APC condemns Mbaka’s transfer by Enugu Catholic Diocese

The APC has condemned the transfer of popular Enugu cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka from Christ the King Parish in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, of the state to Our Lady Parish in Emene, a suburb of the state.

In a statement released today January 31st, the spokesperson of the APC South-East zone, Osita Okechukwu, condemned Mbaka's transfer and alleged that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo influenced Mbaka’s transfer to a new parish where he will serve under someone else.

“It was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God. Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church, however we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfer as the Mbaka’s case suggests. Otherwise, future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society. Our major concern is the security implications and the fate of his flocks who are mostly the downtrodden who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing. We frown at anything which will put Fr. Mbaka in harms way or deny his flocks healing. As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled against Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections. Even the Church did not spare him, he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true. We are happy that Fr. Mbaka was vindicated. It must be pointed out that accusing fingers were pointed at the direction of some anti-Buhari elements like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that didn’t want to hear the name of Buhari , even though Ohanaeze denied the allegation, doubts still persists. For we are still at a loss why a senior priest will be degraded to an assistant parish priest. We repeat that we are in solidarity with Fr. Mbaka and our major concern is the security of Fr. Mbaka and the suffering of his flocks mostly the poor who need his healing powers. We had thought that His Lordship Bishop Calistus Onaga could have retained him at the Adoration Ground, as the Bishop Emeritus Gbuji did because of security of his life and easy access by his flocks” he said.

6 Things The World Owes To Nigeria

Ever wondered what makes Nigeria extra special in the eyes of the world besides Wole Soyinka and Fuji music? See these 6 amazing reasons to feel patriotic for the rest of your day!

1. Knock-knock! Nigeria is home to the first traces of human civilization on Earth

Now, isn’t that something? Just imagine. As far back as 13,000 years ago on the very same piece of land people were talking, laughing, and eating just like you do now. Even though the idea itself boggles your mind, that’s exactly what kids in India, Japan, and the U.S. study at their world history classes.

 

2. Spread your wings and fly! Nigeria boasts the world’s largest diversity of butterflies

Red. Yellow. Blue. Name it, you get it. These beautiful rainbows going up and down fluttering above the ground are literally pieces of art. Each year, a few recently discovered species are added to already existing 1,320 species, 50 of which are either unique or extinct.
No wonder, travelers from across the globe flock to Cross River State being run off their feet booking butterfly tours while fashion designers spend days and nights creating clothes with Nigerian butterfly prints.

3. Did you know you belong to the happiest nation on Earth?

Believe it or not, according to poll results published by the Guardian in 2011, Nigeria became second to none in terms of the most joyful and fulfilled people throughout the world. Well, this precious state of mind is definitely something they won’t teach you at school and, as experts say, has a lot to do with DNA and hormone profile of Nigerian population.
So, hurray folks! We have what others spend their entire lives on in search of true sense of pure happiness!

4. Genetic mirror: Nigeria outnumbers the world in twin siblings

Having a twin is fun. Given that most twins feature nearly 95% similarity, you can pretend being someone you are not anywhere you want: at the bank, in relationship, and even at the customs control! This is especially true for Yoruba people who are believed to be the most successful twin makers in the world and are good at picking comfy car seats, toys, and carriages.

5. No place like home. Drill monkey and lowland gorilla draw thousands of zoologists from other countries to explore these one-of-a-kind species.

Nowhere else on Earth except Nigeria you can find animals with blue, pink, and red bottoms that eat everything from herbs and eggs to insects and meat. What makes a drill monkey special is its famous grinning smile which actually is a smile while among other apes it clearly indicates a warning sign.
Relying heavily on fruit, lowland gorillas leave hundreds of miles behind boasting the most developed musculoskeletal frame compared to other monkey species.

6. Are you an active Internet user? It is hardly surprising as Nigeria is the largest web and mobile community in Africa

If you are familiar with words such as Facebook, Nairaland, and Eskimi, chances are, you are an active user of your phone, tablet, or home PC. With this in mind, here goes the math for year 2015:

every half a year another 3 million(!) Nigerians become Internet usersover 110 million Nigerians have mobile phones63% of entire population have experience with online shopping whereas clothes,mobile phones, and online services are the most popular searches

People gather around madwoman in Aba to get lucky betting numbers (photos)

I don't know how to explain this but I will try. The woman sitting and backing the camera is said to be a mentally unstable woman. The people gathered around her believe she gives lucky numbers for betting games as a few have supposedly testified. So they take their bets to her for her to help them pick a lucky number...that's how the LIB reader who sent in the pic explained to me...:-)

NBA faults using caretakers to run LGA

President Muhammadu Buhari with some state governors and federal ministers.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has admonished State governors to stop the illegal practice of appointing caretakers to run the affairs of Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi, the Chairman of Ibadan branch of the association stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ibadan.

Gbadamosi said that there is no provision in the 1999 Constitution, as ammended, for the appointment of a caretaker as chairman of local government.

``This unconstitutional act has become a tradition in the states; can the president appoint caretaker governors.

``We should collectively fight the illegality of appointing caretaker committee for local government,’’ he said.

Gbadamosi called on governors to conduct local government elections as at when due in line with the statute.

He said the people at the grass root were not enjoying the dividend of democracy because of the way the governors were running the affairs of the councils. (NAN)

#DasukiGate: Obanikoro, Sons Implicated In Arms Deal Scandal

As the anti-corruption war of President Muhamadu Buhari gathers momentum, the war has been extended to the Obanikoro household as the former Minister of State for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his two sons, Messr Babajide and Gbolahan Obanikoro will have the incoming days to spend with anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

Anambra PDP members jubilate over Supreme Court judgment

Uba

The mood in Anambra state is that of joy and sadness Friday, following the Supreme Court judgment that removed senators Andy Uba, and Stella Oduah from the National Assembly.

But the Chief Chris Uba camp who benefited from the judgment is bubbling with the members of the party pumping champagnes in the state in celebration.

Members of the party in the state Friday, described the judgment as the handiwork of God, having suffered in PDP in the hands of those they described as cabals, being engineered by a member of the national body.

Some of the roads including adjourning streets were blocked by the PDP faithful loyal to Chief Chris Uba’s camp Friday.

The implication of the judgment, according to a Chieftain of the party, Chief Nnamdi Okoye, was that Ejike Oguebego would take over the leadership of the party as chairman in the state, while Chris Uba and his line up during the primaries would take over their seats at the National Assembly.

Also, the five members in the Anambra state House of Assembly who were not in the lineup of Chris Uba would equally vacate their seats for former Assembly member, Hon. Rebecca Udorji and others.

The members of the PDP especially those at the Oguebego lineup were seen in virtually all the joints Friday in Awka purchasing assorted drinks and foods to passers bye and friends.

The chairman of the party in the state, Chief Ejike Oguebego, described the verdict as the will of God, while thanking members of the party for their patience all the while.

Also, he commended the Supreme Court judges for painstakingly going through the Anambra PDP scenario before arriving at their verdict, adding that it showed that God would never abandon his people.

But those in the camps of senators and Uba and Stella Oduah were speechless, as none of them agreed to speak to The Nation on the judgment.

Group Asks Enugu Govt To Unmask Killers Of Keke Operators

 

A civil rights group, Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has urged the Government of Enugu State to take all necessary measures to unmask those behind the killing of three Keke operators in the state capital, Enugu.

 

The decomposing bodies of the three missing Keke operators who all hailed from the Northern part of the country were found in a church building site at Ugwuaji, a suburb of Enugu on Monday.

 

The leaders of the Northern community in the city, identified the three victims as Mallam Samaila from Kano State,
Mallam Babangida from Bauchi and Mallam Hashaibu from Kano.

