cannot afford to lose its voice, but you have lost your voice. For the NBA to see a free and fair election, where 35 governors who govern 35 states in the nation, who make decisions for hundreds of millions of Nigerians, for NBA to say that ‘if they can’t organise themselves dissolve,’ you have lost your voice.
“I say it and I want to be put on record that anybody who supports the Jang group is undemocratic.
“Before that the NGF election, we chose who will be the returning officer , we appointed our director-general to be the returning officer and we voted.
“Everybody voted. Everybody, including Jang. Jang was even among the first persons to vote.
“When I won my brother from Akwa Ibom State(Godswill Akpabio) stood up and said, ‘there’s a document I have where 19 governors have signed for us.’
“And Jang says the Northern States Governors’ Forum supported him. Which Northern governors? They should have voted for him. He also said the PDP governors supported him before the election, then the PDP governors should have voted for him.
“What you have that Jang is leading is another faction of the PDP Governors’ Forum, not the NGF.
“Anybody, whether NBA or government that supports Jang’s faction is undemocratic.”
He urged Nigerians and the judiciary to rise up and defend their rights.
Amaechi said, “My Lords, you must defend our democracy and Nigeria. We don’t have any other country anywhere else, the only country we have is this.
“We must be prepared as a people to defend our rights; we must be prepared as a people to hold government accountable. We must be prepared as a people to demand accountability.”
Amaechi urged Nigerians to resist a situation “where non-government officers that have no public function can order the Inspector-General of Police to change commissioners of police.”
The governor, who stated that it was not proper for the President to appoint commissioners of police, said there was the need for state police to be included in the ongoing constitution review.
Apparently referring to his problems with the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Amaechi said, “You were talking about state prisons and state police. We don’t have state prisons; we don’t have state police.
“A situation where governors are left helpless and hopeless because somebody here in Abuja determines who becomes my commissioner of police, and tells him what to do, and he makes the city uncomfortable and ungovernable, is not the kind of constitution that I will want to support.”
Although Amaechi’s insistence on being the authentic NGF chairman was corroborated by Niger State Governor and Chairman of the N S G F , Babangida Aliyu,on Wednesday, Jang dismissed the Rivers State governor’s claim that he (Jang) was leading a faction of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Jang, who spoke through the Sole Administrator of his NGF faction secretariat, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, wondered if Amaechi was leading the opposition governors forum.
Onaiwu said, “The governors of Ondo and Anambra States, Dr. Olusegun Mimimo and Mr. Peter Obi respectively, are they members of the PDP?
“These governors are members of the Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, yet Amaechi is saying we are leading a faction of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
“Is he not a member of the PDP himself? The Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Kwakwanso nominated Jang for the position. Is he not a member of the PDP as well?
“The Governor of Akwa Ibom State is the chairman of the PDPGF. If Jang is leading a faction of the PDPGF, which faction is Amaechi leading? The opposition governors’ forum?”
But Aliyu said at the turbaning of his Deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, as the Wali Raya Kasar Nupe and the PDP Chairman in the state, Abduraman Enagi, as Sardauna Ayuka Nupe by the Estu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, that Amaechi won the NGF election.
Aliyu, who also gave insight into what happened during the NSGF meeting ahead of the NGF poll, maintained that no Northern governor betrayed anybody.
He said, “Many people have been asking why governors could not unite to elect a leader. But my answer is that we were united and we elected a chairman. If anybody recognises another person as a chairman, the onus is on us to solve our problem. We must recognise Governor Amaechi as NGF chairman”.
“Governor Jang emerged as a candidate from the north after the NSGF discovered that there was an issue between Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda and the Kastina State Governor Ibrahim Shema.”
He said the NSGF intervened and agreed that Jang should contest.I told them that we must go and insist on consensus but in a situation where election took place, the conscience of the people prevailed”.
Aliyu added, “Thirty-five governors voted. Nineteen voted for one candidate and 16 for a particular candidate. Those who go around destroying reputation should just bury their hatchets.”
Source: Punch