 

Reacting to the incident in a statement on Thursday, President of CRRAN said information he gathered from the Northern community showed that the three keke operators were last seen on Saturday January 23, 2016.

The statement reads further: “According to the members of the community Mallam Samaila was last seen around 6:30pm, at Garriki, Enugu, where he had dropped passengers he carried from New Artisan market to Garriki.

 

“We learnt that it was from Garriki, that he picked the passengers who sent him to his early grave.

 

“Babangida was last seen around 10 pm, drinking tea at the New Artisan Market before he left and took the passengers who sent him to the journey of no return.

“The community said Hashaibu was last seen at the Enugu Central mosque, Owerri Road, where he observed the evening prayer (Magrib) with other faithful. He left to go and look for passengers around 7pm.

“When the family of the deceased did not see them on Sunday January 24, 2016, there was panic in the community and they went to various Police stations to look for them but couldn’t find them. Also the Chief Imam of the Enugu Central mosque, Owerri Road, Alhaji Rukalmeni Saidi, led the community in prayers to locate the missing persons.

“It was on Monday afternoon that one of the tricycle operators from the community who was carrying passengers from New Artisan to Garriki, on reaching the flyover at Ugwuaji saw by the roadside the net that separated drivers’ seat from passengers’ seat in Hashaibu tricycle. He stopped picked it up and went back to the community to show the members of the community who later informed the Police at Ogui Police
Station and a search party went to the area.

“According to the search party, they stated that before locating the corpses of the deceased northern youths, they were surprised while combing the bush in the area to see human skeletons, other decomposing bodies and shallow graves where human beings were interred” Omotayo said.

 

He said the search party disclosed that some of the bodies were those of ladies and they vividly recalled a decomposing body of a female who had her cloth beside her and condoms, showing that she was raped before she was gruesomely murdered.

Omotayo said the Chief Imam of Enugu Central Mosque also corroborated the story and stated that what he saw when he was called by the search party was terrible.

 

“He (Chief Imam) stated that he saw human skeletons and decomposing bodies in the bush in the area, suggesting that killing of innocent citizens in the bush must have been going on for some time before the present case. He stated that the report in the media that the three Northern community youths were killed and buried in a church building is untrue
because the area and the surrounding bushes were littered with human remains” Omotayo said.

 

The CRANN boss said the corpses of the three were later taken to the cemetery that same night where the chief Imam led the Muslim prayer before they were interred.

He said the Northern community and the Chief Imam urged the state government to step up security in the state particularly at the Ugwuaji area which is now the most notorious area in Enugu and called for government assistance to the families of the three deceased persons.

 

Omotayo said the Northern community has advised its’ members operating tricycles to stop operating at night, from 7pm, because the perpetrators of the dastardly acts used cover of darkness to perpetrate their evil acts.

 

Omotayo however urged the state government to consolidate on the adequate security put in place by its’ immediate predecessor and immediately compulsorily acquire the entire area of the incident for security of the larger populace.

 

He also called for a thorough investigation into the killings particularly how human skeletons and decomposing bodies came about littering the bushes in the area despite the fact that some buildings were under construction in the area and the owners of those buildings and those working for them cannot claim that they are not seeing those human remains which littered the area.

 

He said the state government should take urgent steps to remove the decomposing bodies from the area for the general health of the citizens.

Omotayo challenged the government to take all necessary steps to unmask those behind these killings and ensure that they are made to face the full wrath of the law.

Secondus sacked by PDP govs, National Secretary asked to take over

Secondus sacked by PDP govs, National Secretary asked to take over

The crisis rocking the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a new twist as governors elected on the platform of the party have asked the Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to handover the leadership to the National Secretary, Prof Adewale Oladipo.

The governors also disowned former Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, who stormed the secretariat with his supporters and made himself national chairman.

Acting under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum, PDPGF, the governors said the national secretary would oversee the affairs of the party for now in line with its constitution.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the PDPGF meeting, late Wednesday night in Abuja, the governors frowned at the refusal of the acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to honour the judgment of an FCT High Court which last December ordered him to vacate office for any other person from the North-East zone.

Reading the communiqué, Chairman of the forum and governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said: “We take cognizance of the judgment by the court in Abuja which ordered the acting chairman to vacate office for any other person from the North-East zone of Nigeria.

“Our party’s constitution has enough provisions for that and the necessary process has been put in motion. In recognizance of the judgment the court gave, we call on the national secretary to take over the leadership of the party immediately and that is in line with the provisions of the PDP constitution.

“The decision of the governors came barely some hours after the former Political Adviser to past President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, stormed the secretariat with his supporters and made himself the national chairman of the party.

PDP govs disown Gulak

The governors also lampooned Gulak for daring to unilaterally declare himself the new chairman of the party without recourse to the appropriate organs of the party.

Mimiko said:  “The invasion of the party headquarters  by Ahmed Ali Gulak, who reportedly assumed the chairmanship of Peoples Democratic Party is regrettable and condemnable.”

Is Masturbation a sin?– According to the Bible,

The Bible never explicitly mentions masturbation or states whether or not masturbation is a sin. The Scripture most frequently pointed to in regards to masturbation is the story of Onan inGenesis 38:9-10. Some interpret this passage as saying that “spilling your seed” on the ground is a sin. However, that is not precisely what the passage is saying. God condemned Onan not for “spilling his seed” but because Onan refused to fulfill his duty to provide an heir for his brother. The passage is not about masturbation, but rather about fulfilling a family duty. A second passage sometimes used as evidence for masturbation’s being a sin isMatthew 5:27-30. Jesus speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” While there are parallels between this passage and masturbation, it is unlikely that masturbation was what Jesus was alluding to. While the Bible nowhere explicitly states that masturbation is a sin, there is no question as to whether the actions that lead to masturbation are sinful. Masturbation is nearly always the result of lustful thoughts, sexual stimulation, and/or pornographic images. It is these problems that need to be dealt with. If the sins of lust, immoral thoughts, and pornography are forsaken and overcome, masturbation will become a non-issue. Many people struggle with guilty feelings concerning masturbation, when in reality, the things that led to the act are far more worthy of repentance. There are some biblical principles that can be applied to the issue of masturbation.Ephesians 5:3declares, “Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity.” It is hard to see how masturbating can pass that particular test. The Bible teaches us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If you cannot give God glory for something, you should not do it. If a person is not fully convinced that an activity is pleasing to God, then it is a sin: “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Further, we need to remember that our bodies have been redeemed and belong to God. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do with our bodies. In light of these principles, the conclusion that masturbation is a sin is biblical. Clearly, masturbation is not glorifying to God; it does not avoid the appearance of immorality, nor does it pass the test of God’s having ownership over our bodies.

Enugu exco moves to fast-track infrastructure devt

ENUGU—Enugu State Executive Council has approved the release of N184,476,135.98, for various developmental projects in the state.
Commissioner for Information, Godwin Udeuhele, made this known during a briefing at the end of the council meeting presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

File: Road inspection: L-R: Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State addressing the Site Engineer of the Greylines company, Engr.George skayrak and residents of Emene, as his Deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo looks on, when he inspected the old Emene road..yesterday

Udeuhele noted that out of this amount, the sum of fifty-nine million, nine hundred and ninety thousand, six hundred and seventy-one naira was approved for the completion of the state government counterpart funds for the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, State Track Project Fund to consolidate the gains of the MDGs in the state.

According to the commissioner, payment of the counterpart fund would also prepare the ground for commencement of the sustainable development goals of the state.

He said the council equally approved that the State Ministry of Housing should release the sum of N74,306,000 for payment of the outstanding balance to land owners at Satellite Estate Akpoga Nike, Enugu and to construct an internal earth road network, security post, and perimeter fence wall in the estate.

The council also re-authorized the establishment of the State One Stop Investment Centre, ESOSIC, to boost investment potentials of the state.

The added that the council approved the construction of 9th Mile Mega Estate through public private partnership initiative and directed the Ministries of Justice and Lands to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing in the perfection of title and leg

Nwakali Lands In London; Set To Finally Seal Arsenal Deal

Nigeria's 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning captain, Kelechi Nwakali,

arrived the North London office of Arsenal on Friday morning in company of his agents; The Stellar Group and his elder brother, Allwell Nwakali, to to finalize his dream move to the club, Completesportsnigeria.com can report.

The Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Most Valuable Player was also accompanied by officials of Diamond Academy - Nwakali’s football academy, and he legal team of The Gunners who had come to Nigeria to tidy up all ends before their departure Thursday night.

Triangle of cheating

Photo: Who should be punished among these 3 cheating students?

1, 2, 3 or all? Lol

Cashew and other non-oil export goods to earn $30bn in 5 years-NEPC

 

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said that it has identified 11 strategic products and 21 countries to market Nigerian goods..

The information is contained in a statement issued by Mr Joe Itah, Head, Public Relations of the council in Abuja on Wednesday.

It said this would help to grow non-oil foreign exchange income from 2.7 billion dollars to 30 billion dollars in five years.

It noted Mr Olusegun Awolowo, the Executive Director of the council said this when he visited Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture.

“More recently, we have developed the Zero Oil Plan in response to this administration’s charge that Nigeria must begin to look for new drivers of the economy.

“The plan is Nigeria’s strategic effort to build an economy that does not need oil to survive and can serve as a major flagship economic programme for the country.

“The plan identifies 11 strategic products and 21 countries for Nigerian goods to grow non-oil foreign exchange from 2.7 billion today to 30 billion dollars in five years,’’ it stated.

The statement said Awolowo had explained that the council as part of its strategies to reposition the non-oil export sector adopted some steps.

The steps, it noted were the One-State-One Product programme for assisting each state to develop and promote a choice exportable product where it had comparative and competitive edge.

Others are the 13 National Strategic Export Products which are in three categories.

The categories are Agro Industrial – Palm Oil, Cocoa, Cashew, Sugar and Rice.

The mining related products are cement, iron ore and metals, auto parts and cars, aluminium, while oil and gas industrial products, include petroleum products, fertiliser and urea, petrochemical and methanol.

Also, the Nigerian Diaspora Export programme which has three major components targeted at Nigerians in diaspora.

“The components are cuisine beyond borders, establishment of Nigerian Heritage Houses and encouraging our teaming diasporas to invest in the non-oil export sector,’’ the statement said.

It stated that the minister announced plans to organise a national agricultural summit aimed at engaging the youth to get their buy-in and change the orientation that agriculture was only meant for never-do-wells.

The statement said the minister commended the council for articulating a Zero Oil Plan to support the rapid diversification of the nation’s economy through non-oil exports.

It stated that the minister noted that although there were several inhibitions to achieving total diversification from oil to non-oil but was optimistic that the challenges were not insurmountable.

Ogbeh said same advocacy must be carried to the doorsteps of state governors to make the states self-reliant and increase their Internally Generated Revenue.

“The factors that would transform the sector include, among others, international best practices in agriculture within the entire value-chain in terms of quality and standards.

“Others are logistics, cultivation of high yielding species, production, mechanisation, processing, good preservation methods, marketing and packaging,’’ the statement said.

Reasons why poverty rate increased in Nigeria — FG

The Federal Government has said that no amount of blackmail will make it to surrender the ongoing war against corruption.

This is even as it said that Nigeria poverty rate has increased by the same proportion with annual budget since 1999 because the appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of few looters.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed stated this on Tuesday during his meeting with Abuja Bureau Chiefs in Abuja.

He said that no amount of attacks will deter the administration from prosecuting the war against corruption in its efforts to save the country from collapse, insisting that the Federal Government will not be cowed or distracted on the ongoing fight against corruption.

‘‘ The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will labour in vain in their quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption fight,” the Minister said.

”When I met with the News and Political Editors in Lagos on Sunday, I said, among other things, that the government is aware that in fighting corruption, corruption will also fight back. I also said that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations as well as online platforms, and an army of supporters to continuously deride the government’s war against corruption.

”Well, I can tell you today that corruption is already fighting back, and it is fighting hard and dirty. Sponsored articles have started appearing in the newspapers and in the Social Media, while ‘Talking Heads’ have started making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding the fight against corruption as well as this Administration.

”Not stopping there, they have been creating distractions by sponsoring articles in both local and international media to deride the administration’s policies generally, tag the President a budding dictator and even write off his 2016 budget. We know that the sole purpose of these attacks is to distract attention from the war on corruption,” he said.

‘‘The cost of corruption is evidenced in the rate poverty in the country. Whereas Nigeria’s national budget has increased from just over 900 billion Naira in 1999 to over 6 trillion Naira in 2016, poverty has also increased almost by the same proportion. The reason is not far fetched: Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters.

‘‘When the money meant to construct roads are looted, the end result is that the roads are not built and the people suffer and even die in avoidable road accidents. When the money meant to provide electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness. When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

‘‘These are the costs of corruption. Let us not just talk about corruption in the abstract, let us be counting its cost to our lives, in order to drive home the point that corruption must be tackled decisively for Nigerians to feel the impact of governance.

The Minister said it was saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly allowed themselves to be railroaded into the bandwagon of pro-corruption orchestra”, while some ”hack writers” are struggling to whittle down the impact of the anti-corruption campaign.

He sensed that though sponsored attacks may not stop, and that they will become more intense and more coordinated in the days ahead, he expressed optimism that ‘‘the good news is that we are winning the war. Nigerians are now talking more about corruption. Nigerians are now counting the cost of corruption to their lives.”

‘Even one of those who benefitted from the ‘Dasukigate’ had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as ‘selective’, ”when in saner climes, he should have been so ashamed of himself that he would have apologized to the nation and hunkered down for good”.

Mohammed charged Nigerians not to be swayed by the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war, warning that ”the treasury looters, who have so much resources in their kitty, and their cohorts will throw everything but the kitchen sink at this Administration. But we have no doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to know the truth which, in the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

”Recall that in the so-called Dasukigate, 2.1 billion dollars meant for the fight against Boko Haram was diverted to other uses, including over 4 billion Naira for spiritual purposes, 13 billion Naira for Maritime University land, 2.1 billion Naira for publicity and hundreds of millions of Naira for political patronage.

”That explains why we lost many soldiers to the fight against Boko Haram, which in turn created many widows and orphans, in addition to pushing millions of Nigerians from their communities into IDP camps. This explains why the war dragged on for years until President Buhari assumed office and, within just seven months, strengthened the capacity of the military to decimate Boko Haram,” he added

Photos: 4-year-old boy whose eyes were plucked out by ritualist was kidnapped in Kaduna a few days ago

Earlier today, I posted a photo of a little boy whose eyes were plucked out. I now have more details. 4 year-old Naseerdeen's eyes were plucked out by ritualists in Zaria, Kaduna state. According to Aishat who shared this photo of Naseerdeen, on January 24, he was kidnapped along with his sister in Marafa (police college) Kaduna State, on their way to a mosque close to their home. 

The kidnappers later dropped off the sister at sultan road Kaduna but took Naseerdeen to an unknown location. Naseerdeen was later found without his two eyes...

Tompolo behind bombing of oil, gas pipelines – MEND

The frontline members of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has criticised the decision by some former militant leaders from the region to exonerate High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, over the recent bomb attacks on oil and gas pipelines in the Gbaramatu, Delta State.

The leader of the group, Africanus Ukparasia, a.k.a General Africa, in a statement released on Tuesday in Yenagoa, said the ongoing investigation by the federal government will reveal the culprits behind the bomb attacks.

Leadership reports that he added that preliminary investigations conducted by leading ex-militant leaders from the region revealed that the bomb attacks were allegedly planned in Ondo state by Tompolo and an ex-militant leader known as General Shoot at Sight.

He noted that the attack was carried out to stop the arrest and prosecution of Tompolo.

“Tompolo and Gen. Shoot at Sight conspired to bomb the pipelines to send a message that they have the capacity to disrupt oil production and therefore cripple the economy of the country.

“Tompolo was supplied with 19 metal outboard boats, while Gen. Shoot at Sight was supplied with 6 metal outboard boats prepared in Ayetoro community in Ilaje local government area of Ondo State. The boats which are mounted with double 200 Horse-powered engines each cost Tompolo and Gen. Shoot at Sight N1.2 million without the engines,” he said.

“We warn Tompolo that this time around, he will not have the opportunity of hiding away from the federal forces in his vessel like he did the last time when the federal troops ordered by late President Yar’adua went after him.

“We are ready to assist the federal security agencies to fish Tompolo out from his hideout to face prosecution. Tompolo has since defeated their purpose for taking up arms against the Federal Government in the first place, as he has chosen to pursue a selfish agenda by blowing-up pipelines, thereby degrading the already devastated environment to further impoverish the suffering masses of the region who depend on the environment for their daily bread,” he added.

IPMAN PEDAN fights DPR closes all filling stations in Enugu over non adherence to official pump price

Residents of Enugu woke up today to meet all filling stations closed.we learnt that IPMAN and all other relevant bodies are in close meeting now

Information reaching us is that petroleum marketers are saying that they can't sell the normal price due to the fact that they buy at exorbitant rate in Lagos depot which makes it impossible for them to sell at government approved price. And it has been the practice of DPR officials to pay routine visit to thier stations collect bribe and leave.

Though no time has been fixed for resumption of sells ,we appeal to independent marketers not to put Enugu residents into hardship

War In Sodom 'Ashewos' in court for beating up policeman

Two commercial sex workers in Lagos have been arraigned for beating up a police officer

Prostitute Fight

Two commercial sex workers, popularly called 'Ashewo', have been arraigned before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly beating up a policeman who was trying to arrest them for wandering at an odd time.

The two prostitutes, Dominica Paul and Chioma Aneka, who both operate at a brothel in Ajegunle area of the state, according to the prosecutor, Inspector Tony Elibeh, had allegedly beaten up a policeman identified asSergeant Usang while carrying out his official functions at about 1am on January 20, tearing his uniform in the process.

The prosecutor who said the ladies of the night were standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on of breach of peace, unlawful damage and assault, were apprehended by the Sergeant roaming New Road, a street in Olodi-Apapa who confronted them, trying to find out what they were doing at that ungodly hour.

Inspector Elibeh said:

“When Usang asked them where they were going, the accused could not give a satisfactory answer and he decided to take them to the police station. Paul and Aneka, who did not want to follow the policeman to the station, conspired to beat him up and also tore his shirt.”

He added that the offence contravened Sections 166, 172 and 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, with section 166 providing a N15, 000 fine or three months imprisonment for disorderly act, while Section 172 stipulates a three-year jail term for serious assault.

When the charges were read to the accused, they pleaded not guilty and the president of the court, Chief Magistrate, Titus Abolarinwa, granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 each while adjourning the case till February 24 for hearing.

Oh my God! Little boy's eyes plucked out? (Graphic photo)

NNA LILLAHI WA'INNA ILAIHI RAJI'UN

Saw this photo and report on a Hausa guy's Facebook page, Musa Saqafa...he shared the photo and wrote in Hausa. Tried to use Google translate to find out what he wrote...but the Google English version made no sense. Read what he wrote in Hausa after the cut and please help us translate..

NNA LILLAHI WA'INNA ILAIHI RAJI'UN

Student dies of Lassa fever in Ebonyi state

An unidentified student has died of Lassa fever in Ebonyi State. The state governor Dave Umahi made this known at a town hall meeting in Abakalili, the state capital yesterday January 26th. Speaking at the meeting, Umahi urged residents of the state to immediately go to the hospital for proper testing anytime they fall ill

 “It may be Lassa fever and if it is detected early, it can be treated than when it reaches an advanced stage when it may be difficult to save the victim.”he said

Meanwhile the Rivers state government has declared "Operation Kill all Rats" in the state after 6 people died from the disease in the state.

Lassa fever is a deadly fever transmitted by rats. It can be prevented by keeping a clean environment. Early symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, backache, and joint pains. Late symptoms include bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, bleeding from the mouth and rectum, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes all over the body that often contain blood. It could progress to coma, shock and death

Dead Bodies Found In Popular Enugu Church

Enugu State on Monday evening witnessed an outrage following the discovery, of shocking images of dead bodies buried in shallow graves along the Enugu-Port-Harcourt Express Road.

The incident, which occurred at the Ugwuaji Area of the State has kept residents in tears.

According to reports gathered by DAILY POST, human parts and fresh dead bodies were discovered at an uncompleted building, inside a bush along the Express Way.

Speaking to newsmen, a source hinted that curious villagers raised the alarm, which prompted security agencies to invade the location.

Villagers are already pointing accusing fingers on a new church located close to the scene of the shallow graves. One of those present at the scene described the act as“wicked and the most inhuman action I have seen in my entire life.”

How to Be a Clueless President, By Femi Aribisala

Instead of giving Nigerians the change you championed, give them excuses. Blame Goodluck Jonathan for everything.

In six years of Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency, the opposition told us again and again the man was “clueless.” It made sure the tag stuck to him like glue. But now we have a new sheriff in town, with the APC claiming to be better at everything than the PDP. While that might still be subject to debate, there is overwhelming evidence that in the cluelessness department, the PDP is certainly no match for the APC.

Here is a compendium from the APC textbook of cluelessness, provided within barely one year in office. If you want to know how to be a clueless president, this is the APC blueprint.

Blame Game

Instead of giving Nigerians the change you championed, give them excuses. Blame Goodluck Jonathan for everything, including the harmattan. Whenever you make a blunder, pass the buck to the former president. If there is petrol shortage, blame it on Goodluck Jonathan. If the budget is dead on arrival, blame it on Goodluck Jonathan.

In the middle of an economic crisis, promise to provide Nigerians with free education; free meals daily for millions of Nigerian public school-children; free tertiary education; free health-care and free houses. Facing a drastic drop in Nigeria’s income, declare you will be giving grants of $1.5 billion a year to Nigeria’s poor. When you fail to deliver on any on these highfalutin promises, blame it quickly on Goodluck Jonathan.

Blunders

Forget the name of you vice-presidential running-mate. Call him Yemi Osunbade instead of Yemi Osinbajo. Tell President Obama the name of your political party is the All Nigeria’s Peoples’ Congress when it is All Progressives Congress. Call your party on CNN the All Progressives Confidence.

Tell Al Jazeera INEC means Independent Nigerian Electoral Commission instead of Independent National Electoral Commission. Even though West Germany ceased to exist in 1999 and the current German president is Joachim Gauck, refer to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel as “President Michelle of West Germany.”

Destroy INEC by turning it into a National Commission for Inconclusive Elections. Go to the United Nations and give rousing speech about fighting Boko Haram, then fail to attend the crucial meeting on Boko Haram at the same U.N. session. Tell the Americans the Chibok girls were abducted from their “hotels” instead of their “hostels.”

Tell Nigerians there is nothing like petroleum subsidy. Then as president, announce the removal of the non-existent petroleum subsidy. Claim Jonathan diverted $700 million from the $1.1 billion Chinese loan for the Lagos/Kano rail project when only $400 million was earmarked for Lagos/Kano rail. Announce that foreign exchange can now be paid into domiciliary accounts without specifying if depositors will be allowed to withdraw them.

Anti-corruption rigmarole

Declare that you will kill corruption in Nigeria while being surrounded and bankrolled by corrupt politicians. Then invite those with corruption allegations hanging over their heads into your cabinet. Maintain: “Jonathan’s ministers stole 150 billion dollars.” But fail to prosecute them for stealing $150 billion. Tell Nigerians $2.5 billion was stolen by the PDP through Dasukigate, but charge people to court for stealing no more than $100 million.

Believe that trying members of the PDP for corruption on the pages of newspapers amounts to waging a serious war on corruption and is a substitute for national economic policy. Say: “We cannot build an economy where corruption is the working capital.” Then declare to no effect that recovered stolen monies will be used to revamp the national economy.

Insist Abacha never stole any money, and then probe the PDP for the mismanagement of the non-existent Abacha loot recovered from abroad. Fail to recognise that with the official exchange-rate at N198 to $1, while the parallel market rate is $305 to $1, you have created the widest parallel market margin ever recorded in Nigeria’s history of Nigeria and laid the foundation for widespread corruption in the banks.

Accuse the opposition of using public funds to finance its election campaign, but fail to disclose where you got the money to finance your own very expensive election campaign. Claim to be so cash-strapped, you had to borrow N27.5 million to pay for the presidential nomination papers of your party; then state in your assets declaration that you have N30 million in your bank account. Commend INEC for running the ostensibly free and fair election that brought you to power; then challenge in court every election conducted by the same INEC that your party lost.

Contradictions

Claim you inherited an empty treasury in spite of the over $30 billion left in our foreign reserves. Say you met no money in the treasury, then spend N2.2 billion on a four-day junket to the U.S. with no agenda and with nothing achieved.

Say: the federal government of Nigeria is: “the biggest Boko Haram.” Then become the head of the federal government of Nigeria. Declare grandiloquently: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.” Then say: “The constituents (that) gave me 97 percent cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me 5 percent.” Say you belong to everybody but ensure that your personal aides are virtually all Northerners

Say: “I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone.” “There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.” Then send EFCC dogs after Elder Godsday Erubebe.

Say: “I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection.” Then seek to replace the rule of law with the rule of fear. Go on national television and tell Nigerians you will not be obeying the courts in the cases of Dasuki and Kanu. Interfere in the judicial process by publicly declaring your enemies guilty without trial.

Tell Christiane Amanpour on CNN that you will defeat Boko Haram within two months if elected. Then say you did not say so. Declare that you will defeat Boko Haram by the end of December 2015, then say you only meant to defeat it “technically” after it unleashes mayhem on Maiduguri while you were busy celebrating its fictional defeat.

Say: “Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police.” Then send troops to massacre hundreds of Shiites in Zaria. Involve Nigeria in a Middle Eastern regional struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran by joining the Saudi led anti-terrorist coalition. Open the door for wider terrorist attacks on Nigeria by killing Shi’ites in the North while the Saudis execute Shi’ite mullahs and prisoners in Saudi Arabia.

Prosecute avoidable wars on several home-fronts: against Boko Haramites in the North-East; Shi’ites in the North-West; Biafrans in the South-East; and Niger Deltans in the South-South.

Nonsensical policies

Grind the country to a halt by making yourself Sole Administrator of Nigeria for six months. Squander your vital first 100 days in office doing absolutely nothing; while receiving cheers as “Baba Go-Slow.” Present “body language” as a substitute for policy. Ensure that over N5 trillion is wiped off the Nigerian Stock Exchange within six months of your coming to office.

Promise: “I will stabilise global oil price.” Then watch as the oil price tumbles from $50 to $28 within eight months of your presidency. Also ball-watch as the naira tumbles to a record-breaking N305 to one dollar

Declare when the country is broke: “I will provide one meal a day for children in public primary schools.” “I will make direct cash transfer of 5,000 naira to the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens.” Propose through your Minister of Science Fiction to create 3.4 million jobs in Nigeria in 2016 through the production of pencils. Plan to have 365 cultural festivals 365 days a year under your Ministry of Culture.

Shout “chanji, chanji” while a large chunk of your party-members are turncoats from the same PDP that ruled the country for the last 16 years. Refer to ministers as noisemakers then establish a Cabinet of ministers. Take six months to choose a cabinet then come out with old cargoes. Tell Nigerians you delayed appointing ministers because you were looking for saints and angels, then appoint many known devils. Say: “The corrupt will not be appointed into my administration.” Then appoint those with corruption allegations hanging over their heads.

Delight in putting square pegs in round holes. Make Kayode Fayemi, who has a Ph.D. in War Studies, Minister for Solid Minerals instead of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Make Professor Anthony Anwukah, a professor of Education and a former vice-chancellor a Junior Minister to a journalist, Adamu Adamu, in the Ministry of Education. Make Solomon Dalong, a former Assistant Inspector of Prisons the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. Make Muhammadu Bello, who headed the National Hajj Commission for eight years, FCT Minister.

Budgeting

Propose a N6 trillion budget in 2016 for a nation that failed to meet revenue estimates of N4 trillion in 2015. Predicate this on borrowing N2.2 trillion, which requires N1.2 billion daily to service.

Benchmark your budget on the price of oil being $38 in 2016, making it dead on arrival with the oil price falling to $28 within a fortnight of your budget presentation. Fail to anticipate that, once sanctions against Iran are lifted, the oil price will go further down as Iranian oil is added to the international oil glut. Allocate N40 billion to look for oil in the North-East in the middle of an oil glut when Nigeria needs to diversify from oil.

Within the framework of a drastic cut in Nigeria’s income, raise the budget for Aso Rock from N6.6 billion in 2015 to N18 billion in 2016. Earmark N3.6 billion for the purchase of several BMW saloon cars! Budget N1.75 billion for feeding in Aso Rock in 2016 when Jonathan only budgeted N530 million in 2015. Allocate only N29 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture, while earmarking N39 billion for the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Present the budget to the National Assembly without first scrutinising it. Present the budget with fanfare, then send someone to steal it from the National Assembly. Present the budget, then withdraw it after reading it. Remember this: when the budget fails, blame it on Goodluck Jonathan!

Woman Delivers Conjoined Twins In Enugu

An Enugu-based couple, Segun and Mary Ayeni, have shown great hope despite birthing a set of conjoined twin girls.

Speaking with SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, the parents of the girls, Miracle and Testimony, expressed optimism despite the condition of their twin daughters born on November 16, 2015, who are joined at the groin.

The father, Segun, 35, explained how, despite his initial reaction of trauma, his faith gave him the courage to pull through.

He said, “Naturally, you would be a little bit traumatised. That is natural. But in everything, when you know the word of God, it will strengthen you more, because it is part of life. There is nothing one can do about it. It has happened.

“When I first heard it was going to be twins, I was happy. But later they said they were joined in some way and I asked, ‘Conjoined how?’

“I thought it was the kind of thing whereby they would be separated immediately. But I later discovered that if they should try to operate immediately, we would lose the two (girls).”

Interestingly, the children are very healthy. According to their father, they are in perfect condition.

Ayeni said, “It was after the birth that we knew for certain that the babies were conjoined. When they (the doctors) were talking about it, I didn’t understand, not until the babies came out.

“They are not connected to anything (machine). They eat normally; they poo (defecate) and wee (urinate) normally because they have separate private parts and legs.

“They are not sharing any vital organs, according to the doctors. That is why they said their chances of surviving are very high. They are okay, except for the occasional fever, which is normal, and within one or two days, it is gone.”

Like Segun, his wife, Mary, attributed the birth to God and expressed an assurance that the twins were born for a purpose.

The couple, who celebrated their third wedding anniversary in December, had their first daughter, Marvellous, on November 19, 2013.

According to the mother of three, Marvellous has had a normal relationship with her siblings.

The day Mary took her firstborn along to the hospital; she said Marvellous played with them like any child would.

The mother said, “After the birth, I was told that they were conjoined, but it was two weeks later that I saw the children face-to-face. I delivered the babies by caesarean section. While I was in the hospital recuperating, the babies were transferred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.

“It was a week after that I went there to see them and I was happy because they are strong; it was just that they are conjoined. Will I question God? What will I do as their mother? God gave them to me,” she told our correspondent.

The twins, who are still in the Intensive Care Unit at UNTH, are visited by their mother every day.

Segun noted that though they went for five ultrasounds, they were unprepared for the peculiar birth. He added that the true nature of the children’s condition was kept from him.

He said, “They were just telling us, ‘It seems they are joined somewhere.’ They would not open up to you because they don’t know the kind of heart you have. You know that some people may not have the heart to withstand such a thing. It may be a strange thing to the person.

“Initially, they were even saying (they shared) one leg. An ultrasound (scan) can only give you (a view) of the full-fledged human form between six to seven months (to the delivery). We did it again in the sixth month.

Segun said tests were run on the twins regularly, adding that an average of N25,000 to N35,000 was spent for his children’s care weekly, while the fees could be much more, depending on the tests.

“The doctors are constantly checking to see if any of their vital organs are joined in any way. There’s another one we are about to do now — MRS (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) scan. Today, we will still do a series of it. That one is (a total of) about N80,000.

“I don’t keep track of all those costs because they are my children; I don’t expect anyone to pay me back. I really cannot recall the test I spent highest for.

Mary told our correspondent that though the nurses in the hospital are kind to her twins, she has been stigmatised by some hospital staff and neighbours.

“Because of illiteracy or not being exposed, some think that whenever anything (strange) happens, it is somebody that is behind it.

“Some female workers that clean the hospital asked, ‘Why are you disturbing yourself?’ They told me to leave the kids and run away. But I can never leave them and run away because they are my blood.”

“The neighbours living in my compound are fine; they understand because they are learned. But on the streets, some people that heard I had conjoined twins stopped greeting me. Some wouldn’t even talk to me; some that used to come and collect things from me before now talk about me in jest. They laugh. But God will take all the glory.”

Mary further expressed apprehension about the urgency of the situation of the children.

According to her, she has been trying to reach out to a woman, who had conjoined twins in 2007.

“I am looking for how to get in touch with the woman so I can find out a lot of things. I don’t understand what the doctors are doing. I am worried that they may be experimenting with my kids,” she said.

Source:ThePunch

Police arrest man found with human head in Enugu

The suspect confessed to have engage in money ritual because of poverty and that he didnt kill, he only exhumed a corpse and cut off its head at a cemetery in the Emene area of Enugu.

The suspects  (A desperate young man on the quest to get rich without a care about the means he gets his wealth have been arrested by the police inEnugu after they caught him with a decomposing human head.

Reports says, the suspects identified as John Igwe and other culprits Ifeanyi Nwanguji,Chibueze Nwanga and Offor buike were travelling from Enugu to Abakiliki when the police stop the bus they boarded for a ‘stop and search’ operation.
According to reports by the Enugu State Police Command, the suspect John Igwe hid a human head in a black nylon bag inside his travelling bag. 

The suspect confessed to have engage in money ritual because of poverty and that he only exhumed a corpse and cut off its head at a cemetery in the Emene area of Enugu.

“A friend took me to a native doctor in Abakiliki and I was asked to go and bring human head. I was going there with the human head when I was arrested.

“I got it (human head) at the cemetery; I did not kill anybody. It is for money ritual; I have suffered so much in life,” Igwe said.

Teenager caught having sex with a sheep in Enugu (photo)

15 year old Miracle Oluebube Nweke, a native of  Eziagu, Enugu state, was caught on Monday, Jan 18  having sex with a Sheep. A friend who caught him in the act raised an alarm leading to his arrest by a vigilante group.

Miracle said he knew that it was not normal but that he could not help himself and that anytime he had the urge, a strange voice would lead him to where he would get a sheep which he would loose and drag to an uncompleted building to have sex with it.

"It gives me great pleasure whenever I have sex with a sheep, I have never had sex with human being  in my life except sheep, I haven't tried any other animal to know the difference, my experience with sheep is sweet".

He explained that on sighting any sheep, he would engage, first, in sexual fixa­tion otherwise called zoophil­ia before graduating to raping it otherwise called bestiality or sodomy.

"Whenever I get any sheep of my choice, I untie it from the spot where the owner has left it and take the sheep to a secluded uncompleted building and have sex with it". 

“I don’t do anything else with the sheep than that. I nor­mally make sure that no one is around watching while doing it because I know that the own­ers of the sheep may not like it.

 He however blamed evil spirit for being responsible for his sexual depravity

“There is a spirit that normally tells me to go and look for sheep and whenever I hear the com­manding voice of the spirit, it becomes irresistible for me to take away my eyes from sheep. I will be so restless and confused until after I have car­ried out the instruction of the unseen spirit.

 When asked if he regret his actions after now that he has been caught in the act, he answered in the affirmative but that he could not say categorically that he would not do it again. He also explained what he has been going through since the incident:

“The last time, our landla­dy accused me of stealing her money when she actually se­curely locked her doors and windows. How could I have en­tered her house? But I know she was just trying to eject my parents after the news got to her that I usu­ally sleep with sheep which she considered atrocious.  

"I don’t steal and I don’t molest chil­dren. I am not a criminal,” he said

Mr Uche, the own­er of the sheep told the vigilante operatives that he would not go home with the sheep again, he demanded that the teenager who defiled his sheep must buy it. He also argued that it would be misleading for an­yone to think that the sheep is still normal after its encounter with Miracle.

“The best thing is to sell this sheep and its small baby to Mir­acle so that he can do whatever he wants with it. I cannot take them home again after their ex­perience in his hand.

“I will only be deceiving my­self if I believe my sheep is still normal. If I take them home and they start biting people, what would I do?"

“Again, if the sheep later gives birth to a half man and half animal, what do you want me to tell the world?” Uche queried

 The vigilante operative, Okeke, when asked on what becomes of the arrested boy, said that he would be released to his parents after they have made adequate payment for the sheep that was raped by their son, noting that the 15-year old boy would not be handed over to the police.

“You will agree with me that this is not a criminal case and I don’t think it is necessary to start wasting our time and that of the police by taking this boy to the station.

“We will release him to his parents so that they can go and find spiritual solutions to his problems. This is more of a spiritual case than security matter"' he explained.

Miracle is a school dropout and the first of seven children of his parents. His father is a trader while his mother sells banana and groundnut in their neighbourhood.

Dele Momodu: Where is former President, Goodluck Jonathan?

Fellow Nigerians, I’m surprised that no one has asked about the wellbeing, welfare and whereabouts of our dear former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. Are we so wicked and uncaring that we have forgotten the gentleman who brought us fresh air so soon? Do we truly suffer from “collective amnesia” (apologies Wole Soyinka) that no one is coming up in defence of the man who brought FaceBook to Africa’s biggest nation? Where are all those acolytes who were falling all over themselves this time last year during the Presidential campaigns? Where are the royal fathers from different parts of Nigeria who were decorating our President with all kinds of esoteric Chieftaincy titles?

Where are the experts who were churning out endless statistics about how God had blessed us with the greatest President Nigeria ever knew? What happened to all the economic magicians who claimed that former President Jonathan had propelled us to the pinnacle of the temple and proclaimed that in consequence we were Africa’s numero uno economy? Where are the priests, pastors, alfas, Imams, marabouts, traditional worshippers, and all manner of religious personages who trumpeted that Ebele Goodluck Jonathan was the anointed of God at the 2015 Presidential elections?

Where are the 14 million farmers who were connected by mobile phones in our season of unprecedented Agricultural Revolution? Where are the plentiful loaves of cassava bread and the myriad of rice pyramids that we were told littered everywhere? Where are the ultra-modern air-conditioned trains that we were told travelled from Lagos to Kafanchan, to Kano and Enugu? Where is the second Niger Bridge; and the strategic East-West road?

I have too many questions begging for answers but I will limit myself to only that relating to former President Goodluck Jonathan. I’m just trying to imagine the state of his mind at this terrible moment. I’m not a psychologist but I can attempt to play the role of one by doing some psychoanalysis of the man who left power under one year ago only to witness that things have literally fallen apart with his legacy completely obliterated in the twinkle of an eye.

In case you think I’m mucking around and mocking our former President, please perish the thought. I’m more of a sympathiser who would wish to draw sumptuous lessons from the tragedy that befell our former leader. From what I can see so far, President Jonathan as a person is a good man who was fortunate to have been able to effortlessly navigate and meander his way through the murky waters of Nigerian politics to arrive at the topmost position in Nigeria. He was obviously ill-prepared for power and governance and when it landed on his laps he hardly knew what to do with it. He was like a student who was too favoured and over-pampered by his lecturers until he had to write external exams and get exposed to the real world.

I’m certain, President Jonathan could not have bargained for the hurricane that has hit him. When he conceded and congratulated the then President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, he must have looked forward to a life of bliss in retirement. But what is happening now is the worst nightmare for a man who had been compared to Mahatma Ghandi, Lee Kuan Yew and Nelson Mandela.

I don’t know how this cacophony of allegations and babel of counter-allegations would end or subside but I am convinced President Goodluck Jonathan would have to speak up sooner than later. The reason is simple. I expect his embattled foot-soldiers to put all the blame on him as the one who authorised the disbursement of our common wealth by the most generous government in human history. As to the sharing of the bazaar, let’s be fair, how many people are there who would have been paid those stupendous sums and would reject the money or ask where it was coming from.

At the end of the day, the former President would have to bear his own cross and come out clean and accept the blame. As the saying goes the buck stops at number one! I’m not sure apologies would suffice at the stage things have reached especially if the Buhari government is determined and ready to take its pound of flesh. In my view, it would be difficult to jail the messengers and let the master who sent them on irrational errands go scot free.

That is the dilemma President Buhari would have to grapple with in the not too distant future. Would Buhari in good conscience be able to jail a former Nigerian President if indeed there was an agreement not to probe and punish the man? Will he be able to ignore the fact that this was a man who, uncharacteristically, voluntarily relinquished power after losing an election and was heralded by the whole world as an apostle of peaceful and democratic change in Africa? It is a tough question that only President Buhari can answer.

The other poser is, how much of the wasted or looted funds can be recovered? I think from the experience of the past, it may not amount to much after all. The litigations are going to go on ad infinitum and some of the alleged culprits may actually escape punishment on technical and other grounds. The EFCC under the energetic and passionate Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was faced with such frustration. There is no other way to punish anyone under the law without going to court.

That is the democratic way. It is the democratic way that former President Jonathan embraced, leading him to loosen his hold on power. And it is the democratic way that brought this our new President Buhari to power. There is thus no other way but to follow the judicial process and the principles of natural justice that flow therefrom. Those campaigning for extra-judicial prosecution and conviction may soon reach a cul-de-sac. You can keep the guys indefinitely in detention but how will that bring back the money.

The truth is that the worst form of corruption is abuse of office and the impunity that it begets. That was the basis of the unbridled corruption that enveloped the Jonathan administration. If it remains unchecked, it will not be long before this present government also succumbs and becomes engulfed by the corruption it is professing to fight. Then we would have come full circle without anything to show for it, not even a wee part of our plundered wealth.

I think the biggest mistake of this government was the policy of saying people should not pay foreign currencies into their accounts. This has deprived the government of springing a surprise on those who would have kept their loot in Nigeria. It is now too late to expect those people to pay these foreign currencies into their accounts because of the policy reversal apparently foisted upon us by the visit of the IMF team.

I am certain most of those monies have escaped our shores and no matter the anti- money laundering agreements we sign, those foreign countries are not likely to repatriate the funds at a time the world economy is almost comatose. This is another example of the need by all spheres of government to think through policies before they are announced. There have been too many policy somersaults by our apex financial regulatory bodies in recent time to augur well for our ailing economy. Negative signals have been sent by government to investors and citizens both at home and abroad and this has further increased the pain and burden of Nigerians.

My personal advice is for government to work harder at getting back most of the money that has been stolen or misappropriated, as a matter of top priority. President Buhari may have to enter into unpleasant compromises to achieve this, but such is life. There is no point wasting the little resources now available to us on prosecuting and jailing criminals without getting something substantial out of the exercise.

I pray and wish that President Goodluck Jonathan can redeem his erstwhile government a bit by appealing to his men and women and convincing them to return the atrocious sums of money which they stole without the fear of God. He should save Nigeria from this unnecessary ordeal of trying to compel refund of the filthy lucre and allow this government to settle down and concentrate on the serious business of governance

Olisa Metuh arraigned for destroying evidence

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is expected to arraign the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, over the destruction of evidence.

Metuh was on January 7, alleged to have torn his statement, which he wrote while in the custody of the EFCC.

The PDP spookesperson is being arraigned before the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.

Metuh is being investigated over charges of money laundering and receiving part of the funds meant for procurement of arms.
‎
Punch Newspapers reports that prison authorities have produced him before Justice Ishaq Bello for the arraignment.

Court remands Nnamdi Kanu in prison

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, be remanded in Kuje prison pending his trial for treason.

The presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho, gave the order after listening to applications filed by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS) and Kanu on the matter.

Kanu’s counsel, Chuks  Muoma (SAN), had argued that the accused person be remanded in prison custody away from the DSS cell.

He said his client had been kept incommunicado for the three months he stayed in the DSS custody.

He asked the court to send the accused person to prison so that his family could have access to him.

The DSS counsel, Mohammed Diri, however, prayed the court to keep Kanu in the agency custody for security reasons.

The judge later ruled that the defendant be kept in Kuje prison.

Pictures of fatal accident @ Akwata Enugu state

The accident between a tanker and a car occurred at Akwata road, Coal camp in Enugu around 3pm today. A LIB source said two school children died on the spot. Sad! See more photos after the cut...

Referendum: EU Commission replies Biafra, OEAS

 The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Federica Mogherini, has replied Biafra agitators and the Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS) over their call for a referendum. The OEAS had earlier requested that the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security utilizes their good office to help bring about a referendum for Biafra’s independence. The OEAS also called for release of all Biafran political prisoners, a stand down of Nigerian forces, and a snap referendum to be held within 90 days. In response to their request, Mogherini replied Dr. Jonathan Levy, OEAS Chief Administrative Officer, stressing that, the European Union’s official position is that while it has strong diplomatic and economic ties with Nigeria, “protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms remains a priority for the EU and we encourage the authorities [Nigeria] in every occasion to respect such rights.” The EU went on to advise the OEAS and Biafrans that self-determination and border changes must be in accordance with established international law. The OEAS has called for an internationally recognized referendum on Biafra independence or autonomy. The EU has indicated it will only recognize a Biafra born via international law and not armed secession. To achieve a referendum, the OEAS advises all nonviolent means should be utilized including general strikes, economic boycotts, work actions, demonstrations, lawsuits, and civil disobedience. Nigeria is a member of The International Labor Organization (ILO). The ILO recognizes the right to engage in general strikes and the right to strike is also recognized in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 (Article 8(1)(d). – The News.

Culled from: The Citizen Ng

How You Can Burn Belly Fat Fast!

I want to share a 3-Step Plan you can use right-away, starting today (this minute) to lose weight and burn belly fat very fast.

STEP 1 - Eliminate Sugar and Starch

The first thing you MUST do is to cut down on your intake of excess sugar and starch (carbs) from your diet.

From today onwards, cut off the following foods out of your diet....Sugar, Coke, Fanta, Bitter Lemon, Pepsi, Chin Chin, Gala, chocolate, Puff Puff, Buns, Cake, Pizza, Garri, Pounded Yam, Eba, Starch etc.

These foods stimulates the secretion of insulin which is the main fat storage
hormone in the body.

These foods contain sugar and starch in high proportion and a high consumption of these foods is responsible for making you fat.

I know I told you to stay away from starchy food and sugar.  Let me add that there are healthy carbs you can eat, and they include Potatoes, Yam(1-2 slices),  plantain, Oats, Banana, Local rice etc.

STEP 2 - Eat More Vegetables, Protein And Fat

Ensure you eat your meals in a way that it contains a food source of Vegetable, A Protein as well as fat.

Your Vegetable Sources Includes...

Bitter leaf, African Spinach (tete), Kale,Cabbage, Lettuce, Cucumber, Water leaf, Pumpkin (Ugwu), Egg Plant leaf, African Basil, Afang Leaves, Okra, jute leaves (ewedu), Garden Egg, spring onions, red & green pepper, carrots etc.

Your Protein Sources Includes...

Lean beef, beans, egg, skimmed milk, skinless chicken, lean Pork, Lamb, Eggs, Lobster, Crayfish, Shrimps, prawn as well as fish such as: Croaker, Titus, Salmon, Herring, Mackerel, Cat fish, stock fish etc

Your Fat Sources Includes...

Groundnut, cashewnut, hazel nut, walnut, Fish, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Butter, Avocado as well as the Stock water from your boiled chicken, Meat etc

Let your meals contain one option each from these three sources above.

Some examples of meals that contains these 3 sources are....

1. Local rice & Beans 
2. Vegetable Salad  
3. Fish Pepper soup 
4. Boiled Plantain with Vegetable stew etc.

Also, you can include fruits in your daily diet too as snacks when you are hungry. Fruits such as...mango, apple, water melon, lemon, coconut, pear, oranges etc. 

STEP 3 - Exercise 4-5 Times Per Week

Make sure you exercise. You can either register at a gymand use the gym equipment to workout.

For most people, this is not practical, especially if you have a full time job and
you are always busy.

Instead, what you can try is to...

Exercise at home by following a "workout routine" video. You follow the routine on the screen as the person in the video is performing it.

You need to combine different forms of cardio and High Intensity Interval Training with workouts such as squats, lunges, side bends, jumping jacks, running etc that will help you lose general body fat and also burn off belly fat too.  

If you follow the 3-steps above, your body fat will reduce and you will lose weight easily and fast, and you canstart seeing result within 2 - 4 weeks of doing this.

But that is not all...

When you are trying to lose weight, it's always easier if you get someone that will guide you, motivate you, push you and encourage you to take action.

It’s Only in Nigeria People Defend Politicians who Steal” Etcetera Weighs in on 2016 Budget

It is very hard to explain to a non-Nigerian abroad that Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people. He/she would wonder how a country of over 200 million citizens became so tamed to the point of stupidity — that a few individuals could keep millions of people locked in hell for over 20 years would have been termed impossible, but as the world has come to know, there’s nothing impossible in Nigeria. We hold the record of the most persevering people on earth. We have an unbelievable threshold for endurance.

One of the reasons why I think Nigeria may never recover from her present predicament is because as a people, Nigerians love poverty. This is the only country in the world where a politician steals money and the people provide tangible reasons why the politician is actually supposed to steal.

This is the only country in the world where it has become acceptable that whoever gets into government is advised to loot with impunity. Looting of government funds is now fashionably done on a turn-by-turn basis. Listening to Nigerians defend their kinsmen who have looted the country is very sad: Abi if you get there, you sef no go chop? Abeg leave my brother make him chop him own, after all when your brother dey there, himself too chop. Life na turn by turn. This is the mentality of the average Nigerian on the street.

If not for our level of docility, our government wouldn’t have the effrontery to tell us that they spent millions of Naira to open a Facebook account. The National Assembly wouldn’t embarrass us by asking the founders of Facebook down here to set up their Facebook accounts. A governor wouldn’t tell us he spent N72m of taxpayers’ money to build a personal website and still be made a minister of the federal republic in this current dispensation.

The hard and soft copies of the 2016 budget documents President Muhammadu Buharihanded over to the National Assembly on December 22, 2015 was declared missing a couple of days back and Nigerians have been screaming like banshees how the country had been placed at the forefront of ridicule, forgetting that we have been living in ridicule for ages. Is the shame of a missing budget more embarrassing than the content of the budget itself?

With all the fight against corruption, what has changed? Have the police stopped collecting money illegally on our streets? Has impunity stopped in our petrol stations where fuel is blatantly and flagrantly sold above the recommended price? Has the leadership of Nigeria stopped living in comfort while the people live in poverty? Must we continue funding 10 airplanes in the midst of gargantuan poverty? The exchange rate is at an unprecedented high of N305 to a dollar and the minimum wage of N18,000 is about $64 and this same government has been advising us on the need to be prudent in our spending while public officials have failed to reduce their level of comfort. Even the proposed 2016 budget submitted to the joint session of the National Assembly showed that Buhari himself failed to heed to his own advice of being prudent.

How do you consider the stealing of the proposed budget as an embarrassment when President Buhari and Vice-President Osinbajowill be spending N2.2bn on travels and transport, foodstuffs and catering materials, refreshment and meals as well as honorarium in the 2016 fiscal year? This is a figure that is N710m higher than what was budgeted for the same under the immediate past government in 2015. A further breakdown of the budget for the presidency also includes general renovation of the Guest House at N387m, complete furnishing of the Guest House at N45m, purchase of computers for N27.5m and the construction and provision of recreational facilities for N764m.

A sum of N3.6bn was budgeted for BMWsaloon cars for principal officers and another N189m was allocated for tyres for operational vehicles in the presidency. What is more embarrassing to you? That over 300 girls were kidnapped and nothing has been done to bring them back? Is it not more embarrassing that our soldiers are being slaughtered by a bunch of untrained terrorists because of the corruption within the military hierarchy? Is it not more embarrassing that the PDP is already calling for the impeachment of the president just after nine months of assuming office?

Abeg abeg, May God bless whoever stole the budget. He/she is a patriot. I believe he/she, like everyone else in the country, must have lost hope in our useless National Assembly and can’t trust them to cut down the discrepancies in the budget.